A Night(club) At Dish...

Location: 948 S. Cooper St. Memphis, TN 38104

Phone Number: 901.276.0002

Cover Charge: Nada.

Food: Yes

Entertainment: Music, Dancing, Karaoke (select nights), Wii Games (select nights), TV's, etc.

Crowd: Mostly a younger crowd - partially caters to the alternative crowds

Service: Decent

Drink Specials: Great drink pricing, especially for Cooper/Young District

Smoker Friendly: No - Balcony available for smoking

Review:

Dish - Tapas Bar & Sushi Restaurant

I've been wanting to go to this bar for a while because I'm pretty into House/Trance/Electronic music. Basically, there is no demand for this genre of music in Memphis, and this is the only place that regularly spins it. I have only heard two things about Dish since I've been living here:

1. Dish is a gay bar
   
2. DJs spin good House music at Dish
   

So after a couple years, I decided to try it with my friends. We arrived a little after 11:00 PM on a Saturday night and the music was bumpin'. I was intrigued at the furniture: the first thing I saw when I turned to my right as I walked in the door was a bed - yes a bed - with three people with drinks laying on it. Cool! I kept walking back and saw tables that used big pillows as seats. My coworker best described it when he went there. He said, "I thought I had walked into an opium den." The mood is definitely relaxed and chill. Everybody looked like they were having a really fun time.

The food menu looked yummy, and the beer menu was impressive. More impressive were the prices. I stuck to liquor that night and ordered a long island and then a rum and diet. I walked out with money still in my pocket. But I'm also obligated to say my drinks weren't very strong. This could be isolated to my bartender only, so only take it for what it's worth.

Let me stress though that this is a great place, especially if you enjoy good club music and a young atmosphere. I hear that Dish occasionally gets some big-name DJs, so I they will probably be seeing my face again - maybe they'll let me DJ sometime *wink-wink, nudge-nudge*

Website: http://www.dishmemphis.com

♫ Yosemite Sam's ♫ - If Cartoons Owned Bars...

Location: 2126 Madison Ave. Memphis, TN 38104

Phone Number: 901.726.6138

Cover Charge: nope!

Food: possibly during the day, not at night.

Entertainment: Karaoke, dancing, pool, bigscreen showing the game...

Crowd: Midtown-y Variety

Service: Great - Pleasant Bartenders

Cleanliness: Decently clean - the tables and chairs are always wiped down

Drink Specials: $10 domestic pitchers

Smoker Friendly: Yep

Review:

If I had to create a boring slogan for Yosemite Sam's, it would be, "Midtown Memphis' Karaoke Bar!" because it is just that - not boring, but it is a karaoke bar located on the edge of Overton Square, right on the corner of Cooper and Madison. You know, next to Bosco's? Honestly, you can't miss it since it has a picture of gun totin' Yosemite Sam himself smack-dab on the side of the building. Even though it sticks out fairly well, I am shocked at the number of people I talk to who have never been there or even heard about it. Pardon me, Mr. Sam, for not knowing your history, but it is my understanding the bar has been there for a while, and it has certainly stood the test of time.

During peak hours & nights, you will not be able to park directly behind the building. There are plenty of well-lit spaces to park within a block, so I would advise you just skip trying to fit behind the building and move right along to the parking lot farther behind Yosemite Sam's small lot, or even a block West across the street from Memphis Pizza Cafe.  

As you walk in the entrance, you are greeted by the stocked bar immediately on your left and amateur singers belting out their favorite Journey song towards the back right of the floor. Go ahead and grab a seat - there is usually plenty of seating. Yosemite Sam's has tables-for-two as well as tables-for-twenty which make this bar outstanding for groups. 

With the bar being situated in the middle of Midtown, you will encounter many different types of people such as the artsy-fartsies, the college kids, the bachelorette party, the middle-age mamma's, you might even catch granny and grandpa there as well! Yosemite Sam's brings in a perfect blend of different groups and ages and asks them pick from a decent list of songs to sing for each other. If you don't sing, you can dance to the music, and if you don't do that, they also have a pool table - it's rarely open due to high demand, so get your cue-balls in early.

Drinks are, well, expect to pay a little extra for your drinks. They certainly won't rob you, but they do charge $10 for a pitcher of domestic beer which is a couple bucks more than they charge down the street. But the pitchers are nice and big - perfect for my group of friends since we like to make sure everybody keeps a full glass. The bartenders are very friendly and I get the impression that they have been working at Yosemite Sam's for a while. They certainly know what they're doing!

Though it's a great bar, I only have one complaint - when it is "the guy" who is taking requests and working the karaoke equipment, expect to wait a long time if you put a request in unless: a) you hand him a good tip, or b) you can push your cleavage together. I refuse to spend $20 to have my chance at a song, and since I'm a male, "b)" isn't an option, so it usually is a long wait until my name is called. But, I suppose this is good news for those hardcore karaoke'ers or well-endowed women who pretty much demand that it is their turn next...

Overall, this is a great bar located in a fun part of the city. You'll enjoy singing your favorite tunes while being able to knock back a few cold beverages. Bring yourself and serenade a stranger, or bring a big group of friends and put on your own little concert - see if you can inspire the entire crowd to dance and sing to your song. I promise you'll have fun, and you'll probably end up wanting to stay longer than you anticipated.

Silky O'Sullivan's - When Memphis and Ireland Collide...

