I’ve eaten in many of the best restaurants in the world, including luxury cruise lines. Lunch at Locust in the 12 South Nashville was the greatest culinary experiences of my life. The menu, Service, beverages, absolutely everything was a taste bud sensory magnificence. Be patient with the reservation process as they really are always sold out. Don’t be afraid to go on a waitlist if you can’t find your time. You will love Locust.
The current menu is very seafood forward and mostly raw. We had the horseradish vodka shot, tuna crisp, oysters, tartare hand rolls, crab omelette, potato bread with clam butter, and the raspberry dessert with surprises. The cocktails were basic at best; the server swapped out my cocktail for wine without a fuss. It was a fun, unique experience and we spent $300 for two people. The tip is included. Everyone was nice but there’s no one assigned to your table so you can go a while without being checked on.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Anya D'Costa
Obsessed with the staff and chefs at Locust. They are beyond friendly, give the best recommendations, and made my family and I feel so welcome. I love it here! Beef tartare is the best taste my mouth has ever tasted.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Shaped Ice with an Egg Yolk, Steak Tartare Hand Rolls, Potato Bread & Caviar
Bodhi S.
Food and service is absolutely amazing. Trevor and his team consistently bring new and innovative things to the menu, in addition to that personal touch. Very level headed team that makes it fun, and enjoyable.
Jennifer Zimmerer
Wow! This was an excellent meal! Enjoyed everything start to finish. We went with a group of 4 and ordered everything on the menu to share except for caviar. Service was great with chefs stopping by to explain the menu and each course that came to the table. Some of our favorite bites were crispy tuna belly, razor clams, beef tartare, and shave ice dessert. Cocktails are simple and you want to prowl for a reservation as soon as they become available!Parking: Plan to park a few blocks away on the street and walk
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak Tartare Hand Rolls
Wade Wade
I've had a lot of good meals in my life, great meals, life altering food I shall never forget. But during my travels to 79 countries and all seven continents, I've been lucky to have a few culinary moments that were much mere than meals, they were an experience. A Michelin-starred restaurant overlooking the French Riviera outside of Monaco, a 15-course meal in a Japanese ryokan in the shadow of Mount Fuji, and yes, lunch at Locust in my own backyard! The critical acclaim, the James Beard nomination, the honor of best new restaurant in the United States, notching a spot on America's best restaurant lists in both the New York Times and USA Today, all that hype is backed up by a five-star meal with superb combinations of flavors, meticulous culinary creations, and tremendous attention to detail. Even the way the chefs methodically clean the open kitchen speaks to a higher calling, a dedication to absolute perfection.It's almost impossible to put into words what I experienced at Locust, a secretive restaurant in a nondescript building amongst the popular spots of the 12 South neighborhood. You'll find no signage other than small yellow lettering on the door if you know where to look, the gateway to an exclusive club that anyone can join. There isn't a sign board displaying the daily specials or someone beckoning passersby to give them a try. Their bare minimum website is a no-frills window into this opportunity. But Locust doesn't need gawdy signage, or publicity, or a slick website. Because the only way to get here is to have done your research, studied up on Nashville's greatest dining experience, and made your mandatory reservation well in advance with a $100 down payment intended for those who are serious about snagging that coveted table for precisely 1.5 hours on one of the three days they’re open! Their reputation speaks for itself. And running just over $150 per person including tax and tip, this is far more affordable than similar experiences I've had around the world. And when they recently ditched their dinner menu in favor of only offering their famous dumplings, when one reader asked why Locust retorted "Why not?". This is not your typical eatery by any stretch of the imagination. And Nashville is truly lucky to have Irish chef Trevor Moran - from the world's most heralded eatery Noma (Copenhagen) - gracing our city with his culinary genius, creating unimaginably clever collections of flavor and texture.It's difficult to describe the experience of Locust's ever-changing menu. Just imagine placing ground beef tartare, sticky rice with a delicate horseradish, and dried capers on seaweed, rolling it up, and savoring a mind-bending amalgamation of flavors. Picture an enormous mushroom the size of your fist with a light tempura batter that even this self-professed mushroom hater devoured with enthusiasm. Imagine a foamy soup with large bits of seafood and crisp cheesy potatoes in a rich broth like you've never tasted before. Attempt to comprehend a tower of finely shaved ice heavily dusted with an intense raspberry powder with delicate flecks of shaved sea salt impossibly balanced atop a thick cream. And then you bathe the remaining shaved ice with a caramel cookie flavored sauce that hardens into brittle bits of sugary magic. This is only a glimpse into what you'll experience at Locust. And I concur with the experts that it is easily the best restaurant in town.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
William W.
