Tag: Best of Memphis

Categories
Best of Memphis Special Sections

Nightlife

CREDIT: Justin Fox Burks

In the “Nightlife” section of the Best of Memphis, the number of places to earn votes broke down like this: More than 75 bars received a vote for best bar. About 30 bars got votes in the “Best Jukebox” category, while 57 were deemed as having the best happy hour. Some 44 bars got votes in the “Best Hole in the Wall” category, and about half of that group got votes for “Best Gay Bar.” Our readers also let us know that there are some 50 great places to see live music and that there are at least 100 musicians or bands worth checking out. We could go on, but you catch our drift. Saying there’s nothing fun to do in Memphis after sundown — that just doesn’t add up.

Best Beer Selection

BOM 1. Flying Saucer

2. Boscos Squared

3. Young Avenue Deli

Entering the Flying Saucer is entering into a mythical pantheon of beer. New or old, the Saucer makes over 200 labels from five continents available to the novice and connoisseur alike. Taste the finest Belgian Trappist Ales, English IPA’s, and German Dunkel and Märzen lagers, all on tap. But sorry, folks. There’s no PBR.

Justin Fox Burks

Best Place To See Live Music

1. Hi-Tone Café

2. Beale Street

3. Mud Island Amphitheatre — tie —

New Daisy Theatre

When Elvis Costello comes to town, he plays at the Hi-Tone. So does virtuoso violinist Andrew Bird, West Coast roots-rockers the Blasters, and Wanda Jackson, the first lady of rock-and-roll. This stripped-down club even housed the martial arts studio where Elvis learned to kick people in the face. Toss in a kick-ass sound system, cold beer, and friendly staff, and you’ve got a venue that musicians love and music lovers cherish.

Justin Fox Burks

1st Place: Best Karaoke

Best Local Band/Singer

READERS’ CHOICE

Harlan T. Bobo

The Dempseys

Kevin Paige

Lucero

Twin Soul

What’s Memphis listening to now? Apparently the greatest hits of the ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s (the Dempseys); the greatest hits of the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s (Twin Soul); quirky, self-deprecating love songs (Bobo); and whiskey-drenched heartland rock (Lucero). And who can resist the pop stylings of the Reverend Kevin Paige, the man who opened for Debbie Gibson back when that actually meant something?

Justin Fox Burks

1st Place: Best Place to See Live Music

Best Karaoke

1. Windjammer Restaurant & Lounge

2. Yosemite Sam’s

3. Alfred’s

Most bars can only manage to devote one night a week to karaoke. And can you blame them? Bartenders can only handle so many white girls rapping “Baby Got Back.” Bartenders are sober, after all. But the staff of the Windjammer braves the bad notes, offering karaoke Wednesdays through Mondays. For that, the Best of Memphis voters commend them.

Best Bar

READERS’ CHOICE

Young Avenue Deli

Flying Saucer

Blue Monkey

Boscos Squared

Dish

Bar patrons in Memphis just can’t decide. Some nights, they like to shoot pool and nosh on the best fries in town at the Deli. Other nights, they treat their tastebuds to beers from around the world at the Saucer. On Sundays, it’s cheap Bloody Marys at the Blue Monkey. A weekday lunch lends itself to a quick cask-conditioned ale at Boscos, and dinner cocktails are best enjoyed on the comfy beds at Dish.

Best New Bar, opened in 2007

1. Spindini

2. EP Delta Kitchen & Bar

3. Sauces — tie —

King Biscuit Diner

Those Italians know their wines. That’s probably why Judd Grisanti’s Spindini boasts such an impressive wine list. From Chardonnays and Rieslings and Chianti to Cabernets, this new South Main eatery’s got you covered. And with a modern, spacious bar, there’s plenty of room to kick back and sip in style.

Justin Fox Burks

Readers’ Choice: Best Local Band/Singer

Best Hole in the Wall

1. Alex’s

2. P&H Café

3. Lamplighter Lounge — tie —

The Buccaneer

Alex’s is a place where the Blues Brothers would be perfectly at home.

Best College
Hangout

1. R.P. Tracks

2. Alex’s

3. Zinnie’s

R.P. Tracks lies nestled in the shadow of the University of Memphis. Sit on the porch, order the hummus, and pick from one of the best beer lists in the city. But watch your grammar. The English department may be right behind you.

Best After-Hours Club

1. Blue Monkey

2. Alex’s

3. Wild Bill’s

It’s no surprise that the Blue Monkey is our readers’ favorite place to go after dark. The elaborate bar, the brick and tile, and the huge dining room give the Monkey an environment that’s relaxing and fun.

Best Happy Hour

1. Flying Saucer

2. Chili’s Grill & Bar

3. Boscos Squared — tie —

Blue Monkey

Meet your friends or sit at the bar with an order of hot wings and people-watch. You’ll forget your day at work in no time.

Best Place To Dance

1. Alfred’s

2. Senses

3. Backstreet — tie —

Club 152 Beale

Dancing at Alfred’s just seems to happen. You’re walking around Beale with some friends. You stop into Alfred’s while the band’s playing. You have a few drinks, and by the time the DJ comes on, you’re ready to move. Some guy walks up behind you, starts grinding, and before you know it, you’re on the floor dirty dancing like Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey.

Justin Fox Burks

1st Place: Best Place to Play Pool

Best Jukebox

1. Earnestine & Hazel’s

2. Alex’s

3. Young Avenue Deli

Etta James, Otis Redding, and John Lee Hooker reside alongside disc upon disc of obscure Motowners and Sun Studio B-sides, with a minimum of rock. Best of all: no Tom Petty.

Justin Fox Burks

1st Place: Best Hole in the Wall

Best Place To Play Pool

1. Fox & Hound English Tavern

2. Young Avenue Deli

3. P&H Café

Let off that workday steam and unwind with a game of pool at “the Fox.” High ceilings, huge TVs, cigar shop, and great menu make it the perfect weeknight playground.

Best Sports Bar

1. Fox & Hound English Tavern

2. Buffalo Wild Wings

3. T.J. Mulligan’s

On game day at the Fox & Hound, the only way not to see a match-up is to leave. With huge TV screens everywhere, the local enthusiast can keep track of the SEC and C-USA without having to turn his head more than six inches.

Best Gay Bar

1. Backstreet

2. Dish

3. One More

In the local gay community, the phrase “going to the club” means one thing: a night of booty-shakin’ at Backstreet. Backstreet offers a large dance floor, fantabulous drag shows, an outdoor patio, and even a gift shop filled with rainbow-themed merch.

Best Bar Décor

READERS’ CHOICE

P&H Café

Huey’s

Buccaneer

Flying Saucer

Dish

No one bar swept this category, but the top vote-getters indicate that our readers appreciate a bit of kitsch and clutter. One can spend hours studying the P&H’s hodgepodge of eclectic art, taking in the pirate aesthetic of the Buccaneer, reading Huey’s graffiti-covered walls, and counting the Saucer’s vast array of commemorative plates. But for those who like their surroundings a little more low-key, there’s always the sleek bar and hip beds at Dish.

Categories
Best of Memphis Special Sections

Food & Drink

CREDIT: Justin Fox Burks

In the “Food & Drink” section, one of our voters marked through several categories with notes that read “very seldom eat out” or “wouldn’t eat.” She also let us know that she’s “too young for coffee; too old for tea.” And while we’re not even sure what that last bit means, we do know that she’s missing out. Most voters, however, had no problem sharing their preferences. The results come next. Dig in.

Best Burger

1. Huey’s

2. Back Yard Burgers — tie —

Big Foot Lodge

3. Belmont Grill

At this point, words fail. There is nothing left to say about the Huey burger. It is divine perfection on a bun. It heals the sick and helps the blind to see. It may even be a safe and affordable alternative to fossil fuel. Give up, puny fry cooks. No other burger will ever win this category.

Best Chef

1. Jose Gutierrez, Encore

2. Erling Jensen, Erling Jensen, the Restaurant

3. Ben Vaughn, River Oaks

Jose Gutierrez is a true Southerner — a Southerner if you happen to have been born in the South of France. But he’s practically an American Southerner too if you count the 22-plus years Gutierrez headed Chez Philippe inside The Peabody. In 2005, he opened Encore, a contemporary French-style bistro at 150 Peabody Place, but given the quiet sophistication of the dining room and bar (not to mention its wonderful food), it might as well be worlds away from the action outside on Second Street near Beale. Yes, Gutierrez’s a charmer, but this former student of Paul Bocuse is an award-winning chef in his own right. From Flyer readers, here’s to you, M. Gutierrez: Salut!

Best Lunch

1. Huey’s

2. Lenny’s Sub Shop

3. Big Foot Lodge — tie —

Soul Fish

Not to be content with “Best Burger” for years running in the Flyer‘s Best of Memphis poll, Huey’s this year goes and grabs “Best Lunch.” You’ve got seven area locations to choose from. But starting now, you’ve got Huey’s new “Heart Healthy” menu to do yourself a favor. Or you can stick to what Huey’s does best — and is doing one better: The “Grand Daddy” burger. That’s two patties, topped with an onion ring and cheese. It’s not, as advertised, for the faint of heart. But there are times (lunchtime?) when it’s just plain good to go with your gut.

