Bamboo Garden, Memphis, TN

Bamboo Garden

MAP

Bamboo Garden is a small Chinese restaurant on Whitten Road north of I-40 at Hillshire Drive. I've b been there a number of times but had not been in several years. I went there for lunch today while running an errand next door at the uniform shop.

I got the General Tso lunch special and it was as good as I remember. The total with a drink was about $8.00 and it was plenty of food. Their version of the dish is the dry wine based style which I prefer over some of the sweeter versions.

It's one of my favorite places to get this particular dish. I haven't had their sushi but I have heard it's pretty good also.

They mostly do take out, but they do have 3 or 4 tables inside.

Habaneros Mexican Restaurant, Coldwater, MS

Habaneros

MAP

Habeneros is a small Mexican restaurant in Coldwater just off Highway 51, a few blocks south of Highway 306, on the service road near the Coldwater animal hospital. I went there last night after hearing about it from a coworker.

The food was really good. I got a chicken quesadilla and queso and both were really good. It was a little more expensive that I expected, almost $19.00 including a drink and tax, but I asked for a large queso and it was larger than I was expecting, enough for 3 or 4 people, and the quesadilla was pretty big and came with rice and beans, so the total was probably about the same as other places.

I normally ask for sour cream with a quesadilla but generally when I go somewhere new, I skip it so I can see what it tastes like for just the item, and it was really good. The chicken had plenty of flavor.

It's a small place with only maybe 8 or 10 tables so if you go during a busy time they may be crowded, but I definitely recommend it.

Olive Garden, Memphis, TN

Olive Garden

MAP

I went to the Olive Garden on Poplar Avenue just west of I-240 this past Sunday for lunch. Normally I don't review chain restaurants, and I also know a lot of people have negative opinions of Olive Garden, but I think the food is pretty good.

Since it's a chain, I'll keep it pretty short. This past Sunday, I got the Chicken Parmesan which comes with endless bread sticks and salad. The salad was good but to be honest, the bread sticks were a little tough. Otherwise the food was good and there was enough chicken for two meals.

The price was a little high, but honestly not too bad for what all you get. The total was $27.32, including a drink tax, and a tip, but like I said there was enough chicken for two meals and it included salad.

I don't go there often but I do like their food and will be back.

Midtown Crossing Grill, Memphis, TN

Midtown Crossing

MAP

Midtown Crossing is a pizzeria at the corner of Watkins Street and Overton Park Avenue in Midtown Memphis. I went there randomly tonight after running an errand in Memphis. Their kitchen closes at 8:30 PM during the week and a little later on the weekends but they have pizza any time they are open.

I tried a piece of cheese pizza and a piece of pepperoni and both were very good. They had plenty of toppings and weren't greasy. The total including a drink and tax was a little less than $9.00 so they are reasonably priced.

I will go back and try some of their other items when I can get there earlier. I intended to do that tonight but my errand took longer than I expected.

Red Barn Cafe, Independence, MS

Red Barn

MAP

Red Barn is a small cafe in Independence, MS at the corner of Highway 305 and Sycamore Road by the post office. I've posted about them before but they have moved so I decided to post a new entry. If you know where they used to be, they are now just barely south of that same location on the other side of the road and in a larger building.

I went there this morning for breakfast. I'm not much on breakfast food so one of the things I like about them is they serve most of the menu any time. Today I ordered country fried steak with onion rings and a salad.

The steak was tender enough that I didn't need to use a knife. The onion rings were actually not rings but more just pieces of onion ring which made them easier to eat. The salad was also really good and had exactly what I like on a salad, lettuce, cheese, croutons, and dressing. It probably also would have had tomato but out of habit because I don't care for it, I asked for no tomato.

I highly recommend them. They are a little bit out of the way but definitely worth the drive.