Memphis Foodie

Your tool for delicious, local cuisine right in the heart of Memphis, TN.

Stone Soup Cafe May 18, 2012

Filed under: Midtown — Shannon R Little @ 12:00 pm
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Stone Soup is yet another place that has been on my to try list, basically since they opened.  Just driving by the place makes me excited to see what it is all about.  The restaurant operates out of a cute little Midtown home in Cooper Young, and their patio is just as cute.

 

Pre-patio – Photo Credit to http://www.bestmemphisburger.com.

 

Stone Soup Cafe is a Southern plate lunch and sandwich kind of place.  It’s the kind of place you go when you have a hankerin’ for grandma’s home cookin’.

Scott and I met for lunch on a Saturday afternoon.  The weather was beautiful, so we decided to soak up some sun out front.  Our poor little server was either brand new or they were very understaffed.  We sat for a long while before we could get drinks.

The menu was more diverse than expected.  They serve breakfast all day on Saturday.  The lunch menu also has plate lunches, sandwiches, entrees, wraps, and, of course, soup.  However, I was a bit confused by the soup menu.  For someone who has soup in their name, I would assume they would have more than 5 soup options.  You have more than that at places like Panera Bread.  I expected a lengthy variety of soups.

For lunch, I got the pimento cheese sandwich.  I heard they had a great one, and I do love some pimento cheese.

 

 

The sandwich was pretty good.  They load you up on some pimento cheese spread.  This was a leaning tower of pimento cheese, sandwiched between two slices of texas toast. The bread was a bit greasy, which took away from the taste of the pimento cheese.  However, it was very soft and tasted pretty fresh.  The chips on the side added to the Southern flare of the place.  Sitting at a table on the front lawn, with this dish, made me feel like I was at a picnic.

Scott, who was in breakfast mode, ordered the South of the Border Omelet, which contained “cheddar, onions, green peppers, salsa, sour cream, and jalepenos”.  It was served with a side of homemade biscuits.

 

 

Scott was a big fan of his omelet.  He said it was cooked perfectly and tons of yummy ingredients stuffed inside.  The biscuits were a great addition, and reminded me a bit of my grandma’s.  Don’t worry Mamaw, your biscuits are still better.

Overall, I had a pleasant experience at Stone Soup Cafe.  The service was very behind, but I expect it was just a fluke that day.  Our food was pretty good, but nothing fantastic.  I will probably be back to Stone Soup Cafe at some point, when craving some Southern food under the sun.  However, I am not dying to go back.

For more information on Stone Soup Cafe, visit their website or Facebook page.  You can find more reviews on Yelp and Urbanspoon.  Also, check out these other reviews and write-ups about Stone Soup Cafe: Hungry Memphis, I Love Memphis, Best Memphis Burger, Memphis Food Guy Blog, Go Memphis, Memphis Daily News, and Pancake Palate.

 

Stone Soup Cafe on Urbanspoon

 


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Kwik Chek April 9, 2012

Filed under: Midtown — Shannon R Little @ 3:20 pm
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Kwik Chek has a big reputation in Memphis.  I have never heard anyone say anything negative about this place.  From what I can tell, it is everyone’s favorite sandwich shop and the mecca of all things awesome and delicious.  At least this is the impression I get, which is why I don’t understand how it took me so long to get over there and try them out for myself.  I am, in fact, attracted to all things awesome and delicious.

 

Kwik Chek does not look like much from outside.  You would never give it a second glance if you weren’t familiar with it.  It doesn’t look like much on the inside either. It’s an open area, with a counter lining the right side, a deli counter in the back, chips and drinks lined on the left, and tables in the middle. It’s the hole-in-the-walls that always surprise you as gems, though.

 

Scott is a Kwik Check expert, so I let him help guide me to my perfect sandwich.  He chose the Hey Zeus wrap, which is a flour tortilla containing turkey, roast beef, feta cheese, bell pepper, onion, lettuce, tomato, mayo, mustard, lemon herb dressing, and spices. Phew.  He raves about this sandwich and how awe-inspiring its taste is.

 

 

I chose The Turk hoagie sandwich, which has turkey, provolone, bell pepper, onion, lettuce, tomato, mayo, mustard, lemon herb dressing, and parmesan cheese.

