… at Bari last night.
How do I know for sure? The waitress brought me his bar tab by accident when she dropped the check at my table. Memphis Grizzlies coach Mike Fratello apparently likes Grey Goose vodka martinis and is a good tipper.
That celebrity sighting was the highlight of a pretty disappointing dinner. My swordfish was cold in the middle… I’m fine with tuna seared rare and salmon grilled medium, but a big chunk of undercooked swordfish just doesn’t work for me. The dish wasn’t helped by a heavy hand on the balsamic vinegar bottle, which hammered the flavor of the fish.
Speaking of cooking fish to varying degrees of doneness, one of the proponents of that movement is New York magazine’s Gael Greene. I’ve got a story in tomorrow’s CA about her new book “Instatiable” that’s got a juicy Elvis twist…
Let's eat
Responses to “Griz coach was in da house!”
April 18th, 2006 at 2:26 pm
I despise Bari with a passion. I went there once and there were three of us. We ordered a bruschetta appetizer and they gave us two little slices of bread. I ordered fish for dinner and without mentioning it, the fish comes completely whole, eyes and everything intact, no deboning (this was like a 25 dollar fish). I was immaturishly repulsed and only picked at it. It also came with nothing else, if I recall correctly, besides the giant hulking piece of fish. It was expensive and just horrendous in general. I tell people I’d go out to eat anywhere but Ethiopian or Bari, and I silently curse the place every time I go by. Give me Brooklyn Bridge any day. 
I’m interested to know more about Las Margaritas (how you get in, how the service is, the prices ,etc) and also hear more about the new Italian place on Perkins across from Davis-Kidd.
Thanks for an interesting blog.
April 19th, 2006 at 5:00 pm
Shows how tastes differ, Karen. The whole fish (either sea bass or bronzino which is $21 on their menu by the way) is my favorite fish dish in town. Whole fish is so much better to me than a filet. Again, the menu says “Baked whole bronzino…” so there you go.
Brooklyn Bridge is comparable to the Spaghetti Warehouse to me. My experience at Old Venice was pretty bad and I won’t try it again.
April 19th, 2006 at 10:54 pm
Gregg, my last time at Bari’s was many years ago. I want to say when it was newly opened, but my memory is hazy. I don’t know if they changed the menu or if I got a special or what, but I am pretty sure it made no mention that it was whole. Because it is so expensive and I’m a somewhat starving student, I haven’t wanted to repeat the experience to see if the second time was more enjoyable.
I think of Spaghetti Warehouse as being on par with Olive Garden (I’ve only been to one in CA), so I think you just said you don’t like Brooklyn Bridge? 
Thanks for your comment on Old Venice. Good to know.
Do you like Pete and Sam’s, Fino’s, or any other Italian place in town?
Karen
April 20th, 2006 at 11:38 am
despise is a very strong word. the chef ships in a fish plucked from a sea half way across the globe..served as is..that chef has brass ones.kudos to him..shame on you..olive garden,spaghetti warehouse are you kidding me?
April 20th, 2006 at 2:27 pm
Regarding Bari, I just didn’t like it and I admit it is immature to not like whole fish, but it’s the truth. Many people like Bari and their whole fish and I don’t. That’s all.
Regarding Olive Garden, Spaghetti Warehouse, etc - now I am just confused. I think of Olive Garden as having crap. I’ve never been to the Spaghetti Warehouse here, but I’ve been to one in San Diego and assume it’s a chain. I could be very wrong on that. The one there was okay but not great.
Does this clarify? I’m not trying to be a troll or a pain. I have a strong dislike of Bari, yes, but I like most of the places I’ve been in Memphis.
April 20th, 2006 at 2:58 pm
You should give Bari another chance. They’ve opened the bar (but sadly allow smoking) and they have a good cheese list.
I do not like the Spaghetti Warehouse, Olive Garden or Brooklyn Bridge. I know what I’m getting at Pete and Sam’s (great atmosphere with average food) and I really like Fino’s. Best Italian within 75 miles of Memphis is at L&M Salumeria in Oxford. Beware the whole bass special though I had last week that was approx 4 lbs.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:28 pm
Poor Karen! I don’t like Flemings Steakhouse but many love the place…so there you go. I’ve never been to Bari so I can’t comment on their offerings, but I’m not a fan of “whole” fish either and wouldn’t have been pleased to get it if I wasn’t expecting it…it’s not immature, it’s just personal preference. I’m not a fan of Spaghetti Warehouse as the food is barely legitimate, somewhat bland and the salad is horribly plain. I’ve been to Olive Garden once and liked it enough, but it wouldn’t be my first choice. I prefer Colettas, Pete & Sams, Brooklyn Bridge, Finos and Macaroni Grill. I’ve been wanting to try Bari and may do so soon, especially since I have some ideas about what and what not to order!
April 21st, 2006 at 8:58 pm
Based on the comments, I think I’ll try Bari again one day when somebody else is paying or I am feeling extra rich. I just won’t get whole fish.
Gregg, thanks for your opinions! Will file the Oxford place away. Why don’t you like Brooklyn Bridge?
And Cynthia - thanks for your sympathy. I love you. AHAHAHAHA
Karen
PS: Just ate at Al-Rayan (sp?), middle eastern on cleveland. Pretty yum, but I think I still like Sean’s Cafe best of all. Casablanca Cafe is okay, very pretty. And I haven’t been to Caspian????? I think that is its name but I hear it’s delicious too.
April 23rd, 2006 at 10:48 am
Best Italian anywhere near Memphis is Conte’s downtown on Madison. Had mussels Friday night and the white wine sauce was spectacular. Her Vodka sauce will make you cry. Everything we’ve had…been six times now is superb. It gets better everytime we go. Make sure to end with the cannolis.
April 24th, 2006 at 4:14 pm
I am Italian. My grandmother cooked the best Italian food this side of the Atlantic. I used to live in Midtown, and ate at Fino’s every week for years. The food they dish up is deliciously authentic, homey, Italian comfort food. L&M is also terrific. I agree with Gregg’s sentiments regarding Pete and Sam’s. I have tried all the other restaurants mentioned, as well as the other “Italian” restaurants in the area, and the only compliment I can truthfully extend is that the bread at Macaroni Grill is tasty…except Conte’s–Tim, I haven’t heard about it–is it new?
10 comment.