Chiwawa! Midtown - Lazy Day Lunch

WHERE WE WENT:    

Chiwawa! Midtown
2059 Madison Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104


WHAT WE ORDERED:
Macho Nachos, Elote, Vegetarian Quesadilla


WHAT WE THOUGHT:
Atmosphere - 7
Menu - 8
Presentation - 8
Taste - 8
Price - 8
Service - 7
 Overall - 8


Atmosphere - The first two words that come to mind when you think about Chiwawa! Midtown should be "laid back." The inside of the restaurant is spacious with the majority of the the tables and booths up against the walls. There's also equally comfortable outdoor seating for when the weather is really good. Extra large windows all the way around the place give it a very open air feel. Almost the entire decor it light wood. You get a sense that you walked off the street of midtown Memphis and somehow got transported to a surf shack on the Cali coast.

Menu - Before even being able to look through your choices of food, you could easily get caught up in the aesthetic appeal of the Chiwawa! menu. I have never been one to like orange, but somehow it works here. The menu itself is very manageable, just one full page. It is anything but boring. Bright colors, an easy-flowing layout, and a variety of nifty fonts are an eye catcher for certain. The actual edibles listed on the menu are just as captivating. Chiwawa! serves a mix of traditional Mexican and American street food such as elote, chicarrones, or even gourmet hot dogs. There are dozens of choices contained in the three categories of antojitos, tacos, and perros calientes, but if you can't find one you like you can also build your own. Some of the mouth-watering highlights include: Juan-tons (chorizo, chicken, poblano crema, cream cheese and salsa roja in a wonton wrapper), Taco de Madre (brisket, carmelized onion, tomato chiptole sauce, cotija) and the Tijuana Dog (chorizo-charro bean chili, queso blanco, chili fried onions, pickled jalapenos). They also have an expansive menu of equally delicious sounding cocktails and unique shooter such as the W.C. Handy (Tennessee Apple Moonshine, Sour Apple Pucker, Lemon Lime Fresca, Homemade Sweet & Sour, Blue Curacao).
 

Presentation - For self-proclaimed "street food", the presentation was pretty solid. The Macho Nachos were piled high with chicken, queso, chorizo chili, jalapenos, iceberg lettuce, pico de gallo, sour cream and shredded cheese on a snazzy rectangular plate. The dish looked well-balanced and the colors were great. The quesadilla was delicious looking and garnished with fresh cilantro with salsa roja and sour cream in silver bullets on the side. The star was the Elote covered in crema sprinkled artfully with cotija and chili lime salt.

Taste -The elote was amazing! I could close my eyes and taste a hot summer day in Mexico City. All the flavors blended together expertly; the crunch of the corn, acidity of the chili lime salt and mildness of the crema. The Macho Nachos were also delicious. The mondo mound of toppings insured that there was never a flavorless

bite or a bare chip in sight. The quesadilla was one of the best I've ever had. It was slammed full of multiple rich cheeses, sauteed spinach & mushrooms, and black beans.


Price -This was actually one of the pricier Mexican restaurants we've been to. Generally you can count on low costs and huge portions when you venture south of the border. Chiwawa! is worth the upcharge. The portions are still sizeable but you can tell it wasn't slapped together in two seconds from vats of indistinguishable mush.

Service - Our server was great. He was helpful, friendly and attentive. We never had to ask for refills and he checked up on us a good amount.


WOULD WE GO BACK? 
Yes. The food was great, the atmosphere was fun, and the pricing wasn't too bad. We wanna go back for happy hour and try some of the unique drink specials they have.

