Best Seat in the House

If you’re looking for a dining experience with a little Las Vegas flash but only can get away to, let’s say, Tunica, then you’re in luck. Jack Binion’s Steakhouse at Horseshoe Casino in Tunica has upped the ante on fine dining in the Mississippi Delta region and, because Graham Reese Design Group had a hand in designing the elegant restaurant and bar, we can give you a little insider information about the best seats in the house.

The elegant restaurant strikes a balance between big-city chic and Southern charm, offering intimate tables for a sexy, romantic dinner or seating that gives you a peek behind the scenes. The semi-open kitchen view provides patrons the opportunity to watch the chef and staff bring the menu to life as they create decadent dishes as lavish as the decor. Those who wish for a little privacy can sink into a luxe leather banquette; groups can pull up to a large table in the spacious dining room for an incomparable culinary experience.

Binion’s cocktail lounge is a sophisticated spot in which one might think he is in Vegas if he didn’t know better. Red leather and heavy onyx lend a cool vibe and the illuminated bar provides just the right amount of warmth in an elegant space that opens to the casino floor. Grab a drink and watch the action — or join the action. It’s just steps away.

Whether the occasion is business or pleasure, a memorable dining experience awaits at Binion’s Steakhouse in Tunica, where Vegas flair and big-city aesthetics meet tastefully in a Mississippi Delta casino.

Location, location, location. You hear that phrase time and again in regard to real estate, but in terms of restaurants and bars? Why not? The best seat in the house is prime real estate in a popular eatery or watering hole – only the location doesn’t affect price, just a patron’s experience. Whether the best table provides an excellent vantage point from which to see and be seen or is tucked into a romantic nook, those who score premier seating will feel like the most important people in the place.

At Agave Maria in Downtown Memphis, Graham Reese Design Group created a branded environment that interpreted the restaurant owner’s vision of “Tijuana Chic” – an elevated dining experience in a funky, authentic atmosphere. With details like tufted leather, splashes of fuschia and a taxidermied bull overlooking the dining room, Agave Maria sets itself apart from the typical Tex-Mex restaurant both on the plate and in the decor.

Within this relatively small “kitchen and cantina” are several spots that can be considered best in the house: three booths in the front and the booth in the back provide views of the bar and dining room, as well as the activity of a bustling downtown seen through the windows facing Union Avenue. The high booths are comfortable and intimate, which encourages longer visits, and illuminated by handmade pendant lights from Mexico that make the food look as amazing as it tastes. The wide tables provide elbow room, and comfortably accommodate larger groups meeting up for happy hour. Elevated a step above the floor tables, the booths also provide patrons a measure of privacy while dining and people-watching.

Graham Reese Design Group gave personality to a space by executing their client’s vision for an authentic yet hip experience. The attention to detail ensures that, while there’s not a bad table in the place, customers who get the best seat(s) in the house will feel like VIPs.

Restaurant and bar design specialists are tasked with balancing flow and function in a space’s layout, so who better to reveal the best seat in the house than these pros? Graham Reese Design Group has been designing restaurants and related hospitality projects for over 22 years, so they truly have the inside track to some of the best seats in Memphis. If they tell you, for instance, where you’ll find the best seats at Local on the Square, then you know you won’t be disappointed if you head right to the ground-floor bar the next time you visit.

Local’s first-floor bar is not simply a waiting room where you pass the time until your table is ready elsewhere. It is the place for folks who want to Eat and Drink Like a Local in Memphis to see and be seen. Views of the room and patio and a community table located nearby make the seats at the bar the house’s choicest spots.

The easily-accessible U-shaped bar provides an excellent vantage point for people-watching as well as engaging with other patrons. There are no corners, just an organic flow that has stood the test of time in barroom design. The wrap-around bar provides customers the opportunity to watch their bartender in action; likewise the customers are always front-and-center as the bartender never has his or her back to anyone while working within the U. Patrons who wish for less interaction with fellow tipplers might choose a seat at either end of the U. If you enjoy getting to know your neighbors, a spot in the middle enables interaction left and right and naturally facilitates conversations, if you are so inclined.

Head upstairs if you are looking for a more cozy spot to sip and socialize. The comfy lounge chairs by the fireplace provide an excellent view of Madison Avenue and Overton Square, as well as a great position from which to watch the game of the day on television. Score one of these premiere spots and Happy Hour just got a whole lot happier.

Generally speaking, the best spots in a bar or restaurant are a matter of personal preference. But interior architecture is deliberate, so trust the experts at Graham Reese Design Group and belly up to bar or claim a lounge chair upstairs the next time you head to Local’s Midtown location.

A nice advantage to designing restaurant spaces, is knowing the best places to sit in order to enjoy all of the elements that the room has to offer. Graham Reese Design group is kicking off the “Best Seat in the House” series, giving you the expert insight on the best seats in Memphis.

Folks Folly Prime Steakhouse is an intimate steak restaurant in East Memphis, and a local tradition when it comes to fine dining. This place offers legendary steak, live music from their grand piano, and valet service; the perfect spot for any occasion. These elements can be amplified, if you know where to sit.

In its small, intimate bar scene, there are two seats in which to enjoy all that this space has to offer. The first seat is a table just across from the stairs that lead into the room. This spot allows guests to see everyone and gain the full experience without being too close to the grand piano or the bustle of the entrance to the room.

The second spot is the last seat on the u-shaped bar. This spot is difficult to reach initially, but once you are there, it gives you a comfy “womb-like” feeling. This seat is intimate and tucked-away, while still allowing guests the ability to be a part of everything. Sitting at the end of the bar also gives you the perfect angle to get all of the bartenders attention.

From both of these highly desirable viewpoints, you can enjoy the rich wood interior, cozy appointments and glowing, active fish tanks. With a good glass of wine or scotch, some good dinner companions and an impeccably prepared Folk’s Folly filet, you will feel like you are living the high life. Enjoy!