WHERE WE WENT:
Swanky's Taco Shop
6641 Poplar Avenue
Germantown, TN
WHAT WE ORDERED:
Chips & Queso, Fried Fish Tacos, Build-Your-Own Burrito Bowl w/ Chicken
WHAT WE THOUGHT:
Atmosphere - 7
Menu - 8
Presentation - 7
Taste - 8
Price - 7
Service - 7
Overall - 7
Atmosphere - There's nothing about this restaurant that particularly says Mexican or "swanky." That being said, it is still really cool. The seating on the inside is very open and comfortable. Dark wood, some chrome and red accents create a classic, clean design combination. The high point of design choices is the very unique and funky light fixtures with exposed bulbs that immediately
draw your attention. They have a spacious outdoor patio with overhead lighting as well.
Menu
- Swanky's has a traditional Mexican menu with favorites like quesadillas, burritos, and chimichangas, along with a few unique twists like latin wontons. They also have a full bar with premium tequilas and many specialty cocktails. They've recently added some new vegetarian options as well.
Presentation - The chips and queso were very plainly presented with the chips served in a paper tray and the queso in a bowl that did not even coordinate in color. It was unimpressive. Fortunately, as the meal progressed, we became more and more fond of the way each dish was presented. The BYOB was served in a trendy looking white bowl with an asymmetrical lip that was very appealing. The fish tacos were served open-face so that the round tortillas contrasted with the square plate. The colors in that dish were gorgeous. we almost didn't want to ruin it by eating it.
Taste - The were made in house, and tasted like it. They were crisp, light and not at all greasy or stale like most pre-packaged chips. The queso was decent, but a little bland. It definitely could have used some chopped peppers mixed in. The burrito bowl was delicious. The chicken was cooked perfectly and marinated well. The mix of mild and medium salsa had a delicious flavor and a sweet heat that complemented the flavor of the chicken and the veggies and was kept in check by the sour cream. All of the
vegetables tasted fresh. The fish tacos were good, but we wish we would have got them grilled. The batter on the fried fish overwhelmed the taste just a bit. Otherwise, the slaw and sides were excellent and meshed well with the tacos flavors.
Price
- Everything on the menu was reasonably priced and comparable to other restaurants of its kind.
Service - We walked up to the counter to place our order, so we did not have an official server, but everyone we encountered was friendly and welcoming. When we needed more salsa, they went out of their way to provide us multiple kinds to be
sure we were satisfied.
Extras - They host trivia every Thursday night at 8:00 pm.
WOULD WE GO BACK?
Yes. Our food was delicious and the friendly staff made us feel welcome.
Here's a link to their website:
http://www.swankystacoshop.com/
WHERE WE WENT:
Corky's Ribs & BBQ
5259 Poplar Avenue
Memphis, TN
38119
WHAT WE ORDERED:
BBQ Pork Nachos, Signature Pork Shoulder Sandwich, French Fries, Rack of Dry Rub Ribs, Cole Slaw, Baked Beans
WHAT WE THOUGHT:
Atmosphere - 8
Menu - 7
Presentation - 6
Taste - 10
Price - 8
Service - 8
Overall - 8
Atmosphere - Walking into Corky's you definitely get the feel that you're in a Memphis restaurant. There is a lot of local decor at the front. The seating area is pretty open and spacious except for the bar area which is separated off to the side. We thought that was a nice setup so if you wanted to wait for a table or just knock back a few you could without having to come all the way in. The colors are warm and welcoming. The whole atmosphere makes you feel as though you were invited over to a friend's for a barbeque. The music selection was very "Memphis," a mix of country and blues. It added to the ambiance of the restaurant and made you want to grove along without distracting from the meal or the conversation.
Menu
- The menu had some delicious options, but was a little bit limited. All the BBQ staples are there, but it lacked originality. You would expect that there was something really unique and creative from a restaurant that we've heard so much about.
Presentation
- Presentation was pretty standard; there wasn't anything particularly exciting when we saw the food. Everything was served on plain white plates, but all the food was very neat and tidy.
Taste
- Overall, everything tasted excellent. The BBQ nachos were smothered in cheese and sauce but you could taste every element of the dish. They didn't skimp on the pork either. The pork shoulder sandwich earned its spot as a signature dish. The pork was well-cooked but not too dry. The french fries were fresh tasting and had a great crunch to them. The baked beans were sweet and had an excellent texture. The cole slaw was good, but was a little heavy on the mayonnaise for some people's taste. The ribs were completely the star of the show. The were fall-off-the-bone cooked and the slow smoking process maintained all of the moisture. They had a nice crisp bark on the outside with the smoked flavor and dry rub. The rub itself was flavorful enough, but if you prefer your ribs wet, all three sauces (Original, Hot, & Apple) were delicious.
Price - The pricing at Corky's was comparable to most other BBQ restaurants that we've been to, what edged it up on the scale was the fact that that they provide large portions. The BBQ nachos could easily be a meal unto themselves.
Service - Our waitress was friendly and got our food out to us very quickly. We found ourselves waiting for refills a few times and when we asked for a minute to look at the menu we thought we might have to send out a search party if she didn't appear soon.
EXTRAS - A taste of Corky's is available to those outside Memphis as well. They ship their ribs all over the country.
WOULD WE GO BACK?
Sure! We would go back and if anyone asked about BBQ we wouldn't mind recommending it to them either.
Here's a link to their website:
http://www.corkysmemphis.com/
