Memphis THE CIT Y MAGAZINE
PRESENTING THE
WINNERS OF OUR MEMPHIS MAGAZINE READERS’ RESTAURANT POLL
NE W top: Fresh guacamole is prepared tableside. below: The spacious interior was once home to T.G.I. Fridays in Overton Square.
N
ormally, people might think a menu as culturally diverse as Babalu’s is a bit strange, offering Mexican, Spanish, and American staples. But customers flocked to Babalu when it opened last June, and they still do. For the most part, the restaurant’s inf luence is South American, embracing the Spanish custom of tapas and plates to share with an equal focus on Mexican cuisine. The menu offers an extensive taco selection, excellent guacamole prepared tableside, and, of course, crafty margaritas. The eclectic culinary variety pops up with garlic shrimp and grits and an addictive Baba burger that’s dressed with roasted Roma tomatoes, caramelized onions, white cheddar cheese,
Way back in July 1983, when we conducted our first readers’ restaurant poll, it only took half a column to report the results. With just 18 categories focusing on the most basic specialties — pizza, steak, seafood — readers probably finished the survey in 10 minutes. The poll, and the city’s dining infrastructure, has certainly expanded in the past three decades. This year’s results present the winning restaurants in more than 40 categories, and judging from the number of entries submitted, it’s obvious that current readers took quite a bit more time to ponder the best places in town, including categories that might have stumped our 1983 subscribers, such as Best Food Truck, Best Craft Cocktails, and Best Local Brew. With online voting and safeguards to prevent multiple entries, this can rightfully be considered our city’s most definitive and accurate dining poll. The winner in each category is listed in bold type, followed by other contenders in the order of votes received. To be declared a winner, that establishment had to receive at least 10 percent of the total votes. We’re happy to report that our readers had clear opinions about their favorites in every category but one; for “Most Happening Happy Hour” there were so many contenders that we listed the top vote-getters. We’re also pleased to welcome back so many establishments here, in a wide range of categories, who didn’t make an appearance in last year’s poll. Congratulations to all our winners and finalists, and thanks to all our readers who voted.
AND THE PRIZE GOES TO… 36 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M
BABALU BRINGS TAPAS, TACOS, AND TABLESIDE GUACAMOLE TO MEMPHIS.
FEBRUARY 2015
applewood-smoked bacon, avocado, and chipotle aioli. The spice seared yellow fin tuna BLC is the standard BLT’s exotic cousin. The seared tuna steak is topped with bacon, arugula, marinated cucumber, and wasabi aioli inside a sourdough bun and toasted. Along with Babalu’s menu, the modern Spanish decor adds a festive touch to Overton Square, and its inviting patio with a great view is packed, with a wait, when the weather is nice. In fact, Babalu ranks as a finalist in this year’s Readers’ Restaurant Poll for Best People Watching, Best Patio Dining, and Hippest Bar Setting, duplicating the restaurant’s original success in Jackson, Mississippi. — Hannah Bailey 2115 MADISON (274-0100) $-$$