138511 Mon Mar 07 02:28:26 -0800 2005 15 11 South 0 741754 Wow. We are moving from Dallas to Northern Virginia, slowly, soon. We need lunch in Texarkana, dinner and breakfast in Little Rock, lunch, dinner, breakfast and probably lunch again in Memphis, dinner and breakfast in Nashville, booked for some home vegan in Johnson City, lunch in Roanoke, and any advice at all for Manassas -- it's near where we'll be living. Re: Memphis, we're going to treat ourselves to the Peabody so that our little boy can hang with their ducks. How are the restaurants at the Peabody? How is room service? In general, we need kid-friendly and, ideally, dog-friendly (two of them, big ones -- they'll be at a kennel while we're in Memphis). After that we like good food. I am kind of a barbecue snob because I cook it myself and I am usually not satisfied by commercial interpretations. I am really not a snob about any food except barbecue though, and even if the barbecue is weak I am willing if the sides are good. Discuss. Mon Mar 07 02:28:26 -0800 2005 0 john clark 1 741785 Anybody? thunk thunk, does this thing work? :) Tue Mar 08 10:52:30 -0800 2005 741754 0 john clark 2 741792 We had a good dinner at Loca Luna in Little Rock weekend before last, and I did see one family with school-aged children there. We enjoyed the pizzas; there would probably be some things on the menu that older kids would like. It's kind of an upscale-casual atmosphere. I haven't stayed at the Peabody since 1997, but we were very disappointed with the service we received while we were there (they tried not to honor our reservation, then when we started to leave they suddenly found us a room...one that reeked of cigarette smoke). I hope you have a better experience. We never ate in their restaurants, so I can't comment on that. The duck thing has become this huge corny extravaganza, not the low-key "oh look, here come the ducks" that I remember from my childhood. Link: http://www.localuna.com Tue Mar 08 19:53:45 -0800 2005 741785 0 Zorra 3 741861 I read the previous messages about the Peabody in Memphis and think you may want to consider a stay at the Peabody in Little Rock instead of Peabody Memphis. It opened under the Peabody name after major renovations on the formerly called Arkansas Excelsior Hotel. We stayed there one night and it was excellent--clean and nice. They also have the cute ducks. Link: http://www.peabodylittlerock.com/asp/home.asp Fri Mar 11 23:38:19 -0800 2005 741792 0 Andrea 4 741862 P.S. - There's also Corky's (Ribs & Barbecue) in Little Rock that is very good. Fri Mar 11 23:49:27 -0800 2005 741861 0 Andrea 2 741813 John Wills twice won the Memphis in May BBQ Competition. The only way to get his pork shoulder nowadays is as a topping to the Pizza at Romeo's in Memphis. (pleae note: this is not a BBQ pizza, an awful concoction using bbq sauce instead of pizza sauce. No, this is a regular pizza with smoked pork as a topping.) He also puts it into a pork burrito. These are the only two items worth ordering there, but they are both Chowhounding of the highest order. John is my wife's first cousin, for full disclosure. But i stake my reputation - for what that's worth- on his great chopped pork. Wed Mar 09 15:13:04 -0800 2005 741785 0 Steve S. 1 741793 The peabody is great - it house one of the finest restaurants in memphis - chez phillipe. If you are going to be there on Sunady they also have the best sunday brunch in town - Interms of Memphis Barbecue - Memphis has some of the best barbecue - I am sure the list below will spark comments - near the peabody is the Charlie Vergos Rendezvous - 52 S 2nd St - a tourist favorite Jim Neely's Interstate Barbecue - 2265 S 3rd St - a local favorite Corky's - 5259 Poplar Ave - a little bit further but worh the trip Germantown Commissary - 2290 S Germantown Rd Germantown(a suburb of memphis) - some will say this is the best barbecue in Memphis Tue Mar 08 21:42:30 -0800 2005 741754 0 david 2 741795 Okay I don't know how to say this but avoid the places that Weinstein has recommended. If you do a search on this website as well as others you will find that I am not off base... First Weinstein's recomendations: near the peabody is the Charlie Vergos Rendezvous - 52 S 2nd St - a tourist favorite--- BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW ANY BETTER, the novelty is the size and energy of the restaurant, the servers are a throw back to a time that is best studied in school and not necessarily experienced first hand... Jim Neely's Interstate Barbecue - 2265 S 3rd St - a local favorite-- TRUE, very good... I like it because of the bbq turkey available Corky's - 5259 Poplar Ave - a little bit further but worh the trip--- NOT WORTH THE TRIP... if Memphis weren't home to so many good BBQ places, perhaps it would do but it is MEMPHIS... you can do better Germantown Commissary - 2290 S Germantown Rd Germantown(a suburb of memphis) - some will say this is the best barbecue in Memphis... if YOU LIVE IN EAST MEMPHIS OR THE EAST SUBURBS Okay, done with the rant... Places to hit in Memphis, in my humble opinion (and others on the board as well) 1) In addition to Interstate, consider The BBQ Shop on Madison and Cozy Corner on North Parkway (for lunch) 2) Memphis is the home of some good meat and three places, as a lifelong Memphian I have to recommend a place that I only recently discovered... Ellen's Soul Food 601 South Parkway E. Memphis, TN 901 942-4888 delicious... i went with a friend and her european guests... a film crew doing a documentary on elvis was eating lunch there because they had heard how good it was... yummmmmm 3)In case you are hankering for some Tex-Mex, there are a couple of good options (even my Texas friends agree)... Taqueria Guadalajara on Summer Avenue is really good... they have this "shrimp cocktail" that is more like amazing Gazpacho with shrimp... the grill is visible to anyone at the counter, everything is fresh and delicious... 4) The Peabody... I would inquire about a renovated room, honestly hotel is very out of date... friends visiting now often choose to stay elsewhere, the Madison is tres chic... for nostalgia and the lobby the Peabody is probably worth it (if they give you a nice room)... 5) Chez Phillipe is a nice and relatively overpriced restaurant, not where I would take a child (unless a teenager) 6) Not sure of the age of the child but Memphis is a great city for kids... the Zoo is world class, we even have pandas... if your child is young (8 and under) the Children Museum is fabulous... there is a really nice Fire Museum downtown on the trolley line that your child might like as well... 7) speaking of museums, try to take in one of the many museums our city has to offer... in particular the Civil Rights Museum is incredible... We also have three museums of sorts dedicated to Memphis Music... the Smithsonian's Permanent Traveling Exhibit "Rock and Soul" is housed at the new FedEx Forum, Sun Records has a nice (small and brief so your child might not mind being dragged along) exhibit on Sam Phillips... Soulsville is an amazing museum about, well, Soul music focusing on Stax records and other Memphis labels... 8) If you choose to do the Sun Studio Tour, they have great burgers and milkshakes... 9) the trolley... the river loop is a nice way to see the goings on in memphis and kids love doing it... 10) Graceland... personally, I would just do the drive by but that is me... tourists from all over the world flock to Memphis to pay homage to Elvis, who am I to argue... Wed Mar 09 01:49:32 -0800 2005 741793 0 my humble opinion 3 741802 I knew mt list would cause responses - Wed Mar 09 09:03:28 -0800 2005 741795 0 david 1 741796 please see my long reply to Weinstein's post... much stuff about Memphis that you will like (especially considering you are a BBQ "snob") Other cities: Little Rock... surprisingly good food for a relatively small city... I am partial to a place called Cheers in the Heights for this turkey sandwich that is to die along with the fries... delicious... I also like Trios, very good "american" style food... how can I forget Doe's for tamales and steaks... if they have the chicken sandwich still it is delicious... for breakfast/brunch in little rock i like this place called the Satellite Cafe Two random things... tamales are big in little rock... great bread is available at the Boulevard Bread Company and great cookies et al at Community Bakery My best friend used to go to Lilly's Dim Sum all