Boure, Oxford, MS

Boure

MAP

Boure is a slightly upscale but casual restaurant and bar located on the square in Oxford on East Jackson Avenue just east of North 9th Street. I had it on my list for a few weeks after hearing about it from a friend and went there tonight for dinner and it was fantastic.

Several things on the menu looked great but the waiter told me the daily special and I decided to try that. It was pan seared steak over fettuccine noodles and spinach with a blue cheese bordelaise and red onion jelly and it was fantastic. The steak was cooked just right and the service was great.

I also ordered a side salad with blue cheese and it was prepared perfectly. The dressing was drizzled over the greens so it wasn't overbearing. Everything was perfect.

It's not cheap but it isn't overpriced. My total before tip was just under $34.00 which for what I got was very reasonable, especially considering it's in a prime downtown location right on the square.

I drove down there tonight just to eat and it was worth it.

Resthaven, Clarksdale, MS

Resthaven
MAP

Restaven is a family style diner on State Street in Clarksdale just east of New Africa Road or just a few blocks west of the "crossroads" of Highway 161 and Desoto Avenue, one of the fabled places where it's claimed Robert Johnson made his deal with the Devil.

While I was in Clarksdale today I ate lunch there. I got there a little early for the lunch specials and since I had already eaten breakfast, I got a burger and fries, which was very good.

I have been to Resthaven before a couple of years ago and got a lunch plate and it was fantastic. I highly recommend them if you're in the area.

My burger and fries, including a drink was less than $10.00 so prices are very reasonable. I am planning on going back to try some more of they lunch specials, but I will have to plan it a little better.

I also want to try Abe's Barbecue and somebody else told me about a tamale place.

Our Grandma's House of Pancakes, Clarksdale, MS

Our Grandma's House of Pancakes

MAP

Our Grandma's House of Pancakes is small breakfast cafe in downtown Clarksdale at the corner of Third Street and Delta Avenue. I went there randomly today while I was in Clarkdale.

The food was good. I got a number one which included eggs, sausage, hash browns, and 2 pancakes. I enjoyed all of it but the sausage was particularly good and had a lot of flavor.

The service was good too and the food came out pretty quickly. My total including and drink and tip was around $12.00 so it was reasonably priced for what I got.

It's worth a stop if you're in the area. Apparently they also have a sports bar that's open later in the day but I don't know what type of food they have.

Runway Grille, Memphis, TN

Runway Grille

MAP

Runway Grille is a small cafe on Winchester Road just west of Old Tchulahoma or a couple of blocks east of Swinnea Road on the south side. I've passed it numerous times and have been wanted to try it but didn't get a chance until today, and man was I pleased.

The food was fantastic. I got a cheeseburger and onion rings and my friend got barbecue and fries. The onion rings were fresh and crispy and burger was the size of some places double. My burger was great and fixed perfectly and my friend said his barbecue and fries were really good, and the service was fantastic. Everyone was very friendly.

The total including tax for a combo was $9.01 so the prices are very reasonable. Give them a try if you're over that way.

I was so impressed that I'm going to review them on google reviews, which is something I rarely do.

China Inn Buffet, Memphis, TN

China Inn

MAP

China Inn is a buffet on Elvis Presley Road about two blocks south of Raines Road across from Marlow's Ribs. I went there today for the first time after seeing it on an internet list. The prices were great, only $7.95 for lunch and little higher at night for dinner.

I got a selection of various meats, some mushrooms, and a spring roll. They also have an American section that had fried chicken, dressing, macaroni and cheese and a few other things. I got a little of the mac and cheese. Everything was really good and the service was excellent.

All together, the bill was $10.75 including a drink and tax. I definitely recommend it and I will be back!

Cook Out, Bartlett, TN

Cook Out

MAP

Cook Out is a chain burger restaurant with several locations around the area. I had been to one other area location a couple of years ago but met a friend for lunch today at the location in Bartlett on Highway 64/Stage Road a couple of blocks west of Germantown Parkway.

Their food is pretty good and a great value for the money. A cheeseburger with two side items and a drink is only less than $6.00. There were two of use and the total including tax was less than $12.00.

I won't say their burgers are great, but they are definitely good and a great place to eat if you're trying to budget. Today I got a burger with fries and onion rings.

South of Beale, Memphis, TN

South of Beale

MAP

South of Beale is a niche burger joint and bar on Main Street in Memphis south of Beale Street (duh) just south of Vance Avenue. I've posted about it before but thought this deserved its own individual post.

I went there this past Saturday after the Memphis Symphony Star Wars concert. I ordered the daily burger special, the blue cheese burger and it was great. My friend ordered a buffalo chicken sandwich and his wife ordered chicken and waffles and they said theirs was great as well.

I can't say enough about the place and you should try it. Everything I've had there has been great. Prices are about the same as other places in the area. I think my bill was around $20.00 including a drink before tip.

Point S Tire and Service, Memphis, TN

Point S Performance Tire

MAP

Point S/Performance Tire is a tire shop in Memphis at the corner of Bartlett Road and Pleasant View Road. This is another one of those reviews of somewhere other than a restaurant.

I went there a couple of weeks ago to have my tires balanced because it's right down street a place I rehearse on Monday nights.

The service was fantastic. They got me in and out in a very short time, didn't try to up-sell like most stores do, and charged a reasonable price. I got all 4 tired balanced and rotated and also had one tire repaired due to a leak. I think the total was about $60.00, but for what they did, they were cheaper than some of the other places I've been.

I can't say enough about them. The service was great, everyone was friendly, and it's a nice clean shop. I highly recommend them if you're in the area and need service.

I wasn't sure how long they had been there but the service guy told me they have been there since the 1980s.

Olive Branch Catfish Company, Olive Branch, MS

Olive Branch Catfish

MAP

Olive Branch Catfish is a catfish and seafood restaurant on Highway 178 (Old 78) in Olive Branch a little east of downtown Olive Branch. I went there this past Wednesday night for dinner.

I intentionally waited a couple of days to post this because my first impression of the place wasn't very good. They weren't very busy around 7 PM and I was seated at a table. One waitress came out and seemed to be annoyed that I was at a table and not a booth. I don't know why that mattered, but she mumbled something under her breath about it. She then asked me what I wanted to drink and told another waitress to bring it to me.

The second waitress was very friendly and the service was reasonably fast. The food was decent but seemed a little overpriced for what I got. I got a platter with 3 shrimp, 1 piece of catfish, french fries, and coleslaw and it was around $18.00. To be honest, I don't get seafood very often and that may not be too expensive. The coleslaw was very mayonnaise-y tasting but it wasn't bad. If you like mayo based slaw, you'll like it.

Overall, my experience wasn't bad, I just got a bad first impression like I said. I will be back again and give them another chance when I'm over that way. My total bill with a drink before tip was something like $21.00.

Don't avoid them because of my review. Like I said, I'll give them another chance. I may have just caught them on an off day.