Justin Fox Burks

Best Breakfast

1. Brother Juniper’s

2. Blue Plate Café — tie —

Cracker Barrel

3. Barksdale Restaurant

Who was Brother Juniper? He cooked for St. Francis of Assisi. And his place on Walker near the U of M is cooking every morning of the week. What’s cooking, of course, is breakfast. What’s happening is a crowd ready to sit down, in simple surroundings, to a traditional menu of eggs and grits and granola, described by one contributor to tripadvisor.com as “awesome.” According to another: “It’s good when something so hyped delivers.” Rachael Ray agrees. Flyer readers agree. Blessed be Brother Juniper’s omelets.

Best Romantic Restaurant

1. Paulette’s

2. Chez Philippe

3. Le Chardonnay Wine Bar & Bistro

If you can’t take your date to the airport to hop a flight to France for dinner at some quaint family restaurant on the outskirts of Paris, Paulette’s in Overton Square is the next best thing. Besides, everyone is more beautiful after you’ve eaten one or two of their incredible popovers.

Best Sunday Brunch

1. Owen Brennan’s Restaurant

2. Boscos Squared

3. Peabody Skyway

Hot jazz and hotter food. That’s what brunch at Owen Brennan’s is all about. Few names are more synonymous with Crescent City cuisine and the savory fusion of breakfast and lunch than the Brennans of New Orleans.

Best Wine List

1. Le Chardonnay Wine Bar & Bistro

2. McEwen’s on Monroe

3. Texas de Brazil — tie —

Ronnie Grisanti & Sons

Caution: Choosing a wine at Le Chardonnay may result in eyestrain. But there’s no better way to go blind than relaxing in the shadowy candlelight on a leather sofa, gnoshing on a perfect gourmet pizza, and sipping a robust Australian Zinfandel.

Best Steak

1. Folk’s Folly Prime Steak House

2. Ruth’s Chris Steak House

3. The Butcher Shop

The lollipop veal chop with Maker’s Mark peppercorn sauce is divine, and the filet mignon with applewood-smoked bacon and sautéed mushrooms is a thing of beauty. The locally owned steak house also has more than 400 choices in the cellar, as well as the full attention of the editors at Wine Spectator magazine, who’ve given Folk’s Folly an award of excellence eight years in a row.

Best Barbecue

1. Central BBQ

2. Corky’s

3. The Bar-B-Q Shop

Perfectly seasoned and slow-smoked with hickory, Central BBQ’s pork sandwich tastes like Memphis. And yes, that’s a good thing. In a city where barbecue has been known to start fights, Central’s barbecue is something on which everyone seems to agree.

Justin Fox Burks

1st Place: Best Breakfast

Best Ribs

1. Charles Vergos’ Rendezvous

2. Corky’s

3. Central BBQ

The Rendezvous’ dry pork ribs are rubbed with a savory mix of herbs and spices and chargrilled to something just a little bit beyond perfection. There’s a reason they are nearly as famous as Elvis.

Best Hot Wings

1. Buffalo Wild Wings

2. D’Bo’s Buffalo Wings-N-Things

3. Hooters

The folks at Buffalo Wild Things have built a better mantrap by combining the best elements of a neighborhood pub, sports bar, and wingery. Add to that a choice between traditional or boneless wings and 15 different sauces, ranging from Parmesan garlic to mango habenero.

Best Fried Chicken

BOM 1. Gus’s Fried Chicken

2. Popeye’s Chicken & Biscuits — tie —

Kentucky Fried Chicken

3. Jack Pirtle Fried Chicken

Gus’s Fried Chicken deserves its reputation for taking a tried-and-true classic like fried chicken and making it better than anybody could have ever imagined. It’s a crispy treat that makes mouths water and burn at the same time. It might be better than barbecue.

Justin Fox Burks

1s Place: Best Ribs

Best Cajun/Creole

1. Bayou Bar & Grill

2. Owen Brennan’s Restaurant

3. Crescent City

Standing at the crossroads of two mighty cultures, Bayou Bar & Grill is Midtown at its most Garden District. On a beautiful day, a patio table is prime real estate. Start out with a cold beer and a bowl of duck-and-sausage gumbo. Finish with some beignets and a café olé.

Best Mediterranean

READERS’ CHOICE

Petra

Petra Café

Casablanca

Dish

Bari

A new category this year, it appears that there are so many great Mediterranean restaurants in town that it was too hard for our readers to decide which was the best.

Best Dessert

1. Paulette’s

2. Big Foot Lodge

3. Perkins Restaurant & Bakery

Were we to guess, we’d say that Paulette’s took this honor for either their K-Pie — Kahlua Mocha Parfait Pie — or the Hot Chocolate Crepe with almonds and vanilla ice cream. But maybe it’s neither. Paulette’s is also known for its impeccable service and romantic ambiance.

Best Italian

1. Ronnie Grisanti & Sons

2. Pete and Sam’s Restaurant

3. Bari

When you’ve been around as long as Ronnie Grisanti & Sons, you know how to do things right. Founded in 1978, the family-run restaurant serves Tuscan cuisine, such as handmade ravioli, Elfo’s recipe for pasta sautéed with butter, mushrooms, and shrimp, and fettucine tossed with their Grisanti Tuscan Alfredo sauce. It’s worth the carbs, believe us.

Best Mexican

1. El Porton Mexican Restaurant

2. Molly Gonzales’ La Casita Mexican Restaurant

3. Taqueria La Guadalupana — tie —

Los Compadres

El Porton has blanketed the Memphis market with seven locations serving quick, tasty, agreeably priced variations of Mexican staples to the starving business-lunch and happy-hour masses.

Best Chinese

1. P.F. Chang’s China Bistro

2. A-Tan

3. Wang’s Mandarin House

P.F. Chang’s dark, sophisticated atmosphere is dominated by welcoming warmth, the sounds of the kitchen, and the smell of dumplings and stir-fry. Nationally, the Arizona-based company took Chinese food upscale. People swear by the lettuce wraps, but we suggest the oolong-marinated sea bass.

Justin Fox Burks

1st Place: Best Cajun/Creole

Best Thai

1. Bhan Thai

2. Bangkok Alley

3. Sawaddii

Nestled within the leafy confines of Peabody Avenue, Bhan Thai has a relaxed attitude and a wonderful menu. It’s a great place to have a casual dinner with friends. Diners can enjoy Thai curries, garlic pork chops, or the Bhan Thai crispy duck in the restaurant’s red, black, and gold interior or on its spacious deck. Bhan Thai also indulges in those little touches that make customers feel welcome: The lunch menu comes with a complimentary soup; the bill — though it’s generally not hard to swallow — comes with a sweet chocolate mint.

Best Vietnamese

1. Saigon Le

2. Pho Saigon

3. Pho Hoa Binh

Curried tofu with onion and lemon grass; hot-and-sour catfish soup; giant bowls of savory noodles with Vietnamese barbecue; a monstrous pancake stuffed with savory pork on a bed of herbs drenched in fish sauce. This is the no-frills Asian eatery of your dreams.

Best Japanese/Sushi

1. Sekisui

2. Dō

3. Bluefin — tie — Sekisui Pacific Rim

What does it mean when three out of the four restaurants voted the best in this category were founded by Jimmy Ishii? Earlier this year, the Flyer dubbed him the “Sultan of Sushi,” and, judging by our readers, it’s a fitting title. The original Sekisui brought sushi to Memphis, and in an industry known for being fickle, it seems Memphians are still clambering for more.

Best Indian

1. India Palace

2. Golden Indian

3. Bombay House

This colorful Midtown standard-bearer is aces at the can’t-go-wrong Indian lunch buffet, but you’re even better off ordering from the menu for some cross-cultural comfort food: tender tandoori, buttery tikka masala, or creamy saag.

Justin Fox Burks

1st Place: Best Thai

Best Home Cooking/Soul Food

1. The Cupboard

2. Gus’s Fried Chicken

3. Soul Fish

Let’s get it straight: A crisp, tart fried green tomato or a steaming little mound of fresh field peas or a crispy, buttery, bite-sized blast of cornbread isn’t just good eating. These things are minor spiritual experiences. It’s part of what defines and renews us. And, now firmly ensconced in its sprawling Union Avenue location, longtime local staple the Cupboard has claimed its place as the city’s preeminent meat-and-three palace.

Best Vegetarian

1. Square Foods

2. Wild Oats Market

3. Jasmine

Everything from Square Food’s oatburger to the veggie BLT proves that meatless doesn’t mean flavorless. Don’t forget about the PB&H made with organic peanut butter, banana, and honey washed down with the unavoidable question: How many years of Elvis’ life could Square Foods have saved?

Best Healthy Menu

1. Square Foods

2. Wild Oats Market

3. Paradise Café

Got a need for wheat grass? How about a hunger for the latest in tofu posing as meat? If you’re trying to eat right without cutting out meat, Square Foods offers a delicious dill poached salmon salad, as well as an organic chicken-breast sandwich and melts of turkey or tuna.

Best Seafood

1. Tsunami

2. Blue Fish Restaurant and Oyster Bar

3. Bonefish Grill

Tsunami’s menu is nothing short of stupendous. The tuna over cucumber salad with wasabi dressing epitomizes a “cool” dish. The mussels appetizer is pretty strong as well.

Justin Fox Burks

1st Place: Best Home Cooking/Soul Food

Best Pizza

1. Memphis Pizza Café

2. Garibaldi’s Pizza

3. Exline’s

The perennial choice in this category, the Memphis Pizza Café serves sandwiches and calzones, too, but earned its Best of Memphis award for its pizza. The Midtown location is a great place to grab a beer and a slice and watch a game in a festive setting.