I've had a lot of good meals in my life, great meals, life altering food I shall never forget. But during my travels to 79 countries and all seven continents, I've been lucky to have a few culinary moments that were much mere than meals, they were an experience. A Michelin-starred restaurant overlooking the French Riviera outside of Monaco, a 15-course meal in a Japanese ryokan in the shadow of Mount Fuji, and yes, lunch at Locust in my own backyard! The critical acclaim, the James Beard nomination, the honor of best new restaurant in the United States, notching a spot on America's best restaurant lists in both the New York Times and USA Today, all that hype is backed up by a five-star meal with superb combinations of flavors, meticulous culinary creations, and tremendous attention to detail. Even the way the chefs methodically clean the open kitchen speaks to a higher calling, a dedication to absolute perfection. It's almost impossible to put into words what I experienced at Locust, a secretive restaurant in a nondescript building amongst the popular spots of the 12 South neighborhood. You'll find no signage other than small yellow lettering on the door if you know where to look, the gateway to an exclusive club that anyone can join. There isn't a sign board displaying the daily specials or someone beckoning passersby to give them a try. Their bare minimum website is a no-frills window into this opportunity. But Locust doesn't need gawdy signage, or publicity, or a slick website. Because the only way to get here is to have done your research, studied up on Nashville's greatest dining experience, and made your mandatory reservation well in advance with a $100 down payment intended for those who are serious about snagging that coveted table for precisely 1.5 hours on one of the three days they're open! Their reputation speaks for itself. And running just over $150 per person including tax and tip, this is far more affordable than similar experiences I've had around the world. And when they recently ditched their dinner menu in favor of only offering their famous dumplings, when one reader asked why Locust retorted "Why not?". This is not your typical eatery by any stretch of the imagination. And Nashville is truly lucky to have Irish chef Trevor Moran - from the world's most heralded eatery Noma (Copenhagen) - gracing our city with his culinary genius, creating unimaginably clever collections of flavor and texture. It's difficult to describe the experience of Locust's ever-changing menu. Just imagine placing ground beef tartare, sticky rice with a delicate horseradish, and dried capers on seaweed, rolling it up, and savoring a mind-bending amalgamation of flavors. Picture an enormous mushroom the size of your fist with a light tempura batter that even this self-professed mushroom hater devoured with enthusiasm. Imagine a foamy soup with large bits of seafood and crisp cheesy potatoes in a rich broth like you've never tasted before. Attempt to comprehend a tower of finely shaved ice heavily dusted with an intense raspberry powder with delicate flecks of shaved sea salt impossibly balanced atop a thick cream. And then you bathe the remaining shaved ice with a caramel cookie flavored sauce that hardens into brittle bits of sugary magic. This is only a glimpse into what you'll experience at Locust. And I concur with the experts that it is easily the best restaurant in town.
Josh Gregory
I'm still speechless. . .I don't even know how to describe some of the dishes we ate. Every single thing was surprising in some way, and subtly sublime.I'm the sort of person who can usually go home and recreate a dish after eating it once or twice. Not here. I have no clue how they got the depth of flavor into those dishes. Quite possibly the beat restaurant in Nashville.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Brooke W.
Finally snagged a lunch reservation here on a Sunday after trying for so long! We had to wait a bit to get seated while another table is finishing up. I was disappointed to see on the menu that they weren't serving dumplings that day since that was the main reason I wanted to come in. I know they are switching up their service a bit and being dumpling and drinks only in the evening, but didn't think this would mean dumplings would come off the main menu. Our waitress was extremely knowledgeable about the menu and recommended a few of her favorite things. We ordered the beef tartare hand rolls, crab omelette, and potato bread and butter to share. They also brought us some oysters to try (presumably because I was disappointed about the dumplings), but I don't like oysters so I didn't get to try. The hand rolls were my favorite thing we tried! It was surprising filling and very flavorful. The omelette was also incredible and the texture of the egg mixed with the creamy crab was to die for. The bread and butter was also the best i've ever had. We also tried the Irish coffee which had a thick cream with salt on it and was so yummy. All in all the service was great and so was the food, but it was a little pricier than I feel was worth it. I will hopefully be back for the dumplings and drinks in the future!
