Memphis Cafe — Restaurant in Costa Mesa

Venue:

VEGETARIANS WILL APPRECIATE

Memphis Soul is a normal looking restaurant located in Costa Mesa, California. It is nestled in SOBECA District.

It took 15 mins to get a table which is not surprising given the popularity of the place. Music catered to a 40+ crowd a very “chill” and relaxing Cali feel to it.

Food Quality

I ordered the following: Old fashioned & Lemonade The Old Fashion could’ve been sweeter but then again, it can always be sweeter!

Ordered the Down Home Gumbo, Collared Greens, Hoppin’ John and the Banana Fosters Bread Pudding.

The Down Home Gumbo was flavorful and mildly spicy. The portion was a little smaller than I anticipated but nonetheless acceptable. The rice was delicious and reminded me of my moms cooking. Hoppin’ John was also spicy but balanced, it is a dish that most vegetarians need to have. The Collard Greens were delicious and were prepared with butter and honey. The initial sweetness tempered the normal bitterness of normal collard greens. In fact, I didn’t taste any bitterness at all and I couldn’t stop eating them while I was waiting for dessert.

The Banana Fosters Bread Pudding was mildly sweet and it felt like an original older recipe and for whatever reason it took me back to the 70’s.

Service-Product Knowledge/Friendliness:

Initially friendly but when I mentioned I’m a reviewer there was that “Plz stop the non-sense already” 😳🙄 and I don’t blame her so I kept pressing on to taste more food.

Promptness/Delivery:

Food delivery was a little on the slow side but it did appear a rush was right behind me and this sole component did affect the overall score.

Cleanliness:

The place was clean but as with any busy place the flow of customers naturally impinges upon the level of tidiness.

Price/Value:

Excellent for being in Cali and for an established cuisine and locale. Would give it a 3.5 rating but no such options are possible. Will be back to try breakfast...

Ambiance is nice and seems like a nice place to get drinks, but my brother and I came here to try the food.

They have complimentary cornbread which is nice and warm when it comes out and goes great with butter.

From there, I ordered a bowl of gumbo for the two of us to share, and then for an entree, I ordered the barbecue plate, which happened to be brisket, my favorite! And my brother ordered the jambalaya.

The gumbo came out very quickly, which I suppose is understandable? But was a little worrying to me. It really is an appetizer portion at the bowl level, so I was glad I ordered an entree as well. Texture wise, it was good! However, flavor-wise, it was a let down. There was a gumbo flavor to it, but all the ingredients within the gumbo had taken on the same flavor, which was very disappointing with the sausage. And then on top of the gumbo's flavor, which was a little bland, was some sort of smokiness that sits on your tongue and at the back of your throat while eating that further distracts you from the gumbo-ness.

Then our entrees came. I received two slabs of brisket over a scoop of Mac and cheese and green beans, and a small cup of sauce. Mac and cheese was bland as well, but the thing I appreciated about it was that the macaroni was not overcooked, and was actually Al dente, so points for texture, not so much for flavor. The green beans were also bland and quite chewy. Salt made them go down a little easier, but I couldn't finish them. And for the brisket, it was tender which was good, but any flavor that was added was only faintly cooked into the bark, so I ended up using all my sauce that was a decent vinegar-y sauce. My two star rating is based on the items I ordered, it this we're based on my brother's jambalaya, I'd bump it up to a solid 3 stars. Good amount of seafood, and none of it was overcooked. I think a bed of rice would even kick this up a notch, but as it is, it's...

I could not have enjoyed my dining experience more than what Memphis Cafe provided. I live in The South, so I might know something about Southern food. I was visiting family in Southern California when I found this incredible restaurant. The building is very unassuming and I was not sure I was at the correct location. The interior tells a very different story. There is nothing cliche about Memphis Cafe. There are no silly Southern stereotypes. The establishment is very nicely decorated and features some of my favorite color schemes. By no means does it come off as chic or snobby. But definitely beautiful and comfortable.

The service was excellent, though I was the only patron at the time. Which totally took me by surprise. The reason had to be the time of day and in the middle of the week. My server was exemplary at her job.

I ordered the shrimp and grits with a hottie tottie. Though I have lived in The South a long while, I am not a Southerner. I'm not really a shrimp and grits kind of guy. But this dish they served me was exquisite, to use a single word. The flavors popped in all the best ways. I didn't think a grit could be so delicious. I'm serious, I've never really liked grits. Just using the word for a food is bizarre to me. But Memphis Cafe knows some black magic cooking techniques, apparently.

I will definitely return next time I am in the area. I might even have to vacation sooner than planned. Thanks so very much for a perfect...