Jen S.'s Profile

Sekisui Pacific Rim was chic and cutting-edge when it opened about a decade ago but now when I go there I feel like I should expect the "Night at the Roxbury" guys to come bobbing past me. Does anyone actually enjoy listening to trance/club/whatever that music is while they're trying to eat dinner?
Liquor options are limited by the lack of an actual bar, so it's best to stick to wine or sake. There are a lot of creative rolls on the menu, but the sushi is usually just all right, never mind-blowingly good. Two specialty rolls, a seaweed salad and one cocktail ran me (just me) $32. I know Memphis is landlocked so the fish will cost more. But I can spend the same amount on a meal I'll rave about for days at any fine-dining restaurant in town.

Even though the owners have done an admirable job trying to cover it up, you can't help noticing you're in an old KFC. Of course that doesn't affect the quality of the food, but the atmosphere just doesn't feel quite comfortable.
The first time I went to Lavoro's, my friend ordered a salad with chicken, and I opted for a panini and a side of Italian spinach. The salad was enormous, with big chunks of chicken. The panini was stacked thick with meat and I loved the house-made chips. But the real star was the spinach: mixed with garlic and thick chunky tomato sauce, it was unlike any I'd ever tried. Service was friendly but slow.
I brought my husband a few weeks later. "You'll love this place," I told him. "The food is amazing." I wasn't very hungry, so I just ordered a caprese salad and spinach. The caprese was standard, and it was fine. But his chips were burnt, his panini was thinner than the one I'd had, and the spinach, while still delicious, wasn't as thick. In fact, it was on the watery side. Though he liked the roasted vegetables he ordered our visit didn't live up to my hype. Again, service was friendly, but slow.
All told, Lavoro's is decent, but a little inconsistent. That won't keep me from trying them again and seeing what else their menu has to offer.

I've eaten at Revival three times, in three different parts of town and from three vastly different menus. Despite all those differences, my experiences have been consistently wonderful.

I've tried the following entrees:
Chicken and sausage etoufee (pics here: http://lunchbrag.com/p...)
"Junkyard dog" (http://lunchbrag.com/p...)
Steak fajita tacos (http://lunchbrag.com/p...)

And I've had the mac and cheese, fries, dirty fries and turnip greens for sides. The mac and cheese is intensely thick and creamy. Some might consider this blasphemy, but I say it's better than homemade (because the only work required is in picking up the fork). Ordering my fries "dirty" -- with cheese, mushrooms, gravy and chives --has pretty much ruined all other fries for me. Somehow the thin shoestring fries manage to stay crispy under all the toppings.
 
I've had the peanut butter brownie for dessert and I'm told the bread pudding is amazing.

Everything is remarkably fresh, ready quickly, and most importantly, DELICIOUS. It's incredible what they can do within the confines of that truck.

Took my bridesmaids for lunch as a thank-you the day before my wedding: thanks to Felicia Suzanne's for starting my big weekend on the right foot!.

Our server warned that the 25-cent martinis were teeny-tiny, but they got the job done! Most of us ordered either chicken and waffles or the day's special, soft-shell crab. I love soft-shell crab and order it whenever I can, and I must say Felicia Suzanne's was one of the best I've ever tried. We loved our server, too.

My only regret is that we couldn't sit in the gorgeous courtyard because it was too windy.

I'm getting married in five weeks and lately I've been noticing that my skin is about the same color as my dress. No bueno, y'all. We spent too much on our photographer for me to be lookin' like a Tim Burton character in our wedding pics.
So I did a little research online and headed to Tan-n-Go.
I explained my predicament to the two college-age women working and they could not have been more helpful. One explained the different levels of tanning and the packages they offer. And then instead of trying to force me into the most expensive option, she asked me "What do you think?" She helped me pick the package that would give me the best value and the best results. She also recommended a good lotion from their big selection.
I've been several times since and each time the staff are friendly and welcoming. They ask how my tan is coming along and set my time accordingly. At other salons I've been to the staff could care less, and they'll let you get burned.
The whole place is spotless. There are a lot of beds, so I have never had to wait. Every bed I've used has been sparkling clean and sanitary.

Last time I ate at Patrick's I noticed the anti-Obama stuff behind the bar was gone (or at least I didn't see any). I don't know if my review had anything to do with it, but I just wanted to express my thanks.

Also, tried the One-Eyed Jack (with bacon) and loved it. Highly recommend!

OK, purists. This isn't a tapas restaurant like that place you tried in Ibiza. It's time to stop being that guy and accept that "tapas" has become a synonym for "small plates." And frankly, we're sick of hearing about your vacation.

