This response from “Tina” showed up at the end of the post I did on oatmeal a few weeks ago:
“I don’t know where to post this since the ‘Feedback and Questions’ part gives me an error and ‘not found’ message when I click on it. But I need some help from area lovers of fine restaurants.
“A special celebration is coming up in May for me and I am looking for a nice restaurant where my husband and I can go for a really nice dinner. Someplace nice, without kids, great food and service, and (obviously)not a ‘chain’ place. I was thinking Italian maybe, with cannoli on the menu - hard to find. But I am open to anything. Someplace other than the typical steak and potato as I have done it too many times. Something with good wine/scotch and where we can get a nice meal with 3-5 courses. We haven’t been to any really fine dining places, and that is what we are looking for but it is so hard to know what is going to be worth the money. Basically, some place we can make reservations on a Saturday night a few weeks in advance to ensure not waiting forever.
“Sorry…don’t know where to post this but since F.K. started this string and he knows the fine dining establishments, I am going to the top.
“Thanks for any help, and feel free to move this post to the appropriate area.”
Tina doesn’t say how much she and her husband want to spend on this celebratory occasion, so let’s consider that matter open to debate or interpretation or of no account. The requirements are simple: a really nice three-to-five-course meal at a restaurant for grown-ups with a good wine list (and scotch) and great service. On Saturday.
My immediate reaction is to say Erling Jensen or Chez Philippe. Expensive? Yes. Superb in all the aspects of fine dining that Tina is looking for? Also yes. If a Friday night were manageable, Erling Jensen has its wine tasting dinner, four courses and five glasses of wine for $75. That’s $150 for two people plus tax and tip. Other than that, Erling Jensen is a la carte, with soups, salads and appetizers ranging from $8 to $19 and entrees from $29 to $42.
Chez Philippe is only prix fixe, three courses for $68 or five courses for $75; wine is additional.
Menus and wine lists are available at peabodymemphis.com and ejensen.com.
For Italian, I would recommend Bari, though cannoli do not appear among dessert options. It has the advantage of being less expensive than Erling Jensen and Chez Philippe and of fielding an excellent list of Italian wines. The menu is available at barimemphis.com.
Many other possibilities exist, of course, and I bet that readers and posters to the “Whining&Dining” blog will be more than willing to weigh in and give Tina their advice. So go ahead.
Eating adventures
Responses to “Cry for Help: Fine Dining”
February 1st, 2008 at 4:59 pm
If the budget is more modest, I would recommend Cafe Toscana. Again, no cannoli, but very nice for the price. And if Tina tells them she is celebrating a special occasion, I’m sure a quiet table could be secured.
February 1st, 2008 at 5:22 pm
I’m with FK with regard to Bari for Italian. I wonder, if Tina called the restaurant in advance, the chef would be willing to make some cannoli for her. If memory serves, and it some times doesn’t, there are special each night at Bari, so why couldn’t cannoli be one?
February 1st, 2008 at 7:01 pm
What about Pasta Italia in Collierville on the Square? The menu is great as well as the wine list…just no scotch!
February 1st, 2008 at 8:13 pm
My favorite place to take someone special is Grill 83. Its a great restaurant plus its small and cozy. You get some of the best service that I have seen in the city, or country for that matter. I know she doesn’t want steak and potatoes, but they have an incredible seafood selection. I have never been let down there, and my companions always leave very happy. I don’t know what her budget is, but there menu is available online www.grill83.com
The last time i went, my companion wanted pasta and the chef made some amazing pasta dish for her with seafood. Im also willing to bet that he could make cannolis for her, as i have had them there once before.
February 2nd, 2008 at 11:09 am
Some one said that “Pete and Sams” had cannoli and their menu shows that they do. Friday’s review in the “Playbook” was of Shalom’s Bakery and Bistro and they too have cannoli.
Tina, please let us know how all turned out.