 

 

This was a pretty freaking good sandwich.  It had a lot to live up to, as my expectations were at an all-time high.  However, and I might get stoned for saying this, I don’t think it is the best in Memphis.  Top five? Definitely.  Fino’s still tops my list as best sandwich.  Kwik check has that unique factor.  You will not find a sandwich anywhere around like it.  They have a great talent of mixing and matching ingredients you wouldn’t typically put together on a sandwich, and coming out on the other end with a fantastic sandwich.  I will definitely be back.  This is a great grab-and-go kind of place.

 

They are also open until midnight, so they rock the fourth meal as well. Who doesn’t want a sandwich at midnight, anyway?

 

Kiwk Chek doesn’t have a website or social media presence.  I think it adds to the charm.  However, you can view their menu at Marks Menus.  You can also find more reviews at Yelp and Urbanspoon.  Or you can read one of the many write-ups about them from local sources: Eat Local Memphis, I Love Memphis, Memphis Spork, or Go Memphis.

 

Kwik Chek on Urbanspoon

 


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Cafe Society March 27, 2012

Filed under: Midtown — Shannon R Little @ 3:00 pm
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Cafe Society is an underrated French restaurant in Memphis.  It seems pretty bare every time I pass by it, and nobody really ever talks about it.  I cannot determine why this is either. I have always had nothing but great experiences there, and this past time was no different.

 

Scott and I decided on a nice dinner out to Cafe Society not too long ago.  Though I have been several times, this was my first full meal here.  I have only gone in the past for either an appetizer or dessert only.

 

Cafe Society has a wonderful quiet, romantic atmosphere, the kind that reminds you of a cafe actually in France.  The black table cloths and dark walls are balanced out by dim lights on every table.  The place was a good mix of couples and businessmen.

 

Our server, who was fantastic and over-cheerful the whole experience, presented us with a wine menu and bread basket almost immediately.  Cafe Society has a great wine list.  We chose to split a bottle of white wine.

 

 

The bread was pretty average.  It was warm french bread, but there was not much special about it.  I ate a coupe of pieces.

 

For an appetizer, we ordered Oysters Maurice, “Topped with shrimp and cheese gratinee.”  Our server recommended them, so we decided to go for it.  They were great! They had the richness that all French food had.  They were bursting with flavor, and the french bread to eat with them created a perfect texture contrast.

 

 

For entrees, we both ordered the specials that day.  Scott got a steak with pommes frites.  It was a perfectly cooked, nice cut of steak.  The fries were shoestring and crunchy, with a unique but perfect blend of seasonings on them.

 

(I apologize for the dark photos, but I didn’t deam it appropriate to use a flash in a fine dining French restaurant.)

 

I had a salmon filet, which was topped with scallops, shrimp, and vegetable medley.  It was served on a rice pilaf.

 

 

I do not even know how to describe how amazing this entree was.  I ate the whole entree with my eyes closed, so I could concentrate on the flavor.  I was full about halfway through it, but I devoured every last bite.  The flavor combinations were perfect.  The dish was rich, but not too rich.  There is nothing the chef could do to make this taste any better.

 

I am very pleased with Cafe Society and hope it does well.  The service was excellent, and the food was as well. It’s a bit pricey for your average night out, but it is perfect for a celebration.

 

For more information on Cafe Society, visit their website.  You can also find more reviews at Yelp, Urbanspoon, and Trip Advisor, or book a reservation at Open Table.

 

Café Society on Urbanspoon

 


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Celtic Crossing January 30, 2012

Filed under: Midtown — Shannon R Little @ 3:00 pm
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A recent visit to Cooper Young ended the night up at Celtic Crossing for dinner.  Scott and I went to Alchemy for a couple of drinks and then headed to Celtic for some grub after.  It was later at night, so Celtic had a band inside.  We wanted away from all of the noise, so we chose to sit outside in the heated patio.

 

Heated patios, I believe, are one of the greatest inventions.  You get to sit outside in the middle of winter and relax, without freezing.  Celtic has a great patio, so I love that I can take advantage of it during 20 degree temperatures.  They even had a big flat screen outside, so we could watch the Grizz dominate while sipping a beer.  There was only one other table other than us, so it was pretty quiet.

