The COVID-19 pandemic may not be good for much, but with many people choosing to stay home, it is a great time for restaurant owners to renovate. Daniel Masters did just that with Pontotoc Lounge. After being closed for the past few months, the South Main jazz lounge once again threw open its door and welcomed customers this week. Yesterday I made the trek down Main to check out the changes.
I certainly liked Pontotoc the way it was before, but I will admit I had one gripe: It was a restaurant with a rather small bar area, considering it is in a walking neighborhood where drinking is the unofficial local pastime. They managed to crowd about 12 bar stools around the old bar, but man, let me tell you – if I needed to shift in my seat to scratch my leg or talk to someone standing behind me, I found myself practically sitting in my neighbor’s lap.
Problem corrected!
The bar has been expanded to twice its previous size and now dominates the room. The best comparison I can make is to the main room at Bardog, where the bar area is clearly the “main event,” but for those who prefer non-bar seating, there is some by the front door and some in the back of the room facing the bar.
Of course, we can’t enjoy the bar yet. Health Directive No. 10 dictates that bar seating is not allowed, so you have to sit at a table and place your order with the server, who rings it up for the bartender to make. Although you have to wait a minute longer, though, it’s worth it, because look who’s behind the bar… award-winning mixologist Cady! She can mix you one of their signature drinks. Let’s have a look at those (click or tap the image to view in a larger size):
For those with less complicated tastes in alcoholic refreshment, I will mention that Cady also does a fine job popping open a 16-ounce can of PBR.
Now, then, let’s have a look at the dinner menu (again, click or tap the image to see it in a larger size).
The items at the top of the appetizer section – the PBR boiled peanuts, the pork rinds with daily seasoning, and the loaded fries – have taken on added importance in this day and age. Why? Let’s review the Health Department’s stance:
You see, if you come to a restaurant just to drink, then you can catch COVID-19 and have to be put on a ventilator and will eventually die. However, by only serving alcohol when food is also ordered, restaurants keep their guests SAFE FROM COVID! Now, there are those who will want to make a South Main Restaurant Crawl, hitting up two or more of Pontotoc, Green Beetle, Slider Inn Downtown, South of Beale, The Vault, and Loflin Yard, all of which are full-service restaurants that COVID avoids (provided food is served and it’s before 10 PM). Ordering food at multiple stops can get heavy, both on the stomach and the pocketbook, so offerings that are light on both can extend days out for us Downtowners.
I, however, came there for a meal, not a crawl. I skipped lunch and let me tell you, by the time I got down there I was mighty hungry. Although I went down to Pontotoc with every intention of trying new things, it had been too long since I ordered the Mississippi Pot Roast and I caved. About halfway through, I realized I forgot to take a photo. No problem, I’ve had it before, here’s a photo from the archives.
(Someone was REALLY UNHAPPY that I forgot to get her out and take a photo last night.)
The pepperoncini peppers are the key ingredient in the pot roast’s juice. They add a zing to the dish, a zing which gets a reinforcement when sopped up by the jalapeno cornbread.
Check out the floor, which reminds me of the Altair Design adult coloring books from years ago:
In case you’re worried that the expanded bar might cause Pontotoc to reclassify from a full-service restaurant to a limited-service restaurant, there’s no cause for concern. They’ve renovated the second floor to provide additional space.
A delicious and enjoyable experience on a rare night out. Thanks to Morgan for the outstanding service.
Got a couple of other pieces of food news this morning… As I walked down the Main Street Mall, I heard “Hey, Paul!” It was Connor, one the people who is opening up Ben-Yay’s (I can’t remember if the apostrophe-s is part of the name or not, apologies if I got that wrong), the New Orleans-style restaurant opening at 51 S. Main in the former DejaVu spot. He invited me in to look around, but they were having a staff meeting and I didn’t want to intrude taking a bunch of photos. Looked real nice though! “We open Tuesday at 11,” Connor told me, “Why don’t you come by for lunch?”
“Will do,” I told him. “I get off work at 1. Let me run home and change, and then I’ll be over.” Yay! Or should I say, Ben-Yay! That’ll be at least one day this week my lunch won’t come from a can in my pantry or a box in my freezer, which during this pandemic is about as much as I have to get excited about.
On to not-such-good news: The Swanky’s Taco Shop in the Chisca has closed temporarily due to the pandemic. They will open again once things get better.
Stumble down the street to and from Max’s Sports Bar every night: There’s a condo for sale at 137 East G.E. Patterson
In non-Memphis closing news, the Cheers bar in Boston is closing later this month, also due to COVID-19.
The Orpheum will show the film Cast Away starring Tom Hanks and Wilson Friday night at 8. Rating is PG-13. There will be socially distanced areas of two, four, and six seats; sit in an area according the the number in your party. More info about Orpheum COVID-19 policies
Someone named Eric has a fruit bar on the Mississippi River today. Looks like it’s on the greenbelt park on Mud Island. Fruit cups, fruit salads, and handmade fruit dips and fruit seasonings.
After you get done with your fruit, stick around for some sunset chakra balancing kundalini and yin at the greenbelt park at 7.
Board to Beers has its grand opening today. This is Memphis’ first board game library with over 400 (476 at last count) games you can play, and as the name implies, you can drink a beer while playing. However, they haven’t been allowed to get in front of the beer board yet, so today you need to bring your own beer. They’ll be open 2-11 today for the grand opening, and moving forward their hours will be 2-11 Thursday, noon to midnight Friday, 11 AM to midnight Saturday, and 11-9 Sunday. There’s a $5 library fee. Masks must be worn, and there will be a temperature check at the door. The address is at 2867 Poplar, which would put it at Poplar and Humes, just east of where Poplar and Union Extended merge.
Shufflegrit plays the Central Station patio today. Join them (limited seating) or listen online.
That’s it for this post. Delaying my Saturday Bardog trip until early afternoon so I can be there the same time friends are there. Back tomorrow with more news.