Best Deli

1. Fino’s from the Hill

2. Bogie’s Delicatessen

3. Lenny’s Sub Shop

Who needs to take a trip to Italy when you can get Fino’s cannoli right here in Midtown. What they don’t have in the old country are Fino’s outstanding subs. There’s no finer way to chase the chills away in winter than a cup of Fino’s minestrone. The Italian groceries also give you plenty to look at while waiting for your take-out.

Best Service

1. Texas de Brazil

2. Chick-Fil-A — tie —

Houston’s Restaurant

3. Big Foot Lodge — tie —

Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Meat swords. Swords of meat, if you prefer. Anyhow, that image should neatly summarize the gracious abundance that greets the patron of Texas de Brazil. The servers bring what you want when you want it as long as your stomach can hold out.

Best Restaurant
Décor

READERS’ CHOICE

Big Foot Lodge

Spindini

Beauty Shop

Blue Fin

Huey’s

River Oaks

Too close to call in this category, but the top vote-getters show that Memphians have eclectic tastes — from the funky fun of Big Foot Lodge and Huey’s and the elegance of River Oaks and Spindini to the ever-so-hipness of Beauty Shop and Blue Fin. What ties these restaurants all together is that imagination elevates them to the fore of this highly competitive category.

Best Kid-friendly Restaurant

1. Chuck E. Cheese

2. Chick-Fil-A

3. Huey’s

You’re never too old for a game of wack-a-mole and a cuddle-up to a person in a mouse costume. Bring a roll of quarters and skee-ball your way to glory. There’s also pizza, and they may host the occasional child’s birthday party if asked politely.

Best Caterer

1. Another Roadside Attraction

2. Just Catering

3. Draper’s Catering

You must be doing something properly if your employees honor you with bumper stickers proclaiming, “My Boss is a Jewish Caterer.” Karen Blockman Carrier — owner of Automatic Slim’s, the Mollie Fontaine Lounge, Dō, and the Beauty Shop — founded Another Roadside Attraction in 1987 and has employed virtually every up-and-coming Memphis rock-and-roller since and catered many a big social event too.

Best Patio

1. Celtic Crossing

2. Boscos Squared

3. Café Ole

Is it the breeze, or the Guinness, or the classic Irish dishes, or the acoustic entertainment? Okay, it’s probably all of the above. The people-watching doesn’t hurt, either. Plus, the folks at Celtic Crossing have thought of everything to make their patio inviting: Umbrellas for if it rains. Fans for the heat. Beer for everything else.

Best Delivery

1. Camy’s

2. Garibaldi’s Pizza

3. Young Avenue Deli

Why is food delivery dominated by the pizza industry? You can tote a box of steaming lasagna or an eight-ounce grilled rib-eye with the same ease. Thankfully, Camy’s knows this little secret. For 13 years, this Midtown institution has been delivering tasty meals to the lazy, the busy, the car-less, and the too drunk to drive.

Best Bakery

1. La Baguette

2. Atlanta Bread Company

3. Fresh Market

Sandwiches are so underrated. Disregarded as a quick lunch option, they’re rarely taken seriously as a gourmet entrée. But thanks to the freshest, tastiest baked bread at La Baguette, sandwiches are elevated to a place of dignity. Forget that garlic-studded venison with a balsamic mango-berry reduction. Give us the Vegetable Garden Sandwich on freshly baked croissant. Pick up a baguette to take home, and, of course, you can’t leave without having one of the bakery’s tasty pastries.

Best Coffeehouse

1. Starbucks

2. Otherlands

3. High Point Coffee

Offering convenient drive-thru service, Starbucks can have your double venti toffee nut soy latte safely tucked into your car’s cup holder in minutes. In the past couple of years, the mega-coffeehouse has even gone green — purchasing fair-trade coffee, setting a target of 30 percent post-consumer content for paper purchases, and offering discounts to folks who use their own mugs.

Justin Fox Burks

1st Place: Best Pizza

Best Restaurant

READERS’ CHOICE

River Oaks

Big Foot Lodge

Tsunami

Houston’s Restaurant

Texas de Brazil

The word’s been out for quite some time — too much red meat can be bad for your health. But that doesn’t stop Memphians from shoveling it down. Whether it’s the Sasquatch Burger at Big Foot Lodge, the steak on a sword at Texas de Brazil, the juicy rib-eye at Houston’s, or the beef tenderloin at River Oaks, the Bluff City just couldn’t decide on its favorite meat-hearty meal. Of course, there were a significant number of votes for fresh fish served at Tsunami.

Best New
Restaurant,
opened in 2007

1. Spindini

2. Pearl’s Oyster House

3. Circa — tie —

Flying Fish

With such a rich culinary legacy, it’s no surprise that the latest Grisanti venture pleases Memphians’ palates. While Spindini features plenty of traditional family recipes, the menu shines with Judd Grisanti’s modern twist on Italian favorites, like wood-fired pizzas and lobster ravioli. Patrons can even watch their food being prepared in the state-of-the-art wood-fired oven at the end of the bar.

Categories
Best of Memphis Special Sections

Best of Memphis 2007

Here at the Flyer we like to joke that the votes cast in the annual Best of Memphis Readers Poll are the most important ones of the year. And they are important — important to the hundreds of people represented in the categories who strive to make this city a more interesting and vibrant place to live. What it means when someone casts their vote — be it for “Best Restaurant” or “Best Sports Team” — is that they care. As it happens, this issue hits the stands the day before the mayoral and City Council elections. We hope readers hit those polls as well. It’s important.

Congratulations to all the winners. As always, a “BOM” designation means that the winner of that particular category received more than 50 percent of the total votes cast. “Readers Choice” means that the vote was too close to call.

Thanks to the readers who make this issue possible and to our advertisers who make all our issues possible. And special thanks to photographer Justin Fox Burks who came up with the trophy concept to illustrate the sections and went so far as to spray-paint a Huey’s burger gold. Another nod goes to Chad and Taryn at Elite Trophy & Screen Printing, which provided the trophies.

Compiled by Greg Akers, Mary Cashiola, Chris Davis, Pamela Denney, Susan Ellis, Michael Finger, Michael Flanagan, Leonard Gill, Chris Herrington, Preston Lauterbach, Bianca Phillips, and Bruce VanWyngarden. designed by Carrie Beasley.

Goods & Services

Food & Drink

Nightlife

Arts & Entertainment

Media

And the Rest

Staff Picks

Pics from the Memphis Flyer BEST OF MEMPHIS 2007 Party

Goods & Services

Food & Drink

Nightlife

Arts & Entertainment

Media

And the Rest

Staff Picks

Categories
Best of Memphis Special Sections

Staff Picks

Best Under-Recognized Hit Single: Three 6 Mafia’s “Stay Fly.” In the wake of their surreal performance and chaotic victory at this year’s Academy Awards, Memphis hip-hop stars Three 6 Mafia have become thought of primarily for their Oscar-winning Hustle & Flow anthem (and headline writer’s best friend) “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” and as emerging media stars from guest spots on Entourage and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip to their own upcoming MTV reality series. But lost in all the hype is the group’s artistic growth, best typified by the insistent, musically eloquent, epic “Stay Fly,” the most commercially and critically successful single from a Memphis-based artist since Al Green’s prime. These guys court their cartoonish image, but they’re increasingly accomplished music makers too.

Best Reason to Support Local Music: Quality and Diversity. With another round of hand-wringing over the perceived underperformance of the Memphis & Shelby County Music Commission/Foundation upon us, it’s helpful to recognize that — despite failing to live up to the unrealistic expectations of the past — the local music scene is in pretty good shape, with plenty of great music being made by artists all across the commercial and genre spectrum. So support local music because there’s plenty of good music to support, not out of respect for the legacy or mere civic obligation.

Best Reason to Not Support Local Music: Having a Life. Though touring local musicians claim Memphis isn’t unusually extreme in this regard, late start times — especially for weeknight shows and especially at the smaller clubs most likely to host the best local or touring bands — alienate regular music fans with kids and/or day jobs, making many shows prohibitive for people whose social lives don’t revolve around late-night bars.

Best Bold Move: Trading Shane Battier. With attendance down a 1,000 people per game and fan complaint at an all-time high, Jerry West made his boldest move since hiring Hubie Brown four seasons ago. In trading the team’s most popular player for 19-year-old rookie Rudy Gay, West took the right kind of gamble: Sacrificing the safety of a dependable role player for the high-risk/high-reward hope of a kid with true star potential.

Best Grizzlies Gripe to Roll Your Eyes At: The Infamous $4 Bottle of Water. A dull, slow-down style of play. A league-record playoff drought. Concession quality. These are all reasonable complaints made about the Memphis Grizzlies in the past year. But concession prices? Have Grizzlies fans been to the movies lately? Concessions prices are exorbitant everywhere — the Grizzlies are not at all unusual in this regard.

Best Local Sports-Talk Radio Segment: “The Haters” on The Chris Vernon Show. Making a mockery of the usual bluster and gimmickry of most sports-talk radio, ESPN Radio 730-AM’s Chris Vernon and regular guest Gary Parrish (formerly of The Commercial Appeal, currently of CBS.Sportsline.com) spend every Wednesday afternoon (between 4 and 5 p.m.) comically attacking those who are “better looking and more successful” or just luckier than they are, often with hilarious, envelope-pushing results. A recent fave: Parrish “hating” on Pennsylvania citizens successfully evacuated by FEMA during flooding this summer: “I want to see some white people on the roof.”

