Happy Daze, Nesbit, MS

Happy Daze

MAP

Happy Daze is a diner in Nesbit just off Highway 51 at the corner of Nesbit Road and Old Highway 51. I went there today for lunch after seeing an ad somewhere. I got the Monday special which is a barbecue sandwich, fries, and a drink for $5.50 and it was very good. The fries were cooked perfectly and did not need any salt. One thing I noticed is the ketchup that was on the tables was cold instead of room temperature which is something I really like but you don't find very often.

I am going to go back another day and try their cheeseburger. Those looked really good too. I also got a chocolate and peanut butter milk shake and I noticed they used real peanut butter out of a jar. That was also very good.

I'll be honest, I didn't expect the barbecue to be that good since a lot of places that aren't specifically barbecue restaurants don't do a great job but I was pleasantly surprised. Give them a try if you're out that way.

Jen's Steak and Seafood, Hurricane Mills, TN

Jen's Steak and Seafood

MAP

Jen's is a steak house in Hurricane Mills, TN on Highway 13 just north of I-40, across from Loretta Lynn's Kitchen. I stopped there randomly this past Saturday night on the way home from the Nashville area.

I wasn't extremely hungry because I had eaten lunch only a few hours before but I wanted something and I had to stop for gas anyway. I saw a sign at the exit and decided to try it.

Since I wasn't hungry enough to order a full dinner, I just got a club sandwich and it was very good. The fries were particularly good. They were very well seasoned and didn't need any salt. The total with a drink and tax was about $13.00 if I remember correctly. I want to make it back up that way and try their steak. I saw them bringing out dishes to other customers and everything looked really good.

Chicago Express, Spring Hill, TN

Chicago Express

MAP

Chicago Express is a small diner in Spring Hill, TN on McLemore Avenue just off Highway 31/Main Street in Spring Hill. I was in Spring Hill randomly this past Saturday and met a friend there for lunch on his recommendation.

The food was fantastic and very reasonably priced. I got the cheesy meatball sub because my friend suggested that and I was very impressed. Since I went to Chicago for the first time just a couple of years ago I've been looking for Chicago based diners but there aren't many near me.

The total for my lunch including a drink and tax was $12.75 and it was worth every penny. If you're in the area give them a try.

Southern Eatery, Holly Springs, MS

Southern Eatery

MAP

Southern Eatery is a small buffet in Holly Springs on East College Avenue a little bit east of North Memphis Street which is Highway 7. I went there randomly for lunch today. I was going to Holly Springs to run an errand and just looked up restaurants in the area this one came up.

I was very pleased. The buffet is small but has plenty of choices. I got fried catfish, a pork tenderloin, chicken and dressing, black eyed peas, corn, butter beans, and then went back a got a piece of grilled chicken, a small salad, and a bite of banana pudding just to taste it. Everything was really good and they seem to do a good business. I got there a little after 11:00 but by the time I left they were getting busy.

The price is great and everyone was very friendly. My total including a drink and tax was a little less than $13.00. They also have a regular menu but I only glanced at it.

If you are in the area it's definitely worth checking out.

Chili's, Southaven, MS

Chili's

MAP

Chili's is a chain restaurant with numerous locations. They are similar to O'Charley's or Applebee's but better than Applebee's in my opinion. The location in Southaven is on Goodman Road just west of Southcrest next to Steak and Shake. Normally I don't blog about chain places but we ordered from there Wednesday a couple of nights ago and just wanted to mention them because the food was good and they have a good deal going on right now.

They currently are running a 3 for $10 deal which includes an appetizer, entree, and drink and for $10 I got much more food than I was expecting. I ordered chips and salsa, and chicken crispers with black beans and fries and it was all really good. The meal comes with a large drink and I also asked for extra honey mustard. The total was exactly $11.00 and for the amount of food you get, it's a great deal. We work 12 hour shifts so sometimes we eat twice in the same night or at least snack again later in the night depending on how early we order dinner but there was enough for me to eat most of it when we ordered and the rest of it later in the evening.

One of my coworkers order the grilled chicken pasta and said it was just OK but another coworker tried it and said he thought it was good.

On their website it looks like different locations have different entrees and appetizers available so depending on where you are, you have different options.

