Eating Nashville: How's the food at Red Perch, a buzzy Charlotte Avenue seafood spot?

Red Perch has always beckoned from Charlotte Street, becoming a darling of pubs like Thrillist for its reportedly stunning fish and chips and being named among Yelp users as one of the best places to eat in Nashville.

So, of course, we had to check it out.

Mackensy: Oh my goodness, I've been staring for months at this restaurant's Instagram account, full of crisp-fried fish, poke bowls, soft shell crabs, shrimp banh mis and ridiculously delicious-looking burgers. Truly the only thing that's kept me from heading over there sooner was the foreboding, angry red line of traffic on Google Maps between my house and the restaurant every time I planned to visit.

I love the setup, including the bright and airy dining room, the casual counter-service format and the blackboard menu. It's cute, smells great and was buzzing with people when we entered.

Brad: I'm with you, Mack, in that I was psyched to try this place. Yes, high-energy, positive vibes radiating from this bright modern and just slightly cramped spot.

The wild thing for me is the menu — fish and chips and a gooey cheeseburger and poke bowls and chicken tacos? Super fun, but can you really pull off all these different dishes? The answer, for me, is, well, kinda. There were hits and misses.

Mack: Let's start with the hits. With smoky undertones from bacon and a luscious, rich broth, the clam chowder was everything you want in a bowl of seafood stew. I ate more than I should. That's saying something, since clams are a game of seafood roulette I sometimes lose. Not this time.

The ahi poke, with its fresh sushi-grade tuna, seaweed salad, marinated cucumbers, edamame and rice is something I could and would eat every day if given the chance. And I loved that perfectly cheesy double Smashburger with the creamy special sauce, even if you weren't quite as thrilled as I was.

Brad: Yeah, I liked the flavor of the beef, the super fresh bun and all that melted cheese! But the patties were overcooked, smashing my high hopes for one of the best-looking burgers in Nashville.

Totally with you on the ahi poke and the clam chowder, the surprise of the outing for me. I've had chowder in Boston and beyond, and I've never had that depth of flavor before. Damn, that was good!

Not as good, for me, anyway, were the overcooked shrimp — I could barely peel the shells off — and the waaaaayyy overcooked chicken taco. Loved the slaw and the rest of the fixins on those tacos, but the chicken and breading were tough and chewy.

Mack: Yes, I loved the flavor on that garlic shrimp. They were obviously fresh, gorgeous head-on shrimp, so it's a shame they were overdone. I thought the katsu-style chicken on the tacos looked much more overcooked than it was, though it was still pretty dry. They were somewhat saved by the accompanying fresh herbs and slaw, thinly sliced chilies and katsu sauce. I also was impressed by the crisp, light batter on the flounder and chips, and how it clung perfectly to the fish, which had been cooked past perfection.

Brad: I really loved the fish and chips, but I'll agree to disagree on the phrase "light batter." My only quibble on the dish was that there was too much batter, throwing off the fish-to-batter ratio. Otherwise, great crunch and flavor.

Overall, I loved our outing! Red Perch has great vibes, I liked most of the food and I dig the eclectic mix on the menu.

Mack: I'll be back for more seafood, which is obviously this restaurant's strong suit. I can't wait to hit the patio for the Tuesday-Friday happy hour with $5 wine and a heaping plate of fried fish and chips.

If you go

What: Red Perch is a light, airy restaurant specializing in casual seafood dishes. Prices are about $10-24.

Where: 4101 Charlotte Ave., Suite G120, on the second floor of the Sylvan Supply building, facing Charlotte

More: https://redperch.com

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Red Perch in Nashville: Charlotte Avenue restaurant generates buzz