Best One-Time (?) Concert Event: The Ponderosa Stomp. New Orleans’ venerable roots-music festival relocated to the Gibson Music Showcase this year in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, bringing a host of great soul, blues, and country acts to play before an adoring crowd of locals and music fans from around the country who’d made a special trip. Highlight of highlights: Fifties’ New Orleans soul star Clarence “Frogman” Henry, who spent most of his set sitting down and held the entire room in the palm of his hand.

Best Reason to Put Harold Ford Jr. in the Senate: Subpoena Power.

Categories
Best of Memphis Special Sections

And The Rest

CREDIT: Justin Fox Burks

The “And the Rest” section is what we call “just for fun.” No official winners, no prizes given. But it is a good measure of what’s going on in the city. For instance, in the current-affairs department, crime fighting came in number two in “Best Memphis Failure,” surely a reference to Memphis’ appallingly high homicide numbers, and at number three in this same category is the FedExForum garage scandal. Under “Best Success,” the Japanese prime minister’s visit to Graceland got more than a few votes as did the early-voter turnout in August.

And check this out: Steve Cohen, now in an increasingly nasty race for Congress, tied Elvis for third for “Best Memphian.” In the same spot last year? Harold Ford Jr.

Best Memphis Success

READERS’ CHOICE

Tiger Basketball

Downtown Renovation

Tennessee Waltz

Steve Cohen Election

Farmers Market downtown

DeAngelo Williams

While there’s no clear winner in this category, politics and sports dominate the top vote-getters.

Best Memphis Failure

Justin Fox Burks

1. Memphis mayor Willie Herenton

2. Crime Fighting

3. FedExForum Garage

Mayor Herenton has been keeping a relatively low profile these days but not low enough to avoid “winning” this category.

Best Category Left Out

READERS’ CHOICE

Bartender

Politician

Tour To Take

Strip Joint (Gentlemen’s Club)

Hospital

No clear winner in this category, but a couple of usual suspects — bartender and strip joint, to name two — show up once again. We’ve tried “Best Bartender” before, resulting in an uncountable single vote for about 1,000 different bartenders. (What can we say? Memphians love their bartenders.) But never once have we put up “Best Strip Joint” as a category. Maybe in 2007.

Best Memphian

1. Shelby County mayor A C Wharton

2. FedEx founder Fred Smith

3. Elvis — tie — Steve Cohen

No “Impeach Wharton” bumper stickers we’ve seen.

Best Locally Produced Product

1. Barbecue

2. Music

3. Gibson Guitars — tie — Brim’s

In Memphis, we know spring has sprung when national TV shows feature Memphis’ oh-so-quaint barbecue culture in conjunction with the Memphis In May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. But, outside TV-land, we all know that barbecue here is serious business. (Back away from the ribs and nobody gets hurt.) Barbecue has become as inseparable from Memphis’ image as Elvis.

Best Neighborhood

1. Cooper-Young

2. Midtown

3. Central Gardens

In the last decade and a half, Cooper-Young has blossomed into a thriving neighorhood, with some of the best restaurants in town, affordable housing, and a strong neighborhood association.

Categories
Best of Memphis Special Sections

Media

CREDIT: Justin Fox Burks

Goods & Services
Food & Drink
Nightlife
Arts & Entertainment
Media
And The Rest

Get your scorecards: There’ve been a few changes in Memphis media in 2006, including: WREG’s Tara Pachmayer (tied for third as “Best TV Sportscaster”) leaving the station and taking a job in Cincinnati. Dave Woloshin, whose show SportsCall tied for third for “Best Sports Show,” is also gone from WMC-AM 790, which switched its format to country music. Wendi C. Thomas, first-place winner for “Best Columnist,” left The Commercial Appeal only to come back several weeks later. Leon Gray, last year’s number-two winner in the “Best Talk Show” category, went poof from his former station WWTQ-AM 680, and WREG, winner in several categories, is being sold by its parent company, The New York Times.

Best TV Sportscaster

BOM 1. Jarvis Greer, WMC-TV, Channel 5

2. Greg Gaston, WPTY-TV, Channel 24

3. Mike Ceide, WREG-TV, Channel 3 — tie — Tara Pachmayer, formerly of WREG-TV, Channel 3

Jarvis Greer dominates this category once again.

Best FM Station

1. WEGR-FM 102.7, Rock 103

2. WEVL-FM 89.9

3. WMC-FM 99.7, FM 100

Rock 103 takes the top spot again with spunky, funky WEVL a surprising second place.

Best AM Station

1. WREC-AM 600

2. WMC-AM 790

3. WWTQ-AM 680 — tie –WHBQ-AM 560

WREC proves that lots of right-wing nutjobs read the Flyer. Or at least people who like to listen to right-wing nutjobs.

Best Drive-Time Show

1. Drake & Zeke, WXMX-FM 98.1, The Max

2. NPR/All Things Considered/Morning Edition

3. Dennis & Ric, WEGR-FM 102.7, Rock 103 — tie — Brad & Dana, WMBZ-FM 94.1, The Buzz

Drake and Zeke get the edge over the more cerebral (and with fewer fart jokes) NPR.

Best Sports Show

1. Sportstime with George Lapides & Geoff Calkins, WHBQ-AM 560

2. The Jim Rome Show, AM 730 ESPN

3. SportsCall, formerly of

WMC-AM 790 — tie —

The Chris Vernon Show, AM 730 ESPN

George Lapides and Geoff Calkins talked their way into first place again this year. National asshole Jim Rome edged out local nice guys Dave Woloshin, formerly of SportsCall, and Chris Vernon for second.

Best Local Radio Talk Show

1. Mike Fleming, WREC-AM 600

2. Drake & Zeke, WXMX-FM 98.1, The Max

3. Dennis & Ric, WEGR-FM 102.7, Rock 103

Mike Fleming takes the best local talk-show trophy again, though with the loss of Leon Gray there’s not much competition in the category.

Best Newspaper Columnist

Justin Fox Burks

Jarvis Greer dominates the Best Sportscaster category once again.

1. Wendi C. Thomas, The Commercial Appeal

2. Geoff Calkins, The Commerical Appeal

3. Tim Sampson, Memphis Flyer

Wendi left us and came back, but your affection for the CA columnist never wavered. Geoff and Tim pick up the leftovers.

Best Weatherperson

1. Dave Brown, WMC-TV, Channel 5

2. Jim Jaggers, WREG-TV, Channel 3

3. Joey Sulipeck, WHBQ-TV, Fox 13

Dave Brown wins Best Weatherman. That was the most unsurprising sentence you’ve ever read.

Best TV News Anchor

1. Joe Birch, WMC-TV, Channel 5

2. Claudia Barr, WREG-TV, Channel 3

3. Richard Ransom, WREG-TV, Channel 3

Joe Birch: as sturdy as an oak. We pine fir no one else.

Best Radio Personality

1. John “Bad Dog” McCormack, WEGR-FM 102.7, Rock 103

2. Drake & Zeke, WXMX-FM 98.1, The Max

3. Tom Prestiagiacomo, WMC-FM 99.7, FM 100

He’s a Bad Dog, that John McCormack. But a great personality (and those clean garage commercials) kept him on top for another year.

Best Memphis-Themed Web Site

1. MemphisFlyer.com

2. CommercialAppeal.com

3. Goner-Records.com

MemphisFlyer.com is the best in Memphis. What’s not to like about that?

Best Memphis Blog

READERS’ CHOICE

Rachel and the City, rachelandthecity.com

iDiva, idivamemphis.com

Paul Ryburn Journal, www.paulryburn.com/blog

Whining & Dining,blogs.commercialappeal.com/leslie

The Flypaper Theory, thepeskyfly.blogspot.com

Surf these blogs and you’ll have it all covered: nightlife, beer, eating, women, and politics.

Categories
Best of Memphis Special Sections

Arts & Entertainment

CREDIT: Justin Fox Burks

Goods & Services
Food & Drink
Nightlife
Arts & Entertainment
Media
And The Rest

One of the new categories in this section, “Best Place To Meet Singles,” isn’t really new. At one time, we had it, or a variation of it, but quit for reasons long forgotten. In fact, in the Flyer‘s very first Readers’ Poll, in 1994, we asked for “Best Place To Meet Mr./Ms. Right” along with an awfully similar-sounding “Best Place To Meet 1st Date.” For the former, church and The Peabody got number one and number two. For the latter, the positions were reversed.

Flash-forward 12 years to the current “Best Place To Meet Singles” category, and the winners run in this order: 1) Church 2) Online 3) Grocery Store. It’s a case of everything old is new again and vice versa, with church being a mainstay and the Internet, still a novelty when our poll began, making its first appearance in this category.

Best Casino

1. Horseshoe Casino

2. Grand Casino

3. Gold Strike Casino

If you’re going to hand your money over, you might as well do it in style. Horseshoe’s wealth of bars, bonuses, and buffets almost makes you forget about the difference in size between your wallet now and your wallet three hours ago.

