If you’re a longtime SoBros Network reader, you know we already have our Mount Juliet Restaurant Power Rankings up on the site. But, after a hearty lunch at Memo’s a couple of weekends ago, it got me thinking about individual dishes and not the totality of the restaurant experience. So, I took a stab at making a top 10 list of my favorite individual dishes in town. Next time you’re in Mount Juliet, try one of these out and let me know what you think.
My Favorite Meals in Mount Juliet
10. The 5 & 5 @ Slim Chickens – I’ll admit that it does feel kind of shitty to put a chain meal on the list, but I’ll tell you what, sometimes, you just get a hankering for a big ol’ basket of chicken, and the beautiful thing about Slim Chickens is that they don’t make you choose between wings and tendies. You can get both, five of each, in this one, with some fries, a drink, and two sauces. It hits just right after a hard day of yard work, speaking strictly from experience.
9. Pimento Cheese @ Prost & Riot – Okay, so it’s technically not a meal, but hot damn it was one of the first dishes that came to my mind when I started mulling this list over. I love the way they do this – their pimento cheese comes directly from a German bakery, and in lieu of crackers, it’s served with small naan bread bites with pickles on the side. Plus, they pile on with celery, carrots, and ranch on the side. I could make a lunch out of this alone, for sure.
8. Ramen @ Catch 22 – With all of the new restaurants popping up all over Mount Juliet, I’m surprised we haven’t gotten a good ramen spot just yet. Catch 22 makes their’s with braised beef and it is phenomenal on a cold winter’s day.
7. Wings @ Kat’s – I like the wings at Catch 22 and Martin’s, but if you want just some good old-fashioned buffalo bar wings, you can’t beat Kat’s. They’re flavorful and spicy, but every time I’ve had ’em, I’ve noticed how NOT messy they are. Huge bonus for that.
6. Voodoo Pasta @ The Lost Cajun – I haven’t written a full review of The Lost Cajun just yet, but it’s one of my favorite ‘hidden gems’ in town. It’s almost never crowded when I go in there, so it feels like the word hasn’t gotten out yet. Their Voodoo Pasta is my personal favorite off the menu – spicy sausage, shrimp, bell peppers, and fettuccine tossed in a white wine tomato cream sauce…you just can’t beat this creamy combination of flavors and spices.
5. Smoked prime rib sandwich @ Big Bad Wolf – Big Bad Wolf is another place I’ve yet to write about on the site, but it’s widely considered some of the best food in town, especially by the Mount Juliet residents who have been here in town for awhile. Their smoked prime rib sandwich is a fine example of how to do prime rib right.
4. House burger @ Catch 22 – If you can’t tell, I’m a big fan of Catch 22. But, it just doesn’t beat their house burger – beef cooked to your liking with some cheese, sauteed onions, and bacon jam on it. Get a side of their potato salad and it’s a really different kind of burger while also being basic enough to not retract from the focus on the beef. A++.
3. Pad Thai @ Yummy Pho Bac – I’m a pad thai junky and happen to be of the opinion that Yummy Pho Bac has the best in town. The portion they give you is nearly offensive in how much it is. I swear it’s like five pounds of pad thai. But, it’s the heat level and the flavor for me – they usually get it just right where it’s spicy enough to enjoy but not overbearing, and I love a flavor that isn’t so heavy on the fish sauce taste. *chef’s kiss*
2. Bento Box @ Smiley Thai – It’s sushi, gyoza, beef teriyaki, white rice, and tempura in a single box. It’s a revelation. I haven’t had a bad bento box yet, and I absolutely love the variety it provides in a single meal. I wrote about how this meal changed my life on the site.
1. Quesabirria @ Memo’s Mexican Kitchen – After much deliberation, I’ve landed on the quesabirria from Memo’s for the top spot. There’s so much time and care put into this dish and it’s evident in how rich it tastes, and how it’s so tender it falls apart without you even chewing it. A “roast beef taco” is way oversimplifying it, but it may be the best way I can put it into context. They slow roast their beef and serve it up in taco form with a savory au jus. My mouth is watering just typing this. While I think about all 10 of these dishes on a regular basis, none do to my brain what thinking about this quesabirria does.
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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