Here's a link to their website:  
 http://chiwawamidtown.com/

Fuel Cafe - Our First Vegetarian Meal

WHERE WE WENT:   

Fuel Cafe
1761 Madison Avenue
Memphis, TN
38104


WHAT WE ORDERED:
Quinoa & Red Bean Chili, Gourmet Grilled Cheese w/ Tomato and Arugula, Hot Apple & Brie Baguette w/ Balsamic Side Salad


WHAT WE THOUGHT:
Atmosphere - 7
Menu - 7
Presentation - 9
Taste - 8
Price - 8
Service - 7
 Overall - 7.5


Atmosphere -  Fuel Cafe is a re-purposed old gas station from years gone by. The concept for the restaurant is a really cute one, but it is only half-heartedly realized. The walls are overly dull with a few scattered pieces of art that seem disjointed. Everything appeared to be a little shabby and of ill repair. Fuel Cafe definitely exhibited character though. The counter was reminiscent of "the good ole days" when you would go down to the local drug store and pay a visit to your friendly neighborhood soda jerk. It was cozy and unique, but the concept could have translated much better into the actual execution.

Menu -  If you're an alternative eater, then you'll be right at home here. This place is vegan and vegetarian heaven, especially for people like me who are still vegetarian fledglings and miss the taste of some dishes.  They have light fare like salads and brie & fig jam crostini as well as heavier options such as vegetarian walnut "meat" loaf or tomato & provolone baguette. Carnivores, don't feel left out. Fuel Cafe has something for you too! Hot turkey sandwiches, bison burgers and tuna melts are just a couple of the dishes filled with meaty goodness. (There's even bacon.)  Because of their commitment to healthier eating they guarantee all of the animals

are grass-fed and they'd be happy to tell you exactly where they source their meats from. They have options for vegan cheese and sour cream along with gluten-free buns. One of the more interesting offerings is naturally flavored and sweetened sodas as well. 
 
Presentation -All the dishes came presented on solid white, vintage, diner-style plates and bowls. Plain and simple, letting the food speak for itself. Each dish had excellent color and texture and there is no better word for the cup of chili other than adorable with its soda crackers sticking up adorably. But most importantly, when you looked at the food and immediately wanted to dig in.

Taste - The gourmet grilled cheese was altogether a good sandwich. The tomato and arugula were excellent additions both in terms

of flavor and color. However, the bread was over-buttered and became soggy easily. While it tasted good, it seemed like something we could have simply made at home. The fresh cut french fries were excellent; crisp, delicious, and light without too much grease. The vegetarian quinoa chili was some of the best I've ever eaten, including recipes with meat. It was even as good as my Pawpaw's. The quinoa made the texture spot-on and there was enough spice to kick it up, but not enough to make me want to stop eating it. Easily some of the best comfort food I've had, vegetarian or otherwise. The hot apple and brie baguette was good. The cheese was obviously of a high quality and the acidity of the thinly sliced granny smith apples cut through the richness perfectly. Topped with arugula and balsamic vinaigrette, it was a delicious summer sandwich. The only complaint was that the bread-to- filling ratio could have been better. Always a fan of a good baguette, I just think there should have been more inside it to even out the proportions.


Price - The price overall was pretty agreeable. There were a few items on the menu that seemed a little steep, but nothing so bad to deter us from returning. Also, it's worth paying a little more for quality, organic vegetables and responsibly raised meat.

Service - Our server was polite and attentive, but no stretch of the imagination could label her as friendly. She brought our food, but her hospitality seemed strained at best. I want to give her the benefit of the doubt because we went in an hour before close and were the only ones there. However, money is money and having worked in the service industry no matter the situation, your mantra should be, "smile like you mean it."

WOULD WE GO BACK? 
For sure! It's quirky, quaint and delicious. Being vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or even just organic can be really difficult. This place makes it easy and appetizing. Everyone should give it try though. Next time, I want the vegan cheesecake! Bonus, if you can't make it to midtown, they have a food truck.


