Two for the Price of One

Any spendthrift or savvy socialite knows the best way to get more bang out of your evening out is to hit up 2-4-1 specials. This week, I've had the chance to partake in two trendy hotspots' hot deals.

For anyone living west of the River, Tuesday night means Mafiaoza's. This 12th South staple offers BOGO pizza slices and beer all day every Tuesday  until closing time (well, the beer specials stop at 9--gotta be safe, right?). Anything you can pile on a pizza or pull from a tap can be yours for a low, low price. Well, actually the low price depends on how many toppings you choose. I had 2 slices of Mafiaoza's New York-style stone oven pizza topped with fresh basil, black olives, chopped prosciutto, and gooey mozzarella for just $5 and change. Add in a round of Blue Moon from the iconic Mason jars, and my Tuesday night was complete for less than $10. Plus, the slices were so big they took up the entire plate, and had I not had a such a lackluster lunch I could have easily saved one slice for the next day. (Wanna talk about being a spendthrift?)

I will say, the noise and crowd levels can get pretty high the closer the hour hand get to 12, so a quiet, romantic evening this is not. But if you're in the mood to hang out with some friends and get good food and beer for the same price as a meal at any chain restaurant, head on down to the bustling 12th South neighborhood for this Nashville favorite.

And when Wednesday rolls around and you are still looking for a great deal and a little less chaos, please check out Taco Mamacita, the anchor of the Edgehill Village area (between Belmont University and Music Row). Once a struggling strip of entrepreneurial ventures, Edgehill Village seems to have blossomed in the 6-8 months since Taco Mamacita took over the space formerly occupied by Rosario's. If you could classify a taco as "upscale" or "trendy" that's what you'll find here. Tacos are sold individually for about $4 each or as part a plate with your choice of side. (I'm partial to the sweet potato fries myself, but a friend recently introduced me to the Mexican street corn, which is also delicious.) Perhaps my favorite taco is the Memphis, an unexpected combination of flour tortilla, cole slaw, and pulled pork drenched in a tangy BBQ sauce. I also like Baja fish taco and the vegetarian jerk, if you're looking to complete your platter.

Unfortunately, the tacos are not twofers, but the margaritas certainly are! For $7, you get your choice of the Elvez or El Camino margaritas (pretty standard formula for the former, add a splash of OJ and you get the latter) in a 24oz. glass served over crushed ice. Yum! Also unfortunately, T.M.'s popular Skinny Margarita is not included in the special, but really, if you're gonna have pizza and beer one night and tacos and margs the next, does the skinny version really make that much difference?

Another trendy spot for the vaguely descriptive "young professionals sector", I recommend arriving early to secure both good parking and a good seat. We arrived tonight around 6 and nabbed a table outside in the shade, under a fan, and were glad to have a place to sit when the crowds started lining up down the sidewalk. On a night like this you can have as much or as little to eat or drink as you want and still come away with a bargain.

Oh, and for those of you who haven't been to Taco Mamacita in several weeks--yes, they do have their beer license now and can serve several beers on tap and many domestic and imports by the bottle. Yazoo's Dos Perros makes a nice compliment to a taco.

Next week, when you're planning your dinner menu, consider one of these Belmont-area nightspots. You won't regret it!

The End Notes:

• Good bargains are worth planning your calendar around
• Great for after-work drinks and dinner with friends, but arrive early to avoid ridiculously long wait-times.
• Anything goes as far as attire, so there should be no excuse not to visit (unless you don't like crowds and noise. Then maybe visit on another day.)

Date P.M.

Belmont Boulevard is booming. It didn't look this way 10 years ago, or so I've been told. Ten years ago, I was still a high schooler without my drivers license, confined to eating ballpark hotdogs and delivery pizza. But today, Belmont Boulevard is a trendy block for young professionals, hipsters, artists, and college students alike to congregate and eat and drink.

I am working my way down the Boulevard, sampling the fare at ChaChah, Bongo Java, and PM. The latter is one I have heard is either a love-it-or-leave-it place. I was anxious to try it out for myself and finally got the chance. The swanky establishment with welcoming patio seating makes for a great place to meet with friends or for a date without being too upscale and prohibitive.

I was surprised to find that the menu boasts mostly Asian dishes; for some reason my preconceived ideas had me geared up for good ole' American comfort food. But if Asian-inspired cuisine can be comforting, then that's exactly what my meal at PM was.

While waiting for our table, we grabbed a seat at the bar and my spring-time comfort drink, gin and tonic. The wait was much shorter than expected, which is always a nice surprise, especially on a warm Friday evening. When faced with the surprising menu (Asian small and large plates on one side, salads, burgers, and Asian nachos on the other), a sushi menu, and a wine list, I was understandably overwhelmed. My colleagues, to whom the idea for this blog is attributed, will tell you I am one of the most indecisive orderers you will ever have the pleasure of sharing a meal with, so 3 different menus was almost too much for me.

But when in doubt, ask the waitress! She recommended the Madras Chicken Lettuce Wrap small plate, a comforting concoction of chicken, potatoes, and cilantro in a tiny pot situated next to pieces of lettuce in which to wrap the yumminess. For the main meal, she suggested a variety of options, but I settled on the Chicken Katsu, having absolutely no idea was I was actually ordering.

What I got was an artful creation decorating my large white plate. Chicken breasts rubbed with Asian spices (sorry I can't tell you what they were--I just know they were spicy!) and fried to a crisp were situated atop an Asian slaw mix of lettuce, greens, beans, and was that edamame? The whole thing was topped off with those pretty little wisps of crispness that accompany many Asian dishes. I wish I'd taken a picture, but I had not yet introduced my dining partner to this blog, and as we were still just getting to know each other, I thought I would refrain from being that girl at dinner.

Despite the fact that my adjectives for Asian food are lackluster, this meal sparkled, and I will definitely be back, even if it's just for a cocktail and a small plate.

The End Notes:

• Asian Fusion here = mix of cuisine from different regions, including Mexico (yes, there are quesadillas and nachos on the menu)
• Filling and moderately priced
• Fun, trendy atmosphere without pretension. 
• Yummy!

Not a place for Charlie Brown

In honor of Nashville Originals' Restaurant Week, I am catching up on missed blogging opportunities and posting about restaurants I have visited that are included in this week's fabulous specials. Really, I implore you to check them out if you are at all able to.

One of the restaurants featured this week is ChaChah, in the Belmont area. A place that prides itself on tapas, ChaChah is great if you're looking to make a dinner of small plates or share with several friends. Tucked cozily onto Belmont Boulevard, ChaChah features a variety of tapas with Latino flair. In fact, if you visit their website, the menu headings are written en espanol. Because the restaurant offers fresh, seasonal items, what is currently on the menu is not what was featured when I visited in late September. But I do know I enjoyed everything we sampled!

What you simply must try is the Black Tea Julep, made with Eagle Rare bourbon,sweetened organic tea, and mint. it made a fan out of this lover of Kentucky Derby's signature beverage. As a gin fan, I think the Cucumber White Tea-ni, made with Hendrick's, cucumber water, white tea, and soda, would also be delicious, but definitely more of a warm-weather drink.

January would probably not be the ideal time to sit on the patio, but it was quite delightful during Indian Summer. At any time of year, though, and especially during Restaurant Week, I think ChaChah is worth checking out, either with your girlfriends, on a date, or even for a casual night out with several other couples.

Buon appetito, y'all!