Proud Larry's, Oxford, MS

Proud Larry's

MAP

Proud Larry's is a bar, restaurant, and concert venue in Oxford, MS on Lamar Boulevard, on the southeast side of the old downtown Square. I went there this past Wednesday to hear one of the Ole' Miss jazz ensembles, which I really enjoyed, and the food and atmosphere at the restaurant was very nice also.

I got the "Pollo" which is baked chicken in pasta. For some reason, it wasn't what I was expecting. I was expecting a chicken breast, but I probably just misread the menu. That said though, it was very good. It seemed about average for this type of venue. Before tip, the bill was around $18.00 including a drink and tax.

There were a few people around my age, but mostly, it seemed to be college aged folks, but everyone I had an interaction with was friendly. I hope to be back for more music soon.

Parking is sometimes a little bit of a hassle, as it's downtown venue. There is some close parking, but you have to get lucky. I had to park a couple of blocks away and walk, but that's not a criticism, just simply something to be aware of.

Cafe Marie, Tunica, MS

Cafe Marie

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Cafe Marie is a small cafe in the city of Tunica on Fox Island Road, a side street behind the Delta Mini Mall, in the downtown area of the city. I've passed it many times years ago. It is off Highway 4, which is how you used to have to go to the original casinos that were in Tunica County, but had never been there until last night.

I got an appetizer, Bang Bang Shrimp, at the suggestion of the waitress, and it was fantastic. It was shrimp in a sweet and sour type sauce. My main course was fried catfish with a salad as a side item. The salad was huge and really good, and the catfish was also very good.

I had no idea what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised. It is a cozy little setting with a few tables and a bar. The owner told me that they have a limited menu during the middle of the week. I definitely will be back to try other dishes.

It was very reasonably priced, considering everything I got. All together including a drink and tax, the total was about $25.00 before tip.

They also have an adjacent hotel and I had planned on staying the night just to get away since I am off this week, but my plans were thwarted by car problems. I plan on revisiting that idea in a few weeks.

Coleman's Barbecue, Hernando, MS

Coleman's

MAP

Coleman's is a small barbecue restaurant on Commerce Street in Hernando, just couple of blocks west of I-55. I've been there a number of times, but not recently. It is a local chain with several locations around the mid-south, including Memphis and north Mississippi.

As you've probably already guessed if you read my blog, I'm a big cheeseburger fan and I go to barbecue restaurants for the burgers since most of them have good burgers, and Coleman's is no exception.

I went there this past Monday morning early on my way back from an out of town trip. I got the cheeseburger of course, and it was really good. I always get ketchup, mayo, and lettuce on my burgers and for some reason, they put a really extraordinary amount of mayo on it. You can see it overflowing in the picture. I had to actually scrape some of it off. It's just an observation; if you like mayo but don't like a ton of it, mention that you want light mayo if you eat here. Their fries are really good also. Nothing special, just regular Ore-ida type fries, but I guess the way they season them makes them unique.

All that said, the burger was great and I definitely will be back. All together, a jumbo burger including fries and a drink, it was about $9.00.

Red Lobster, Southaven, MS

Red Lobster

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Red Lobster is a national chain, with a location in Southaven, MS on Airways just north of Towne Square Boulevard, on the east side of the old mall.

In my opinion, the food is good but overpriced. Going to Red Lobster for seafood is like going to Olive Garden for Italian food. There's nothing wrong with it, it's just that it's a chain, and you can generally find equal or better quality at independent restaurants.

That said however, the food is good and what I got this past Wednesday was good. I got the Admiral's Feast, which is flounder, shrimp, scallops, and clam strips, and it comes with two side items. I chose a salad and a baked potato.

The food was good, but if I recall correctly, the price was over $20.00 (I was with a friend who had a gift certificate so I never saw the bill).

Regardless, as I said, it's good food, I just personally would rather support an independent restaurant, but that's just my personal preference. I've been to Red Lobster many times before and I'm sure I'll go again.

901 Wings, Southaven, MS

901 Wings

MAP

901 Wings is a small wing place on Stateline Road in Southaven, MS, a few blocks east of highway 51 before you get to where Dale's restaurant is. I've been there several times and I usually get a cheeseburger, but this past Tuesday night, I tried a cheeseburger and boneless wings combo.

The cheeseburger was really good as always, and the boneless wings bites were also very good. I chose honey gold flavor. I really recommend the place. I don't remember the exact total, but it was about the same as other wings places. It seems like it was around $12.00 or so with a drink.

The food is good, but it takes a while for them to prepare it, but apparently this is pretty typical of most wings places. It's not a criticism, just an observation. It's not "fast" food, but it's good food.

Southaven Pizza, Southaven, MS

Southaven Pizza

MAP

Southaven Pizza is a relatively new pizza joint in Southaven on Stateline Road, basically at the corner of Stateline and Hamilton, the the small strip center that used to be Tops Barbecue. It's been there a little over a year and I had heard good things about it but had not tried it until tonight.

I ordered a burger tonight to eat at work as I had heard their burgers were pretty good and nobody else at work needed to order anything. I am planning on trying the pizza also since I've heard their pizza is pretty good.

The burger was really good. It wasn't the best I've had, but it was definitely really good. A single burger was plenty of food. It comes with plain potato chips which were really good also, and I also ordered a side order of fried cheese sticks with mozzarella and those were really good also.

The burger price is really reasonable. $5.31 for a cheeseburger (I don't know why it's a specific amount like that) and all together, including tax my bill was just over $10.00.

I will definitely be back again soon!

New Asia, Germantown, TN

New Asia

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New Asia is a Chinese restaurant in Germantown on Exeter Road in the shopping center at the corner of Poplar Avenue and Exeter. I went there with a friend on his suggestion. I was very pleased. I got General Tsao's Chicken, and it was very good. I thought it was interesting, they spelled the dish name with the a and the o. Normally it's Tao or Tso, but I've never seen it Tsao.

The prices were about average for a non-buffet. All together including drink and a side order of egg drop soup, it was about $15.00 before tip.

I don't make it out to Germantown too often, but I will have this place on my list of places to go.

Yang's Deli, Memphis, TN

Yang's Deli

MAP

Yang's is a small deli located on Summer Avenue a few blocks east of Mendenhall Road. I used to go there regularly when I lived in the area, but I hadn't been there in several years. I stopped by there this past Monday on the way to a rehearsal and I must say, it's as good as it ever was.

I got a tuna sandwich and it was probably the best deli tuna I've had in years. The prices are reasonable. The total for the sandwich, chips, and a drink was about $10.00. I didn't see Mr. Yang so I don't know if he still works there every day, but the staff was friendly and the food came out pretty quickly.

They also sell Chinese food but I haven't tried it yet. They don't sell pizza any more (which I knew) but they used to make an incredible steak pizza.