Corky's Ribs & BBQ - Christmas Eve Lunch

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/

Spaghetti Warehouse - Suzannah's Office Christmas Party

WHERE WE WENT:   
The Spaghetti Warehouse
40 Huling Avenue 
Memphis, TN
38103



WHAT WE ORDERED:

Spinach & Artichoke Dip w/ Crostini, Mozzarella Fritta, Peperoni Mac & Cheese w/ Chicken Parmigiana Combo, Beef & Cheese Ravioli Combo w/ Chicken Fettuccine, Pitcher of House Sangria

WHAT WE THOUGHT:
Atmosphere - 8       
Menu -5
Presentation - 4
Taste - 5
Price - 6
Service - 6
  Overall - 5

Atmosphere - Spaghetti Warehouse has a truly unique feel to it. The rustic, warm tones lend themselves to the feeling that you've entered into an Italian home. There's a variety of eclectic decor throughout the restaurant including antique movie posters, mismatched mosaic glass lamps, and vintage instruments. By far the coolest part of the entire place is the antique, life-size replica streetcar positioned in the middle of the main dining room. It created a great focal point for the large, widely spaced restaurants. Despite all the interesting features, we couldn't give it a 10 because there were many places where paint was peeling off the walls, some spaces seemed dirty, and the bathrooms were in pretty serious disrepair.

Menu - The menu was altogether unimpressive. There were a lot of options available including options for vegetarians, but it was incredibly pasta heavy. We know it's an Italian restaurant, but that does not preclude them for having dishes that do not require pasta. There is a section specifically entitled "Pasta," but everything else on the menu includes it too. Also, there were specialty dishes, but there wasn't anything unique that you couldn't find at any other Italian restaurant. The only good parts of the menu were that it was visually appealing and there was a holiday special insert with interesting cocktails.

Presentation -The presentation was not hideous but also wasn't particularly attractive. Both entrees, the Fettuccine Alfredo & Ravioli combo as well as the Peperoni Mac & Cheese w/ Chicken Parmigiana combo, were just squished side-by-side on a slightly too small plate. The appetizers were a little better; there appeared to be at least some effort and creativity present. The spinach and artichoke dip had the crostinis arranged in a spiral. The most interesting presentation was the pitcher of sangria. It was served with fruit, triple sec, and brandy in a pitcher over ice and they brought the bottle of Riunite Lambrusco out separately. We got to add the wine in to our liking and mix it all with a giant wooden spoon. 


Taste -  The one word that best describes our experience is underwhelming. The mozzarella fritta was slightly burnt (We didn't think you could mess up cheese sticks). All that we could taste in the spinach and artichoke dip was cheese and garlic. There wasn't any spinach or artichoke that was recognizable. Honestly, it was ordered for our table and we didn't even know that's what it was supposed to be until someone said so. The peperoni mac & cheese was too rich and had a cheap taste to it, like something a college kid would make on a budget. The chicken parmigiana was ok, but a bit bland. The other entree combo wasn't much better. The ravioli was slightly over-cooked and under-stuffed and the sauce had a strange aftertaste. The chicken with the alfredo was cooked well and was juicy, but didn't have a lot of seasoning or flavor. The alfredo sauce itself had even less. It was almost completely tasteless. It had to be salted and peppered to death. The one thing that was truly enjoyable was the sangria. It was some of the best we'd ever had. The wine was a perfect pairing with fresh fruit and just the right concoction of ingredients.

Price - Compared to other Italian restaurants, the prices at the Spaghetti Warehouse were very reasonable. The entree combos were from a pick & pair entree selection for $12. The portions were generous as well. HOWEVER, when considering the taste and presentation, we couldn't award the pricing high marks. If the food had been as delicious as the sangria it would have been worth every penny.

Service - The waitstaff was hustling hard since there was a large number of us at the office party. They definitely deserve recognition for handling a large group, but they weren't particularly friendly or attentive. We want to give them the benefit of the doubt since it was an abnormal situation.

WOULD WE GO BACK? 

Not for the food. If you're looking for good Italian food, we would recommend you avoid Spaghetti Warehouse. If we were in the neighborhood and just wanted to stop for a drink, you might could coax us in with some sangria. Maybe.

