Primed and Ready for My Steak

Porchandparlor.com

I have been going to Memphis for fun, leisurely weekends more years than I can count.  As a student at Ole Miss, it was a mere hour away, and many a (lost) weekend has taken place on famous Beale Street.  

Now, in my more “mature” years, I live about an hour and a half away, and that type of weekend holds no appeal to me, but Memphis is a great city that always appeals to me.  It is wonderful to visit when meeting up with old friends, shopping, and visiting historical landmarks.  First and foremost, is that there seem to always be new eateries to sample in addition to my tried-and-true favorite dining establishments.

My most recent sampling is a gem of a place called Porch and Parlor.  It first came to my attention when a fellow gym rat walked over to me one day in the midst of a sweaty cardio session and said to me, “You and your husband are into good food.  Let me tell you about a place I just tried with my husband.”  

I cataloged it in my head immediately (because my life revolves around food). Still, my antennae really perked up when a mere two weeks later, a completely unrelated person to my gym buddy essentially said the same thing to me, so I told the hubs, “It’s time to go to Memphis again for a night out.”

Located in Overton Square (a little bit of a hipster area), Porch and Parlor offers casual outdoor porch dining, or you can enjoy indoor dining in a lush and luxurious dining room.  Our weekend was in the middle of summer in Memphis, so we opted for the indoor dining option, as fine cuisine is best enjoyed when your clothes are not sticking to your back from the oppressive heat and humidity.

Being the obsessive-compulsive person to which I am prone, I had perused the menu several times before stepping into the restaurant and was firmly set on one of their fish dishes.  However, after our extremely professional and knowledgeable server walked us through the menu, it was clear this was a place where one goes to eat steak.  At a place such as this, I always trust the server because I know I will not be led astray.

Porch and Parlor are known for their “Prime” cuts of beef and extensive “Wagyu” selections.  Their signature appetizer is devilled eggs topped with a sizeable chunk of Wagyu.  That was a little too decadent and heavy sounding for this foodie to choose as a “starter,” so I opted to start with the Fresh Artichoke Soup, a creamy blend that included brie and crispy shallot.  It is not low in calories, but it was divine.  

My husband is a French onion soup fiend (if it is on a menu, rest assured he will order it), so he ordered it and said it was one of the best he had ever eaten.  After sampling his parmesan tuile, I was inclined to agree with him.

As for the steak, we ordered incredibly well-marbled ribeye, which was perfectly seasoned and beyond succulent.  For this carboholic, though, the Loaded Parlor Potatoes stole the show.  Layered with scalloped potatoes, several types of cheese, bacon, onions, and chives, I could eat this for breakfast every day of my life and not feel even the least bit bad about it. 

The Petite Syrah paired with our steaks really enhanced everything on the table.  My only disappointment was that I had no capacity left for dessert (perhaps that was a hidden blessing).

I highly recommend this place to fine diners everywhere, particularly those interested in elevated steakhouse experiences.  

This place does not miss.