Faaak me - dodged a bullet

Legume · October 2015

In Memphis. Thanks to all for their recommendations, unfortunately totally useless to me. I was not in charge. Started out with the "leader" wanting to take us to Mongolian BBQ "because it's awesome - my kids love it"

I was able to momentarily spark a mutiny demanding BBQ, but again, out leader stepped in and took charge. We headed to Rendezvous. I was dying on the inside. Our driver was actually laughing at us. Laughing. Someone asked what was good there, he said this "I'm 28 years old and have never been there. Ever. My family doesn't go there, I don't know anyone that has gone there."

Well, we caught a break. Closed Monday. We ended up at BB Kings place. Music was good. I had catfish, driver recommended it and it was pretty damn good, no muddy flavor at all. I also had some ribs, dry. They were gassed, no smoke, kind of dry. Good with the rub, but I do better 9/10 times. A couple of colleagues I was with had brisket. Yes, you read that right. No, they were not from Texas.

Overall, a good work night out in a town I'm in for the first time. I like drinking in the street.

DMW · October 2015

Now head over to Beale Street and hang out until you can't anymore.

Legume · October 2015

Just got back from there - client in AM.

texaswig · October 2015

Yeah you did. I've worked on the road with people who wanted to go eat a chain restaurants Chili's, Applebee's, joe crabs hack. All those places. If I'm out of town I want local. Finally got good at changing people's minds where they wanted to eat. It's probably the closest thing I've ever had to having a superpower.

Legume · October 2015

That's funny @texaswig

epcotisbest · October 2015

texaswig said:

Yeah you did. I've worked on the road with people who wanted to go eat a chain restaurants Chili's, Applebee's, joe crabs hack. All those places. If I'm out of town I want local. Finally got good at changing people's minds where they wanted to eat. It's probably the closest thing I've ever had to having a superpower.

Was in Savannah for several days a couple of weeks ago and tried several local places. Also ate at Joe's Crab Shack one day for lunch and it was fantastic!

texaswig · October 2015

@epcotisbest oh I like their food. I'm not talking only local, just mostly.

epcotisbest · October 2015

texaswig said:

@epcotisbest oh I like their food. I'm not talking only local, just mostly.

Maybe in Savannah, where there is so much restaurant competition, Joe's has to step it up a notch. Or maybe I was just easy to please that day. Favorite of all in Savannah...Mrs. Wilkes. Crazy good food there and plenty of it, but only for lunch and they only take cash. You sit at a big ole table with about 8 or 10 new friends and pass around bowl after bowl of goodness.

YukonRon · October 2015

BB KINGS blues bar is good. My beautiful wife and I have been there, food was not great, but not bad either. Entertainment was killer. Beale street is great. I usually get the local BBQ in Memphis, from the local chefs with their rigs in the parking lots for lunch. Cheap and with ice cold sweet tea or lemon aid, All served on cheap white bread. Never had a bad meal doing that.

Zmokin · October 2015

I've been to chains that are good, I've been to chains that are bad. I've been to local family owned places that are good, I've been to family owned places that aren't so good. I've been to hole in the walls that are great, I've been to hole in the walls that are disgusting. Some chains do better than others. In'n'out makes a pretty good "fast food" burger and I always get great customer service. Other fast food chains, not so much. I've never had a bad experience at a Joe's Crab shack. But the best crab I ever had was a local joint in Baltimore. As far as ribs go, I never have found a restaurant that makes them as good as I can, but then I make them exactly to my liking. I don't expect everyone would think I make the best ribs, heck if you like them not-sauced, you won't like mine. If you like the sauce glazed on the ribs, you might like mine, depends upon if you like the same flavor of sauce that I like.

Buckeye79 · October 2015

I don't think @texaswig intended to sound anti -chain restaurant. Applebee's, Chili's, etc. all turn out some decent meals. But I don't want to eat at any of them when I travel.

