Erling Jensen's, Memphis, TN

Erling Jensen's

MAP

Erling's is a fine dining restaurant on South Yates Road at the corner of Murray Avenue where Yates dead ends south of Poplar avenue. I had been there once before about 20 years ago but had not had a chance to go back until tonight.

I ordered several items, a Petit Cantal cheese plate with grilled andouille and whole grain mustard, and crostini, a root vegetable soup, and for the entrée a flank steak over a bed of asparagus and mashed sweet potato. They also include a crab cake starter with dill sauce, a lemon sorbet palate cleanser, and a chocolate muffin, and when I was finished offered me a cup of coffee. I forgot to ask what kind of coffee it was but it wasn't Folger's, let me tell you.

The total price for what I got was very reasonable although take note, they are not cheap as again, they are a fine dining establishment but the food and service is beyond impeccable. I felt a little out of place being dressed casually but I had called ahead and they assured me that was fine. On busy nights you may need to make a reservation but when I called they said that during the week I would probably be ok if I came in without one. They offer valet parking but I didn't use that so I don't know how much they charge.

They are only open at night from 5:00 until 10:00 PM for dinner.

My total bill before tip was just under $90 and worth every penny of it. I will definitely be back. Also be warned, there is nothing on the menu that doesn't sound spectacular.

Beatty Street Grocery, Jackson, MS

Beatty Street Grocery

MAP

Beatty Street Grocery is a small grocery and restaurant at the corner of Beatty Street and West Street in Jackson, MS just a little north of I-55/I-20. I was passing through Jackson yesterday on my way to Laurel, MS and stopped there to grab lunch. It was on my list of places to try and it was worth the slight detour.

It's a typical small local store with a few items for sale and a lunch counter. They have several types of sandwiches and apparently at least a couple of plate lunches but I wanted to try the burger and I was very happy. The price was a little under $10 but I bought a bottled drink instead of getting the burger combo because I wanted a Mountain Dew but I think the combo would have been a little cheaper. Either way, it was good and definitely worth the stop if you're in the area. The order of fries was pretty large and everything was good.

Uncle Bubba's Barbecue and Smokehouse, Hernando, MS

Uncle Bubba's

MAP

Uncle Bubba's is a barbecue restaurant in Hernando on Highway 51 just north a couple of block north of Commerce Street across from the Dip. I didn't see it at first because I didn't see a sign but it's in a building that used to be a tractor supply place I think.

I went there just a few days ago for lunch and it was very good. I got a burger and macaroni and cheese and they were both very good. I heard about it from a friend who lives nearby and decided to give it a try and I'm glad I did. I'm personally not a huge barbecue fan but I'll be back sometime to try theirs.

The prices were reasonable for what type of restaurant it is. All together with drink, tax, and tip it was about $19.00. I recommend trying it out.

Fuddrucker's, Robinsonville, MS (inside Fitzgerald's Casino)

Fitz Casino

Fuddrucker's

MAP

Fuddrucker's is a burger chain restaurant that just recently opened a location inside Fitzgerald's Casino in Robinsonville, MS (what most people call Tunica, but it's not actually inside the city of Tunica, only inside the county) in place of the snack bar that used to be there.

I go to the casinos from time to time but had not been since the first part of this year. I was there last night specifically to try their burger. I played a little and got a comp and ordered a burger combo with fries and a drink, and got 4 chocolate chips cookies just because I had the comp. The total was just under $19.

The burger was pretty good. They changed up the restaurant a little bit so you order the burger and dress it yourself. I was pleased and will be back to try some of their other items the next time I'm at that casino.

The casino was not very busy even for a Wednesday night. The dealer said this is their slow time of the year. As I said, I hadn't been since January so I didn't realize they would be that slow. The food was ready fairly quickly, which was a nice change because the service at the snack bar at Fitzgerald's was known for being atrociously slow, but having said that, I was only one there at that particular time other than my friend that met me there but he had already eaten.