Best Museum

Justin Fox Burks

1. Memphis Brooks Museum of Art

2. Memphis Pink Palace Museum

3. Children’s Museum of Memphis

The Brooks isn’t some stuck-up, high-society art museum. Sure, it has plenty of fine paintings and sculpture on display, but it also knows how to throw down. Each year, the museum hosts Brooks Uncorked (one of the largest wine-tasting events in the city). They’ve also earned their hipster cred by screening indie films and occasionally hosting local rock bands.

Best Art Gallery

1. David Lusk Gallery

2. Jay Etkin

3. Midtown Artist Market — tie — David Mah Studio

Nestled in an unassuming corner of the Laurelwood Shopping Center, David Lusk Gallery has been a staple over the last 11 years for anybody looking for that artful touch of sophistication — something really cool made with paper bags.

Best Live Theater

BOM 1. Playhouse on the Square

2. The Orpheum

3. Theatre Memphis

Playhouse on the Square had a strong 2005-’06 season that featured such hits as Aida and Fiddler on the Roof. The next season — with Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Caroline, Or Change, and Big River, to name a few — promises to be even stronger, and we can’t forget the Batman-esque spotlight guarantee reminding nighttime Union Avenue traffic of the bigger and better facilities to come.

Best Movie Theater

1. Studio on the Square

2. Paradiso

3. Muvico-Peabody Place

If a film’s getting Oscar nominations or festival wreaths, expect to find it at Studio on the Square. Don’t forget your popcorn, wine, and cheese.

Best Golf Course

1. The Links at Galloway

2. TPC at Southwind

3. The Links at Overton Park

Rolling fairways, budding trees, grassy knolls, verdant greens — Galloway’s got it all.

Best Picnic

1. Shelby Farms

2. Overton Park

3. Tom Lee Park

“Let’s … go … fly … a kite!” and, like, chill with the bison at Shelby Farms.

Best Place to Meet Singles

1. Church

2. Online

3. Grocery

This year’s results prove that there’s still no better place than a pew to hang out and get your weekly dose of “God ‘n’ Girls” (or Guys).

Best Free Date

Justin Fox Burks

Best Family Entertainment

1. Mississippi River

2. Shelby Farms

3. Memphis Zoo on Tuesdays

There really is nothing like a nighttime river walk, with the DeSoto Bridge illuminating the background and the sound of the river current keeping you company. Guys, a word of advice: I know it seems like it’d be really funny to throw her in, but for some reason girls don’t tend to appreciate the humor in that.

Best Family Entertainment

Justin Fox Burks

Best Museum

1. Memphis Zoo

2. Redbirds Game

3. Putt Putt

The best part of the zoo experience is hearing the kids make that howler-monkey noise the entire drive home.

Best Sports Team

1. Memphis Grizzlies

2. Memphis Redbirds

3. University of Memphis Tigers Basketball

It’s good to see we’re getting our mileage out of that FedExForum. Now if we could just win a single game in the NBA playoffs.

Best Grizzlies Player

1. Pau Gasol

2. Shane Battier

3. Mike Miller

FIBA World Champion and MVP, NBA All Star, Grizzlies poster-boy — Pau’s done it all. Unfortunately, his broken foot from the FIBA finals will put a damper on his 2006-’07 season with the Grizzlies. At least he’s still got the beard.

Best Local Athlete

Justin Fox Burks

Best Free Date

1. DeAngelo Williams

2. Pau Gasol

3. Shane Battier

First of all, props to Houston Rockets maestro Shane Battier for cinching two of the poll’s spots despite his turn to Texas. But the focus really does belong on our man DeAngelo, whose name was mentioned in the same breath as Reggie Bush’s for the 2005 Doak Walker Award and who finished seventh overall in the 2005 Heisman race. Who would have thought that U of M football would ever be on the map?

Categories
Best of Memphis Special Sections

Nightlife

CREDIT: Justin Fox Burks

Goods & Services
Food & Drink
Nightlife
Arts & Entertainment
Media
And The Rest

The category that got the most votes within the Nightlife section was “Best Place To See Live Music.” Forty-three venues received votes, and the total vote for the category was 1,070. The category that received the second-most votes was “Best Beer Selection,” where 939 votes were divided among a mere 25 places. Flying Saucer dominated this category, accounting for more than half of the total and, hence, its being named one of the Best of Best of Memphis winners.

Best Beer Selection

BOM 1. Flying Saucer Draught Emporium

2. Young Avenue Deli

3. Boscos Squared

With more than 200 varieties of beer on tap, the Flying Saucer has this category on lockdown. If you can dream it up, they’ve most likely got it. And with the recent addition of a branch in Cordova, it just got easier for beer lovers across the area to enjoy the Saucer’s massive selection.

Best Place To See Live Music

1. Hi-Tone Café

2. Beale Street

3. B.B. King’s — tie –Mud Island Amphitheater

Whether it’s local faves Lucero and Harlan T. Bobo or touring acts on a national scale, live rock in Memphis has a dependable home and has for years now: the Hi-Tone. Early evenings, it’s a good spot to have a drink and shoot some pool. Late nights, there’s a good chance your ears’ll be ringing. It’s a good thing.

Best Local Band/Singer

READERS’ CHOICE

The Dempseys

Harlan T. Bobo

Kevin Paige

Twin Soul

Lucero

Lots of votes in this category but no clear winner.

Best Karaoke

1. Yosemite Sam’s

2. Windjammer Restaurant & Lounge

3. Neil’s

Who needs American Idol when we’ve got Yosemite Sam’s? The regular karaoke crowd at this Midtown dive approaches the art form with a seriousness that cannot be rivaled. They don’t need Paula Abdul or Simon Cowell to cut them down. No sir. They’re good. (Well, at least they think so.) So forget that one-commercial-jingle-wonder Taylor Hicks and head to Overton Square to hear some real talent.

Best Bar

1. Young Avenue Deli

2. Flying Saucer

3. Blue Monkey — tie — Celtic Crossing

Where else can you order the best French fries in Midtown, choose from a great selection of beer, catch a show by some hip indie band, and shoot pool without having to fight for a table? Young Avenue Deli has all the essentials of the perfect bar.

Best New Bar, opened in 2006

1. Coyote Ugly

2. Jordan’s Karaoke

3. Majestic Grille

In the 2000 film of the same name, “coyote ugly” is a term used to describe someone who is so freakin’ ugly, you’d chew your own arm off if they were lying on it in bed. But the girls at the new Memphis bar are anything but. Wearing tight-fitting clothing, they dance on the bar night after night while men ogle from their seats. With that kind of gimmick, it’s no wonder Coyote Ugly was named Best New Bar.

Best Hole in the Wall

1. P&H Café

2. Alex’s

3. Newby’s — tie — Buccaneer

For someone who didn’t know better, the P&H Café would just look like another dive. But with pitchers of the coldest beer in town, a regular crowd of artists and thespians, live bands, and art shows, the P&H isn’t just another hole-in-the-wall. It’s the best in town.

Best After Hours Club

Justin Fox Burks

1. Raiford’s

2. Alex’s

3. Wild Bill’s

A night at Raiford’s is hands-down the most surreal experience one can have at a Memphis club. With your 40-ounce beer in one hand and your best bud’s hand in the other, practice your sexy moves on the mirrored dance floor, which features a stripper pole. Tired? No problem. Pop a squat in one of the fancy office chairs and roll around to the music.

Best Happy Hour

1. Chili’s

2. Flying Saucer

3. Blue Monkey

At most bars, happy hour is actually several hours long. But at Chili’s, it’s all freakin’ day. From the time they open until 10 p.m., Chili’s offers amazing drink specials. They should probably just call it Happy Day.

Best Place to Dance

Justin Fox Burks

Best After Hours Dance Club

1. Raiford’s

2. Senses — tie — Alfred’s

3. Club 152 Beale

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Raiford’s is awesome!

Best Jukebox

1. Alex’s

2. Young Avenue Deli

3. RP Tracks — tie — P&H Café

The folks at Alex’s are clever. They have two jukeboxes set up to alternate songs, a tactic that prevents jukebox hogs from playing every track off of one album (you know who you are!).

Best Place to Play Pool

Justin Fox Burks

Best Place to Dance

1. Fox & Hound English Tavern

2. Young Avenue Deli

3. Highland Cue

At the Fox & Hound bars, you don’t play pool: You shoot billiards. And you do it like a fine English chap. So saddle up and invite your blokes out for a bloody good game and some tasty ale.

Best Sports Bar

1. Fox & Hound English Tavern

2. Buffalo Wild Wings

3. TJ Mulligan’s

Okay, if you’re not into the British thing, there’s still a good ole American time to be had Fox & Hound. With numerous TVs, you can catch the football game (and we do mean American football), the Grizzlies, or whatever suits your fancy. Er, we mean whatever floats your boat.

Categories
Best of Memphis Special Sections

Food and Drink

CREDIT: Justin Fox Burks

Goods & Services
Food & Drink
Nightlife
Arts & Entertainment
Media
And The Rest

To paraphrase Martin Luther King Jr.’s momentous “Free At Last” speech would be inappropriate for the Food & Drink section, but don’t think we’re not tempted. For years and years, anytime someone would have a problem with the Flyer‘s Readers’ Poll results, they would say, “Hmmph. What do you expect from a poll that voted Red Lobster as ‘Best Seafood’?”

Sure, we could argue about Red Lobster’s tasty rolls, exuberant service, money-saving specials, and other things the chain has to offer, but now we don’t have to. This year, after an impressive streak of placing number one in the polls, Red Lobster didn’t even finish in the top three.

