Milano's, Southaven, MS

Milano's

MAP

Milano's is a pizza cafe on Airways in Southaven, just behind the Krystal restaurant that is at Airways and Goodman. It actually faces Moore Drive but it's an Airways address.

As I understand it, they are related to the Milano's in Colliverville, TN that I posted about a few weeks ago. I usually don't post a separate blog about different chain restaurants, but since they are so far apart and I don't believe they are owned by the same person, I decided to add this.

I went there today for lunch. I got two slices of beef and sausage pizza and a drink and even though I had just missed the lunch time, the guy rang it up for me as the lunch special and all together it was less than $7.00 which is a great deal considering how big the slices are.

The pizza was really good and they have Diet Mt. Dew at the drink fountain which happens to be a personal favorite of mine.

I definitely recommend giving them a try.

Payne's Barbecue, Memphis, TN

Payne's

MAP

Payne's is a small barbecue restaurant on Lamar Avenue a few blocks east of Central or a couple of blocks west of Southern. They are literally in an old gas station.

Their barbecue is different than most other places and they use a mustard based sauce for the slaw instead of mayonnaise based. Their barbecue is really good but I highly recommend the smoked sausage.

Their prices are reasonable. Today I got a barbecue plate, smoked sausage, and a drink and the total was around $16.00 including tax.

They are only open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. If you've been there in the past you know they only accepted cash but they take credit cards now!

Definitely give them a try. You will be pleased.

A&J Catfish Station, Memphis, TN

A&J Catfish

MAP

A&J is a catfish cafe on Knight Arnold just east of Hickory Hill. I went there today for lunch and extremely impressed by everything. I got a two piece catfish basket which came with fries and hush puppies, and a side order of coleslaw (at the cashier's recommendation).

Everything was great. The slaw was exceptionally good, which is interesting because normally I don't like coleslaw. The total with a drink and tax was around $11.00, so it was very reasonably priced.

I met one of the owners who was very friendly, and the service was great and the food came out pretty quickly.

I can't say too much about them. I highly recommend it!

Main Street Sushi, Memphis, TN

South Main Sushi

MAP

South Main Sushi is a Japanese restaurant on Main Street just north G.E. Patterson, across the street from Earnestine and Hazel's. I had seen it a number of times but I'm usually in the area after they are closed. I went there last night for dinner and was impressed.

I got the spicy Hibachi Chicken which came with vegetables and rice and a soup and salad, and a Nashville Sushi roll, which is spicy crab with seared tuna. Both items were fantastic. The prices are about what I expected for a downtown restaurant. My total for both items and a drink before tip was about $33.00 but for what I got, that's not bad at all.

I will definitely be back.

Abbay's, Southaven, MS

Abbay's

MAP

Abbay's is a home cooking style restaurant but in a fast food atmosphere. There are a small regional chain with locations in Southaven and Olive Branch, MS and Cordova, TN. I've been there several times and the food has always been good.

We ordered from there this past Sunday night at work. I got country fried steak, pinto beans, and macaroni and cheese. Their prices are reasonable and the food is pretty good. It's not great, but definitely good, especially considering the fast food aspect. The service has always been pretty fast even when they are busy.

My total for a meat plate with three vegetables with just under $10.00 and for that price, you get plenty of food. I recommend it. I think you will be pleased.

Hopdoddy, Memphis, TN

Hopdoddy

MAP

Hopdoddy is a new burger joint at the corner of Perkins and Poplar. The address is showing incorrectly. It's actually located on the north side of Poplar. I went there this past Monday for lunch and it was really good. They also have a location in Overton Square but I haven't been there yet.

I got the Diablo which is a spicy burger and an order of chili cheese fries. I didn't realize the side order of fries was going to be so big. I took most of it home.

They don't have Coke or Pepsi products. I can't remember the name of the soft drinks they serve, but they are very good. I got a dark cherry soda.

The burger prices aren't bad. The Diablo was around $9.00. The total bill was more than I was expecting, around $20.00 but I didn't know the order of fries was so big, and it was around $8.00 also.

I definitely recommend it and will be back.

Booya's, Collierville, TN

Booya's

MAP

Booya's is a Southwest/Mexican restaurant in Collierville, on Market Street just north of Poplar Avenue. I went there this past Wednesday on suggestion of a friend and I was very impressed. It's similar to Moe's, where you order you item and tell them what you want on it then they bring it to you.

It was a little more expensive than I expected, but not too bad. I ordered a quesadilla, queso, and a drink and the total was around $14.00, but it was well worth it.

I usually go to Salsarita's in Southaven which is very similar although slightly cheaper, but I will definitely be back to Booya's when I'm near Collierville.

China Dragon, Memphis, TN

China Dragon

MAP

China Dragon is a Chinese restaurant at the corner of Winchester Road and Hacks Cross Road in Memphis, behind the East End Grill. I used to go there pretty regularly after a Friday night shooting match I used to participate in but I hadn't been in several years until this past Wednesday.

I made in it for lunch and was pleased. It has apparently changed owners but the food is still good. I ordered General Tso's Chicken and it is different that they used to serve. It is now similar to sweet and sour chicken, but the style I prefer is the wine base sauce that's a little more spicy.

That said though, the food was good. I made it in time for the lunch special and all together including a drink, before tip, the total was less than $10.00. I definitely recommend it and I will be back.

I forget exactly what my friend ordered but he said his was really good too and it was the same price.

Taco Fiesta, Southaven, MS

Taco Fiesta

MAP

Taco Fiesta is a relatively new fast food taco restaurant on Getwell Road, just north of Central Parkway in the strip center on the northwest corner. I think it's been there a year or so. I went there tonight for the first time and it was overall good.

I ordered a chimichanga combo which came with three chimichangas, one beef, one chicken, and one shrimp, and all three of those were really good. The shrimp one was particularly good.

I also ordered a single taco just to see what they were like. Honestly, it was a little bland, but not bad. I should have asked for sour cream (just a personal preference) and some sort of taco sauce, but like I said, it wasn't bad, just a little bland.

The price was a little more than I was expecting, BUT I ordered a three item combo and after I thought about it for a few seconds, it probably wasn't that expensive. The three item combo, one side order of a taco, and a drink was about $15.00 including tax. The only real downside is their orders apparently don't come with any chips or salsa like most Mexican places.

The location is relatively small, only about 5 or 6 tables as I remember, but the service was fast and the employees were friendly.

My friend and his wife ordered a taco salad, a burrito (I think) and some chips and queso and they said their food was good.

Next time, I'll try the tacos with some sauce and see what they are like, but I will definitely be back.