When I travel I want to try places I can't normally eat. That may be a little mom and pop shop or it could be a local / regional chain that is not in my home area. The point is I want to try something new and different instead of the old standbys that are near home.

badinfluence · October 2015

When I'm out of town I look for local food trucks. Never guess why eh?

Ladeback69 · October 2015

Zmokin said:

I've been to chains that are good, I've been to chains that are bad. I've been to local family owned places that are good, I've been to family owned places that aren't so good. I've been to hole in the walls that are great, I've been to hole in the walls that are disgusting. Some chains do better than others. In'n'out makes a pretty good "fast food" burger and I always get great customer service. Other fast food chains, not so much. I've never had a bad experience at a Joe's Crab shack. But the best crab I ever had was a local joint in Baltimore. As far as ribs go, I never have found a restaurant that makes them as good as I can, but then I make them exactly to my liking. I don't expect everyone would think I make the best ribs, heck if you like them not-sauced, you won't like mine. If you like the sauce glazed on the ribs, you might like mine, depends upon if you like the same flavor of sauce that I like.

@Zmokin, I have now gotten to glazing my ribs and I like it too. Now if you come to KC and like your ribs glazed I suggest Q39. I thought my ribs were great and thought I would never find any out that are better. Theirs did and they have them as an appetizer too. Their chicken wings are great too and you can get burnt ends as an appetizer.

@Legume, sounds like you had a great time and Memphis is on my list to visit sometime. I love blues as about as much as I do BBQ and beer.

buzd504 · October 2015

Zmokin said:

I've never had a bad experience at a Joe's Crab shack.

Wow, I have. Among the litany of service and other problems was that they were out of crab!!

Never going back.

henapple · October 2015

Working with a couple of chains I can tell you fo sho that each one is different. Everyone's goal is to have the food taste the same at every location. I see the most differences in stores from leadership. If the gm sucks, the store will... Food and service. The cook makes a huge difference. One night he cranks out perfect chops, the next night a different cook dries them out. I've threatened to take my thermapen but Sher-bear won't let me.

Cracker Barrel is one of the most consistent IMHO

texaswig · October 2015

@Buckeye79 is correct I wasn't trying to dog on chains. My favorite ones are Chuy's Mexican. Rudys bbq. In-N-Out. And whataburger. But if I can help it I want to go somewhere different. try something new to me. One big example is a good burger and how different it can be. I am also with @henapple about consistency and how important it is. Even at the same location.

caliking · October 2015

If I'm with people who know me, they usually know to just leave it to me to pick a place, and they will most likely end up eating a nice meal. If I'm with entirely random people... I leave

Davec433 · October 2015

I was in Jordan a few years ago and we had the same situation leader liked TGIF and it seemed like all we are at was chain restaurants so I feel your pain.

Zmokin · October 2015

texaswig said:

@Buckeye79 is correct I wasn't trying to dog on chains. My favorite ones are Chuy's Mexican. Rudys bbq. In-N-Out. And whataburger. But if I can help it I want to go somewhere different. try something new to me. One big example is a good burger and how different it can be. I am also with @henapple about consistency and how important it is. Even at the same location.

I guess when you called it "joe crabs hack", I just assumed you were doggin' it.
now upon retrospect, I see it was a typo, a missplaced "space".

Legume · October 2015

Yeah, but now we have a new name for it, amiright?

texaswig · October 2015

@Zmokin Haha that's hilarious. I didn't even catch that typo. The keyboard I use on my phone has swipe. You just drag your finger across to make words the more you use it the more it learns. Sometimes it gets a mind of its own. It's the worst with names.

jonnymack · October 2015

Nothing worse than being out of town with people who aren't willing to try something great. I used to audit and had bosses that insisted on the Chili's/Friday's/Applebee's of the area. Would kill me. When I finally got my turn to run audits, I'd tell my team "do what you want, but I'm going here" and here was always interesting. Folks loved it.

Faaak me - dodged a bullet

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