 

First, the staff at Celtic is great.  The doorman was super cool, and our server got us everything we needed.

 

We got a goat cheese dip as an appetizer.  Scott really likes cheese, so this is usually how we start our meals: with big bowls of cheese.

 

 

We both agreed that the dip was pretty bland.  However, goat cheese is a very mild cheese, so we blamed it on the cheese.  I ended up just munching on the pita wedges, which were still warm.

 

Then our food came out.  Scott got the Irish Burger, which is described as “8 oz. of sirloin topped with imported Irish muenster cheese and rashers”.  Rashers, if you did not know, is a fancy Irish word for bacon.  We had to ask.  His came with fries.

 

 

I ordered the Grilled Carribean Jerk Chicken Sandwich, which is a “grilled chicken breast served over a red onion and cranberry salsa”. I got red potatoes with mine.

 

 

When we tried our food, we realized that we could not blame the blandness of the goat cheese dip on the cheese.  We had to, in fact, blame it on the restaurant itself.  Our food was equally as bland as our appetizer.  Neither the burger nor the chicken had any seasoning on it.  My red onion and cranberry salsa was just that: mashed up cranberries and onions.  Nothing else.  The fries were soggy and, like everything else we ate, bland.

 

We were both starving, so we devoured it all.  However, I would have much rather walked down the street to Young Avenue Deli (had they not had a cover) or Cafe Ole (had their kitchen not been closed).

 

The next day, we found out from an actual Irish man that maybe we could perhaps blame it on the food and not the restaurant.  According to him, Irish food is traditionally very bland and nothing to write home about.  Apparently, Celtic Crossing did it right by sticking to their roots.  However, on the other hand, traditional Irish food does not serve up burgers and chicken sandwiches.  Therefore, we are left confused as to what to think of Celtic Crossing.  Is the food due to the bad kitchen or the bad traditions?  Either way, we can agree that the food was not great and we won’t be coming back to eat.

 

However, Celtic has a great beer list, so it is a possibility I will be back to drink.  They have a great happy hour as well, and apparently a good Sunday Brunch too.  Trivia has its possibilities as well.  St. Patrick’s Day is always a blast here.  However, most of the time I just find it overcrowded and a little annoying.  But, hey, maybe that is how you like your evenings to be.  Celtic Crossing is never my first pick (or second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth), but that does not mean I won’t be back.  My friends seem to love it, so you may see me tagging along too.

 

You can find out more about Celtic Crossing by visiting their website, where you can also view their menus, or Facebook page.  For more reviews, check out Yelp, Urbanspoon, Trip Advisor, or Gayot.  You can find their menus on All Menus or Marks Menus as well, or read a write-up about them from The Commercial Appeal.

 

Celtic Crossing on Urbanspoon

 

 


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Memphis Pizza Cafe December 2, 2011

Filed under: Collierville,East Memphis,Germantown,Midtown,Southaven — Shannon R Little @ 4:00 pm
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Memphis Pizza Cafe has been a staple in my life for as long as I can remember.  When I was really young, and living in East Memphis, my parents and I frequented the location on Park Avenue.  When we moved to the suburbs, the one in Germantown became our home.  Then, we moved to Arlington, and the location that made a brief appearance in Wolfchase was our spot.  Now that I am living back in the city, I go back and forth between the Midtown location and East Memphis location.  When visiting family in Collierville, I check out that location as well. I have, at some point in my life, settled into every Memphis Pizza Cafe location (with the exception of Southaven), just like I have settled into every home.

 

This time I ate Memphis Pizza Cafe, it was take-out, so I cannot comment on service.  However, from my past experiences, the service seems to always be pretty solid (taking into consideration how long it takes to cook a pizza). I also love the laid back atmosphere of the restaurants. It’s very homey and comfortable.

 

I usually order the exact same thing every time I go: a side salad with Ranch dressing (they have great Ranch), and one or two slices (depending on how hungry I am) on Ultimate Cheese pizza, add spinach, tomato, and cajun chicken. This is the ultimate slice of pizza.  With years of experience and trial-and-error under my belt, I finally found the perfect slice of pizza at Pizza Cafe.  This is it.