Location: 183 Beale Street, Memphis, TN, 38103
Phone Number: (901)522-9596
Cover Charge: $5
Food: BBQ, Fried Food, Burgers - Menu
Entertainment: Piano Bar, Live Music, Drunk Goats
Crowd: Young, Old, Rich, Poor...
Service: Good Service
Cleanliness: Decently Clean Beale Street Bar
Drink Specials: $18 Divers, $8 Hurricanes, $3 Dom./$5 Imp. (16 oz) - $5 Dom. 10$ Imp. (28 oz)
Smoker Friendly: Yes
Review:
Every time I've been to Silky's, I've been pleased. It's a Beale Street staple, known for its back-yard goats and gallon-deep divers. If you're walking down Beale and want to know why people are carrying around a big yellow bucket, it's because they just finished a famous Memphis beverage whose taste can be likened to that of "every single bar beverage plus a wedding cake in a bucket," or "beer, liquor, and sugar." You can only get it at Silky's.

Silky's is a very versatile bar, which is important for the life of any bar on Beale. Immediately inside, you are greeted by a large room with a small bar on your left, and a large one on your right. Towards left about halfway down the room are two head-to-head grand pianos that battle it out all night long. If inside isn't the place for you, walk to the back right of the room and take the door outside to the back patio. Generally, there will be a live band playing music that keeps the mood lively.

Also outside is the famous Silky's goat named Killian. He lives in the back and likes to keep watch from the top of his spiral-shaped tower. But, if he's in the proper mood, he'll be down at the fence showing his good side for a bottle of beer - no joke.

Silky's has something for everyone. If you don't feel like paying a cover, stop at one of their outside bars, buy a diver, and roam up and down Beale. If you have the chance, stop by and say "hello" to Mr. O'Sullivan himself. He'll be the one sitting on a throne, smoking his cigar, and enjoying the crowd he's brought in town since 1992.

Website: http://www.silkyosullivans.com/

Young Avenue Deli

Location: 2119 Young Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104
Phone Number: 901-278-0034
Cover Charge: Yes and no. Call before your visit to find out.
Food: Deli food. Menu (they deliver too)
Entertainment: Live music, 4 pool tables, foosball table, arcade games, TV's
Crowd: 'Hip' midtowners and college kids
Service: Friendly Bartenders, waitress came by infrequently
Cleanliness: Clean
Drink Specials: "Beer Card" program. Buy 10 drafts, get the 11th free.
Smoker Friendly: No
Review:
Young Avenue Deli is, simply put, a midtown essential. It's located in the oh-so-popular Cooper/Young district, which for many is the primo social locale in midtown. When I first heard of Young Avenue Deli, I envisioned a small little midtown, well, deli. However, my first experience there showed me something quite different...

The Young Avenue Deli strikes me as a pretty 'hip' place to be. The windows are littered with flyers advertising upcoming events and the music playing inside leaks through the door every time it's opened. I've only been twice. The first time I was greeted with loud music, a busy crowd, and a large smoky bar. My buddies and I went for a PBR night and to listen to some live music while enjoying our brews. It was a hot summer night, and even though they had an industrial fan running in the back, it was still warm inside. However, the live music was good, and so was the environment in the bar. My second (and most recent) visit to Young Avenue Deli was much different. There wasn't a huge crowd, no live music, and smoking is no longer allowed. I also wasn't drinking PBR. This time it was $2.50 16oz Schlitz!

Both times I've visited, I've appreciated the size of the place. It's one giant room, but it's sort of split off into open sections. For instance, as you walk in, on your right you'll see the stage and in front of that is the music area. On the opposite side from that is the seating area, with 6 seating booths and plenty of 4-seater tables. Running along the right side of the wall is the very long bar with many room for seating, and in the back left of the room is the game area. They have 4 pool tables, a pinball machine, a few arcade games, and a foosball table. They have a flat screen behind the bar and when they aren't featuring live music, Young Avenue Deli drops a projection screen in front of the stage. Needless to say, they have plenty of entertainment for just about every type of bar-goer out there.

I was surprised at the number of beers they carried. On their bar menu, they showcased around 30 different draft beers, 110 bottled beers, and even featured some shooters they make (B-52's, Liquid Cocaine, Sex On the Beach, and Car Bombs to name a few.) If you appreciate a great variety of drinks, you'll like Young Avenue Deli.

But the Young Avenue Deli isn't just a bar or a restaurant; it's also a noted venue for live music in the Memphis area. Apparently, bands make around 35-50 requests a week to play there. So if you appreciate live and local music, keep your eye out for their special events. On their website, they keep current upcoming music. You can also subscribe to have them send upcoming events to your email.

The Young Avenue Deli really surprised me. At first I thought it was just a deli, then I learned it was a loud music bar, and then I had the chance to experience it as a less crowded, sit-down bar. If anything can be said about this place, it would definitely be that Young Avenue Deli is incredibly versatile and is prepared to handle anybody willing to give it a shot. They have a little something for everybody, whether it be drinks, entertainment, or environment. I can't comment on the restaurant aspect, but when it comes to the bar, I really need to consider this place more often when I'm up for a midtown bar hop night. So should you.

Anything Else: Parking to the side and in the back. Expect to park in the surrounding neighborhood on busy nights.
Website: http://www.youngavenuedeli.com/

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/

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

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/