It's rare when each and every aspect of a meal is 5 star excellent--it's rare but it's true for Locust. This place is truly a gem and we are lucky to be able to experience it in Nashville. Located in 12 south it's a reservations only place for lunch time (dinner is first come first served). From my minute you walk in the staff is attentive, kind and informative. We opted to try the entire menu amongst 4 people with a couple of double orders for some smaller dishes--we left full. Each and every course was wonderful--but if I would've had room for seconds I'd have ordered the beef tartare and the potatoe bread again! Get on it and make reservations as soon as you can!
Hayden Shafer
Locust lives up to the hype. Favorites were the oysters (you HAVE to try their hot sauce) and the early gray ice (truly this was a wild desert, I have never had anything like it). We also had the horseradish vodka as a pallet cleanser for the seafood, and boy, it was wild.The atmosphere is relaxed, and everyone working is just having a great time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alex Nix
Our experience at Locust was incredible from start to finish. From the moment we were greeted at the door, welcomed by the staff inside, to the moment we walked out, the entire experience was so welcoming and warm. Everyone was so kind, helpful, and sharply knowledgeable.I cannot say enough about the menu. We both started with arguably the best unfiltered orange wine that I have ever had, then moving to the horseradish vodka shot, absolutely wild and a great palate cleanser. We started with the tuna crisp, razor clams (both of our first time, delicious), and beef tartare hand rolls (super fun, some of the most flavorful beef I have ever had, and the instruction card made us laugh). Next we got the Berkshire pork dumplings (such nice flavor and texture, and the chili oil went super hard). The crab omelet was one of the best things I have ever had genuinely. The consistency of the egg, thickness wise and texture wise was so impressive, also the still gooey egg in the center melting into the crab was just something else. Absolutely killer. Lastly I knew we had to get the shaved ice, and it did not disappoint. The tart raspberry, silky earl grey mouse, and dusting of salt was complex and enjoyable.I am so happy my friend and I got a chance to experience Locust and the mastery of Chef Moran and the entire team in this meal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
jeranw
Top tier every visit! Cannot wait to come back for more!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Shir Nachman
Love this place!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Passion Fruit Dessert, Beef Tartare, Milk and Ice Dessert
Hell yea.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tuna Cracker, Steak Tartare Hand Rolls, Potato Bread & Caviar
I’ve eaten in many of the best restaurants in the world, including luxury cruise lines. Lunch at Locust in the 12 South Nashville was the greatest culinary experiences of my life. The menu, Service, beverages, absolutely everything was a taste bud sensory magnificence. Be patient with the reservation process as they really are always sold out. Don’t be afraid to go on a waitlist if you can’t find your time. You will love Locust.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tuna Cracker, Perfect, Fried Scallops, Potato Bread & Caviar
The current menu is very seafood forward and mostly raw. We had the horseradish vodka shot, tuna crisp, oysters, tartare hand rolls, crab omelette, potato bread with clam butter, and the raspberry dessert with surprises. The cocktails were basic at best; the server swapped out my cocktail for wine without a fuss. It was a fun, unique experience and we spent $300 for two people. The tip is included. Everyone was nice but there’s no one assigned to your table so you can go a while without being checked on.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Obsessed with the staff and chefs at Locust. They are beyond friendly, give the best recommendations, and made my family and I feel so welcome. I love it here! Beef tartare is the best taste my mouth has ever tasted.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Shaped Ice with an Egg Yolk, Steak Tartare Hand Rolls, Potato Bread & Caviar
Food and service is absolutely amazing. Trevor and his team consistently bring new and innovative things to the menu, in addition to that personal touch. Very level headed team that makes it fun, and enjoyable.