 

However, this time I was sharing with the masses, so I did not get to order what I want.  We ordered a Meat Lovers and a BBQ Chicken pizza.  I prefer either no meat or only chicken on my pizza, so I opted to eat the latter.  The BBQ Chicken pizza was great.  It wasn’t my typical order, but I have never had anything bad at Memphis Pizza Cafe.  Partially,  I believe, is because I love their thin crusts.  If I had to compromise again, I would opt for this.

 

 

They are always perfectly crispy, with the right amount of sauce, cheese, and toppings.  Memphis Pizza Cafe, in my opinion, is the best pizza joint in Memphis.  I know many that agree with me.  In fact, I have only ever talked to one person who didn’t care for this place.  I also discredit her opinion, as she is a New York-er with a pretentious taste in pizza.  Nothing can satisfy her anyway.  Personally, I have never had a bad experience at any location. Ever.

 

If you ever have a craving for pizza, I highly recommend trying this place out.

 

For more information, visit their website, Facebook page, or Twitter.  Check out their menu on All Menus.  For more reviews, visit Urbanspoon or Yelp.

 

Memphis Pizza Cafe (Midtown) on Urbanspoon

 

 


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Fresh Slices October 28, 2011

Filed under: Bartlett,Cordova,Midtown — Shannon R Little @ 5:00 pm
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Fresh Slices is your friendly neighborhood sandwich place, located close to Overton Park in Midtown, with sister locations in Bartlett and Cordova.  After hearing several great reviews from friends, I decided to try it myself recently.

 

The restaurant looks very quaint when walking up from the street. They have a few tables outside on the patio, but Scott and I opted for the air conditioning inside.  We went during an off hour, so the place was pretty empty.  Only two other tables and us were there to keep the employees company.

 

 

We find a cozy booth in the back to relax in.  We wait for someone to come take our drink order, but our server was nowhere to be found. (I later observe that there are only 2 people on the clock: the guy cooking the food and the girl bringing it to the table.) She finally came to greet us 5-10 minutes later and get our drink order.  We were both thirsty for a beer, but we could not find alcohol anywhere on the list. The following conversation went something like this:

Me: I would like a water. What beer to you guys serve?

Server: I don’t know off the top of my head. We have a few.

Me: Okay, can you give me a couple of names?

Server: What were you thinking?

Me: Do you have Sam Adams, Fat Tire, or Newcastle?

Server: I don’t know. I don’t think so. Do you want me to go check?

Me: That would be great. Please.

*Server leaves to go find out, but making it clear she is annoyed. She returns a couple minutes later.*

Server: No we do not. Would you like to see a beer list?

Me: Yes, please.

*Server leaves again, making sure we know that she is annoyed. She returns with a beer and wine menu.*

Me: I think we will both take waters for now while we look over this menu.

Server: Okay (*still looking clearly annoyed*)

She came back with our water and asked if we knew what we wanted to eat. We had not looked at the food menu yet, since we were trying to determine what beer we wanted. I told her not yet, but she walked away before I could finish telling her what beer we wanted.

 

Scott and I continued to look at the food menu, and at this point we were just ready to eat and leave. We decided we didn’t want beer, since it had been such an ordeal. We didn’t want to add any more steps for our server, and honestly, we thought it would prolong our waiting process.

 

A while later, our server had still not come back.  We finally saw her and flagged her down.  We decided to split an appetizer and an entree, but we ordered both at the same time to make sure we got our order in.

 

We ordered the Rio Grande Dip, which is “Bean & beef mix, guacamole sour cream, blend colby & jack cheese, jalapeno pepper slices, diced tomatoes, green onions, sliced black olives, tortilla chips”.

 

 

We also ordered the Grilled Chicken Sandwich with fries.

 

 

The dip was pretty good, and it had a lot of goodies in it. It was also a pretty large size, enough to split between a few people (or one person and Scott, whose life revolves around cheese).  My only qualm with it was the chips.  They were the bargain tortilla chips that come in the large, clear plastic bag.  They tasted cheap.  I buy better tortilla chips at the store than that.