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

The Majestic Grill - A Special Night Out

WHERE WE WENT:   
The Majestic Grille 
145 S. Main Street
Memphis, TN
38103



WHAT WE ORDERED:

Grilled Artichoke Heart Flatbread, Grilled Salmon with Rice and Asparagus, Filet Oscar with Lump Crab & Bearnaise Sauce, Broccoli, Jasmine Rice

WHAT WE THOUGHT:
Atmosphere - 8       
Menu - 9
Presentation -6
Taste - 7.5
Price -7.5
Service - 6
 Overall -7.5

Atmosphere - Definitely one of the most unique restaurants that we've been to so far. The minute you walk through the front doors, you feel like you've been transported to the past. It just oozes classic style. All of the seating (booths and tables) are a dark wood, accented with the simple elegance of white table cloths. The three sections of seating (floor, raised side bars, and balcony) are all slightly cramped, but it adds to the warm cozy feeling. At the back end of the restaurant, above the kitchen, there is a giant screen where they project classic black & white movies during the evening and cartoons during Saturday morning brunch. It is a nice touch, but the screen should be dressed up a little bit. The palm trees down the center and dark lighting make you feel somewhat like you are in a cross between The Great Gatsby and Casablanca. A few problems kept it from being a 10. First, it was a good choice to have the waitstaff in all black. HOWEVER, most of them were wearing t-shirts which had no place in that restaurant. Next, the two plasma TV behind the bar completely killed the vibe. It seems it's almost mandatory for bars to be equipped with a shrine to pro sports, but it did NOT support the aesthetic at all.

Menu - The menu was almost perfect. It was kept to a simple two pages that were black and hard-bound. The font and accents evoked a 1920's feel, but did not make it difficult to read. There were extensive beer and wine offerings along with a vast array of liquor bottles behind the bar. The specialty cocktails on the menu all were listed with their recipe origin and the year it was created, maintaining the authenticity of the time period. There was a substantial amount of dishes available for the vegetarian and the carnivorous alike. The menu was near perfect; the only thing that knocked it down to a 9 was the lack of organization. The sandwiches and salads were segmented together and all of the entrees were lumped together randomly. As you read through the entrees options it skipped around from pan roasted chicken to ravioli to salmon, back to another pasta dish. If they could make it just a tiny bit easier to find what you want, we'd have a 10 on our hands.

Presentation - The grilled artichoke heart flatbread was served on a wooden slab that gave it an artisan-crafted feel. The colors of the spinach, artichokes, feta, and mozzarella cheese made for a beautiful dish. There wasn't anything particularly pleasing or displeasing about the presentation of the entrees. The dishes were classic white, adding to the elegance, but the food itself was plain looking. The only thing that stood out (and not in a good way) was the Bearnaise sauce drowning the plate so that you couldn't even see the crab or the filet.


Taste - There were some aspects of the meal that were done very well and some that missed the mark of their potential. The flatbread was amazing. All of the ingredients blended well together. The spinach was not too wilted, the artichoke hearts were cooked perfectly and there was exactly the right amount of both feta and mozzarella cheese. It was one of those dishes that will make you believe that you could survive as a vegetarian. The Bearnaise sauce of the Filet Oscar was delicious; it had a perfect consistency and flavor...the problem was the sheer volume of it. It drown the dish. Luckily the steak had a good char and enough flavor to cut through the yellow flood, but the taste of the lump crab was completely lost. On the bright side the steak itself was delicious and cooked to a perfect medium. The broccoli was salted, peppered and buttered wonderfully, but was slightly undercooked, as was the asparagus. The salmon had a fantastic honey rosemary glaze and was served with the skin on...which is where the problem was. Despite the excellent taste of the fish, the skin was not crisped, but BURNT. To eat the salmon you had to either mutilate the salmon off the skin or eat the skin and ruin the flavor. It was a shame.

Price - As far as price goes, we found it very comparable to restaurants of similar quality. The portions were good, but for what we paid, we would have expected not to experience the taste faux pas that we did.

Service - Our server was just ok. She was polite but not friendly. She didn't introduce us to the menu, offer specials or suggestions, and didn't offer to answer any questions. She checked up on us a couple times, but not frequently. The kitchen was very slow.

WOULD WE GO BACK? 
Yes. We would definitely go back for the signatures flatbreads and would want to try them all. The taste of most aspects of the dish were good, so we would just hope that we could avoid things like over-saucing and burnt skin. This is a great place for a special occasion, date night, or business dinner.

