The Liquor Store

International Flavor

If there was ever a place with a misleading name, it is The Liquor Store. A diner on the eclectic Broad Avenue district, the restaurant serves breakfast dishes with American and Latin (mostly Cuban) influences along with coffee and cocktails from a fully stocked bar. Typically, I lean more toward "traditional" places like The Arcade and Brother Juniper's (along with one of my favorite hangouts, Bardog Tavern), but I don't mind trying something different occasionally. Particularly if it's something exotic, I'm definitely game for that.

NOTE: The Liquor Store has another location in East Memphis.

One of the entrées that I had at The Liquor Store was the Filipino Breakfast. A dish that has both Filipino and Spanish influences, it consists of two fried eggs over rice, fried plantains and tocino (according to Wikipedia, this dish is called "arroz a la Cubana" (Cuban rice) despite it not originating in Cuba). Despite not being a fan of fried eggs (except when its on burgers), I liked the eggs yolks mixing into the buttery rice. The combination was savory and delicious, with scallions adding a little extra kick. While the rice and eggs were impressive, the tocino (Spanish for bacon) was cured pork belly that proved to be a bit chewy. Although it didn't melt in my mouth, the charred flavor of the tocino matched well with the rest of my food. The fried plantains (aka "cooking bananas') added a hefty sweet element to the entrée, ensuring a complete meal that satisfied my hunger. I left The Liquor Store with a full stomach and the satisfaction that I got my money's worth.

Another entrée that I got was the Big Memphis Burrito. It has a lot going on, for it is stuffed with scrambled eggs, caramelized onions, fries (in the burrito) and Circle B Smoked Sausage. As you can see, that's a lot to put in a burrito, for it's a complete breakfast wrapped in a tortilla. By itself, the burrito is very tasty and really hits the spot, something that's convenient when you have to eat on the go. Throw in a fruit bowl, sour cream and pico de gallo and you have a tremendous breakfast. I want to mention that according to The Liquor Store's menu, I should have gotten Arbo's Cheese Dip instead of pico de gallo, something that look forward to getting the next time I visit the diner.

It seems that The Liquor Store is a good place for breakfast and brunch if you're looking for something that's off the beaten path. Even for most Memphians who aren't into alternative cuisine, they can get a nice bowl of grits while sipping on coffee at the diner. Personally, I prefer the pineapple mimosa that adds a bit of Caribbean flair to just about anything. The Liquor Store is a cool place to dine so give it a shot.