A new king in Memphis?

Last night, I joined NL and her dinner group at the Lobster King (on Cleveland near Union in Memphis). The dinner group idea is great. The group director sets up family style dinners at various new restaurants in Greater Memphis. There are usually 20-30 people in attendance and the cost varies (usually between $15 and $20 plus tip).

For $17 a person, Lobster King served us up a feast. I can recall at least nine dishes being served, plus dessert. They started us off slow with a sampler plate of egg rolls, pork, tripe (we think) and a couple of other items. Next came some tasty lettuce wraps. From that point on, I felt like I was at an Asian version of Texas de Brazil. Spicy shrimp, scallops, orange beef, vegetables, fried rice, and spare ribs were all brought out within 5-10 minutes of each other.

Just when we thought we had some time to rest, a large serving of chicken lo mien was brought to the table. It looked and smelled great. Like others at the table, I couldn’t muster the energy to have a large portion so I just had a sample.

Finally, they brought out a interesting version of coconut cake to the table. It was not like your typical slice of flower-based cake. Instead, it was a light and refreshing gelatinous coconut flavored square.

Overall, it was a good experience. We definitely got our money’s worth. If you can look beyond the neighborhood, I suggest stopping in for lunch or dinner.

Remember, this was arranged to be served family style, so we basically had our own buffet at each table. I’m not sure if this is the standard restaurant operation.