We all have our rotation – y’know, that core group of 3-5 restaurants that are your default options when it’s the weekend. You don’t even want to think on a Saturday afternoon after a long hard work week. So, you dip into the rotation – it’s automatic….those places that you just know whenever you go, you’re going to be taken care of, and you’re going to get a damn good meal. In our household out here in Mount Juliet, our rotation consists of Yummy Pho Bac, Smiley Thai & Sushi, MLRose, Catch 22, and Memo’s Mexican Kitchen. I’d add Panda Express, but I think I’m the only person in my entire social circle that still eats at Panda Express. In fact, I might be keeping Panda Express in business.
Nonetheless, Memo’s Mexican Kitchen (formerly ‘El Rey Azteca’ for you Mount Juliet old-heads that can remember when Mount Juliet Road was two lanes and the idea of a shopping mall in town was laughable) is one of the places that I feel genuine comfort in sitting down for a meal. I lost my dad in 2014, but prior to that, I don’t think he missed many Friday nights sitting at El Rey with a plate of grilled jalapenos and steak fajitas in front of him. He once told me in a nugget of economical prudence, “you eat bologna all week so you can eat steak on Friday night.” Sometimes, I’d join him and my mother for a meal there on a Friday night. But, if I didn’t, I never had to wonder where they were at 6 or 7 on a Friday night – I could confidently bet every dollar in my bank account on where they’d be. So, yeah – maybe I do have a certain sense of sentimental attachment to the place. But, I don’t think that’s entirely fair to Katie and Memo, who have both fostered an incredibly welcoming environment into their restaurant.
Katie and Memo have a wonderful story – I would encourage you all to listen to their episode of Nashville Restaurant Radio wherever you take in your podcasts for more on that. And, their focus on creating such a ‘gathering’ type of atmosphere is evident in the attention they pay to everyone that comes into their restaurant. We sat there on a Saturday afternoon and watched Katie walk around to each table thanking people personally for coming in – at many of them, we even heard “good to see you again.” It’s the little things. Also, I have to shout out my guy Andres, who I’m pretty sure sells me on their specials every time I’m in there and always greets us with a smile and a “good to see you again.”
Full disclosure: I’ve eaten a ton of stuff off of this menu, so it’s been hard to pin this review down even though I’ve been wanting to write it for a long time. A list of all the things I’ve had off this menu: guacamole autentico (a must-get appetizer), queso blanco, grilled jalapenos, street tacos (steak, pollo, shrimp, and my favorite, chorizo), fajitas, burritos con queso, quesabirria, “Make Some Shroom” quesadilla, skillet chicken, and Memo’s carne asada. Those are just the regular menu items – that doesn’t even count all of the specials that Andres has sold me on, which I would say is one of the strong suits of their menu. There are some real treats on that specials menu, and it changes regularly, so that’s all the more reason to keep coming back.
For more on Memo’s Mexican Kitchen, check out their website here and be sure to follow them on Instagram.
Pics
Ratings
Food: 8.9/10 – Memo’s has an extensive menu of great items, but I haven’t been able to shake the profound effect their quesabirria has had on me since the first time I tried it late in 2020. I don’t know how to describe it other than “I would bathe in this if no one stopped me.” That’s what I had for this particular meal, and it was fantastic as always – it’s smooth, rich, and hearty, but it has just the right amount of spice to dazzle the palate. The guacamole autentico might not be what you think of when you think of ‘guacamole,’ but for me, it’s the superior version of guacamole. You can’t get much more fresh than this appetizer, and I absolutely love the sting that the jalapenos on top provide. For the sake of getting a thorough review of course, I had to try some of Aura’s fajitas and found the chicken to be seasoned and cooked to perfection. I’ve yet to have a bad meal at Memo’s.
Booze: 8.2/10 – What a great cocktail list, and they never skimp on the booze as we’ve experienced at other establishments in town. Those of you who know me know that I am all about seasonal alignment – get me fall flavors in the fall, summer flavors in the summer, etc. – and one of the things I love about Memo’s cocktail menu is that it revolves around the seasons and there are always festive options for your margaritas if you want something a little different from what’s on the regular menu. And, when you don’t want a cocktail, like I said, how can you say no to an ice cold Modelo in a frosty mug? For all the credit they get for their food and their service, maybe we should start talking about Memo’s having the coldest beer in town. Just saying.
Value: 7.5/10 – Look, I’ll be honest with you guys – this isn’t a cheap date night. Tip included, Aura and I usually spend $50-$60 a meal. That usually gets us an appetizer, two entrees, and usually two margaritas or beers as well. So, this high value score doesn’t necessarily translate to ‘cheap.’ For me, it’s about the experience, the service, and the quality of the food for what you are paying for. Other establishments in town hover around the same price point these days, and the overall quality of the meal and the service is vastly inferior to what your money will get you at Memo’s. Not to mention that to get this kind of quality at one of the trendy spots in downtown Nashville, you’d probably be paying $80-$100 for a similar meal. This is one of the few places that I’ll turn loose of that money confidently without flinching when I get the bill (it’s also worth noting that I am a cheap bastard to begin with).
Atmosphere: 8/10 – The service is top-notch. That place is always spick-and-span…clean enough to eat off of the floor. And, I mentioned above how welcoming the Memo’s staff is. This is a no-brainer for me – an excellent spot to sit and enjoy a great meal while letting life’s problems wait outside.
Overall: 8.15/10 – What more can I say? Great food, great drinks, great spot – now you know why Memo’s has firmly established itself as a regular in our Mount Juliet dining rotation.
CURRENT MOUNT JULIET RESTAURANT RANKINGS
- ML Rose (8.19/10)
- Memo’s Mexican Kitchen (8.15/10)
- Hibachi Jr. (7.75/10)
- Smiley Thai and Sushi (7.25/10)
- Catch 22 (7.125/10)
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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