Sunday, February 17, 2008

Sauces - Mojito Bar Extraordinaire













Location: 95 S Main St. Memphis, TN 38103
Phone Number: (901)473-9573
Cover Charge: N/A
Food: Seafood, Salads, Sandwiches, Sauces - Menu
Entertainment: Music, WiFi
Crowd: Varied, Casually Fancy
Service: Wonderful
Cleanliness: Very Clean
Drink Specials: $7.75-$8.75 Mojitos
Smoker Friendly: No
Review: For those who don't know, a mojito is mixed drink made from rum, sugar, lime, mint, and carbonated water, and Sauces pretty much specializes in making the perfect one. They have a selection of about 10 different types of mojitos ranging from the standard "10 Cane" to a "Spiced Peach" or a "Pomegranate" mojito and they all sound and look delicious.

I originally heard about Sauces from my girlfriend. She had a girls-night here and immediately insisted afterwards that she and I take a night to visit it. Prior to Sauces, my only experience with mojitos were of the pre-mixed "place in the freezer and stir" variety. I was pretty excited to give the real ones a try. The bar/restaurant is located on the Main strip and is tucked neatly in a corner of a building. They have a small delightful outside patio lit-up by white lights that could be pretty cozy and romantic during the warmer months. Inside I found a bar with a very unique theme. Contemporarily-decorative lights hang from the ceiling and give the room a soft feel while featured local artwork hangs from the deep red-bricked walls. I quickly got the impression that Sauces appreciates all forms of modern art.

The room felt relatively tight and small, maybe a little crammed. Candle-lit tables lined the walls and were situated pretty close together, and I wasn't sure where we were going to sit or if we'd even have enough privacy. The hostess then led us to the back of the room, down a set of stairs, and into a whole new room with larger tables spread further apart. We didn't sit at the bar, but I need to describe it because it really was fascinating. The first thing that caught my eye was the variety of colors. Sharp but soft greens, blues, reds, and yellows dressed the bar, the bottles, and the walls. The backdrop was a white opaque wall, but behind it was a red light that gave the appearance of tasteful graffiti. They put a lot of good work into making the entire bar eye-catching.

Another thing that caught my eye was the artwork. My girlfriend informed me that the paintings on the walls came from local artists. She pointed out the small tags hanging from the corners and told me that they were also for sale. I think that's a pretty cool way to help support the local art scene. Most, if not all of the paintings were beautiful and gave their own little 'flavor' to the room. Having a drink at Sauces is almost a two-in-one because you're not only drinking, but you're also at an art gallery.

We were then seated in the back of the room at a nice table and had a good view of the room. I had a peek at the online menu earlier in the day, so I knew what I wanted. I ordered the "10 Cane Mojito" and my girlfriend asked for the "Mango Mojito." We also ordered entrees: crab cakes for me, mahi-mahi for the girlfriend. The drinks took a while to come out, in fact, the food came out before the drinks. But that's to be expected when the food takes a speedy five minutes to come out. The food was absolutely amazing. My crab cakes were drizzled with one of their signature sauces that gave it a nice spicy kick. The mashed potatoes and veggies came as a side and were delicious. I'm not here to review the food, I just want to point out that if the food tastes that good, the same can be expected of the appetizers, which most people order when out for drinks.

The drinks finally came out and were almost a work of art themselves. No pre-frozen mixed mojitos here - they make them the authentic way, mint leaves and all. Just looking at the picture makes me want another one. Served in a tall glass with ice, mine was very fresh and flavorful. I sampled my girlfriend's mango mojito and it had a nice hint of mango flavoring to it, but it didn't take away from or overpower the "mojito" minty-lime taste. The drinks didn't taste strong at all, but after I had a few sips I could tell that they didn't short-change me on the alcohol. These were very well-mixed drinks. I didn't get to experience it since we were sitting downstairs, but I can imagine the process of making a well-mixed mojito is fun and entertaining to watch, since there are so many steps involved.

The night was very fun and relaxing. Soft modern music was playing in the background, and though the room was filled with people, there was not a lot of loud background noise. Our waitress was very friendly and non-intrusive. I can guarantee that I'll give Sauces another visit, but sadly I don't have a weekly hankerin' for mojitos, so I highly doubt I will be there frequently. However, it is an awesome specialty bar that literally portrays the contemporary art-culture of Memphis.