Here's a link to their website:  
 http://fuelcafememphis.com/about

Sekisui Midtown - Asian Eats

WHERE WE WENT:   
Sekisui Midtown
25 S Belvedere Blvd
Memphis, TN

WHAT WE ORDERED:
Miso Soup 
-The Saint (Blue Crab, Crunchies, Eel Sauce w/ Smoked Salmon & Spicy Mayo on top)
-The Serpent (Crab, Cream Cheese, Avocado, Smelt Roe w/ Eel & Eel Sauce on top)
-Red Birds (Crunchy Crab, Mayo, Sweet Chili Sauce w/ Shrimp on top)
-Grizzlies Roll (Shrimp Tempura, Smoked Salmon, Mayo)


WHAT WE THOUGHT:
Atmosphere - 6 
Menu - 9
Presentation - 9
Taste - 8
Price - 7
Service - 7
 Overall - 8

Atmosphere - Sekisui Midtown is ... interesting. Walking in, you are immediately greeted by a beautiful water feature built into the wall. The best design aspect is the bar. Set against the wall is all of the alcoholic offerings and in front of that is a display that showcases all of the fresh ingredients that go into their hand rolled sushi. One flaw in this design is that it can only be seen from one angle. It would have been much more enjoyable if it were placed centrally in the dining room so everyone could appreciate watching the sushi be rolled. Apart from the sushi bar, nothing at all indicated that this was an Asian restaurant. Each wall was a different color and an eccentric collection of art adorns

the walls. Some sections seem like they could be from the future, others look retro. The music was an odd hodgepodge, none of which was Oriental. It was also incredibly dim and the seating was very tight. Not only was the theme not congruent with the type of food being served, there was no distinguishable design theme at all.

Menu - The menu is, in one word, large. They have an extensive drink offering including hot and cold sake, along with signature cocktails. Unless you come in knowing exactly what you want, it will take forever to sift through the dense list of Nigiri, Rolls, hot and cold appetizers, soups, salads, and entrees. While we appreciate all the choices, including uncommon options like tofu tempura, it is just a bit overwhelming.

Presentation - Sushi is as much art as it is food. The presentation of our sushi at Sekisui Midtown did not disappoint. The rolls themselves were absolutely gorgeous. The colors were vibrant and everything looked incredible. They were plated on a flat black cherry wood panel. The minimalism of the dish directed the attention directly to the rolls. The sauce dishes were the only embellishment, with the Sekisui logo painted on the bottom.

Taste - Each of our rolls was delicious. Seafood has to be very fresh and well-prepared to avoid any unappetizing tastes or odors, and this was prepared skillfully. The sweet chili sauce in the Red Birds Roll had a flavor that was different from any other sushi we've ever tasted. The eel sauce was delicious. The rice was delicious and sticky, not too dry. Another standout was the signature Sekisui Punch, a mixture of coconut rum, pineapple rum, orange juice, Sprite and grenadine. One of the best cocktails in Memphis.


Price - Everything on the menu appeared reasonably priced and comparable to other restaurants of its kind. We have seen better prices though.

Service - Our server was very pleasant, but also very awkward. She

lingered after we had finished speaking to her and created a little bit of an uncomfortable feel. She did however, take decent care of our needs.

WOULD WE GO BACK? 
Yes, but next time we'll look at the menu online first and know what we want before we go in. Seriously. Look at the menus.


Here's a link to their website:  
 http://www.sekisuiusa.com/go/

Slider Inn - Pun Intended

WHERE WE WENT:   
Slider Inn
2117 Peabody Avenue
Memphis, TN 
38104

WHAT WE ORDERED:

Mix & Match ( Mushroom Swiss, Original Memphis, The Big Deuce, Flat Iron, 2 Buffalo Chicken) French Fries

WHAT WE THOUGHT:
Atmosphere - 8
Menu - 8
Presentation - 8
Taste - 8
Price - 7
Service - 6
 Overall - 8


Atmosphere -The inside of Slider Inn provides an awesome retro vibe mixed with modern hipster flair. Dark colors combined with chrome give the interior a 50's dive/biker bar feel which corresponds beautifully with the logo. Large chalkboards around the bar inform guests of the specials with artistic scrawl. The real party is outside. They have a large deck with more seating capacity than the inside, cordoned off for a smoking and non-smoking area. Pets are welcomed on the deck and the day we went, the gorgeous

weather prompted all the patrons out to the picnic tables along with their dogs. The atmosphere was very relaxed and casual.

