A Difference Of Opinion
With the recent controversy surrounding Tamboli's Pasta & Pizza over the restaurant's refusal to serve Tennessee National Guardsmen, I was curious about how that would affect the business. As a firm believer in free speech, I’m cool with people expressing themselves in just about any manner, subject or philosophy so long as it doesn’t affect me. After all, freedom of speech and expression is guaranteed in the Constitution, although certain exceptions like yelling “FIRE” in a building are prohibited. Of course, the First Amendment cuts both ways, for people who are opposed to Tamboli’s admittance policy can protest by avoiding the restaurant. Speaking as a veteran, I support the military who took an oath to the Constitution that protects the rights of everyone residing in the United States, even people that I disagree with. Unless someone has a personal beef with me or vice versa, I will try to put aside differences in opinion in order to get along and do business. That philosophy extends to restaurants that I patronize, including Tamboli’s where I recently had some nice meals.
When I visited Tamboli’s two weeks ago, there was a line of people waiting to be served. Unlike previous visits to the restaurant, Tamboli’s had a full house on a Saturday evening during the week of the restaurant’s pronounced "anti-task force” policy. Apparently, Tamboli’s has a lot of fans who love the restaurant and all that it offers. That includes me, who has dined there many times in the past and will continue to do so. Because the restaurant turned off its reservation system and even stopped taking phone calls in the wake of the backlash from protesters trying to undermine the business, Tamboli’s has a first-come, first-served dining policy. With that policy in place, the wait time for a table can be twenty minutes or longer so patience is needed for anyone wanting to eat in the restaurant's dining room. I opted to eat at Tamboli's bar that was packed as well but provided quicker seating.
The Pasta
With my intention to order pasta, I got the Creamy Pesto Pasta, consisting of Casarecce pasta noodles mixed with basil pesto sauce and roasted chicken for additional protein. Also topped with what I believe was Parmesan cheese, the pasta was tasty although not as creamy as I would have liked. Most of the pesto sauce rested at the bottom of the plate. In fairness, I could have stirred the pasta to make it creamier, but accepting it as it was still turned out to be quite good. A little more pesto sauce would have perfected the pasta, but that is my opinion and some might disagree. Overall, I liked the pasta and will order it again, probably with garlic bread.
SIDE NOTE: Usually when I add a "side note" to a review, I'm talking about something somewhat related to the subject but not directly tied to it. In this case, I want to talk about the dessert I had that wasn't made by Tamboli's. For dessert, I got salted caramel gelato made by Zio Matto Gelato, a gelateria located at the Central Station Building in Downtown Memphis where one of my favorite restaurants (Bishop) used to operate. Gelato is basically Italian ice cream, although there are differences between it and its American counterpart. The biggest difference is the texture, for gelato is softer and creamier than American ice cream. Some might assume that gelato is melted ice cream, but that isn't true. Because it's served at a higher temperature, the mix of ingredients tends to be more intense. In the case of Zio Matto's gelato, the salted caramel was quite prominent in the dessert. It was very creamy and sweet, good enough that even a citizen of Italy could appreciate. If Zio Matto's other flavors are as good as the salted caramel, it would be worth my time to visit one of its restaurants. By the way, Zio Matto also has a location in Nashville at The Arcade, a covered outdoor mall in the heart of the city's downtown. Coincidentally, the Memphis location is in a building that's across the street from The Arcade Restaurant on South Main Street. Whichever one you choose, you will likely find a sweet treat to fall in love with.
NOTE: There are also many restaurants, in addition to Tamboli’s, in Memphis and Nashville that serve Zio Matto's gelato. Go to the gelateria's website to see the list.
Website: ZioMatto.com
The Pizza
A few days after having the pasta, I followed up with a pizza. I got the Deluxe, Tamboli’s version of a “supreme” pizza that has a little bit of everything on it. Judging from the aroma emanating from the box, there was a strong presence of onions on the pizza. I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing, for I’m not a fan of raw onions. Fortunately, the other pizza toppings neutralized the onions, producing something great. Particularly, the Kalamata olives were a nice counter and match for the onions, bolstered by delicious red sauce on amazing bread. I typically don’t think much of pizza crust, but Tamboli’s is the exception. Made from scratch and cooked/baked in a wood-fired oven, Tamboli’s pizza crust was fresh and extremely good. From the first bite to the last (minus two slices that I gave to my Dad), every bit of the pizza crust was consistently fresh as opposed to becoming stale at the end. Whenever I order another Tamboli’s pizza, I'm getting a side of marinara sauce for dipping the crust, making something great even better. The crust alone makes Tamboli’s Deluxe pizza excellent, but when all the fresh toppings, including the meats (pepperoni, sausage) and the other veggies are added, the pizza is a masterpiece. The quality is far better than most national chains that sell similar pizzas that don't match Tamboli’s quality. The only drawback is that Tamboli’s pizzas come in only one size (fourteen inches wide) and are more expensive than what most people are accustomed to, but it’s worth it if you appreciate quality.