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

Memphis BBQ Company - Lunch for Two

WHERE WE WENT:   
Memphis BBQ Company
709 DeSoto Cove
Horn Lake, MS 
38637



WHAT WE ORDERED:

Pork Rinds, Pulled Pork Sandwich, Mac & Cheese, BBQ Meatloaf, Fried Okra, Baked Beans, Sweet Tea

WHAT WE THOUGHT:
Atmosphere - 8       
Menu - 8
Presentation - 7
Taste - 8
Price - 7
Service -10
 Overall - 8

Atmosphere - The atmosphere of the restaurant really fit well with the BBQ joint theme. There was a variety of decor including musical instruments, BBQ competition trophies, and hand-painted items like suitcases or lunch boxes. The lighting was dim enough to create a warm, cozy vibe, but not too dim that it was inconvenient. They had country and bluegrass music playing throughout the restaurant that added nicely to the feel of the restaurant. It wasn't distracting; you had to listen for it, but when you did, you were glad. The only issues we had were the lack of color and focal point. The only real color other than wood tones was a mustard-y yellow on all the walls. There was a lot of nice, open space in the layout, but no focal point.

Menu -  The menu contained a variety of BBQ options, from your traditional staples such as pulled pork and ribs to more creative dishes like BBQ spaghetti and BBQ meatloaf. There were size upgrade options as well. Make your regular a jumbo. There weren't a lot of vegetarian options, but come on, it's a BBQ joint. The menu was well arranged and easy to navigate.

Presentation - The presentation was pretty standard, generic white plates, in keeping with the overall tone of the restaurant. There was some interesting aspects like the propped up bun on the sandwich "showcasing" the pulled pork or the two pieces of meatloaf stacked to create an interesting angle.

Taste - The pork rinds (or chicharrones as you might know them) had an excellent taste since they were sprinkled in the house signature rub. They could have used just a pinch more salt. The were better than most pork rinds you find in that they were crispy and light at the same time and weren't heavy and weighed down in taste by grease. The mac & cheese was delicious; the cheese had a good flavor, the noodles were perfect, and the consistency was perfectly thick and creamy. The pulled pork had a good flavor but was dry. Like, "you'll need to sauce every bite" dry. If you don't mind that, then there's no problem. The cole slaw added a nice freshness and brightness to the dish. Anyone who likes a lot of mayo will be disappointed. The beans were savory with an excellent smoky flavor. The okra was excellent. The breading to okra ratio was perfect, crunchy but not overwhelming and not at all slimy as okra often is. It was however, slightly over-salted. The BBQ meatloaf was wonderful. Too many times meatloaf just tastes like a hunk of beef, but not here. You can taste the onions and the celery cooked into it. The BBQ sauce was a nice complement to the taste. No ketchup required. 

Price - Prices were  comparable to other restaurants of the same kind.

Service - Our waiter Will was fantastic. He was friendly and attentive. He checked up on us frequently, but not enough to be irritating. He chatted with us and made suggestions. We would ask for him specifically.

WOULD WE GO BACK? 
Sure! We would however, try something other than the pulled pork.

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

Movie & Pizza Company - Dinner & Trivia

WHERE WE WENT:   
Movie & Pizza Company
110 Harbor Town Square
Memphis, TN 38103



WHAT WE ORDERED:

 Sausage and Cheese Platter, Garlic Bread, Beef & Spinach Stuffed Shells, Yeungling,
Shiner Wild Hare

WHAT WE THOUGHT:
Atmosphere - 7       
Menu - 6
Presentation - 5
Taste - 7
Price - 8
Service - 9
 Overall -7


Atmosphere - The space of the restaurant is typical of a restaurant in a strip mall, since it does not stand alone. It is one room where you can see everything the moment you walk in the door. The walls are a semi-obnoxious, not quite lime green that did not match our personal tastes, but some people may be a fan of. It has a nice focal point - a big screen TV that is mounted high directly behind the bar. The whole restaurant sort of gravitates toward it. The seating is a combination of booths and tables very few of which seem to match. The great part about it though is the wall decor. Mounted on the awful green walls you'll find framed photography, aluminum signs of beer logos and movie posters showcasing some of the greats like Pulp Fiction and The Godfather. Also, if that wasn't cool enough, there's a giant King Kong replica caged in the top corner.