Menu -  The name of the restaurant clearly indicates what they specialize in, sliders, served three at a time. We think the best deal is to do the mix & match so that you can get a little taste of everything. They offer a variety of different sliders with beef, chicken, and even a few vegetarian options such as a falafel patty or a peanut butter and preserve slider. They do have other options apart from sliders, like wings, nachos, and a signature lobster roll. The physical menu itself is aesthetically pleasing and easy to navigate, with a level of visual creativity that matches the level of the food.
 
Presentation - The sliders come out on a round brushed metal tray, giving the same impression as the interior of the restaurant as retro or vintage. Any additional condiments come in silver bullets as well. All aspects of the dish looks very cool, except for the french

fries. They were served in a paper basket, which next to all of the other metal damages the aesthetic.

Taste -  The mix and match was a great choice, because we got a chance to experience all kinds of unique flavors. Overall, each slider was delicious. The Original Memphis was relatively plain and simple but tastes exactly like a quintessential American hamburger should. The Flat Iron was juicy and cooked to perfection. The only complaints we have are with the Mushroom Swiss and the Buffalo Chicken. The Mushroom Swiss slider was not nearly as flavorful as it could have been, especially compared to some of the other burgers of the same kind that we've tried. The Buffalo Chicken was hot, too hot. We started to lose the flavor to the heat. Buffalo should always strike the perfect balance.


Price - Although the portions are small, they have big taste. Everything evens out. You get three burgers for the price of one.

Service - Our service was sub-par. We waited a LONG time after we sat down to even be acknowledged by our server. She was very slow throughout the meal and walked past us several times while we tried to get her attention.

WOULD WE GO BACK? 
Sure, especially if the weather is good and we can sit outside.

Here's a link to their website:  
 http://thesliderinn.com/

Boscos Squared - Out of Town Friends Visit

WHERE WE WENT:   
Bosco's Squared
2120 Madison Avenue
Memphis, TN
38104

WHAT WE ORDERED:

Baked Lasagna Bolognese, Bosco's Burger, Garlic Parmesan Fries

WHAT WE THOUGHT:
Atmosphere - 8
Menu - 7
Presentation - 6
Taste - 6
Price - 6
Service - 7
 Overall - 6.5


Atmosphere - As it is with many places in the midtown area, the first word that comes to mind when you walk into Bosco's Squared is "cool." You get the feeling that you've walked into something

both warm and sophisticated and much more interesting than its unassuming exterior would suggest. A long, dark bar is the central focus of the restaurant with two sections of seating, one down either side. The atmosphere is sophisticated without feeling stuffy and is a great gathering place for people of all sorts.

Menu -Bosco's sports a menu that is diverse but not cumbersome. There are plenty of choices for people of all tastes. They offer soups, salads, pastas, sandwiches, and flatbreads. One of the more interesting looking options is the Black Bean & Goat Cheese Tamale. The overall best part of the menu hands don is the beer selection. Boscos goes a step beyond offering local craft beers and actually brews their own. Their year-round offerings include The Famous Flaming Stone, Midtown Brown, Bosco's Bombay IPA, and Isle of Skye Scottish Ale. On top of those they have seasonal specialties available. They offer $11 half gallon growlers. Unfortunately we were unable to try any of the beers because we were sick during our visit, but our research has led us to the conclusion that it's the best thing about Bosco's.

Presentation - Presentation at Bosco's was not bad at all. Plain white dishes that gave off an air of class accompanied all the dishes. We have definitely seen worse, but the low score derives from the fact that we expected something more from a place with such a vivid personality.

Taste - One word: underwhelming. Nothing was bad per se, but nothing really jumped out and grabbed us either. Maybe it was because people had hyped up Bosco's to us too much beforehand, but it just didn't live up to our expectations. The Baked Lasagna Bolognese was bland. The cheeses did not stand out and the sauce was something that could have come out of a jar at Kroger. The signature burger was not much better. It was just a burger with no distinguishable traits.The garlic parmesan fries were the most

unique tasting thing we ordered, but were unfortunately drowned in garlic.

