There are very few chefs in Memphis who are creating buzz like John Bragg. His restaurant, Circa by John Bragg, is thriving in the competitive downtown area where so many others are struggling. He was even voted the best restaurant in town by readers of Memphis Magazine. Of course, I had to see what all the fuss was about.
Circa seems to be striving for a very trendy, yet inviting atmosphere. Wine racks are used as room dividers, which could have been a problem if the restaurant were noisy, but the hubby and I were the only customers there at around 7pm on a Tuesday evening.
For his appetizer, Tom ordered crawfish beignets with red pepper remoulade. He was extremely excited about this dish; the description made him salivate. While the beignets were light and not at all greasy, they were bland, and the remoulade added very little flavor. I decided on the artisan cheese and meat platter: St. André Triple Crème, manchego, Bonny Blue chèvre, bresaola, chorizo, and capicola. The meats and cheese were of very good quality, but there were very few accoutrements- a bit of crostini and a few strawberries.
For my entrée, I chose the Georgia Bobwhite Quail stuffed with chorizo and served with polenta and seasonal vegetables. The quail was extremely tender, well-cooked, and well-seasoned. The polenta was creamy and thick, and the vegetables were crisp-tender. The overall presentation was delicate and hearty at the same time. I was quite satisfied with the dish.
Tom chose the daily special, lamb shank with a side of Parmesan gnocchi. The portion was huge. It looked like the Brontosaurus ribs that tipped over Fred's car in the opening credits of the Flintstones. It was fall off the bone tender with a flavor reminiscent of mom's pot roast. It was juicy and flavorful, but didn't seem as refined as something that would be served at this type of restaurant. The Parmesan gnocchi were actually deep-fried and flavored with chives. They had the taste and texture of fancy tater tots.
For dessert, we chose the “Sure Death” chocolate soufflé, which was served with vanilla gelato. It was dense, rich, and an appropriate end to the meal, but we've had much better versions. This one was nothing special.
Final Impressions: Come to think of it, there was nothing special about the meal at all. When I spend $150, I'd like at least one item to be memorable, and these items just weren't. Maybe I didn't select the correct choices. Either way, Circa would be a great place for a nice, romantic dinner or a girls night out. The quality of the food is excellent, but the taste is hit or miss.
Tiffany's Favorite Part:
Chorizo-stuffed quail
Tom's Favorite Part: Chorizo-stuffed
quail
Tiffany's Rating :) :) ½ out of :) :) :) :)
Circa by John Bragg
119 S. Main Street, Suite 100
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 522-1488
Average Appetizer Price: $9-$14
Average Soup/Salad Price: $5-$14
Average Entrée
Price: $26-$36
Average Dessert Price: $6-$11
Bar Menu/Small Plates: $3-$8
Operating Hours
Sunday & Monday 5:00pm-10:00pm
Tuesday – Saturday 5:00om-11:00pm
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