Bar DKDC

I really don’t know why we’ve been here three times now. It must be the fact that we love Beauty Shop so much and it’s owned by the same woman. But something seriously gets lost in translation between the wall separating the two establishments. I should note that we’ve never gotten food here, so maybe that aspect of the place is great. We’ve just come for cocktails. And I will say, the ambiance is really nice. I guess what I’m saying is we really want to love DKDC. But we don’t.
On each of our three visits, my girlfriend and I have had cocktails that are nearly unpotable. The first involved the worst sazerac I’ve ever tasted. It was somehow watered down and far too heavy on the absinthe. It tasted nothing like that cocktail should. Most recently, we ordered a Hemingway daiquiri for her and a Mo-​Shiso for me (a take on a mojito using shiso mint, an Asian variety of the herb). They were both unpleasant to drink. We make Hemingway daiquiris at home. This wasn’t close. Like the sazerac, it was watery, but the only identifiable taste was lime juice. The Mo-​Shiso was also just bad, drowning in seltzer water with little flavor beyond the lime. I was so disappointed that I finished my drink quickly in hopes of leaving for a better bar. My girlfriend was smarter, she just didn’t drink any. To the staff’s credit, they took her drink off of our bill without us asking.
I really don’t get what’s going on here. Decent cocktails are not hard to make. I’m not asking for something really inventive or original, just a well made standard, but DKDC is 0 – 3. The thing that makes these bad experiences so puzzling is how solid the drinks are next door at Beauty Shop or across town at Mollie Fontaine’s. DKDC is a great space in a great location, and I totally get the allure. But I’d advise you to do Mollie Fontaine’s, Second Line, or Beauty Shop before coming here.

Extremely nice people! Neat bar. Loved it. I will definitely come back when I’m in Memphis.

Prepare for your expectations of bar food to be changed. The menu at Bar DKDC packs a punch to go along with your Blackberry Julep cocktail and whatever live music is spilling out onto the sidewalk tables. You’re definitely getting the vegetarian arepas, which start with a fresh arepa, black beans, avocado, caramelized onions, and jalapeño, and come dressed to kill with an array of fixings, including a pink sauce. Feeling dangerous? Leave room for the chocolate chess pie.

Celebrated my birthday here three years ago the week that they opened. I’ve been a fan ever since. The food at any restaurant owned by Karen Carrier is always inventive and delicious. DKDC is no exception. Check out their ever changing menu. The focus is street food from around the world. I do think they have settled down with a few favorites always available.
The inventiveness spills over to the cocktail menu. During my birthday celebration, I think I tried one of everything. My perennial favorite is the Jamaican Ting made with Appleton Estate rum.
The last few times I’ve been were to hear live music. DKDC makes for a very intimate setting to hear music. You can definitely interact with the musicians. A fun extra is the photo booth. $ 5 gets you a card with four fun pictures on it.
Service can be a bit slow, though, particularly when crowded. DKDC shares restroom facilities with the Beauty Shop, so you have to walk through a dark area to get to the restrooms. If you want a funky vibe in food, drinks and clientele, this is your spot.

Cool décor (modern art, e.g.), warm red walls, comforting soul music from the DJ, and a fun crowd. Note it was a Saturday night that I went. But I didn’t have drinks or dinner, so I can’t speak to their main attraction.

I’ve been to this place twice so far and have enjoyed myself thoroughly both times. Last time I went they were out of the rum I wanted (Oronoco, its great on the rocks. They do have it misspelled on the menu btw). So the bartender brought out a couple samples of popular rums for me to try and make my decision from. Gotta love that service! Try the french fries! I know, everyone has had tons of french fries, but the fries here are special. I had the Banh Mi here as well. It was excellent and went well with some of the local brews they have on tap.

Very very unfriendly & stuck up. Guess you have to be a retro hipster cool kid with attitude to fit in or get any respect from the servers & bar tender. Unfortunate.