Price - The price was not good. The lasagna was $15 dollars and was much to small and lacking in flavor to be worth it. The burger and fries were $13. We've had bigger, better burgers for less in many places in the city.

Service -Our service was just fine. Our server was polite, but with zero personality and was a bit slow.

WOULD WE GO BACK? 
Yeah, but only for the curiosity about the beer.

Here's a link to their website:  
http://boscosbeer.com/memphis/story/

Brother Juniper's - "The Best Breakfast in Memphis"

WHERE WE WENT:   
Brother Juniper's 
3519 Walker Avenue
Memphis, TN
38111



WHAT WE ORDERED:

Special # 3 (Two eggs, scrambled w/ pesto, red peppers, spinach, tomatoes, mozzarella), Home Fries, Build-Your-Own Omelet w/ mozzarella, feta, mushrooms, spinach, ham), Biscuit, Toast, Assorted Spreadable Fruits

WHAT WE THOUGHT:
Atmosphere - 8    
Menu - 9
Presentation - 7 
Taste - 9
Price - 8
Service - 7
 Overall - 8


Atmosphere - Brother Juniper's is a small, homey place. There's a "front yard" and a porch at the entrance. The seating is tight, but it feels cozy not crowded. The decor is simplistic and personal, which gives it a homespun charm. Walking inside you'll forget that you're in the city; you'll feel transported out to a family farm where you're greeted with open arms and welcomed to the table.

Menu -The menu was extensive. There were plenty of options for every taste. Both vegetarians and meat eaters will be happy with choices. There are predetermined breakfast specials as well as "Build-Your-Own" options. There is a variety of styles of food: Southern like biscuits and gravy, Italian like eggs and pesto, etc.

Presentation - Everything was plated on standard white dishes. Each dish had excellent color combinations as well as textural variety. Looking at our food made our mouths water.


Taste -The Special #3 was delicious. It's rare that you find pesto at breakfast, but the flavor was incredible, very savory. The home fries are easily the best we've ever had. They use red potatoes quartered, seasoned and roasted. They are the perfect, hearty aspect of breakfast, but have such a good flavor they could easily be paired with a prime rib at dinner and not be out of place. We wish we had the recipe. The BYO Omelet was excellent. There were heaping quantities of all the ingredients and everything tasted farm-to-table fresh. We tried multiple of their spreadable fruits (strawberry, peach, and blackberry), which are similar to jams but are made without added sugar or preservatives. All of them were delicious, but blackberry is the best. We actually have a jar sitting in our refrigerator now.

Price - Brother Juniper's is a little pricier than most other breakfast places we've been too, but the freshness of the ingredients and the extra generous portions account for that and make it completely worthwhile.

Service - Our service was ok, but it was a little slow. Also, our waiter seemed not to be completely there as far as his attention to our table.

WOULD WE GO BACK? 
Yes. They truly do live up to the claim that they are the "Best Breakfast in Memphis"...at least that we've encountered so far.

Here's a link to their website:  
http://brotherjunipers.com/

Young Avenue Deli - Thursday Night Trivia

WHERE WE WENT:
Young Avenue Deli
2119 Young Avenue
Memphis, TN 
38104



WHAT WE ORDERED:

Mozzarella Sticks, Sam I Am (Turkey, Gouda, BBQ Sauce in Pita Bread), Yankee Club (Pastrami, Corn Beef, Sauerkraut, Swiss, Spicy Mustard on Marble Rye), French Fries

WHAT WE THOUGHT:
Atmosphere - 9       
Menu - 7
Presentation - 6
Taste - 9
Price - 7
Service - 4
  Overall - 7.5

Atmosphere - If describing Young Avenue Deli in one word, it'd be "cool." This is the type of place you go to hang out. The building itself is really cool with exposed brick and aluminum siding. Layered all over the walls are old pieces of Americana including antique metal signs of beer advertisements. The bar is creative and has an awesome roll cage that hangs above it. There are pool tables, a couple of electronic arcade games in the back and a stage up front by the door that sometimes host live music and other entertainment. The limited seating lends itself to having people sitting and crowding at the bar frequently. The place has a very "neighborhood" feeling to it, as most places in the Cooper-Young area. There was a large assortment of people present, but the main clientele seems to be hip twentysomethings.