the time with her toddler... again, don't know how old your child is... I have attached a list of restaurants from the LR Convention and Visitor's Bureau for your review BTW... though I guess if you are moving from TX to DC that this might not interest you, I have heard that the restaurant at the Clinton Library is beyond good... Link: http://www.littlerock.com/dining/search.asp Wed Mar 09 02:07:24 -0800 2005 741754 0 humble opinion 1 741797 Nashville... does not have as unique offerings as either LR or Memphis... surprising for such a "sophisticated" city... There is a strip of restaurants including the Pancake Shop near Vandy where I have always found good food... Also, there is a place (I have not been but have had goodies that others have brought to me) called Ham n' Goody's that I bet is good... Oh, Noshville is a deli... some swear by it others can't stand it... You must check out the old train station, it is now a hotel... beautiful... I tend to eat at chain restaurants when I am in Nashville, either the Palms or Houstons (the original of the chain is in Nashville, go figure) Wed Mar 09 02:11:16 -0800 2005 741754 0 humble but tired 2 741818 For what it's worth, the Lowes Hotel in Nashville is "pet-friendly" and a very nice place. My wife and I stayed there last Summer and got a great rate (less than $100 as I recall). We unexpectedly ran into friends of ours who were travelling with their two large spaniels; they raved about how well they and their dogs were treated. Elliston Place is located only a block or two away from the Lowes. Wed Mar 09 20:56:11 -0800 2005 741797 0 Gator 1 741810 Nashville- a short list for you ELLISTON PLACE SODA SHOP -pharmacy/soda shop menu of breakfast, burgers and fries, sundaes, shakes and banana splits; the kitchen serves up a daily changing repast of meat-and-three. 2111 Elliston Pl. 327-1090. - MARTHA'S AT THE PLANTATION - -. Grits, sweet potatoes, country ham, green tomatoes, pork, catfish and beans - 5025 Harding Rd. 353-2828. PANCAKE PANTRY - 40-year-old landmark for buttermilk pancakes. - 1796 21st Ave. N. 383-9333. ROTIER'S Meat-and-three "Night Plates," short orders from the fryer, cheeseburgers served either grilled or on French bread. 2413 Elliston Pl. 327-9892. CAPITOL GRILLE Chef Sean Brock, an honors graduate of Johnson & Wales, - Dishes change seasonally, but some that have made an impression on local foodies include oyster and cornbread stuffed quail; warm foraged mushroom tart; pistachio-crusted rack of lamb with sweet potato and vegetable gratin; and hazelnut-dusted black grouper with parsnip puree, melted leeks and orange butter. - 231 6th Ave. N. 345-7116- MAMBU—heavy on the Asian influences, with a smattering of Mediterranean—but diners can be assured that their meal will be memorable. 1806 Hayes St. 329-1293 MARGOT CAFE & BAR From her open kitchen in this charming, renovated old building, Chef Margot McCormack will feed you fresh, simple fare that might just as likely be found in Provence or Tuscany as in East Nashville. The short menu—six appetizers, six entrées—changes daily. 1017 Woodland St. 227-4668. TAYST chef Jeremy Barlow, is performing some skilled and knowledgeable wizardry of his own. Barlow's commitment is to cook seasonally, and his record so far forecasts fine dining for patrons of tayst; his treatment of fish is particularly adept. 2100 21st Ave. S. 383-1953. ZOLA Chef Deb Paquette influence is primarily Mediterranean, her menus wildly innovative, her dishes complex and exotic. Consistently cited as Nashville's best restaurant. 3001 West End Ave. 320-7778 PRINCE'S HOT CHICKEN SHACK The royalty of Nashville's hot chicken world, Prince's was crowned by Gourmet magazine's annual "Best American Restaurants" issue as one of four don't-miss dining experiences in Nashville. 