It’s only fair to point out that the Readers’ Poll has not loosed its chains completely. Of the roughly 110 restaurants that were voted into the top three, more than 20 are chains.

Best Japanese/Sushi

1. Sekisui

2. Benihana of Tokyo

3. Pacific Rim

Restaurateur Jimmy Ishii is the king of Japanese cuisine in Memphis, with sushi fanatics and tempura fans flocking to his four Memphis-area Sekisui locations. As if Ishii’s grip on first place in this category weren’t enough, his East-meets-West fusion eatery Sekisui Pacific Rim bookends the notables with a third-place finish.

Best Chef

1. Rick Farmer, Jarrett’s

2. Erling Jensen, Erling Jensen, the Restaurant — tie —

Ben Smith, Tsunami

3. Johnny Kirk, Stella

Rick Farmer preaches the gospel of buying fresh and local. He has earned a loyal following by bringing elements of classic French, Spanish, and Asian cooking to regional American cuisine. Angus filet of beef with mushroom-truffle Madeira sauce and gratin dauphinoise potatoes, anyone?

Best Lunch

1. Huey’s

2. Lenny’s Sub Shop

3. The Cupboard

No matter how hectic the work, you can always rest assured that there’s a Huey’s famous burger, amazing onion rings, and a full bar on a street corner near you.

Best Breakfast

1. Brother Juniper’s

2. Barksdale Restaurant

3. IHOP — tie — Blue Plate Cafe

On a Saturday afternoon this laid-back neighborhood breakfast joint on Walker is the hottest meal ticket in town. People from every corner of Memphis cram into Brother J’s to feast on homemade bread, fresh fruit, gourmet omeletes, and amazing whole-wheat biscuits that are denser and only slightly more precious than gold.

Best Romantic Restaurant

1. Paulette’s

2. Cielo — tie — Le Chardonnay Wine Bar & Bistro

3. Jim’s Place East — tie —

Folk’s Folly Prime Steak House

Ah, romance. It makes everyone act so very French. Walking into Paulette’s is like walking into an old neighborhood restaurant on Paris’ Left Bank. Hungarian flourishes aside, that’s about as French as it gets.

Best Sunday Brunch

1. Owen Brennan’s Restaurant

2. Boscos Squared

3. Peabody Skyway

Strawberries and cream to start, followed by turtle soup, then two poached eggs on an English muffin with ham, marchands de vin sauce, a fried tomato and hollandaise, with bananas Foster for dessert. Any questions?

Best Wine List

Justin Fox Burks

1. Le Chardonnay Wine Bar & Bistro

2. McEwen’s on Monroe

3. Texas de Brazil

With more than 130 choices and an average price of $30 a bottle, what’s not to love about Le Chardonnay? And it’s so divinely dark inside.

Best Steak

1. Folk’s Folly Prime Steak House

2. Ruth’s Chris Steak House

3. The Butcher Shop

The most beautiful words in the English language are “a filet mignon, piped with seasoned mushroom purée, wrapped in applewood-smoked bacon, and smothered with sautéed garlic mushrooms.” You’ll find them on the Prime Cuts menu at Folk’s Folly.

Best Barbecue

1. Central BBQ

2. Corky’s

3. The Bar-B-Q Shop

It’s not just that Central BBQ has great ‘cue, fine slaw, tasty beans, and friendly service. They’ve got great ‘cue, fine slaw, tasty beans, friendly service, and a great big deck.

Best Ribs

1. Charles Vergos’ Rendezvous

2. Corky’s

3. Central BBQ

Chomping down on a rack of spicy, chargrilled ribs at the Rendezvous is just about the single most Memphis thing a person can do. Maybe they’re the best ribs in town, maybe they aren’t. Either way, they sure enough represent. And the lamb riblets are nothing to be ashamed of, either.

Best Burger

Justin Fox Burks

Best Restaurant in Memphis

1. Huey’s

2. Back Yard Burgers

3. Dyer’s Burgers — tie — Alex’s

What, you were expecting someone different? Huey’s has so dominated this category that maybe we should change it to “Best Huey’s Burger.” The spicy Senor Huey? The guacamole-laced West Coast Burger? The extra yummy Smokey Melt? Or just the “World Famous” Huey Burger? Really, you can’t go wrong, and with seven locations in the Greater Memphis area, you never have far to go.

Best Hot Wings

1. Buffalo Wild Wings

2. D’Bo’s Buffalo Wings-N-Things

3. Hooters

In winning this category, the national chain with three East Memphis locations serves notice that men are not lured by skimpily dressed, well-endowed wait staff alone. Sometimes multiple big-screen TVs broadcasting sports, live video trivia, and crucial sauce-choice decisions are enough to keep the mind occupied.

Best Dessert

1. Paulette’s

2. Marble Slab Creamery

3. Big Foot Lodge — tie —

Perkins Restaurant & Bakery

What’s one measure of a Memphian? Answer: If you hear the term “K-Pie” and know exactly what it is and where to get it. The Kahlua-Mocha Parfait Pie at cozy Midtown bistro Paulette’s may be Memphis’ most beloved post-meal indulgence. There are also plenty of other delectables to choose from: crème brûlée, fresh Key lime pie, and various crêpes.

Best Italian

1. Ronnie Grisanti & Sons

2. Pete and Sam’s Restaurant

3. Bari Restaurant — tie —

Coletta’s Italian Restaurant

The jewel of the Grisanti family restaurant empire fits the bill whether you’re looking for red-sauce-soaked Italian basics like homemade lasagna and spaghetti or more upscale fare. And though it isn’t considered a steak house, Grisanti’s has some of the best.

Best Mexican

1. El Porton Mexican Restaurant

2. Molly Gonzales’ La Casita Mexican Restaurant

3. Taqueria La Guadalupana

In a city teeming with good Mexican restaurants, El Porton’s secret to dominance isn’t “location, location, location,” but “locations, locations, locations.” With five restaurants in the Memphis area, El Porton pulls in more burrito- and enchilada-starved diners than any Mexican eatery in town and satisfies them well enough to win this category consistently.

Best Chinese

1. PF Chang’s China Bistro

2. A-Tan’s

3. Wang’s Mandarin House

With a handsome décor and tastefully prepared variations on Chinese favorites (try the Mongolian Beef), this East Memphis-located fave is a cut above what many expect from national chains.

Best Thai

1. Bhan Thai

2. Bangkok Alley

3. Jasmine

Bhan Thai is located in a large, intimate, converted house (the former home of Maison Raji) on a largely residential stretch of Peabody in Midtown and not on any kind of restaurant row. So it’s a destination eatery — and one worth seeking out, as many Flyer readers apparently have — for its excellent cuisine.

Best Vietnamese

Justin Fox Burks

Best Burger

1. Saigon Le

2. Pho Saigon

3. Pho Hoa Binh

Though Midtown’s Cleveland Avenue corridor is bursting with good Vietnamese restaurants, this veteran establishment continues to be the standard-bearer with its generous portions of Vietnamese (and Chinese) favorites made with fresh ingredients at bargain prices. Given its proximity to the Methodist Medical Center, it’s a particularly popular lunch spot.

Best Indian

1. India Palace

2. Golden India

3. Mayuri

Is there anything quicker or tastier than an Indian lunch buffet? The colorful Midtown India Palace packs ’em in for zesty curries and tender tandoori and such flavorful off-the-menu favorites as chicken tikka masala and lamb saag.

Best Home Cooking/Soul Food

1. Gus’s Fried Chicken

2. The Cupboard

3. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

When legendary Mason, Tennessee, fried-chicken dive Gus’s decided to franchise a few years ago, they apparently couldn’t have found a better location than downtown Memphis. The South Front Street restaurant has become an enormous hit with the downtown lunch crowd, who find Gus’s intensely spicy battered bird finger-lickin’ good.

Best Vegetarian

1. Wild Oats Market

2. Jasmine

3. Young Avenue Deli

Whether you want to showcase your own culinary skills, get prepared foods to take home for dinner, or just grab a quick eat-in bite, Wild Oats has the diversity and quality to satisfy the needs of any vegetarian or just health-conscious foodie.

Best Seafood

Justin Fox Burks

Best Vietnamese

1. Tsunami

2. Half Shell

3. Bonefish Grill

Oysters Rockefeller with Thai lemon grass, Malaysian sambal, and Japanese sake; calamari with chipotle aïoli; shrimp with mango salsa: a few reasons why Pacific Rim-inspired seafood ranks high in the kitchen at Tsunami. Ranks highest according to the taste buds of Flyer readers too.

Best Pizza

Justin Fox Burks

Best Wine List

1. Memphis Pizza Cafe

2. Pizza Hut

3. Coletta’s Italian Restaurant

Memphis Pizza Cafe made a name for itself in Overton Square. Now it’s also cookin’ out east on Park and farther east in Germantown and Cordova. Which proves that Midtowners, East Memphians, Germantowners, and Cordovans know good pizza when they see it — and taste it. Tomorrow, Collierville? The world?

Best Deli

1. Fino’s from the Hill

2. Lenny’s Sub Shop

3. Bogie’s Delicatessen

Fino’s Midtown location can’t be beat (Madison at McLean), and the sandwiches and sides and pastas can’t either. The teamwork behind the counter? Same goes. Fino’s “does” a deli proud.

