Colby Rasavong is the Executive Chef of Bad Idea, an East Nashville restaurant serving Lao-French cuisine that was named one of the Best Restaurants in America by the New York Times in 2024 and a semifinalist for Best New Restaurant in the 2025 James Beard Awards. Bringing a wealth of knowledge from acclaimed restaurants across the country, Rasavong’s background and Lao heritage lend to creative dinner and late-night food service, offering the intricacy of a tasting menu experience in a down-to-earth atmosphere.

Designed to be approachable and exciting – while pairing well with the hand-selected roster of wines – the ever-evolving menu features small plates and playfully unique dishes. He looks forward to creating a space where guests can enjoy an atmosphere, culture, and cuisine new to Nashville.

In 2022, Rasavong received the StarChefs Rising Stars Award and strives to lead, inspire, and foster his community, while sharing all that he has learned with his fellow professionals. At Bad Idea, he was named a Chef to Watch by Plate Magazine in 2024 and continues cultivating a team that focuses heavily on experimentation and evolution of the menu and building an atmosphere where fellow staff can grow, thrive, and have a creative voice.