Menu -  The menu contained a decent variety of pastas, sandwiches, pizza and a few salads. There were substantial vegetarian options. Where the menu loses the bulk of 
 its points is in ease of use and pure error. First off, there were three chalk special boards placed randomly throughout the restaurant each detailing different items. If you didn't look closely, you could miss one, like I did. When I saw it as we were leaving, it made me wish I had gotten something else. It would have greatly improved our experience if they had just had a sheet explaining the specials. They have a good selection of wine and beer, including many craft beers and local brews to the tri-state area. HOWEVER, they do not know how to categorize their beer. They have it divided into "Domestic" and "Imports." Only four of the beers listed in the import section were actually imported. They seem to use the two terms interchangeably with "cheap" and "cheaper."

Presentation -You don't expect fantastic presentation from a place like Movie & Pizza Company, but you do expect consistency. The beef & spinach shells were served in ceramic dish that had obvious wear, making it feel like a home-cooked dish. The sausage and cheese platter and the garlic bread were both served in red diner baskets with wax paper. The sausage and cheese platter had a lot of potential for interesting plating, or at least a plate.


Taste - The sausage and cheese platter was good. The sausage was crisp on the edges with a great texture and just the right amount of spice. The BBQ sauce served with it was an excellent addition to the taste, both sweet and smoky. It had the makings of a great dish if the cheese pairings had been a little more original than sharp cheddar and pepper jack cubes. The overabundance of crackers was also distracting. As for the shells, the sauce was delicious, just a little sweet. All 3 shells were overflowing with spinach and ricotta, HOWEVER there was a distinct lack of beef, just enough to say they held true to the name but not enough to contribute to the taste. It felt like eating florentine shells, which would have been delicious if that were the order. The garlic bread...well you can't really mess up garlic bread.

Price - The menu was well priced, especially considering the portion sizes. Beer and wine as reasonable, both draft, bottled, and pitchers. At the changing of seasons they have $2 "firesales" to get rid of their seasonal beer.

Service - Our waitress was attentive and friendly. She answered questions and gave suggestions enthusiastically. The only issue is that it took a long while to get our check.

Extras - Tuesday nights are movie nights, where they screen a classic up behind the bar.
Friday nights at 8:30 is free team trivia.
Check the website linked below for a schedule.

WOULD WE GO BACK? 
Yes. It's a great place to hang out. The food is good and the drinks are affordable.

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

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. 

El Porton - Lunch for Two

WHERE WE WENT:   
El Porton Mexican Restaurant   
65 S. Highland Street
Memphis, TN 38119



WHAT WE ORDERED:

Small Cheese Dip, Fish Tacos, 
Rice & Beans, Beef Burrito, 
Beef Enchilada


WHAT WE THOUGHT:
Atmosphere - 5       
Menu - 7
Presentation - 4
Taste - 5
Price - 9
Service - 7
 Overall - 6

Atmosphere - The restaurant had plenty of open space and the seating wasn't at all crowded. There was some authentic looking decor, but all of it looked cheap. The lighting was nice, not too dark or bright. There was a lack of color that is typical of Mexican restaurants and way too much blank space on the walls. The whole space was generally disinteresting. There some elements that were in disrepair and there was also some serious dust.

Menu -  The menu had a wide variety including non-Mexican and vegetarian options. It had appealing visual representations of many dishes and was well laid out. Personal pet peeve, we hate when there is a long list of almost-exactly-the-same, numbered combinations

Presentation - The fish tacos were a very pretty dish. The square plate contrasted with round smaller bowls really nicely. The pico de gallo was bright and colorful. The burrito and enchilada combo was sloppily plated and drowned in sauce which created a monochromatic blob on most of the plate. The beans and rice differed in color only slightly and were sloshed on side-by-side with almost no distinguishable boundaries.

Taste - The cheese dip was somewhat bland and kinda watery, but you can't really mess up cheese dip too badly. The salsa was some of the best we've had. It had a good, thick consistency and the perfect spiciness. It had a significant kick, but not to much that it negated the taste. The fish was rubbery and overcooked, but the pico de gallo had an excellent taste. The tacos were served with a chipotle sauce that was delicious by itself, but did not blend well with the other flavors of the dish. The beef in the enchilada and burritos was tasteless, completely devoid of seasoning. Luckily the enchilada sauce was delicious and made it edibile. 

Price - Everything on the menu was reasonably priced and portions were satisfying, but not too large.

Service - Our service was speedy, attentive, and efficient, but not particularly friendly.  

WOULD WE GO BACK? 
 No. There are so many other options for Mexican. We wouldn't want to waste our time when we could try something new.

 Here's a link to their website: www.elportonmexicanrestaurants.com