With that out of the way, let's talk about East Tapas and Drinks.

I visited for the first time Saturday with pretty low expectations. It's a tough concept to pull off in a suburban shopping center. But I was pleasantly surprised: the little tapas lounge in the shadow of St. Francis Hospital is a swank East Memphis oasis.

I was alone, so I sat at the bar. It was about 6:30 on a Saturday night; both the bar and the seating stayed about half-full most of the time I was there. The bartender who served me was friendly, attentive and helpful, and I could tell he knew his stuff.

I started with the Bombshell martini (sake, Chambord, OJ and soda). It was delicious: one of those sneaky cocktails that doesn't taste like alcohol at all (these do the most damage). I ordered two items off the specials board: avocado fries and bacon-wrapped shrimp-stuffed olives. Yes. Bacon-wrapped-shrimp-stuffed-olives. How could I resist? I also ordered the truffle macaroni and cheese on several people's recommendations.

The avocado fries were panko-breaded, perfectly crispy on the outside, warm and slightly gooey on the inside. The portion amounted to about a whole avocado and was served with a cilantro aioli. The olives were about as decadent (and amazing) as you'd imagine, and I'd even recommend them to someone who doesn't dig on olives. If they make it back to the specials board, that is.

The mac and cheese, though... WHOA. Totally lived up to all the hype. The menu said it contains sharp cheddar, cottage cheese, parmesan, cream cheese and sour cream. 4/5 of those are ingredients I never would have thought to put in mac and cheese. But its creamy texture and rich flavor -- with the subtlest hint of truffle oil -- make it one of my new Memphis faves.

After dinner I had an Asian pear bellini. I'm a sparkle junkie, so it was right up my alley. Loved the cinnamon/five-spice rim. The beer and wine lists were impressive too.

The TV above the bar seemed a little out of place, but you know folks just gotta have their TV.

I'll go back. Maybe to check out the awesome happy hour specials.

If you're a Tigers fan, the cool memorabilia that covers Ching's wall-to-wall is reason enough to visit. If you're lucky, you may even see a real-life Tiger athlete. I can't wait to someday be one of those rich old retirees who follows the basketball team to big road games, and I'll be able to tell my grandkids abut the time Joe Jackson held the door for me at Ching's. "Such a kind young man."
I've heard lore that Chris Douglas-Roberts committed to play for the UofM after a visit to the little wing joint on Getwell. I don't know if that's true, but the wings are so good I believe it. (His jersey's on the wall.)

Even if you don't care who's in those photos on the wall, though, Ching's really does have the "best damn wings" in Memphis. There are several flavors of wings (whole or drummies) to choose from. They're so good, my fiancé and I seriously discussed serving them at our wedding. He loves the seasoned and lemon pepper; I'm a honey hot girl. But we find common ground on the seasoned crinkle fries and G-Street Punch, a red drink that's like liquid sugar, Kool-Aid on crack.

You order at at the window, pay, and then wait for your name to be called when your food's ready. It's served in a styrofoam take-out container whether you're dining in or getting your food to go. So to avoid waiting in line (the place gets packed) I recommend calling in your order before you go.

Several coworkers and I decided to check out bleu for lunch after hearing raves about their build-your-own sandwich menu. I was skeptical -- lunch in a posh hotel restaurant? Really? -- but pleasantly surprised.

Our table had a gorgeous view of the FedExForum as a crew was getting the esplanade ready for the Grizzlies season. The customized sandwiches were delicious and affordable. I think bleu would be a great place to impress a client or hold a business lunch (in fact, a few Grizz coaches were holding court at a nearby table).

My only complaint was that the restaurant seemed understaffed. The same person greeted us (and had to pause to answer the phone), seated us and waited on us. This was during peak lunch time and the restaurant was pretty full. She still did an awesome job, but we cut it close getting back to the office on time.

The inventory at each Hollywood Feed location is different. So if you need a brand of food your usual location carries, but you're closer to another store, call first to make sure they carry it. They do this in order to keep prices as low as possible for the high-quality brands such as Wellness, California Natural and EVO. So the selection may not be as vast as what you'd see at a "big-box" store like PetSmart, but I usually find what my cats need (or don't need, from their wall of toys).
Since the Poplar location is closest to my house, I usually shop there, but I've received the same attentive service at every other location I've visited. When I enter the store, I barely make it in the door before an employee asks how he or she can help. The entire staff is knowledgeable about their products and you can tell they're animal lovers. They always go above and beyond, whether by giving me treat samples or helping me carry items to the car.