The Germantown Commissary, Germantown, TN

The Commissary

MAP

The Commissary is a small barbecue restaurant in Germantown on South Germantown Road (State Highway 177) just south of Southern Avenue, across the street from Germantown United Methodist Church.

It was originally a small grocery store until 1981 when the current owner bought it and turned it into a restaurant. I have been there a few times, but not recently until today. I got a tamale plate (based on the suggestion of a friend) and a cheese and sausage plate. Both were really good. My friend got a barbecue sandwich and he said it was really good also.

I don't know exactly how much it was because my friend owed me some money so he picked up the check, but prices on the menu seemed about average, and all together before tip, I believe it was around $36.00.

I also recommend the Brunswick Stew, which is very good there. I've had it a couple of times in the past.

The only negative thing I will say is, there isn't much parking right at the location. You can park across the street at the church when there isn't anything going on at the church, and there is a small parking lot with a few spots directly across the street, but some of those spots are reserved for other businesses.

Otherwise, it's a great place to go for good food.

On a side note, I saw a good friend of mine right up the street who had been in a wreck. Luckily, no one was hurt.

Neely's Barbecue, Southaven, MS

Neely's
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Neely's is a local family owned barbecue chain that has several locations. The one in Southaven is closest to me, although I've been to all the locations at one time or another in my life, but hadn't been to one in a long time until today.

I met a friend there for lunch today and I was impressed. I don't know how much it was because my friend picked up the tab, but the menu prices appeared to be about average.

I got a barbecue sandwich and fries but didn't take a picture of the fries. Both items were really good and I especially thought the fries were good.

The only negative thing I have to say is one of the workers was "sagging" his pants and I personally don't think that's appropriate in a retail setting, but other than that, the experience was great.

Shelby Forest General Store, Millington, TN

Shelby Forest General Store

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Shelby Forest General Store is exactly what it sounds like, a general store in Shelby Forest, at the corner of Benjestown Road and Bluff Road. I had heard several times that their food was really good so I decided to give it a try. I went there this past Monday 8/13 for lunch and got a cheeseburger and fries and it was very good. They have a number of other things on the menu, plus they are a general store so they have many other items for sale. I definitely plan on going back to try some of their other selections.

I have no idea what the "table of honor" is. I should have asked!

I also went and sat in the park for a little while, which was a really nice experience. It was Monday afternoon so there wasn't much going on. It's worth mentioning that their park restrooms are climate controlled, so it was hot and uncomfortable.

Brickhouse Buffet, Bartlett, TN

Brickhouse Buffet

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Brickhouse is a new buffet on Bartlett Boulevard, just south of Stage Road, in the shopping center where the Bartlett Cinema theater is.

I went there last Saturday 8/11 with a friend on his suggestion. Most everything I got was pretty good. They had one item, barbecued pork, that I didn't care for much, but everything else I got was good.

I don't remember exactly how much it was, but it was average for a buffet. It seems like it was around $13 or $14. I definitely recommend trying it if you're in the area.

On a side note, I ran into two different people that I hadn't seen a while, a friend from high school and her husband and a friend from church and his wife.

Lotaburger, Memphis, TN

Lotaburger

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Lotaburger is a small burger shack on Third Street in Memphis just south of Mallory Avenue, directly across the street from Jim Neely's Barbecue. I've heard about it many times but never been there before today. They don't have a dining room; it's all to go orders only.

I had heard that it was the "best burger in the mid-south" so I wanted to try it. I'll be honest, it was good, but definitely what I'd rank as the best. Also, it was kind of pricey. I got a double cheeseburger combo and I'm pretty sure the menu said $8.99 including a drink, but apparently that doesn't include cheese, which cost almost a dollar for 2 slices, or 57 cents for seasoned fries (the menu did say there was an upcharge for seasoned fries), or an unspecified $1.50 charge for something, plus 50 cents because I used a credit card. All together, for just a double cheeseburger combo, it was almost $14.00.

All in all, that's not that bad considering I went to Wimpy's not long ago and spent almost the same amount for a mediorce burger and fries.

Anyway, I never like giving a bad review, and the food wasn't bad, it just wasn't as great as I had heard. The lady at the window, who I think was the owner was very friendly and I will definitely go back for the "experience."

Logan's Roadhouse, Southaven, MS

Logan's

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Logan's is a steakhouse chain with a location in Southaven on Airways Boulevard south of Goodman, just north of Marathon Way. I've been there before, but not recently. I had a coupon and went there this past Wednesday for dinner.

It was decent but isn't one of my first choices for a good steak. I got the Onion Brewski Sirloin and it there was nothing wrong it, it just wasn't great. With the coupon, my total was around $14.00 (split between two people using the coupon) plus tip.

I was going to get the country fried steak but they were out of it that particular evening.

Ichiban Buffet, Collierville, TN

Ichiban Buffet

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Ichiban is a Chinese buffet in Collerville on Poplar Avenue just west of Byhalia Road, in the same parking lot as Home Depot. I went there yesterday because I had I had a couple for a buy one get one free buffet. I got sushi and a few other items. I forgot to take a picture of the other items, but it was standard buffet fare. It was good, nothing spectacular, but definitely worth going to if you're in the area.

The bill was $16.77 with the coupon and they did the typical thing many restaurants do, they took the price of a buffet before tax off the total with tax. That's not a big deal, but it means you wind up paying a little over a dollar more than you should have. They're supposed to take the price off before tax is added to the bill so you don't pay tax on the free part. It's not that big of a deal, but some places do it "right."

The buffet price before a drink was $13.99, so it's average price for that type of restaurant. I will definitely go back if I'm in the area, but there are similar buffets closer to me, but if you're in the Collierville area, it's worth a trip.