The P & H Cafe

Location: 1532 Madison Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38104
Phone Number: 901.726.0906
Cover Charge: Not on my visit, but $5 during live entertainment.
Food: Full Menu
Entertainment: Pool, Darts, Live Music*, Karaoke*
Crowd: Mid-town Memphis "Artsy" Crowd. 21-30somethings
Service: Order and receive drinks at the bar - Bartender comes around to collect empty glasses/pitchers
Cleanliness: Typical Dive Bar
Drink Specials: Cheap Drinks

• Domestics - $2.50
  
• Imports - $3.75
  
• Pitchers - $6.00 (Bud, But Light, Bud Select)
  
• $5.00 PBR Pitchers

Smoker Friendly: Yes
Review: This decent-sized dive bar is located in the Memphis Mid-Town district across from the "Strings-n-Things" music shop on Madison. It's well-disguised. I've driven past it many times without even knowing it existed. Tonight at the smokey P & H was Karaoke Night. Songs were being sung by a younger crowd choosing artists such as Lisa Loeb, Journey, the Cranberries, Wham!, and R. Kelly, to name a few. Though a server didn't come to the tables to take drink orders (possibly due to the large amount of people), the service behind the bar was very quick and friendly.

It's very obvious that this bar is located in a very artfully-cultural area. The ceiling is scattered with charicatures of what looked to be a few famous people, christmas lights are hung from the walls in front of a mural of crouching and kneeling crowds that circle the front room. The walls feature unaligned old framed pictures and artwork, and a few dining booths also run along the sides. When I got there at 11:00 PM, tables and chairs were not easy to come by, so if you're bringing a group, either come a little earlier or plan on standing.

The entrance room is where the entertainment performs. Behind the entrance room is a bottle-necked bar where you place your drink orders. It has a bunch of stools and is long enough to hold a crowd. Behind the bar "hall" is a game room. There are 2-3 pool tables, two dart boards, a jukebox, a Galactica arcade game, and the restrooms. Does the city have codes for dive-bar restrooms or do they leave that to the patron's disgression, because the men's restroom was exactly what you'd expect at a place like this. Let's be honest though, nobody comes to hole-in-the-wall bars for their bathrooms...

The crowd was really entertaining. It was fun watching the same 4-5 drunk people get up and attempt to sing their requested songs. The M.C. who was leading the karaoke was entertaining as well. He seemed to know most of the people who came into the bar. Overall, it was a fun place. Will this place still be fun to me in 5-10 years? Probably not, but the staff seemed incredibly friendly and thankful for the chance to give a fun night. I wouldn't recommend this bar to 30-40+ year old tourists who want to experience the city. However, if you are 30-40, happen to own a few smocks and easels, and enjoy a younger crowd, this place might be for you. As for me, I can't call it my favorite bar, but I wouldn't mind coming back in the future.
Anything Else: Free WiFi
Website: http://www.pandhcafe.com/home.asp

*Live Music and Karaoke on specified nights only. See website or call for details.