A bunch of friends and I came here for the first time the other night and we were not impressed. The place has a very interesting around-​the-​world theme going on. It’s decorated with items representing several cultures, and the theme carries over to the menu which features dishes inspired by different cultures (country is specified for every dish). We liked the décor. They also have a cool drinks menu which was quite pricy. All their cocktails started at an 8 $ minimum, and come in mason jars of various sizes. Be sure to ask the waiter what exactly the cocktail tastes like before ordering it. I ordered a Blackberry Julip hoping I would taste some blackberry in there, but instead got a mouthful of Jim Beam at every sip. Tried some of their other drinks which weren’t too bad though. They also had beer available. Their food is incredibly expensive for the portion that you get. A friend ordered their Israel Burger which was for over 9 $ and it came in a tiny plate with no sides. I ordered their handcut fries which were for 5 $. They were pretty thick as expected, but not worth the 5 $ in my opinion. They came with a dip in a very shallow small dish, and when I asked for ketchup, it was brought out in the same small shallow dish. A third friend ordered their vegetarian dish which tasted really good, but was over $ 9 and came in an incredibly tiny portion. The other thing that we found to be annoying was the wait-​time for the food. Considering how tiny those portions were, you’d think they’d come out faster. After doing a little investigating, we realized that this bar shares its kitchen with the Beauty Shop restaurant next door (same owners I think), which is why the food took so long to come out. In the end, all 5 of us decided that we were not coming back here again. I should mention that the waiter that we had was very pleasant and tried his best to make up for the long wait-​time for the food.

Get good on the good foot. That’s what I had when I walked in, it was delicious. Bought one for my friend and he had three more haha. The atmosphere is low key, eclectic and inviting. Live band playing tonight and they are awesome; Marcella & Her Lovers. Food is great but I’m a drink man when it comes to bars so I liked the drinks

I’ve been here a few times and I have loved it every time. I really like the atmosphere and décor, I do however wish they would not make it so dark during the dinner time. I could barely see my food this last visit 3÷20÷15.
I think they are reasonably priced and the food is excellent.
We had the bread plate (it was the only item I would say was just OK), the chicken havanas… they were amazing and we ended up ordering more, the lamb plate which was delicious and also the tacos.
Wine was served in mason jars which I just love. And the waiter was attentive without being annoying.
I will definitely be back, many times.
If they ever have the white chocolate blue berry bread pudding for dessert, you MUST get it!

The name «Bar DKDC (Don’t Know Don’t Care)» only tells half the story.
To me, it’s a restaurant/​lounge.
This is one of my go-​to restaurants for good, small-​to-​medium-​sized plates. They have great portion sizes!
The cool thing about DKDC is they regularly change the menu, but keep items that are huge crowd favorites like the Chicken Havanas (DELISH). I’ve never had a bad dish.
DKDC is full of character and comfort.
I love the décor, I feel like I’m in an artsy loft whenever I go there.
On weekends, you might stumble upon an awesome local band.
It’s a must-​do, if you’re in Memphis.
Oh, before you leave, be sure to take a $ 5 pic in the photo booth with your pal.

Love this place!
Cool, eclectic atmosphere with the bright red walls, mod and mismatched furniture, and drinks served in mason jars and mules .
On Fridays and Saturdays there is a dj who spins older records. There are some people who dance, but overall it has more of a lounge vibe.
I always get the Moscow Mule here, and their entire cocktail list looks pretty enticing.
Their food menu apparently rotates: tonight my roommate and I split the southwest and Israel burgers, which were very delicious,
Juicy, and the perfect size. Overall, I really liked this month’s menu.
Cool place,
Cooler people, great drinks, interesting food!