Best Service

1. Texas de Brazil

2. Chick-Fil-A — tie — Houston’s

3. McEwen’s on Monroe

You see that army of waiters with the skewers, the ones walking the packed dining room of Texas de Brazil in Peabody Place downtown? Don’t say a word. Just flip the “magic” marker on your table that says “feed me,” and there you have it: meat that’s hot off the skewer and onto your plate. Flip the marker over and those watchful waiters know just what you mean: bastante!

Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant

1. Chuck E. Cheese

2. McDonald’s

3. Chick-Fil-A

Pizza, games, party! Chuck E. Cheese can handle it. Chuck E. Cheese invites it. You’re invited too.

Best Patio

1. Cafe Ole

2. Boscos Squared

3. Celtic Crossing

Memphians love a good restaurant patio. Great case in point, at the happening intersection of Cooper and Young: the patio at Cafe Ole. It’s got all the ingredients: shade trees to cool things down; strings of lights to brighten the night. Go for it, frozen or on the rocks, with or without salt, day or night.

Best Delivery

1. Camy’s

2. Garibaldi’s Pizza

3. Papa John’s

How does Camy’s do it when it comes to pizza and other goodies, year in, year out, according to our Readers’ Poll? By delivering when it absolutely, positively has to be at your door, on your plate, and in your mouth.

Best Bakery

Justin Fox Burks

Best Seafood

1. La Baguette

2. Fresh Market

3. Buns on the Run — tie —

Perkins Restaurant & Bakery

Believe it or not, there was a time in town when you couldn’t come across a decent baguette. You couldn’t come across an authentic baguette, period. La Baguette changed all that how many moons ago. It’s still the champ and not only for its baguettes. Think of La Baguette’s other traditional breads, pastries, specialty cakes, fruit tarts, and sandwiches. Flyer readers do in winning numbers.

Best Coffeehouse

1. Starbucks

2. Otherlands

3. High Point Coffee

With locations all over town, the brand-name Starbucks says it all: great coffee for customers inside and out, coming and going. For a taste of the real thing, however, try the day’s house brew without the flavorings and without the special fixins’. Something so simple … you never had it so good.

Best Restaurant in Memphis

Justin Fox Burks

Best Pizza

READERS’ CHOICE

Tsunami

Texas de Brazil

Big Foot Lodge

Folk’s Folly Prime Steak House

McEwen’s on Monroe

Plenty to chew on in this category but no clear winner.

Best New Restaurant, opened in 2006

1. Soul Fish Cafe

2. Majestic Grille

3. Pei Wei — tie — Meditrina

A hit with Memphians from the get-go, Soul Fish does it right and that goes not just for the fried catfish and hushpuppies. Try the fresh vegetables. Try the spicy chicken and pork. And relax. The atmosphere’s stylish but welcoming. And the prices? Your wallet will thank you. Thanks to owners Raymond Williams and Tiger Bryant and a terrific wait staff.

Categories
Best of Memphis Special Sections

Goods & Services

CREDIT: Justin Fox Burks

Goods & Services
Food & Drink
Nightlife
Arts & Entertainment
Media
And The Rest

There were several new categories in 2006 for voters to mull over in the Goods & Services section of the Readers’ Poll. We asked you for your favorite doctors, and you answered. Most of those M.D. categories ended up with a Readers’ Choice award, which means the results were too close to call and — this is good news — that we’ve got a lot of good doctors.

Two of the new categories pulled in Best of the Best of Memphis. This is no small feat. Best of the Best of Memphis winners received more than 50 percent of the total vote in their category, and this distinction is going out like the dodo. It’s increasingly rare — only six winners out of 110 categories this year. The two new categories that won the prize in the Goods & Services section were Bumpus Harley for “Best Place To Buy a Motorcyle” and Petco for “Best Pet Store.” Congrats to both. Burke’s Book Store also nabbed a Best of the Best of Memphis for “Best Bookstore (used),” hopefully a happy reminder that in these trying times for small booksellers, Burke’s still has its backers.

Best Florist

1. Pugh’s Flowers

2. Holliday’s Flowers

3. Rachel’s Flower Shop

How bad did you screw up? Don’t make it worse by not getting the best. Whether you’re saying “I’m sorry” or “I love you” or just want to brighten your dinner party, Pugh’s offers expert advice and beautiful flower arrangements at a reasonable price.

Best Grocery Store

1. Kroger

2. Schnucks

3. Fresh Market

Maybe it’s the Kroger PlusCard; maybe it’s the self-check-outs; maybe it’s just the chance to go “Krogering.” Whatever the reason, Memphians think Cincinnati-based Kroger is the best grocery store in town.

Best Liquor Store

1. Buster’s Liquors & Wine

2. Joe’s Wines & Liquor

3. Kirby Wines & Liquors

Buster’s has a lot of things going for it: namely, lots of alcohol. And then there’s the huge selection of little bitty airline bottles. They have your standards — the vodka, the rum — but they also have travel-sized Pucker’s, amaretto, and just about anything else you might want. Sure, you can’t actually bring them on an airplane with you anymore — bah! — but you can try to sneak them into other places such as concerts or football games or the movies. And if you get caught with them, they’re small enough to down really fast. Cheers!

Best Department Store

1. Target

2. Macy’s

3. Dillard’s

Ever since Target began dominating television with its clever ads, it’s been hard to look at red and white in quite the same way. Arguably one of the savviest companies around, Target has a winning strategy of teaming up with high-end designers such as Michael Graves and Isaac Mizrahi and bringing their wares to the masses.

Best Shopping Mall

1. Oak Court Mall

2. Wolfchase Galleria

3. The Avenue at Carriage Crossing

The theory goes that retail is almost always about the next big thing. So what to make of Oak Court? There are newer malls out there — runners-up Wolfchase and Carriage Crossing, for two — and yet Oak Court has been in the top three for more than 10 years. They must be doing something very right. We can only conclude that Oak Court isn’t a trend or fad but a Memphis classic.

Best Gift Shop

1. Babcock Gifts

2. Kirkland’s — tie — Pier One

3. Hallmark Cards & Gift Shop

— tie — Maggie’s Pharm

One of the best gifts — when you’re shopping for someone else — is good service. And Babcock Gifts has that down pat. Not only do they have a bridal registry — where the lucky couple can ask for lovely flatware, crystal pieces, china, or pottery — they also offer complimentary gift wrap and local delivery.

Best Bookstore (new)

1. Davis-Kidd Booksellers

2. Barnes & Noble

3. Bookstar

This Tennessee born-and-read bookseller has been a local favorite for years. Founded in 1980 by two Nashville women, Davis-Kidd opened in Memphis in 1985 and has been enlightening people ever since. And it’s the only bookstore we know of with a carry-out menu. Brontë, the scrumptious café inside the bookstore, serves “real” food, not just scones and cookies.

Best Bookstore (used)

Justin Fox Burks

BOM 1. Burke’s Book Store

2. Tiger Book Store

3. Midtown Books/Sip

Though it’s been around for more than a century, Burke’s hit a rough patch this year, and the owners feared the store wouldn’t last through the summer. But being a 122-year-old literary landmark has its perks, among them loyal customers. The readers rallied, money was raised, and so far, Burke’s is living happily ever after.

Best Bank

1. First Tennessee Bank

2. Regions Bank

3. SunTrust

Southerners may be hospitable — asking ya’ll to come back now, y’hear — but they still like insiders better than outsiders. And First Tennessee, being headquartered in Memphis, is definitely an insider. Maybe the alignment with local sports teams has helped the bank score fans — who doesn’t like to see a man dressed as a dollar bill reeling in customers with Grizzlies tickets? But First Tennessee has also been awarded with numerous honors such as being one of Fortune magazine’s 100 Best Companies to work for from 1998 to 2005.

Best Wireless Phone Service

1. Cingular Wireless

2. Sprint

3. Verizon Wireless

Static, dropped calls, dead batteries, overage charges … there are a lot of things that can go wrong with a cell phone. Cingular has been pretty excited about their fewest-dropped-calls designation (bestowed upon them by an independent research company), but we still like the rollover minutes. You don’t have to worry about “use it or lose it.” You can talk when you have something to say. Or not. Whatever. That’s the beauty of the rollover.

Best Women’s Clothing

1. Macy’s — tie — Ann Taylor

2. Target

3. Old Navy

We’re trying to figure out what this category’s winners say about Memphis women: They like an easy, sophisticated style? They’re professional but never stuffy? They love a bargain? We suspect it’s all three. At both winning stores, women can find clothes that make them look not only career-driven but also feminine. And the prices aren’t bad, either.

Best Men’s Clothing

1. James Davis

2. Oak Hall

3. Old Navy — tie — Macy’s

Clothing at James Davis ranges from work (Armani Collezioni) to day (Lacoste) to play (Hugo Boss), all with a sense of worldliness and confidence. But the store also has one of the city’s largest collections of men’s accessories, including table upon table of beautiful ties.

Best Vintage Clothing

Justin Fox Burks

Best Bookstore (used)

1. Flashback

2. Goodwill

3. Salvation Army

If you’re living in the past — and you know who you are — you should do so with style. That’s where Flashback comes in. The longtime Midtown re-retailer has great clothes, fun window displays, and housewares that are a virtual time machine.

