morning thoughts + a taste of little octopus

How is it Thursday already? How is July almost over?

And, more importantly, how did this sofa wind up on Riverside Drive?

I didn’t find the answers to any of these questions on my run this morning, but it was still nice to be out and about. Five easy miles with just me and my thoughts.

Here’s a thought: Nashvillians, you should head over to Little Octopus and give it a try!

I’ve been wanting to check out this new restaurant ever since they painted the massive mural on the exterior of their building. I run by it at least three times a week and it always makes me smile. East Nashville is so weird.

The inside of Little Octopus is charming. Love all of the natural light!

Even on a Wednesday night, the restaurant was bustling — my friend Lizzie and I managed to snag a table after waiting at the bar for a while.

We ordered a number of small plates and shared a bit of everything. The Little Octopus menu is loaded with gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, and paleo options to meet everyone’s dining needs. And if you are like me and eat everything, you’ll be happy with the choices too

Mesclun greens with an herby-lime dressing:

THESE potatoes. I read about them on Yelp and had to give them a shot!

Lizzie and I were both intrigued by the sumac-coated tofu. Tofu is something that I find difficult to master at home, so I’m always curious to see how/if restaurants can actually make it taste good. I think Little Octopus did a pretty good job here — the tofu was crisp (not soggy, thank goodness), smoky, and flavorful. I will say that this dish was bit on the salty side… but luckily we had cocktails to wash it down.

Overall, I’d give Little Octopus a thumbs-up. Definitely a unique dining experience and perfect if you’re looking for something healthy but not boring.

Go try something new today!

• What’s something you have trouble cooking at home?
• Small plates/tapas: Yay or nay?
• Nashvillians: What new restaurant is on your must-visit list?