Anything Else: They have a full bar if mojitos aren't your thing. Open at 11 mon-fri, noon on sat and sun, brunch on Sunday and live music from 4-7.
Website: http://www.saucesmemphis.com/




Friday, February 15, 2008

Side Street Grill - The Red Bar

















Location: 31 Florence St. Memphis, TN 38104
Phone Number: (901) 274-8955
Cover Charge: N/A
Food: Upscale Grill - Steak, Pasta, Seafood, Sandwiches, Salad, Appetizers
Entertainment: TV, Cigar Parlor
Crowd: Slightly more mature, but varied
Service: Great, very friendly servers
Cleanliness: Very clean
Drink Specials:

  • Regular Martini: $7.75
  • Jumbo Martini: $12

Smoker Friendly: Yes, cigar smokers welcome too. (For those that heavily dislike cigar smoke, I couldn't smell any hint of cigars on my trip.)
Review: I’ve been to Side Street Grill/The Red Bar a few times now. I decided to visit it again for a lovely night out with my girlfriend, celebrating our one year anniversary. She loves martinis, it’s close to home, and it’s incredibly easy-going and comfortable. Side Street Grill/The Red Bar are two locations combined into one renovated midtown house in Overton Square, and it couldn’t have been done any better. Side Street Grill is located on the left side, and attached to the right by a small hallway is the lounge area known as The Red Bar. I’m going to refer to the entire location as Side Street Grill from here on out.

As I mentioned, Side Street Grill is located in midtown and is quite a unique bar that everybody should enjoy at least once. From the outside, it blends in with nearby houses, but on the inside, it’s remarkably different. It has rustic dark wooden floors and the red accented walls are scattered with old 40’s – 50’s era photos and artwork. There is plenty of seating available and multiple sizes of candle-lit tables to accommodate any group. If you want to sit at the bar itself, there are a handful of seats in both the grill and lounge area.

One reason Side Street Grill is so unique is that it has a very long list of specialty martinis (around 25) to choose from. They also have two sizes: regular and jumbo. They aren’t kidding when they say jumbo either... If you just want to stick to one choice, get the jumbo. But if you want to sample two of the martinis, opt for the regular size. I’m a standard martini drinker, so I ordered the jumbo “Dirty Martini," vodka. My girlfriend loves variety and started with a regular sized “Wedding Cake” martini, and topped the night off with a regular sized “Nutty” martini (Amoretto, Stoli Vanil, Kailua). To get an idea on the variety of martinis, you can also try a “Tequila Kiss”, which is Tequila and Grand Marnier lined with a burgundy rim, or you can have a “Chocolate Martini” – a sweet, chocolate, alcoholic drink lined with a chocolate rim.

If martinis aren’t your thing, Side Street Grill explicitly welcomes cigar smokers. You can sit in the cigar lounge, purchase your favorite cigar, and enjoy it with a single malt scotch or a cognac. You can find in the menu that they have the "finest selection of single malt scotches and cognacs" in Memphis, and it’s obvious they pride themselves in that fact. For you winos, they have a great selection of vintage wines to suit your taste.

I usually don’t get much to eat at bars, but when I first walked in, I saw people eating off plates beautifully decorated with very generous serving sizes of amazing looking food. If you’re looking for entrees, they’ll cook you a reputably awesome steak, some seafood, or some pasta. I had just eaten prior to arriving, so I narrowed my choice down to two appetizers: honey baked brie or artichoke dip. I opted for the dip and got to eat the heartiest warm artichoke dip I’ve ever had off lightly toasted flatbread slices. YUM-O! (Rachel Ray anyone?)