 

The grilled chicken sandwich was good, but nothing special.  I liked the ciabatta-like bread that it came on.

 

After finishing our meal, our server was once again nowhere to be found. After waiting for a while, we flagged her down and asked for the check.  It’s also worth noting that we never saw her again after receiving our food.

 

I honestly do not know if I will be back to Fresh Slices again.  The food was okay.  I would be more than willing to give it another shot, if the service was not so bad.  If someone invites me out to eat here, I would not refuse.  However, it will probably not be my choice to ever return.  To many wrongs do not make a right, isn’t that how the saying goes?

 

Fresh Slices does not have a website or social networking page.  You can, however, find them on Marks Menus to see their menu.  You can find more reviews on Urbanspoon, Yelp, and Trip Advisor.  For more write-ups about them, see articles in Dining With Monkeys, The Memphis Flyer, The Commercial Appeal, or Memphis Business Journal.

 

Fresh Slices Sidewalk Cafe & Deli on Urbanspoon

Fresh Slices Sidewalk Cafe & Deli on Urbanspoon

Fresh Slices Sidewalk Cafe & Deli on Urbanspoon

 


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Bob’s Barksdale Restaurant October 26, 2011

Filed under: Midtown — Shannon R Little @ 5:00 pm
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According to Memphis Menus Online, Barksdale Restaurant has been “serving plate lunches for over 30 years”.  When you walk into the restaurant, you can tell exactly that.  I don’t know what gave it away first: the wood paneled walls, the old pictures hanging everywhere, or the giant worn-down American Flag that takes up half of one wall.  This is definitely your down-home, Southern, comfy dining joint.

I dined at Barksdale’s one morning for breakfast recently, after walking for cancer research with some coworkers. Though it was not my decision, I have anxiously waiting to try it for the first time after I Love Memphis has recommended it.

After staring at the menu, trying to determine if I give into my pancake craving or try something more exotic, I finally settle on the Greek Omelet Good Mornin’ Breakfast.  This omelet comes with feta cheese, gyro, mushrooms, onions, bell pepper, and tomato. The Good Mornin’ Breakfast portion means that it includes grits or hashbrowns and biscuits or toast. I choose the hashbrowns, smothered in cheese and onions, and biscuits. Hey, a girl has got to eat after a long walk for cancer.

After a few bites into the omelet, I realize I am making those embarassing “mmmmm” noises as I eat. Yes, it was that good. The eggs were fluffy and perfect, and all the goodies inside made it all the better. The hashbrowns were also great.  My friend Leigh Anne even said they were great, and she is a self-proclaimed picky hashbrown eater. My only wish is that the cheese had been melted a little longer, but the onions were caramelized and not too strong.

The biscuits were light, fluffy, and perfect. It is easy to mess up a homemade biscuit, as they can easily be too mushy or too hard. These were neither. The addition of butter baked into them was great also.

Overall, Barksdale Restaurant is a plus in my book. If you are looking for a good down-home, Southern cooked breakfast, this is a good place to go.

Barksdale does not have a website or Facebook page, but I just think it is part of their Southern, old-school charm. However, you can find more reviews at Yelp and Urbanspoon, or features on the place at Road Food or Local Eats.

Barksdale on Urbanspoon


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Le Chardonnay October 24, 2011

Filed under: Midtown — Shannon R Little @ 5:01 pm
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Le Chardonnay has been a staple in Overton Square for many years. Despite The Square’s rough history, this restaurant has proven that they are here to stay.

As one of the only places in the area I had not tried, I decided to venture out last week.  Scott and I share a few tapas while we were there, including the oysters, baked brie, and fried green tomatoes. All of what we had was delectable, leaving me wanting more. It was the kind of food you savor and let sit in your mouth.

The oysters were tender and juicy. They popped right out of the shell. The fried green tomatoes were lightly fried, so you could taste all the tomato goodness. The sauce was a great compliment as well. The baked brie was warm, oozy, and perfect on the bread. The almond-honey glaze that came on top was wonderful.

Everything tasted a lot more expensive then what it was. It’s what the French are best at. This is what I enjoyed most. Fine dining food at a reasonable price.