Best Shoe Store

1. Designer Shoe Warehouse

2. Rack Room Shoes

3. Payless Shoe Source

See all those guys heading across the parking lot to DSW (as those in the know call it)? No, they don’t have a fetish for women’s shoes. Well, not all of them. More and more people are beginning to realize that this spacious Germantown store offers a wide-ranging and ever-changing selection of women’s and men’s shoes, at great prices. We’ve got only one gripe with this place: There’s only one location in town. Open up more.

Best Home Furnishings

1. Pottery Barn

2. Bed Bath & Beyond

3. Ashley Furniture Homestore

Pottery Barn is not only the “best” in this category, but it would also win in any competition looking for the “most.” Searching for bed linens, dishes, picture frames, posters, furniture, kitchen utensils, bookstands, books, clocks, even vintage telephones? It’s one-stop shopping at Pottery Barn.

Best Pet Store

BOM 1. Petco

2. Hollywood Pet Star

3. PetSmart

Before Petco, where did all the thousands of animal-lovers in Memphis go for such a huge selection of pet food, flea dip, cat beds, jeweled collars, and — come to think of it, more stuff than you can even find for your kid?

Best Hair Salon

1. Gould’s Styling Salon

2. Hi Gorgeous

3. Dabbles Hair Company

Excellent choices. See the next category.

Best Day Spa

1. Gould’s

2. Serenity Day Spa

3. Germantown Day Spa

More good choices, but keep going. See the next category too.

Best Manicure/Pedicure

1. Gould’s

2. Rose Nails

3. Kathy’s Nail

And it’s a win-win-win situation for Gould’s, taking first prize in all three “personal-enrichment” categories. It’s easy to see why. Not only is Gould’s a beautiful place, but their range of services is astonishing: deep-tissue massages, complete makeovers, aromatherapy wraps, acne-clearing treatment, even something called “saltglow.” And if you’ve got the time, make a day of it with their “Grand Spa Experience” which includes a massage, facial, manicure, pedicure, lunch, and even complete limousine service.

Best Health/Fitness Club

1. YMCA

2. French Riviera Spa

3. 24 Hour Fitness

Don’t lecture us about personal fitness. We get plenty of exercise lifting those heavy cans of Budweiser and chewing on Snickers bars throughout the day. Not to mention the eye-hand coordination workout we get as we type things like this. But if you feel you need just a bit more, you’ll have a great time at the above places. And boy, hasn’t the Y come a long way since all they had was a swimming pool and a tiny gym?

Best MD/General Practitioner

READERS’ CHOICE

Cary Finn

Jeffrey Warren

Travis Lunceford

The voting was too close in this all-important category to declare a clear winner, but our personal experience with these particular doctors allows us to agree with our readers here. If you need their services, you’ll be in good hands with any of these fine physicians.

Best Pediatrician

READERS’ CHOICE

Ed Perry

Kip Frizzell

Charles Yukon

Herman Crisler

Landon Pendergrass

Voting was too close to call for these docs who care for your kids.

Best Plastic Surgeon

Justin Fox Burks

Best Vintage Clothing

READERS’ CHOICE

Robert Wallace

Allen Hughes

Neumon Goshorn

See all those stunning, beautiful people strolling around Memphis? Yep, it’s the staff of the Memphis Flyer. Being the stunning, Godlike creatures that we are, we have no need of cosmetic surgery, but we will certainly trust our readers to pick the best in town. The voting was too close in this category to call a clear winner, so we present “Readers’ Choice” awards to the top three.

Best OB/GYN

READERS’ CHOICE

Lea Bannister

Diane Long

Susan Murrmann

Mary McDonald

Crista Crisler

Penn Joe

Memphis women are lucky to have so many skilled physicians in this area — so many, in fact, that it was impossible to award a “Best of Memphis” prize to just one, so we present “Readers’ Choice” awards to the six doctors who received the most votes.

Best Chiropractor

1. Rick Hurst

2. Larry Cole

3. David Lee

Carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders can cause all sorts of aches and pains. Believe us, we know. And sometimes a good dose of spinal manipulation is all it takes to make everything all right again. Congratulations to the top three winners. We feel better just thinking about them.

Best Jewelry

1. Mednikow Jewelers

2. Las Savell Jewelry

3. Kay Jewelers — tie — Zales Jewelers

The Flyer wasn’t around in 1891, which is when Jacob Mednikow first opened a jewelry store in Memphis, creating a business that has been run by the family ever since. Our guess, though, is that they would’ve won “Ye Olde Flyer‘s Best of Memphis” honor that year and many an intervening year.

Tattoo Parlor

1. Underground Art

2. Trilogy

3. Ramesses Shadow Tattoos

Three things to consider before getting inked: One, make sure you really know what that awesome-looking Chinese character means. Two, make sure you’re going to love that person forever. Three, make sure the joint giving you the tat is clean and capable. The first two are up to you. For number three, you can’t go wrong with Underground Art.

Best Antiques Store

1. Bojo’s Antique Mall

2. Flashback

3. Antique Mall of Midtown

— tie — Toad Hall Antiques

The best antiques stores offer a mix of stuff you didn’t know existed that you now MUST have and stuff you forgot existed and now don’t want to go on without. Bojo’s has got so much of both, you’ll want to carry a pen and paper with you to prioritize what you’re buying now and to refer to on later shopping adventures.

Best Smoke Shop

1. Tobacco Corner

2. Wizard’s

3. Young Avenue Deli

“Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar,” Sigmund Freud purportedly once said. He’s right, but he’d probably agree that not all cigars are created equal, and Tobacco Corner has the finest selection of the best — be it in terms of taste, potency, or, ahem, size — in Memphis. They also offer a full complement of excellent blended pipe tobacco, pens, and a newsstand.

Best Dry Cleaners

1. Bensinger’s Fine Cleaners

2. Dryve Cleaners

3. Mercury Valet — tie —

Happy Day Laundry and Cleaners

Whether it’s a white shirt, a tailored pair of pants, or a wedding dress, Bensinger’s can handle your cleaning. They’re conveniently located across Shelby County, and they can do alterations and repairs and can clean leather and suede. Carl Perkins would be so happy.

Best Sporting Goods

1. Bass Pro Shop

2. Outdoors Inc.

3. Sports Authority

No final word yet on if Bass Pro Shop is Pyramid-bound, but their current location in East Memphis is already mind-boggling in size. Buying a boat? Check. Going camping and need, well, everything? Check. Angling for the elusive Old Bessie at your favorite fishing hole? They’ll get you outfitted for your pursuit, and, if she exists, you’ll be grilling her up soon enough.

Best Place to Buy A Computer

1. Best Buy

2. Dell

3. Apple Store

Mulling a computer purchase can be an overwhelming endeavor that will leave you gridlocked. Never fear: Best Buy hired a bunch of smart people to explain to you the difference between a processor’s capability and the quantity of DDR SDRAM featured (or better yet, to translate your budget realities into the computer that will give you the most bang for your buck).

Best Place To Buy a Bicycle

1. The Midtown Bicycle Co.

2. The Peddler

3. Outdoors Inc.

Why do cyclists usually look so happy? Sometimes tired, sure, but usually happy. Maybe it’s because there’s no substitute for the sensation of gliding down a hill going really fast, the wind streaming through your hair made by your whole body’s efforts and not just your gas-pedal foot. And no, the A/C on high blowing on your face in your car isn’t the same. Midtown Bicycle is your best connection for this au naturel high.

Best Video Store

1. Blockbuster Video

2. Black Lodge Video

3. Hollywood Video — tie — Midtown Video

Blockbuster: File their locations’ convenience under “Romance.” File their customer service under “Action.” File the extent of their selection under “Drama.” File the ease of your overall experience under “Comedy.”

Best record store (new)

1. Cat’s Compact Discs & Cassettes

2. Tower Records

3. Best Buy — tie — Spin Street

For more than 30 years, Memphians have been buying the latest music releases at Cat’s. That old smoking cat in a hat on their sign has seen disco come and go, punk come and go underground, hip-hop come and stay, and watched as grunge and boy-band sensations supernovaed and left large segments of the music industry in creative shambles. And through it all, that cat keeps smokin’.

Best Record Store (used)

1. Shangri-La Records

2. Cat’s Compact Discs & Cassettes

3. Pop Tunes Record Shops

How appropriate is this place named? If you’re looking for a taste of authentic Memphis music, it can be had at Shangri-La. Just one visit and you’ll be hooked, and you’ll leave with some kind of treasure, obscure or essential, on vinyl or disc.

Best Music Equipment

1. Strings & Things

2. Amro Music Stores

3. Yarbrough’s Music — tie —

Guitar Center — tie —

Memphis Drum Shop

In the 1970s, Gibson started reissuing 1950s-style Les Pauls due in part to the constant badgering of a fussy Memphis music store called Strings & Things. Even if this Midtown music mall wasn’t stocked with all your rock-and-roll needs, the Gibson reissues would be a fair enough reason to declare them number one and keep them hovering in that position for 30 or so years.

Best Car Dealership

READERS’ CHOICE

CarMax

Dobbs

Performance Toyota

Gossett

Wolfchase Honda/Jeep

Too close to call for this category.

Best Place to Buy a Motorcycle

Justin Fox Burks

Best Plastic Surgeon

BOM 1. Bumpus Harley-Davidson

2. Al’s Cycle

3. Vespa Memphis

Bumpus isn’t a motorcycle shop. For 20 years, it’s been the hub for an obsessive community of Harley enthusiasts who don’t have time to fool around with a bunch of Kawasaki people.