Some people open restaurants for the love of money, and some do it for the love of the food. Still others open them for the love of the theme itself.

Dan Aykroyd, one half of the legendary “Blues Brothers,” launched the first House of Blues restaurant and showroom in 1994, along with Isaac Tigret (co-founder of the Hard Rock Cafe), Jim Belushi (brother of the late John Belushi, the other half of the Blues Brothers), the Rock group Aerosmith, singer Isaac Hayes, actor George Wendt (’Norm’ from “Cheers”) and David Letterman’s bandleader, Paul Shaffer.

The outside of the is as hip as the music acts who play, for example, the Los Angeles location is constructed to resemble a giant tin shack. Other locations have varying construction, but the overarching theme of each one is homage to the music and the Southern roots.

And, the music is not just the Blues. Acts from all music genres hit the stages of each HOB location. On Sunday, each location brings in live Gospel acts for their Gospel Bruch, featuring an all you can eat buffet.

The food is Southern-inspired fare, with names like Voodoo Shrimp, Tennessee Baby Back Ribs, and the Southern Classic, Creole Jambalaya, plus the expected fried catfish and their New Orleans Po’ Boy sandwich.

If you want more traditional food, the menu also includes regular Bar & Grill items, such as their half-pound hamburgers and pizza.

The music is good and the prices for the food are reasonable, with a flat fee for the Sunday Brunch.

Music and food—what more do you need?

Click to Comment   |  Comments (0)  

If you know Blues, you know that BB King would be nothing without Lucille, a veritable extension of his arm, which is essential to his delivery of the plucks and strums that move us all.

And, if you’ve ever been to one of BB King’s clubs, you know that they would be less than adequate without Lucille’s, the Bar & Grill extension of the club, is essential to the delivery of the meals and drinks that move us all.

Rockin’ out to your favorite music act can make you thirsty and it can also make you hungry. While a cool club will give you good drinks and a limited menu; an excellent club like BB Kings gives you good drinks and a full menu with enough choices to keep the selection fresh to you after many, many visits.

Start things off with fried stuff–calamari, oysters or catfish, or share one of the platters with your friends. Lucille’s has two platters—the King Wings Combo Platter with BB’s homestyle BBQ sauce over spicy grilled wings and the King Seafood Platter with calamari, popcorn shrimp and catfish fingers.

You can keep things light with a fruit and cheese appetizer tray, followed by a salad and the linguini with grilled chicken or shrimp, but, c’mon, it’s a Bar & Grill—go straight to the fried stuff! I’m not leaving Lucille’s until I get my fill of the Southern Fried Chicken, and to pretend it’s balanced and healthy, they serve it with mashed potatoes and corn on the cob—whatever—Beer Me!!

Sorry, I was having a moment. There are other things on the menu and they actually taste good, because the restaurant cares about giving customers good food.

There are sandwiches, burgers, a 10 ounce filet mignon, meat loaf, and the Shrimp Creole that is New Orleans-good, indeed! Lucille’s is a Southern-styled restaurant, so try the Tennessee BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich, or the Blackened Catfish with red beans and rice.

Sit down for your favorite group at BB King’s and then sit down for what will become your favorite food at Lucille’s.

Click to Comment   |  Comments (0)