Though I haven’t experienced it, I can almost bet this place has a great crowd before and after a play at the nearby theater. You can have a couple of drinks here in your jeans and t-shirt while the party at the table behind you is dressed to the nines and neither of you will feel out of place. The atmosphere is extremely relaxed, and the servers are very friendly and patient. The music playing consisted of modern rock/pop, which I feel didn’t suit the environment. I would have preferred some “jazzy” sounding music which would have complimented the environment well. The ambient noise isn’t deafening, so you won’t have to talk over your company. It was too cold for us to enjoy this time, but Side Street Grill has a large patio outside that almost doubles the amount of patrons the bar can handle. I have sat outside here before during the summer, and it’s extremely enjoyable. I highly recommend it if you have the opportunity.
Definitely give this place a shot if you’re in the area. It is entirely possible that you will plan to only stay for an hour at night, but end up staying a lot longer.
Anything Else: Excellent alternative to Downtown's martini bar: Swig (Swig is now closed)
Website: N/A

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Circa - by John Bragg














Location: 119 Main Street, Suite 100, Memphis, TN 38103
Phone Number: 901.522.1488
Cover Charge: N/A
Food: Contemporary, Sophisticated, French-inspired Memphis Cuisine. Bar Menu
Entertainment: TV at the bar, Private room available w/ Wi-Fi and 50'' Plasma Screen
Crowd: Classy
Service: Excellent
Cleanliness: Spic-and-span
Drink Specials: Happy Hour Specials from 4-7 every night

  • Mon - $5.00 Martinis
  • Tues - $2.50 Beers including Microbrews and Imports
  • Wed - $8.00 Featured Wine Flights
  • Thurs - Scotch Night - All Single Malts $2.00 off
  • Fri & Sat - Complimentary Hors d'Ouvres
  • Sun - Tasting Menu w/ Wine Parings - $45 per person. $3.00 Small Plates at the Bar

Smoker Friendly: No, smoking not allowed in restaurants in Memphis
Review:
irca, "the best reason to dine downtown," was a fun experience, and an excellent Memphis bar. I had first heard about it through Paul Ryburn's Blog, a pretty famous blogger/drinker in downtown Memphis. My first impressions before experiencing this place were a little different from the actual experience. Initially, I was under the impression Circa was on the same page as the Flying Saucers, the Blue Monkey's, etc. I was expecting loud music and lots of people - your general 'bar'. However, I was surprised to find out my experience was quite different from what I had expected.

Circa is an upscale, swanky, and contemporary restaurant located on the Main Street strip. I'm ashamed to say this was my first time walking down this block of Main. I was quite impressed. Outside Circa were some tables gently illuminated by small white-stringed lights hanging from above. I was dressed in jeans and an untucked button-up, and immediately I felt a little embarrassed to walk inside because I felt underdressed. My group and I were greeted at the front and I mentioned we were just there for the bar. The greeter (which also turned out to be our bartender for the evening) told us enthusiastically to "have a seat!" I was really impressed with the decor. It felt very upscale and contemporarily artsy - perfect for Main Street. I brought my camera to take pictures, but sadly it had run out of batteries before I could snap any photos. The lighting was soft, and it paired well with the upbeat jazz flowing through the room.

The four of us sat down at the bar and took up nearly a third of the seating. The bar had a handful of stools, and behind us were a few small tables. I realized then that Circa was a restaurant first and a bar second. Not a problem! We asked to see the drink menus which had plenty of great beers to choose from. Not only that, but they had over 50 wines by the glass to choose, and have the city's largest collection of scotches. I ordered a beer, the bartender poured it in a glass for me, and the night began.

I was very caught up with the look and feel of the place. The bar area was fantastic. The bottles behind the bar were sitting on a neat looking wooden-type shelf. Each bottle had its own square. Not only that, but it was open to the back and you could watch people walk in and out behind the bar. I could have been entertained enough just looking around all night. But if that wouldn't satisfy you, they had a tv playing basketball in the left corner.

Most bars I visit have a stressed-out bartender running around filling drink orders. Rare is the time where I go to a bar and actually talk with the bartender. Our server for the evening asked us to call him House. He was an extremely friendly gentleman who told us a little about the history of the restaurant and the Chef himself. We were there for an hour or so and he talked with us nearly the entire time. Now, I'm sure he would have left us alone if he could sense we just wanted to drink and sit, but a social crowd and conversation is always welcome. I have to say that House's friendliness helped make Circa more than just a plain 'ole bar.