February 3rd, 2008 at 3:38 pm
OK, maybe that takes care of the cannoli, but I think the important factor in Tina’s cry for help was the elements of fine dining, adult-time, three-to-five-course dinner with great service and wine list. Let’s concentrate on those aspects.
February 3rd, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Ronnie Grisanti’s comes to mind. I haven’t been since Judd left. Has there been any noticeable differences? I cannot remember if they have cannoli, but I’ve had many great meals there in the past.
February 3rd, 2008 at 7:26 pm
I would send the kids to grandmother’s, make some homemade cannoli (the only kind to have), buy a bottle of Talisker, purchase a la Perla nightie and make it a very memorable evening for your husband.
February 3rd, 2008 at 9:48 pm
I would have said Grisanti’s but like RB I haven’t been there in a while. Anyone been there recently?
February 4th, 2008 at 9:47 am
What about the Italian place in Collierville? Haven’t been but I have heard good things about it. I believe that actual Italian immigrants own it. I am sure that they can make cannoli.
I still, however, think that any normal American male would prefer the lingerie, Talisker and a memorable evening at home.
February 4th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Pasta Italia on the Collierville square is an amazing italian restaurant. I would consider it fine dining. Very small and intimate and fantastic food. They have cannoli for dessert because we had it. It was also the best and most authentic italian food I have had since I moved to Memphis two years ago.
February 4th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
A couple of suggestons. Ronnie’s had cannoli the last time we were there. The food is good and is reasonable. Bolla Pasta on GT Parkway also had cannoli the last time I was there. This is more casual, the food is great, very reasonable and could work out for a romantic evening. If you really do want the cannoli, ask when you are making a making a reservation.
February 4th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Wow….never thought I’d see all this. Thanks, folks. Really. And I did forget to mention budget. Let’s see, this is 3 events all rolled into one dinner: 40th birthday, Mothers’ Day and wedding anniversary. This means our budget is, well, we plan on a big splurge! Thanks for all the suggestions. Doesn’t have to be Italian but fine dining. Bari and Erling Jensen were on my short list already so I’m happy so see them mentioned again.
F.K., thank you so much for posting this here. I will keep referring back here for suggestions and will now check out menus. The main things are fine dining, wine, and NO chances of screaming children.
Thanks to everyone who offered suggestions so far.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
No screaming children! That takes me back to the days we wouldn’t eat out too often because my child loved chicken legs and loved to THROW them when she was finished with them, if I didn’t keep an eagle eye on her. On to my sugggestion - we really like Cafe Society at Poplar and Evergreen.
Very nice and nary a child in sight! Food has always been great and the desserts are to die for.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
It doesn’t have multi-course prix fixe menus except on special occasions, but Napa Cafe off Sanderlin would be a good fine dining alternative. They have a nice selection of wines, a great regular menu with a lot of choices, amazingly good service, and one of the dessert offerings is a cannoli drizzled with delicious fruit sauce.
February 5th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Although it’s probably not considered “fine dining” I would heartily recommend Jarrett’s and Felicia Suzanne’s for wonderful dining experiences. And don’t forget that wonderful old standby, Paulette’s.
February 6th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
I second (more like third or fourth in this forum) the suggestion of Pasta Italia. It is the best Italian I have had in Memphis - very much refined dining - not fine per se, but very classy and dignified. Very romantic as well. The level of quality and attention to detail with the prep and presentation of the food is hard to match in Memphis. The food as absolutely amazing, and very authentic - it is a family owned place, and I believe the chef is from Italy who was transplanted here after Katrina. I know people who drive from Nashville to eat there, and have business clients from as far away as Boston who request that we dine there if possible. I am sure they would be willing to make some accomodations for a special evening. You would be able to splurge easily - a random dinner for 2 with apps, two glasses of wine and a shared dessert clocked in at just under $130 before tip.
February 7th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
And, Matt, at Napa Cafe, you can request to be seated in their wine cellar room. It’s very intimate!
February 8th, 2008 at 9:59 am
I’ve heard about that! Will have to take a look if I take a date there.
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