The Process
Because of the controversy and resulting backlash surrounding Tamboli's, getting a bite to eat there wasn't easy. As I mentioned earlier, the restaurant isn't taking reservations either over the phone or online. Anyone who plans to dine there should expect to wait a while before getting either a table or seat at the bar, if it’s possible. The service I got at Tamboli's was good overall, but the staff there is probably under a lot of stress. My bartender was so overwhelmed that she double-tapped my debit card, which resulted in two authorizations for one purchase. Although the second authorization eventually went away, I didn't like having my money tied up needlessly. To compound the problem, I attempted to get a pizza delivered through DoorDash but that didn't go as planned. Although the order was accepted and allegedly picked up by a delivery person, the pizza never made it to my house. In tracking the delivery, the DoorDash "dasher" got to North Parkway before freezing on my phone's screen. While tracking the order, I dozed off for thirty minutes before tracking the order again. Usually when I either doze off or get distracted by something else, a delivery driver leaves my order at my doorstep. That didn't happen in this case, and the only "proof" of delivery was a photo of Tamboli’s logo on the DoorDash app. Needless to say, I wasn’t amused and got a "refund" because DoorDash didn't process the purchase I attempted. So, in two attempts to get food from Tamboli’s, I ended up with over a hundred dollars in inconvenient debit card authorizations that went away after a few days. I'm not sure if I was a victim of bad luck or something else, but I was going to be cautious on my next order from Tamboli’s. When I got my Deluxe pizza, I ordered it through the Toast Local app, which directly connects to the Point of Sale (POS) systems that many restaurants use. Unlike other apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats that serve as a middleman between the restaurant and the customer, Toast Local is more like a direct line to the restaurant. It takes the burden off a busy restaurant without charging extra for the service. I use Toast Local a lot, particularly at places like Elwood's Shack whenever I’m getting a to-go order. Using the app at Tamboli’s made for a smoother experience, for I didn't encounter any problems with my order. Toast Local works for takeout, reservations and delivery for most participating restaurants but I wouldn't recommend using it for anything other than takeout from Tamboli’s.
Get the Toast Local app:
Final Thoughts
After expressing my thoughts about the last presidential election, I feel it is pointless to give any opinion that is even slightly political. However, the situation at Tamboli’s is somewhat personal to me on multiple fronts. As a black man, there have been times when the police stopped me for apparently no reason other than suspicion of something. Yes, "DWB", short for "driving while black" (or walking while black) is a real thing that many people of color have experienced in their lives. Speaking for myself, none of my "DWB" encounters were threatening but my anxiety levels rose in those situations. From seeing victims like Amadou Diallo, Tyre Nichols and others victimized by police for apparently nothing, I always kept my composure and hoped the cops did the same. Fortunately, none of those incidents led to arrests but they had me wondering "what if" any of those outcomes were different. Going to jail or being beat up or worse because someone thought "your kind" didn't belong or were threatening to society is pure hatred based on prejudice. Whether it stems from racism, xenophobia, homophobia or something else, being a target of prejudice can be jarring. As this relates to the Memphis Safe Task Force (MSTF), the increased number of federal agents and National Guardsmen in the city has made most of its residents uneasy. The increase in traffic stops and subsequent arrests has forced people to go out less (a friend who works in the service industry says her tip income has dropped due to fewer customer visits). For those who have to work, putting food on the family's table has become a big risk. Even for the most cautious drivers, there is a good chance that an "attentive" state trooper could pull them over for something. From what I've witnessed, the local cop is often accompanied by a Fed, particularly from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. Depending on the outcome, that detainment could lead to anything ranging from nothing to a one-way trip to El Salvador regardless of whether the person is a legal resident or not. Whether the increase in arrests is causing crime to go down in Greater Memphis is debatable (crime rates were on the decline prior to the task force's arrival), the impact on the area's economy and social scene has changed. For restaurants, the task force's presence is affecting both staffing and customers who may not feel comfortable in a hostile environment. Therefore, I can understand why Tamboli's has taken the position of not serving federal agents and other law enforcement associated with the task force. I don't believe the restaurant is being unpatriotic or un-American by not serving National Guardsmen. Rather, it is being conscious of how their presence will affect its overall business. Personally, I don't have a problem with that for it's the restaurant's prerogative to operate as it sees fit. If it were up to me, I would allow the guardsmen and other law enforcement in for they aren't the problem. These guys didn't take it upon themselves to come to Memphis to harass..., er, help local authorities tackle the city's crime problem. Those orders came from politicians who are more concerned with scoring political points than helping the public. So if I were running Tamboli's, I would allow the Feds to dine at the restaurant while keeping out the politicians. After all, does anyone want to see the president eat a pizza with a fork? Is anyone clamoring to see Mitch McConnell in person? Instead of allowing politicians like that in, I would direct them to go down the street to a place like Canvas where they would feel much more at home. Although I would be cool with allowing federal agents in my restaurant, I would make an exception for ICE agents. Given the agency's reputation and the fact that most of its agents wear masks when dealing with the public, I don't feel it deserves the same respect as other federal law enforcement agencies. If ICE is going around harassing and terrorizing people who might look "foreign" to them with little transparency or accountability, I'm not contributing to that by allowing them to dine at my restaurant. If a bank can deny masked people entry into its business, then a restaurant should have that right as well. Overall, despite my disagreement, I support Tamboli's policy regarding the task force. Being a veteran who wore a similar uniform as the National Guardsmen currently serving Memphis, I'm disappointed that they can't eat at Tamboli's while on duty, but in the end it is probably for the best for both them and everyone else. For any Feds who are really yearning for either pasta or pizza, there are several alternatives within a mile of Tamboli's. Overton Square alone has Boscos and Memphis Pizza Cafe serving pizzas, although they aren't quite as good as Tamboli's. A little farther away is Bari on Cooper Street, which serves great pasta in a fine-dining environment where a National Guardsman might look out of place. Heck, even The Bar-B-Q Shop (across the street from Tamboli’s) is a nice alternative if the task force is looking for a good place to eat. So for all those who are bemoaning Tamboli’s rejection of National Guardsmen or other “task force” law enforcement, save your outrage for things that truly matter. It’s not like they can’t dine there, just not on duty. When “task force” personnel aren’t on the job, I’m sure they will be welcomed to Tamboli’s like everyone else. In general, I like Tamboli’s and encourage anyone who likes great food to put their politics aside and give it a try. You won’t regret it.
Website: Tambolis.com
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