They also have a great wine list. I had a hard time deciding exactly what I wanted!

The only aspect of my visit that I was confused about was the atmosphere. There was dim lighting, white table cloths, candles, and the whole romantic atmosphere. However, there were TVs in every corner of the restaurant and one large TV over the bar. It ruined the romantic atmosphere with the sports bar feel. To get rid of the TVs would do wonders for the decadent atmosphere.

I cannot believe it took me so long to try this place, but I am anxious to return. Next time I will go for full entrees and maybe even dessert. If their food is so rich, I can only imagine how great their desserts are.

For more information on Le Chardonnay, check out their website, where you can view their menu, or Facebook page. You can also find more reviews on Yelp, Urbanspoon, and Trip Advisor.

Le Chardonnay Wine Bar & Bistro on Urbanspoon


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Blue Monkey October 3, 2011

Filed under: Downtown,Midtown — Shannon R Little @ 5:00 pm
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A group of friends wound up at The Blue Monkey this past weekend, and we were all starving after a night of bartending the Bet Against Breast Cancer event at The Memphis Zoo.

We ordered a bunch of food to share, including the jumbo shrimp, stuffed mushrooms, mozzarella cheese sticks, and hot wing rolls and my Beef Eater sandwich.

I cannot say that these are among the best food items I have ever eaten. However, Blue Monkey does have some good greasy bar food. It is not winning awards any time soon, but there is a time and place for it. I would eat it again.

Blue Monkey continues to do what it does best, feature average live music and serve up good drinks. This is why they continue to be a midtown staple.

For more info on Blue Monkey, visit their Facebook page, Urbanspoon, Yelp, or Marks Menus page.

The Blue Monkey on Urbanspoon


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Slider Inn September 23, 2011

Filed under: Midtown — Shannon R Little @ 2:57 pm
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There has been a lot of buzz about Slider Inn lately, so I was excited to check it out when a group of friends and I went there after a wedding  recently. It was the Saturday night after Cooper Young festival, so I was a little bit nervous showing up and expecting to get a table for 10-15 people. However, we were lucky enough to not have to wait longer than 20 minutes.

We all got seated and orders drinks from our server Lauren, who was super sweet and very good at her job. I was excited to see that they had Yazoo beer on their list, so that is what I ordered.

I also ordered the sliders while I was there. I had heard great things about the lobster roll. However, my wallet is a little sad, and I could not justify spending $16.00 on a lobster roll. I wanted to try a few of the sliders by getting their deal where I can mix and match three sliders. However, they were not serving this, along with half of their menu, due to Cooper Young Fest. This irked me a little bit. Mainly because the restaurant was not shoulder to shoulder packed. All the seats were full, but it did not seem crazy.

Therefore, I settled for the mushroom swiss sliders, because I was really craving a burger. My friend Rhea ordered the traditional sliders with mayo, ketchup, and pickle, so I traded one of mine for one of hers. This way I can at least try two different ones. The chicken sliders looked awesome, but something in me just wanted a burger. The sliders come with a side of fries and some sort of mayonnaise dipping sauce for them as well.

The burgers were good, but I do not think they were anything to write home about. I know of better burgers in the city. I liked the sourdough bread (though it was a bit cold), and I also liked the thickness of the patties. Everything tasted as it should, but there was just something missing. The fries were delicious, and many people seem to love them. I am more of a steak fry kinda girl, but I could appreciate how good these were.

The main part of my experience that irked me at Slider Inn was the price of liquor. I ordered a shot of Grand Marnier, for which I later found out they charged me ten bucks. I have never in my life paid $10 for a shot, not even at upscale places.

Overall, Slider Inn was fun. They have a great patio with a lively atmosphere. This is the kind of place you go to have a few drinks with a good group of friends on a night with perfect weather. This is exactly what I did. The food is there to soak up the alcohol, but nothing too special. It’s your typical bar food. Stay away from this and the expensive shots, and enjoy your night with a couple of beers and a good crowd.

Photographed by Paul Ryburn

Slider Inn does not have a website yet, but you can check out their Facebook page and more reviews at Yelp and Urbanspoon.

Slider Inn on Urbanspoon


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