Wow! This was an excellent meal! Enjoyed everything start to finish. We went with a group of 4 and ordered everything on the menu to share except for caviar. Service was great with chefs stopping by to explain the menu and each course that came to the table. Some of our favorite bites were crispy tuna belly, razor clams, beef tartare, and shave ice dessert. Cocktails are simple and you want to prowl for a reservation as soon as they become available!Parking: Plan to park a few blocks away on the street and walk
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak Tartare Hand Rolls
I've had a lot of good meals in my life, great meals, life altering food I shall never forget. But during my travels to 79 countries and all seven continents, I've been lucky to have a few culinary moments that were much mere than meals, they were an experience. A Michelin-starred restaurant overlooking the French Riviera outside of Monaco, a 15-course meal in a Japanese ryokan in the shadow of Mount Fuji, and yes, lunch at Locust in my own backyard! The critical acclaim, the James Beard nomination, the honor of best new restaurant in the United States, notching a spot on America's best restaurant lists in both the New York Times and USA Today, all that hype is backed up by a five-star meal with superb combinations of flavors, meticulous culinary creations, and tremendous attention to detail. Even the way the chefs methodically clean the open kitchen speaks to a higher calling, a dedication to absolute perfection.It's almost impossible to put into words what I experienced at Locust, a secretive restaurant in a nondescript building amongst the popular spots of the 12 South neighborhood. You'll find no signage other than small yellow lettering on the door if you know where to look, the gateway to an exclusive club that anyone can join. There isn't a sign board displaying the daily specials or someone beckoning passersby to give them a try. Their bare minimum website is a no-frills window into this opportunity. But Locust doesn't need gawdy signage, or publicity, or a slick website. Because the only way to get here is to have done your research, studied up on Nashville's greatest dining experience, and made your mandatory reservation well in advance with a $100 down payment intended for those who are serious about snagging that coveted table for precisely 1.5 hours on one of the three days they’re open! Their reputation speaks for itself. And running just over $150 per person including tax and tip, this is far more affordable than similar experiences I've had around the world. And when they recently ditched their dinner menu in favor of only offering their famous dumplings, when one reader asked why Locust retorted "Why not?". This is not your typical eatery by any stretch of the imagination. And Nashville is truly lucky to have Irish chef Trevor Moran - from the world's most heralded eatery Noma (Copenhagen) - gracing our city with his culinary genius, creating unimaginably clever collections of flavor and texture.It's difficult to describe the experience of Locust's ever-changing menu. Just imagine placing ground beef tartare, sticky rice with a delicate horseradish, and dried capers on seaweed, rolling it up, and savoring a mind-bending amalgamation of flavors. Picture an enormous mushroom the size of your fist with a light tempura batter that even this self-professed mushroom hater devoured with enthusiasm. Imagine a foamy soup with large bits of seafood and crisp cheesy potatoes in a rich broth like you've never tasted before. Attempt to comprehend a tower of finely shaved ice heavily dusted with an intense raspberry powder with delicate flecks of shaved sea salt impossibly balanced atop a thick cream. And then you bathe the remaining shaved ice with a caramel cookie flavored sauce that hardens into brittle bits of sugary magic. This is only a glimpse into what you'll experience at Locust. And I concur with the experts that it is easily the best restaurant in town.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I've had a lot of good meals in my life, great meals, life altering food I shall never forget. But during my travels to 79 countries and all seven continents, I've been lucky to have a few culinary moments that were much mere than meals, they were an experience. A Michelin-starred restaurant overlooking the French Riviera outside of Monaco, a 15-course meal in a Japanese ryokan in the shadow of Mount Fuji, and yes, lunch at Locust in my own backyard! The critical acclaim, the James Beard nomination, the honor of best new restaurant in the United States, notching a spot on America's best restaurant lists in both the New York Times and USA Today, all that hype is backed up by a five-star meal with superb combinations of flavors, meticulous culinary creations, and tremendous attention to detail. Even the way the chefs methodically clean the open kitchen speaks to a higher calling, a dedication to absolute perfection. It's almost impossible to put into words what I experienced at Locust, a secretive restaurant in a nondescript building amongst the popular spots of the 12 South neighborhood. You'll find no signage other than small yellow lettering on the door if you know where to look, the gateway to an exclusive club that anyone can join. There isn't a sign board displaying the daily specials or someone beckoning passersby to give them a try. Their bare minimum website is a no-frills window into this opportunity. But Locust doesn't need gawdy signage, or publicity, or a slick website. Because the only way to get here is to have done your research, studied up on Nashville's greatest dining experience, and made your mandatory reservation well in advance with a $100 down payment intended for those who are serious about snagging that coveted table for precisely 1.5 hours on one of the three days they're open! Their reputation speaks for itself. And running just over $150 per person including tax and tip, this is far more affordable than similar experiences I've had around the world. And when they recently ditched their dinner menu in favor of only offering their famous dumplings, when one reader asked why Locust retorted "Why not?". This is not your typical eatery by any stretch of the imagination. And Nashville is truly lucky to have Irish chef Trevor Moran - from the world's most heralded eatery Noma (Copenhagen) - gracing our city with his culinary genius, creating unimaginably clever collections of flavor and texture. It's difficult to describe the experience of Locust's ever-changing menu. Just imagine placing ground beef tartare, sticky rice with a delicate horseradish, and dried capers on seaweed, rolling it up, and savoring a mind-bending amalgamation of flavors. Picture an enormous mushroom the size of your fist with a light tempura batter that even this self-professed mushroom hater devoured with enthusiasm. Imagine a foamy soup with large bits of seafood and crisp cheesy potatoes in a rich broth like you've never tasted before. Attempt to comprehend a tower of finely shaved ice heavily dusted with an intense raspberry powder with delicate flecks of shaved sea salt impossibly balanced atop a thick cream. And then you bathe the remaining shaved ice with a caramel cookie flavored sauce that hardens into brittle bits of sugary magic. This is only a glimpse into what you'll experience at Locust. And I concur with the experts that it is easily the best restaurant in town.