Off the Hoof Burgers, Arlington, TN

Off the Hoof

MAP

Off the Hoof is a small burger restaurant in Arlington on Highway 70 just east of Chester Street, very close to the old downtown Arlington where Vinegar Jim's restaurant is located. I went there today for lunch and was very pleased/

I got a regular burger, called the Lee Burger I believe and loaded fries, but they have a wide selection of different types of burgers. The burger was good but the fries were excellent! All together including a drink and tax the total was about $15. I highly recommend them and I will be back when I'm back out in the area.

Elena's Taco Shop, Memphis, TN

Elena's Taco Shop

MAP

Elena's Taco Shop is a small taco restaurant on Summer Ave/U.S. 70 just west of Raleigh Lagrange Road in a small strip plaza next to the gas station that is at that corner. I went there yesterday for the first time based on recommendations from several people.

I got a chicken taco, a steak taco, and a half order of chicken fries and all of it was really good. Prices were reasonable. With a drink and tax the total was around $10 which was very reasonable for what I got. I had already eaten a little bit so I didn't get a large amount of food but I will be going back another time when I am hungry to try a full order of something.

I was very pleased and highly recommend them.

Sling Shot Charlie's, Arlington, TN

Sling Shot Charlie's

MAP

Sling Shot Charlie's is a small restaurant on Highway 70 in Arlington just east of Main Street. I had been there once before a while ago but only got a burger. I went there again a couple of days ago and got a plate lunch and it was pretty good and the service was good.

I'll keep it brief since I posted about them before. The food was pretty good and was probably reasonably priced compared to other places. The lunch special I got was one piece of catfish and two sides for $11.00 and with a drink and tax it was about $15.00.

I will definitely be back when I out in the area.

Lotus Vietnamese Restaurant, Memphis, TN

Lotus

MAP

Lotus is a small Vietnamese restaurant on Summer Avenue just east of Mendenhall Road on the north side. It's been there for 40 years according to what the owner told me. I lived in Memphis near this restaurant until four years ago but had never been there and boy oh boy did I miss out!

I went there for the first time this past Friday night and it was fantastic. I ordered the garlic chicken as an entrée and Vietnamese egg rolls as an appetizer along with hot tea. Everything was really good and the prices were very reasonable for what I got. The total was about $20 before tip but there was enough of the chicken entrée for two full meals. I asked for the entrée to be mild but I think I'll try it hotter next time.

I regret never having been there before and I will definitely be back!

Pancho's Memphis, TN

Pancho's

MAP

Pancho's is a Mexican restaurant in Memphis in the shopping center that's at the corner of Summer Avenue and White Station Road in the building that many years ago was Café St. Clair. The original Pancho's location is in West Memphis, AR and I've been to both locations many times over the years.

One of the things other than good food that sets Pancho's apart from other Mexican places is they bring you cheese dip for no extra charge with your tortilla chips, and their cheese dip is legendary. It's different, and better that many other places. They used to bring you unlimited refills on the dip but I think now they charge for extras. Either way, their dip is great.

I had not been to either location in a while and I went there this past Tuesday for lunch and got the lunch special with three items. I got a chicken quesadilla and a beef burrito (the burrito counts as two items) and it comes with rice and beans. Both of the items are really good and I miss living near there.

The total before tip was only about $12. If you get a chance, try them out. I think you'll like them!

Doe's Eat Place, Jonesboro, AR

Doe's Eat Place

MAP

Doe's Eat Place is a regional chain with several location in the mid-south area. I was in Jonesboro, AR today and wanted to try them based on reviews I had seen, and they were great. I ordered an appetizer, the tamale cheese dip (the picture of that is a little fuzzy), and a shrimp po' boy sandwich, and everything was fantastic.

My friend got a chili-cheeseburger and was only able to eat about half of it and took the other half home for his wife. They split the appetizer and my total was only a little over $17 including a drink before tip. The service was great as well.

I want to try some of their other locations as they are near some my relatives.

Bonus review:

Andy's Frozen Custard, Jonesboro, AR

MAP

After dinner I went by Andy's Frozen Custard on Highland Drive (Highway 18) just east of Main Street on recommendation of a coworker and it was really also! I was still pretty full but wanted to try it so I got a small chocolate milkshake.

The regular price is about $4.50 for the small but they gave me a discount so I didn't have to pay quite that much. I want to try it again sometime when I'm hungrier but the milkshake was very good.

I definitely recommend them.