123 Ewing Dr. 226-9442. LOVELESS -Breakfast is offered daily until 5 p.m. The staples remain—country ham and eggs with red-eye gravy; sausage, bacon and steak; three-egg omelets; pancakes and waffles—and all seem to have a new lease on life. At dinner, meat-and-three classics lead the cast: the excellent skillet-fried chicken, rich chicken and dumplings, country ham dinner, and a meaty, moist meatloaf. A stellar supporting cast includes homemade sides like mac and cheese, field peas, slow-cooked flat green beans, chunky mashed potatoes and skillet-fried shoepeg corn. Making sparkling debuts are the smokehouse platters, which include turkey, pork chops, ribs, pan-fried Bucksnort trout and barbecue shrimp in a big bowl of delectable grits soaked with a spicy red sauce. Save room for a slice of pastry chef Alisa Huntsman's blue-ribbon pies, among them fresh berry, chocolate pecan, coconut cream and peanut butter. 8400 Highway 100. 646-9700. MONELL'S -Monell's is not your typical meat-and-three, but more like Sunday dinner at Grandma's house. It's served the same way, around communal tables with big bowls of fried chicken, pot roast, mashed potatoes, squash casserole, green beans, yeast rolls and corn bread, all passed family-style. Wash it down with pitchers of sweet tea and finish up with a slice of fudge pie. 1235 6th Ave. N. 248-4747 ..surprising for such a "sophisticated" city... ;) Wed Mar 09 12:08:27 -0800 2005 741754 0 Phillip J 1 741816 The Madison Hotel is a nicer property but if you stay at the Peabody ask for a corner room. They're enormous. Some kid-friendly breakfast/lunch/dinner suggestions for Memphis. Huey's - Across the street from the Peabody. It's a burger joint that's a local chain but a big local favorite. They have burgers, salads, and a kids menu. Your son will have fun trying to get a tootpick into the ceiling. Neely's - a short drive from downtown is one of my favorite BBQ places. Rendevous - overrated. There are better choices. They're only open for lunch on Fridays. Blue Plate Cafe - Also downtown on Court Square. Another local chain but a very nice little meat & three, breakfast anytime place. Great service and very eager to please owners. Open for breakfast. The Memphis Zoo is well worth checking out. I hope you enjoy your time here! Wed Mar 09 17:30:00 -0800 2005 741754 0 Susan 1 741834 Memphis recommendations: BBQ: Can't recommend the BBQ Shop on Madison highly enough. Great place. Cozy Corner is an experience too (on N Parkway near Danny Thomas) Breakfast: Check out our food writer, Leslie Kelly's, blog linked below. She lists some great off the beaten path breakfast places. My favorite (and hers I think) is Bryant's on Summer out east. Really good bisquits and country ham. I also love their white beans and cornbread for lunch. Kid friendly downtown: Gus's on Front in/near the South Main district. Good fried chicken. Someone else mentioned the new Blue Plate downtown. Should be good too (also breakfast). Peabody places: Chez Phillipe is supposed to be top notch, but not kid (or pocketbook) friendly. Alternative to downtown: Cooper Young district (head east on Union from downtown, right on Cooper) in Midtown has some of the best places in town. Bari (north/left on Cooper from Union) has really good italian. The Beauty Shop (in CY proper) has a new menu that I haven't tried, but the bartender is the best in town. Have fun here in Memphis. Link: http://blog.commercialappeal.com/leslie/ Thu Mar 10 17:59:10 -0800 2005 741754 0 Tater 1 741835 Memphis recommendations: BBQ: Can't recommend the BBQ Shop on Madison highly enough. Great place. Cozy Corner is an experience too (on N Parkway near Danny Thomas) Breakfast: Check out our food writer, Leslie Kelly's, blog linked below. She lists some great off the beaten path breakfast places. My favorite (and hers I think) is Bryant's on Summer out east. Really good bisquits and country ham. I also love their white beans and cornbread for lunch. Kid friendly downtown: Gus's on Front in/near the South Main district. Good fried chicken. Someone else mentioned the new Blue Plate downtown. Should be good too (also breakfast). Peabody places: Chez Phillipe is supposed to be top notch, but not kid (or pocketbook) friendly. Alternative to downtown: Cooper Young district (head east on Union from downtown, right on Cooper) in Midtown has some of the best places in town. Bari (north/left on Cooper from Union) has really good italian. The Beauty Shop (in CY proper) has a new menu that I haven't tried, but the bartender is the best in town. Have fun here in Memphis. Link: http://blog.commercialappeal.com/leslie/ Thu Mar 10 18:02:28 -0800 2005 741754 0 Tater