So instead when I went to Memphis this past weekend for a huge soccer tournament, I went downtown to Beale Street during my break for lunch and went to their Hard Rock Cafe - a Rock and Roll restaurant that also features a small souvenir shop near the front of the store that opens one hour before the restaurant each day.
The Hard Rock Cafe are normally found inside big cities like Memphis, Atlanta, Phoenix - kinda like the "Rainforest Cafe." If you haven't been to one of those, visit the one near the front gate of the Animal Kingdom at Disney World. There is one in St. Louis, MO as well.
While it made its start as a restaurant, it does have a 16 Hotel/Casino hybrid restaurants. Mississippi does have one of those 16 Hard Rock Cafe Hotel/Casino restaurants in Blioxi. However, that is 350 miles away at the coast. The one in Memphis is just 70 miles away on the famous Beale Street stretch. There is also one in the popular destination spot for OHS students that is Destin, FL. So if you get the chance, visit those places.
This one here in Memphis is worth coming to, this is the birthplace of music and where Elvis Presley got his real start, so it was a no brainer to put one in Memphis. They have a big collection of items Elvis used to have or used in movies.
The blue denim in the lower right picture was worn by Elvis Presley in the 1957 movie "Jailhouse Rock." It is considered one of Presley's best movies he ever done as an actor. It is about a young teenage man who was falsely accused of manslaughter and later becomes a rock sensation.
I think I've babbled enough about this place, now about the food they serve.
It is worth noting that each Hard Rock Cafe has its own unique menu options in each restaurant. Some of the names of the dishes are based off of local places.
Among the "Starters" included the Hard Rock Nachos, Chicken Wings, Potato Skins, the Santa Fe Spring Rolls, Balsamic Tomato Bruschetta and the Tupelo Chicken Tenders. There is also a Jumbo Combo where you can order up a combination of the listed starter options on the menu to share with multiple people.
The main entrees include the Famous Fajitas which you have a choice of Grilled Chicken, Grilled Beef Grilled Shrimp, Duo Combo, and the Trio Combo. You also have the New York Strip Steak, Grilled Sirloin Steak, Twisted Mac, Chicken and Cheese, Grilled Chicken Marsala, Grilled Salmon, and the Shock Top Beer Battered Fish and Chips.
There are 12 different "Legendary" Burgers to choose from off that portion of the menu (served with fries or Onion Rings - you can layer on caramelized onions or braised mushrooms) as well as 5 different salads.
From the Smokehouse, you can get the Hickory-Smoked BBQ Combo which you can choose from BBQ Ribs, Chicken or Smoked Pulled Pork. (served with fries, ranch beans and cole slaw). For Sandwiches, there is the "Blackened Fish of the Day Sandwich" which you must ask for the kind of fish (comes with dressing). There is the California Chicken Club Sandwich and the Goat Cheese Chicken Salad Sandwich. For the Smokehouse Sandwiches, there is the Hickory-Smoked Pulled-Pork Sandwich, BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwich, Shang Hi, South Carolina, and The Texan.
Side orders include Mac & Cheese, French Fries, Grilled Shrimp Skewer, Garlic Herb Smashed Potatoes, Fruit, Garlic Toast, Side House or Caesar Salad, Onion Rings, Confetti Rice, and Romano Parsley Pasta.
There are several options for dessert that include Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream (Only Chocolate or Vanilla), Apple Cobble, Hot Fudge Brownie, Mojito Yogurt w/ Fruit, Hot Fudge Sundae (you knew that was coming after the Brownie), and Thick Shakes (Milkshakes w/ Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream). There are also 4 different dessert "bites" on the menu as well.
There is also a kids menu (of course) where the kids can choose from 6 easy to decide options that they know what that item actually is - like "Hot Dog."
For drinks, beer is served on tap or in a bottle, Pepsi products are the soda choices, several Cocktail drinks are also there with smoothie options as well.
These are the types of restaurants I love going to every now and then. I've been to 3 Hard Rock Cafes in my lifetime. The one in Atlanta was the first one (when I was 7 and was with my parents on a business trip for the week). The one in Phoenix was the second one I visited (when I attended the International Science and Engineering Fair in 2005 in my 10th Grade year), and finally the one here in Memphis last weekend. I want to go to the others pretty soon - I know there is one in Nashville - I mean there has to be being the Music City right? RIGHT?!