Great Food, Wonderful Service -- Just Turn the Music Down!…read more
I found Docks Off 5th on Yelp while looking for a restaurant near Beale Street to meet a colleague I hadn't seen in quite some time. We were excited to catch up over dinner, and overall, Docks turned out to be a great choice.
The restaurant sits near the beginning of Beale Street, making it a convenient stop before exploring Memphis' famous blues and nightlife. Parking, however, can be challenging. Street parking is limited, and with portions of Beale closed to traffic, expect to park a block or two away and walk.
Walking into Docks feels a bit like entering a speakeasy. It is DARK! Coming in from the Memphis sunshine, give your eyes a minute to adjust. We were seated in a comfortable rounded banquette, which was perfect for catching up.
Our server, Lazzaro, was fantastic -- patient, attentive, helpful and genuinely lovely throughout our dinner. He offered great recommendations and was one of the highlights of our experience.
We started with cocktails, and my Sidecar was delicious. At Lazzaro's recommendation, we shared the calamari. It arrived fresh and piping hot with a sweet-and-spicy chili drizzle and remoulade for dipping. An excellent start!
For my entrée, I ordered the blackened catfish with mashed potatoes and broccoli. This was probably my biggest disappointment with the food. I wouldn't describe the catfish as blackened. It seemed more like a cornmeal-crusted preparation without the seasoning and char I associate with blackening. Lazzaro kindly brought me some remoulade to accompany it.
My dining companion ordered the salmon and loved it. We also shared the roasted Brussels sprouts, which were fantastic.
Of course, we saved room for dessert! We split a trio featuring key lime, chocolate and red velvet. All three were delicious and made for a fun ending to the meal.
My biggest criticism was the music volume. At one point, it was turned up so loudly that we couldn't comfortably hear each other speak, despite only a few tables being occupied. I asked Lazzaro if it could be lowered, and he graciously took care of it -- several times. The dark, sexy, speakeasy atmosphere works. Nightclub-level music during dinner does not, especially when guests are there to enjoy a meal and conversation.
Overall, the positives outweighed the misses. Great service, good cocktails, several standout dishes and a convenient location near Beale Street. And Lazzaro deserves special recognition for taking such good care of us.
If you're getting ready for a night of blues, cocktails and bar hopping on Beale Street, Docks Off 5th is a great place to fill up with a good dinner before heading out.
Life is too short not to eat well, sleep well and travel well. Get out there and find your next good meal!