I'm still speechless. . .I don't even know how to describe some of the dishes we ate. Every single thing was surprising in some way, and subtly sublime.I'm the sort of person who can usually go home and recreate a dish after eating it once or twice. Not here. I have no clue how they got the depth of flavor into those dishes. Quite possibly the beat restaurant in Nashville.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Finally snagged a lunch reservation here on a Sunday after trying for so long! We had to wait a bit to get seated while another table is finishing up. I was disappointed to see on the menu that they weren't serving dumplings that day since that was the main reason I wanted to come in. I know they are switching up their service a bit and being dumpling and drinks only in the evening, but didn't think this would mean dumplings would come off the main menu. Our waitress was extremely knowledgeable about the menu and recommended a few of her favorite things. We ordered the beef tartare hand rolls, crab omelette, and potato bread and butter to share. They also brought us some oysters to try (presumably because I was disappointed about the dumplings), but I don't like oysters so I didn't get to try. The hand rolls were my favorite thing we tried! It was surprising filling and very flavorful. The omelette was also incredible and the texture of the egg mixed with the creamy crab was to die for. The bread and butter was also the best i've ever had. We also tried the Irish coffee which had a thick cream with salt on it and was so yummy. All in all the service was great and so was the food, but it was a little pricier than I feel was worth it. I will hopefully be back for the dumplings and drinks in the future!
Restaurantji Recommends
It's rare when each and every aspect of a meal is 5 star excellent--it's rare but it's true for Locust. This place is truly a gem and we are lucky to be able to experience it in Nashville. Located in 12 south it's a reservations only place for lunch time (dinner is first come first served). From my minute you walk in the staff is attentive, kind and informative. We opted to try the entire menu amongst 4 people with a couple of double orders for some smaller dishes--we left full. Each and every course was wonderful--but if I would've had room for seconds I'd have ordered the beef tartare and the potatoe bread again! Get on it and make reservations as soon as you can!
Locust lives up to the hype. Favorites were the oysters (you HAVE to try their hot sauce) and the early gray ice (truly this was a wild desert, I have never had anything like it). We also had the horseradish vodka as a pallet cleanser for the seafood, and boy, it was wild.The atmosphere is relaxed, and everyone working is just having a great time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Our experience at Locust was incredible from start to finish. From the moment we were greeted at the door, welcomed by the staff inside, to the moment we walked out, the entire experience was so welcoming and warm. Everyone was so kind, helpful, and sharply knowledgeable.I cannot say enough about the menu. We both started with arguably the best unfiltered orange wine that I have ever had, then moving to the horseradish vodka shot, absolutely wild and a great palate cleanser. We started with the tuna crisp, razor clams (both of our first time, delicious), and beef tartare hand rolls (super fun, some of the most flavorful beef I have ever had, and the instruction card made us laugh). Next we got the Berkshire pork dumplings (such nice flavor and texture, and the chili oil went super hard). The crab omelet was one of the best things I have ever had genuinely. The consistency of the egg, thickness wise and texture wise was so impressive, also the still gooey egg in the center melting into the crab was just something else. Absolutely killer. Lastly I knew we had to get the shaved ice, and it did not disappoint. The tart raspberry, silky earl grey mouse, and dusting of salt was complex and enjoyable.I am so happy my friend and I got a chance to experience Locust and the mastery of Chef Moran and the entire team in this meal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Top tier every visit! Cannot wait to come back for more!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Love this place!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Passion Fruit Dessert, Beef Tartare, Milk and Ice Dessert