Cinco de Mayo, Olive Branch, MS

Cinco de Mayo

MAP 

Cinco de Mayo is a small Mexican restaurant in Olive Branch on Goodman Road just west of Davidson Road on the north side. I've passed it several times but had not gone in until last night. I had heard mixed reviews and when I went in there was nobody else in there so I was a little concerned. However, it turns out I was just ahead of the dinner crowd and after 5:00 or so they got pretty busy, and what I got was very good.

I ordered a chicken quesadilla and queso and both were very good. The salsa for the chips was also very good. The prices are reasonable. The total for my meal including the queso, a drink, and tax was just under $14.

I will definitely be back and I do recommend it. I don't know why I heard mixed reviews. They have a good rating on Google reviews and like I said my meal was really good.

For whatever it's worth, they are posted with a "no weapons" sign if that matters to you, and oddly enough, a "no flip-flops" and "no sandals" sign too.

Two Sisters Diner, New Albany, MS

Two Sisters

MAP 

Two Sisters Diner is a diner and gift shop in New Albany on West Bankhead Street, a little east of Highway 22. I was in New Albany on business this past Thursday and found them randomly and stopped to eat. I was a little too early for lunch and as most of my friends know, I'm not extremely keen on breakfast foods but I didn't have any choice.

What I got was good though. I ordered a combo with eggs, pancakes, and country fried steak and also got a side order of sausage. The country fried steak was a little bland but not bad but all the other stuff was pretty good and the service was really good. I will definitely go back next time I'm in the area. There were several things on the lunch menu that sounded good and apparently it's a pretty popular local spot.

The total for everything including tax and a drink was around $14 and for what I got that was a pretty good price. I definitely recommend giving them a try.

La Fogata, Cordova, TN

La Fogata

MAP 

La Fogata is a Mexican restaurant in Cordova on Houston Levee Road a couple of blocks south of Macon Road. I went there for lunch this past Sunday with a group from church. It was really good. We ate outside which I have never really liked, and I know that's picky, but eating outside has NEVER been something I have enjoyed. The bugs and wind make it a little un-enjoyable, plus it was a little chilly. I plan on going back and trying them again.

Regardless, the food was really good and the prices were pretty reasonable. I got a chicken chimichanga which was huge (I took home enough for a second meal) and someone else at the table ordered a large queso and I had some of that and it was really good.

The total for my meal and drink, including tax was just over $13.00. I will definitely be back sometime soon to check them out again.

 

 

Robata, Memphis, TN

Robata

MAP 

Robata is a Ramen bar on Madison Avenue just west of Cooper, near Bayou across from Lafayette's. I went there tonight on suggestion of someone at work. I didn't know exactly what to expect and overall I enjoyed it. 

I ordered something called Hakodate which was a first course of salmon over rice which was very good, then a bowl with corn, noodles, meatballs, and egg, and bamboo shoots. It wasn't really "my thing" but it was good. I also ordered an appetizer of Gyoza which was very good. I will definitely go back and try some of the other items.

The prices weren't too bad, especially for a place in mid-town on Overton Square. The total was exactly $30 with a drink, before tax. I recommend it and like I said, even though what I ordered wasn't my thing, it was good and I'll be back! I ate plenty and there was quite a bit left so I brought it home for another meal. The service was excellent.

Another Mish-Mash

A mish-mash of a few places I've been in the last few months that I've already posted about previously.

10th Inning

 

 

Atan Memphis 

Cafe Eclectic

 

Cafe Ole

The Country Skillet

Habanero, Coldwater

The Half Shell

 The Hollywood Cafe 

Huey's Southaven

Kublai Khan

La Playita

Mexico Grill, Tunica

Milano's Southaven

The Blue Monkey, Memphis, TN

Blue Monkey

MAP 

The Blue Monkey is a bar and grill with two Memphis locations. I've been to the one on Madison a few times but had never been to the one on Front Street until two nights ago. It's located on Front Street just north of G.E. Patterson about a block behind (just west of) Earnestine and Hazel's. The one on Madison has always been great but the one on Front Street did not impress me. Now, to be fair, it may simply be what I ordered because I've heard a bunch of people say the one downtown is the better of the two.

I ordered the country fried steak with macaroni and cheese and a side salad. The salad was reasonably good but they charged me extra for a second small container of dressing. This isn't a big deal, but most places I've been don't charge extra for a little more dressing.

That aside, the country fried steak was "average" and the mac and cheese seemed to be instant out of a box mac. None of it was bad it's just that none of it was particularly good. I saw a few things at other tables that looked great so I will definitely be back and try it again. Like I said, the one on Madison has always been great.

It was a little pricey. The total was about $21 before tax but for a downtown restaurant that's probably not really too bad. The service was okay but not great. I left a little smaller tip than I usually do. I didn't stiff the waitress but I left right at 15 percent and usually I leave at least 20.

Pop's Comfort Kitchen, Bartlett, TN

Pop's

MAP 

Pop's is a family style diner on Kirby Whitten Road near Stage Road in the same parking lot as the Kroger. I went there last night for dinner after running an errand in the area. The food was pretty good and the service was excellent.

I started with an order of queso and chips which was really good although it was $6, and my entree was the country fried steak with a side salad and macaroni and cheese. Everything was pretty good although the mac and cheese and gravy for the steak needed a little salt. It's worth mentioning that the salad was really good and had a lot of stuff on it for just a "side" salad. They also have Diet Doctor Pepper which is a big plus for me. It's worth noting that the drink was really good, and not watered-down tasting like some places even though it had plenty of ice in it.

The total was around $23 before tip but for everything I got that wasn't too bad. There was a $1.99 up-charge for substituting a side item for the salad but the like I said it was was pretty large for a "side" salad.

A friend of mine met me there and he ordered spaghetti and he said it was good. Interestingly enough, the spaghetti looked more like pasta than spaghetti.

I would definitely recommend it. There were a couple of burgers on the menu that sounded pretty good so I may try one of those next time.