Menu -They have an outstanding selection of beer that includes local brews such as Ghost River, Memphis Made, and Wiseacre as well as beers that have been more difficult to find such as Magic Hat and The Golden Monkey. They have a good variety of sandwiches, appetizers, and build-your-own pizza options that can all be classified as bar food in the best way possible.

Presentation -The presentation here is standard: red baskets & wax paper. Everything looks delicious, even though arranged simply.

Taste - The mozzarella sticks are some of the most delicious we have ever tasted. The batter is crispy and well-seasoned. The sticks themselves are giant and filled with cheese to the perfect ratio. The Sam I Am is a most delicious wrap. The turkey is piled in and the gouda and barbeque sauce combination create an excellent flavor. The Yankee Club had a healthy portion of meat in the sandwich and everything tasted fresh, including the bread. However, it seemed a little unnecessary to be a triple decker.

  Price - Although the food is good, the price is just okay. None of the sandwiches actually come with fries. The price point could be lowered by a dollar or two.

Service - Our service was bad. We waited forever to get our beers and rarely saw our server again until she brought our check. We actually had to chase her down just to pay. Admittedly, the place was crazy busy, but even checking in would have been nice. 

WOULD WE GO BACK? 

Yes. The food was excellent and the atmosphere is fun. One recommendation is that if you go on a Thursday night for trivia, get there a little early. We got the last table available. If you aren't in a hurry, it's a great meal.

 Here's a link to their website: 
http://www.youngavenuedeli.com/

We forgot to take pictures this time, so photo credits to the ThisItalianFamily blog

Little Italy - Mmmm mmmmm

WHERE WE WENT:   
Little Italy
1495 Union Avenue
Memphis, TN
38104



WHAT WE ORDERED:

Medium Cheese Pizza, Ham & Pepperoni Stromboli

WHAT WE THOUGHT:
Atmosphere - 7       
Menu - 7
Presentation -5
Taste - 7
Price - 6
Service -8
 Overall -7

Atmosphere - The restaurant itself is pretty small, seating about 25 people. The walls have a warm orange tone that is cozy and evokes an Italian feel. The layout of the restaurant and the simple decor allow the restaurant to live up to its name. It feels like you could walk right off the streets of New York up to the counter of this little place.

Menu -  The menu is a board posted behind the counter and can be a little tough to read. They have a great variety of your typical New York-style favorites including stuffed pizzas, sandwiches, strombolis, desserts, pasta dishes etc. You can order pizza by the slice as well. The only thing lacking is alcoholic beverages.

Presentation - Little Italy deals primarily in take-out orders, so the presentation is virtually non-existent. Pizza boxes and styrofoam take-out boxes are the norm, but that is only to be expected from such a delicious hole-in-the-wall.

Taste -With Mike's family being originally from New Jersey, and having spent much time in NYC, he is pretty picky about his pizza. The pizza was overall very good. The sauce had excellent flavor and texture and you can tell the cheese was fresh. We're fans of thin crusted pizza, but the crust tonight was a little doughy. It needed to be crispier. Pizza should be able to stay straight (not flimsy) when held by its crust. The stromboli was excellent. There was just enough dough to hold everything together, but not too much so that it felt like that's all you were eating.

Price - The menu was reasonable, especially for somewhere so close to downtown. We've seen better. The best deal is the pizza by the slice. The slices are huge, in true New York fashion. Monday and Thursdays are "Pizza Nights". You can get a large cheese for $10 and a large 1 topping for $12.

Service - All of the pizzas are made to order, so it took a few minutes to get our food, but it was worth it. Since its a small place, there's only a few people who work there. The people are friendly, but not over-talkative. 

WOULD WE GO BACK? 
Yes. We really like this place. It's the closest thing to real New York we've been able to find since we've been in Tennessee.