Tayst: A Critique

My wife and I recently went on a date to Tayst just south of Hillsboro Village. Brought to you by veterans of the similarly upscale Midtown Cafe, this former furniture showroom near Vanderbilt has a cozy bar area in front and a spacious dining room in back. The dining room is elegant and understated with brick-red walls, candlelit sconces and fresh flowers. Dishes are presented elegantly on stark white plates. Servers are prompt, wine-savvy and eager to assist.

The menu features a mix of small, complex appetizers ("First Tayst"), simple salads ("Second Tayst") and entrees ("Main Tayst"). Most dishes feature an adventurous blending of tastes and textures. Notably, each menu item is carefully paired with one complementary wine selection, though servers can often suggest a host of alternatives.

As we entered the restaurant, we were immediately taken to our table followed by our server and assistant server. Our glasses were filled with water before we could even sit down. The service was excellent-Tich was very knowledgable about wines and all of the entrees. We were started off with a white bean spread and warm wheat biscuts while we looked over the menu and extensive wine list. We had a Wente Merlot. Amazing if you like merlots. Then come the salads and soon after, the entrees.

I had the Pork Chops & Apple Sauce. Pork loin medallions, a roasted apple stuffed with pork sausage with spiced cream cheese and apple bourbon butter. It was to die for. Colleen had the Pumpkin Seed Crusted Scallops with quince and radicchio slaw, wild rice and spicy maple glaze. This unfortunately was not to die for. The wild rice and radicchio slaw tasted more like sea weed than rice. After the meal, we had the triple chocolate tort with raspberry sauce.

Overall the experience was great. The creative-chic decor was cozy , warm, and romantic. However, the portions were very small. I was still a little hungry after the salad, the pork chops and half a tort (not a feeling you want when you've had a nice dinner). It's a shame too because the food was amazing it just wasn't enough so I made a new category because the portion didn't effect the quality or the presentation.

Overall scoring:
Service: 9
Ambience: 9
Food Quality: 9
Food Portions: 7
Food Presentation: 10
Overall: 8.8

Cuisine: New American
Price: $$
Hours: Tue-Thurs 5pm-10pm Fri-Sat 5pm-11pm
Payment: AmEx, VISA, Mastercard, Cash
Parking: Free Valet, street, parking lot
Special Features: Romantic Dining
Reservations: yes

2100 21st Ave S
Nashville, TN 37212-4318
(615) 383-1953