I stopped into Brass Door for lunch one afternoon. It’s one of those places that everyone seems to have tried except for me. I have heard great things about both the food and the atmosphere, so it was time to give it a try.
Since I went in during the week and on off hours, it was pretty slow. Other than one table of lingering businessmen (who obviously didn’t want to go back to work), Scott and I were the only people sitting in the place.
You could tell immediately this was an Irish Pub. Other than one or two beers, all the drafts were Irish. There was Celtic music playing over the loud speakers, and, with the decor, you feel like you just walked into Ireland. Someone obviously did their research before opening this place up.
Our server greeted us immediately, told us about the specials and got our drink order. He was very sweet.
I ended up choosing the I opted for the Grilled Chicken Sandwich, described as “Grilled marinated chicken breast, with lettuce, tomato and onion on toasted Ciabatta with Guinness mayonnaise”. They had me at Guinness mayonnaise. Instead of “hand-cut chips”, I opted for the sauteed veggies as a side.
The sandwich was great. The chicken seemed right off the grill, and the Guinness mayo gave the sandwich a different kick than other traditional chicken sandwiches one may consume. It tasted fresh, and the bread was warm and soft. My only qualm were the veggies. Yes, they were sauteed. However, they were sauteed in copious amounts of oil. I couldn’t even taste the veggies due to so much oil. After a couple of bites, I quit. These couldn’t be any healthier for me than fries, and, if that’s the case, I would rather have the fries.
Scott ordered the Tam o’ Shanter, which is their traditional Irish sandwich. It is describes as, “Warm ham and smoked turkey on toasted brioche bread with Swiss cheese, Mornay sauce, tomato and bacon.” He opted for the chips.
That is one big sandwich. There was so much to it, that it was almost impossible to eat. It was also greasy to the max. Translated, that means this is the perfect hangover sandwich. The fries were great. They were crisp and had a fresh herb seasoning on them that made them different than normal fries.
After we ate, our server invited us to their Wednesday Open Mic Nights. He says the artists are usually pretty good. There is a big turnout, and they have great drink specials during that time. I have not had a chance to go back yet, but I plan on it soon.
Overall, Brass Door is the place to go if you are looking for a good pint or some greasy bar food. The nightlife also seems to be kicking, but I have not experienced that first hand yet. The service is snappy and friendly, and they make you want to come back.
For more information on The Brass Door, visit their website, Facebook page, or Twitter. You can also check out other write-ups about them in Memphis Daily News, Eat Local Memphis, Paul Ryburn’s Journal, and Travel Host. Find more reviews at Yelp and Urbanspoon.