Mr. Chen's Kitchen, Hernando, MS

Mr. Chen's

MAP

Mr. Chen's is a small Chinese restaurant in Hernando just north of Commerce Street on Mt. Pleasant Road, but to get to it, you turn into the shopping center parking lot just west of the McDonald's and turn left into the restaurant parking lot when you get even with the Kroger.

I went there a couple of days ago for lunch and was impressed, with caveats. A friend recommended it so I tried it out.

I ordered off of the regular menu and for what I got, the price wasn't bad and the food was good. I got there just after they opened and it appeared that the buffet wasn't open so that's why I ordered off the regular menu. I got General Tso's chicken and an order of egg drop soup and both were really good.

It's my fault for not asking about the buffet because not long after I ordered and sat down, they started bringing out food for the buffet. It was about 11:00 but the sign said 10:30 so I guess they were running a little behind.

My total for both items and a drink was around $16 but for what I got it was a decent price. I have no idea how much the buffet is but I will definitely be back to try it soon.

Southern Hands, Olive Branch, MS

Southern Hands

MAP

Southern Hands is a small family style restaurant on Hack's Cross Road in Olive Branch just north of Goodman Road on the west side behind the Walgreen's. I went there last Wednesday for lunch. They are a local chain with three locations.

I ordered the fried catfish dinner and got spaghetti and macaroni and cheese as my side items. The food was good. It wasn't as good as some other places I've been but it's definitely good food. The prices were a little higher than I expected. My total was around $16 I think including a drink.

They seem to do a pretty good business. There were several other people there besides me and during the 30 minutes or so I was there, a number of people came in and picked up to go orders.

It's worth checking out if you're in the area. My review of them isn't stellar but don't let that put you off. The food was good, it just wasn't spectacular. The service was good and the employees were all very friendly.

Memphis Barbecue Company, Horn Lake, MS

Memphis Barbecue Co.

MAP

Memphis Barbecue Company is located in Horn Lake just off Goodman Road just west of I-55. I've been there several times and to be honest, I debated on whether or not to review them. We ordered from there a few nights ago at work.

The food is good but they are a little overpriced in my opinion for what you get. I did not go to pick up the food the other night so I can't comment on the service but I can say that every time I've been there, there has been some issue with the service.

The last time I went and ate at the location it was with a group there was a problem with one of the orders and when the person mentioned it, the waitress literally put up her hands and said "That's on the kitchen. I put the order in right!" and walked off. The guy had to call her back over and ask her to bring him the right order. Don't get me wrong. I'm not upset that there was a mistake. It happens. I was upset that she didn't seem to give a shit and literally walked off. I have no idea if the guy said anything a manager.

I have a friend that claims he goes there all the time and has never had any problem of any kind.

Regardless, I will say the food is good and I have no complaints with that. It's just that there are literally a couple of hundred other barbecue restaurants in the metro area so I don't pick this one as one to go to often.

They are really popular because they were featured on some TV show a few years ago but I don't personally know anyone that's actually from Memphis that recommends them as a first choice. Every time I hear someone recommend them, it's someone from Horn Lake or the north Mississippi area or someone from out of town who says they saw it on TV.

The other night at work I ordered the sausage and cheese plate which was about $11.00 if I remember correctly and it was good.

If you're in the area, certainly give them a try. If you like them and enjoy the experience, then it's a great place for you.

Melanie's Fine Dining, Horn Lake, MS

Melanie's

Melanie's (Facebook page)

MAP

Melanie's Fine Dining is a small cafe on Goodman Road in Horn Lake just west of Hurt Road next to La Petite Academy. I had seen the sign for at least a few weeks but did not get a chance to get over there until tonight. They are open until about 6:00 PM most nights.

Everybody was very friendly and the food was really good. Prices are very reasonable. I got one of the daily specials which was 3 pieces of catfish and two sides for only $10 and I chose macaroni and cheese and spaghetti and it was all very good. The spaghetti had a really good taste and I mention that specifically because at many places, spaghetti is nothing but noodles with sauce on it, but theirs was thick and had meat. My total with tax and a drink was around $14.00.

I really recommend them! They seem to do a pretty good take out business. I was there by myself at first and a lady and her daughter came in to eat inside while I was there, but during the time I was in there, 4 or 5 people came in to pick up their call in orders.

I also noticed a sign that said you got a free dessert if you checked in on Facebook so I did. I figured it would be ice cream or something like that, but the waitress said I could get any dessert so I got the chocolate cheesecake which was very good also.