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.

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/

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

The Blue Monkey

Location: Two Locations

• 2012 Madison Ave. Memphis, TN 38104
• 513 S Front St. Memphis, TN 38103

Phone Number: (901) 272-2583
Cover Charge: $5
Food: Full Menu - Great Pizzas
Entertainment: Live Music, Pool Tables
Crowd: Variable. College-Middle Age
Service: Good Service
Cleanliness: Clean
Drink Specials: $3.50 well dirty martinis
Smoker Friendly: Yes
Review:

The Blue Monkey is a big hit among Memphians. It is located in Midtown on the corner of Madison and N. Morrison which means that it's a great place for college students as well as older people who need to get out of the house but don't feel like braving the downtown area. Limited parking is located behind the bar on N. Morrison. If that fills up, your only other option is to park around the surrounding neighborhood. It's not a far walk, so don't worry. The Blue Monkey has a wheelchair ramp that enters the back door, but most people use the front.

Immediately upon entering, you are usually greeted with the loud music of a live band playing on the stage to your left. Directly ahead are some wooden tables, and the bar is on the right. If the tables in the main room are full, just check the spare room on your far right - There may be some free tables there. Once you find a seat, decide what you want to drink. The Blue Monkey has around 35 beers on tap and a full bar, so they will more than likely be able to accomodate any of your beer drinking or liquor sipping needs. I enjoy a dirty martini occasionally, and they have a surprisingly good vodka dirty martini for only $3.50 a pop. If you're hungry, they have pretty darn good food. I recommend any of their pizzas.

The Blue Monkey is a medium sized bar. If you don't enjoy bars that are so crowded your shoulders are always touching somebody else, this place may be great for you. You can move to the very back and shoot some pool, or if you're a loner, they have some of those electronic bar-top games that will keep you company. They also have TV's that are turned on to sports for those sitting in front of the bar so you don't have to miss out on your favorite team.

I don't go to this bar as often as I probably should. It's reasonably priced for Midtown, not incredibly crowded, and it has all of the entertainment and beer to keep me happy. If you're in the area, give it a go and let me know what you think about it. I know you won't be let down.

Anything Else: I have not been to their downtown location - I will update and include a review of the downtown Blue Monkey after I visit it.
Website: N/A

Neil's Bar & Grill

Location: 1835 Madison Ave, Memphis, TN 38104
Phone Number: (901) 278-6345
Cover Charge: No cover
Food: Full Menu - great drunken appetizers
Entertainment: Frequent live music, Pool Tables, Shuffleboard, Darts, Game Room, TV
Crowd: Mostly college age with some older folks too.
Service: Good service
Cleanliness: One of the cleaner dive-bars. The bathrooms could use a little work...
Drink Specials: $5.00 domestic pitchers, cheap liquor.
Smoker Friendly: Yes
Review:
I would call Neil's your "Steak & Potatoes" of the Midtown bars. It's a very popular place among college students in the area, and has everything you need in a bar and not much more. Neil's is located on the corner of Madison and South McLean and has plenty of parking on the same block. It has an outdoor patio that's perfect for the warmer days, a main bar room, a game room, and a music room.

One of the first reasons to enjoy a night at Neil's is its prime location. If you don't feel much like fighting the downtown crowd and live in the Midtown area, Neil's is just a few minutes away from a cold beer. The second reason to enjoy Neil's is that as long as I have been going there, I've never been charged a cover. So if you don't like it, you're not $5 in the hole. The last reason among many others to have fun at Neil's is their $5 domestic pitchers. They have very fairly priced drinks also. If I'm feeling like getting drunk fast and cheap, I'll order a long island iced tea and they'll load it up with alcohol. It might not be the best tasting beverage, but it sure does the trick for $8.00.

The live music is entertaining also. They usually feature pretty good cover bands at Neil's. While listening to the music, you can order a batch of fried pickle chips (which are amazing), fried mushrooms (which I have heard were equally as good), or you can order any of your typical bar entrees. If you don't feel much like eating, they have plenty of pool tables - if you keep your eye out, you'll be able to snag a table without any troubles.

There is plenty of seating in the main room. They have a handful of bar stools on the bar, a nice size of green booth seats, and some other tables scattered around the room. If it ever fills up, people usually spill into the back music room which has equally as much seating.

The service is very friendly as well. The bartender made an effort to remember my name after only seeing me for the second time. She also remembered my drink and food order from two weeks prior. If you're not sure what you'd like, just ask the workers and they'll be glad to recommend you their favorite appetizer.

If I happened to make Neil's sound like a sparkling gem, I didn't give it proper justice. Consider it a dusty quartz crystal half-buried in the ground. It's not the fanciest place, but it is a lot of fun.


Anything Else: Get the fried pickles.
Website: N/A

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.