House told us that Circa has been selling Absinthe at the bar for a while now. If you aren't aware, Absinthe has been noted as a drink with other powerful side effects other than drunkenness. It has been said that it inspired many great writers and musicians centuries ago. The United States had banned the beverage up until recently. But, if you're curious, go sample it at Circa. We were told if we were going to drink it, we had to make sure it's the first thing we have for optimum effects, so if you try it, don't pre-drink. Our bartender also let us know that they have a beer that was brewed just for Circa that they sell. It's brewed by Bosco's, a noted beer-joint in Memphis. I don't see it on their menu, but it's supposedly very good, so ask for their Main Street beer next time you're there. Also I learned that, Circa has some reputable claims:

  • Circa is the only restaurant in Memphis that serves Bosco's brewed beer on tap.
  • They have the largest selection of scotches in the city, 50+ available. (Maybe I should start drinking scotch?)

Circa is a very modern-day bar that can accommodate a handful of people. The food looks exquisite and the drinks are plentiful. As a guy right out of college, I probably won't become a regular there, but you can bet that it would be a superb place for me to take my girlfriend for special occasions or "just because" nights. Keep in mind that Circa is probably better suited for a small group of friends when it comes to just drinking, as the bar lacks big tables for a large party. Though I suppose a large group could just as easily be served at a table away from the bar. This bar is perfect for all groups of people including visitors as well as locals who are a little tired of the loud and obnoxious bar-scene and would like to drink to a little sophistication.

Anything Else:
Bosco's draft beer, Cream Ale, Pale Ale
Free Valet Parking. Open from 4p-10p Sunday thru Thursday, 4p-11p Friday and Saturday.

Website: http://www.circamemphis.com/






Saturday, February 2, 2008

The Windjammer Restaurant and Lounge

Location: 786 E Brookhaven Cir. Memphis, TN 38117
Phone Number: (901) 683-9044
Cover Charge: None with my experience, carry a $5 just in case.
Food: Pub Food
Entertainment: Karaoke (Wed-Mon), Darts, Shuffleboard, TVs
Crowd: Variable. Young and Old
Service: Good, Friendly Service
Cleanliness: Decent
Drink Specials: $5.00 domestic pitchers (!!!)
Smoker Friendly: Yes
Review:
If you love Karaoke and need it more than once a week, you'll love Windjammer. It's located in what appears to be a renovated single-story house a few blocks from Poplar and Whitestation in East Memphis, so it's a pretty convenient location for both the Midtown hippies and the Suburb stiffs. The crowd reflects this. You will see college kids there, and you might even find your grandma singing her favorite song. There is plenty of parking available in front, too.

By day, Windjammer is a restaurant, and judging from the menu, it seems to be a pretty good one too. Though I cannot comment much about the day-scene aspect of the bar, my friend (who loves the place) can. He made a comment that he drove by the place one day and it looked like it had burned. It hadn't, but that may give you an idea on its outward appearance. Don't let this discourage you.

At night is when this place really starts to come alive. Walking up to the building, you can see lights through the windows and you can hear the faint sound of the bass of the karaoke speakers seeping through the walls. Upon opening the front door, you are greeted with the sounds of somebody singing or attempting to sing, which could be a good or bad thing. During the weekend, this place can get relatively crowded. There is a front room, a side room, a back room, (all of which are open to each other), and a back porch. Most of the time, you'll be able to easily find a place that suits you best without any problems.

The front room has booths and tables for sitting, a karake stage, and a nicely sized tv for projecting the lyrics of a song for all to follow. The side room has a few tables as well as a shuffleboard table for your entertainment. The back room has dart boards and larger tables for larger groups. The bar is located in the area between the front and back room and has a good number of barstools. The back porch is really nice if you want to get away from the singers for a little bit. It's covered and resembles your typical homely back deck.

The servers are incredibly nice. Usually, they'll come around and give you what you need, but if it's a really busy night, don't count on them to make it to you with promptness. It's usually best to go to the bar and order your own drinks when it's really crowded, unless you don't mind waiting. My favorite part about Windjammer, and I'm sure all my friends will agree with me, is their $5.00 domestic pitchers. It's a great place to end the work week with cheap beer, karaoke with a really nice song selection, and a friendly environment. This place is really fun, and it's extremely easy to waste an entire night here without even realizing it.

Anything Else: The blonde waitress can talk anyone into drinking a beer.
Website: N/A