Went Friday evening, by myself — 6pm to avoid the crowds. Was told to sit wherever and chose dining seating for 2.
Had the pork spring roll special, which was rather tasty, with coriander, mustard, cilantro and au jus.
Before my mussels came, they told me they had mistaken a reservation and I needed to move. They put me at a low cocktail table that sat 4 and proceeded to pull back the curtain and bustle around moving furniture around for the incoming group.
I was asked when I ordered the mussels if I wanted «artisan bread» with it. I’m used to bread just coming with mussels, but said sure. It was a waste of money. Not only was the bread in disguise as two small rocks, but the mussels come dry. There is no juice to sop up.
It wasn’t horrible, but I won’t be back.

Bar DKDC might just be my favorite spot in Memphis.
The cozy, NYC-​style restaurant is located right next door to Beauty Shop and is operated by the same owner. It’s tiny, so if you blink, you’ll miss it.
The restaurant operates with a changing menu (changes every five weeks) that boasts Global street market-​style food. Currently, they offer a Mediterranean selection.
I had drinks there a couple of times before I finally bit the bullet and dined there last week. The cocktails are amazing. I suggest trying the Green Line or the Blue Suede Tini. Plus, they typically have live music on the weekends, which is an added bonus.
I opted to start with the hummus, of course. I know it’s «just» hummus, but it was delicious. For my meal I had the lamb shawarma, which is similar to a gyro. It was seasoned to perfection. My boyfriend had the falafel, which he raved about as well. Word of warning: these plates are small. If you’re really hungry, order something else.
Overall, it’s the ambience that makes me love this place so much. Oh, and there’s a vintage photo booth, too!

This is one of my favorite places to go for a quiet drink with friends after work … They open right at 5, and I’ve never seen it get too packed at that hour. Week nights typically have a very relaxed and uncrowded feel, but weekends can get a little cray. If you like the Automatic Slims décor, this will look somewhat familiar, with mismatched mid-​century lounge seating to boot.
Bartenders know what they’re doing, there’s a unique cocktail list and decent wine/​beer selection. I can count on something to eat that isn’t fried (usually), and even with the rotating menu I can count on the fact that it’s always going to be good. Currently it’s Mediterranean, and that’s just as good as the Asian and Southern menus I’ve sampled at various points in time.
I give DKDC five stars after many visis, each one consistent with good service, great atmosphere, and yummy food.

The hipster wannabe in me cries out in happiness.
Bar DKDC is a lovely space! If I lived in Memphis, I’d probably come here every night to unwind and chit-​chat with friends.
Cute décor. Drinks from a mason jar. Cheap (my friend and I only wanted lemonade & gingerbeer… got it for $ 3!). Super friendly bartender. What more can you ask for :)

I gotta admit — I was skeptical about this place. I’m not usually a fan of Karen Carrier, but our UYE (shout-​out to William and Joelle!) was fabulous!
Our server, MC, was great — lots of patience with me continuing to fail to actually read the drink menu, and well informed on the current menu (which was on its second day). The Green Line cocktail is amazing! I downed the first one in record time and was working on my second when it started to hit me, which is exactly how I like to get drunk.
They’ve just started an American menu (which seems like a bit of a cop-​out to me – did they run out of foreign countries?), so we were encouraged to provide feedback on what could be improved. Which, I kind of like, because they actually care what I think, but kind of don’t, because, well, I won’t be back on this menu, so why am I working the kinks out for someone else?
The deviled eggs were good, but I don’t understand the drizzle of olive oil. It didn’t add to the taste at all, but just made them greasy. The boyfriend enjoyed his fried chicken livers, though the fried flavor overwhelmed the liver for me. The chicken biscuits had way too much tarragon in the sauce — I couldn’t taste the sesame or pecan, and in fact, since the biscuit was crunchy, the texture of the chicken blended right into that. However, the Pittsburgh ribeye burger was amazing, and the s’mores dessert special was a yummy take on the campfire classic.
Now, the kitschy décor, I can take or leave. Drinking out of a mason jar feels a little «hipster wedding five years ago,» personally, but it didn’t detract from the experience nearly as much as… the font on the menu. Some awful combination of upper and lower case, and just completely illegible. I actually had to ask the server to translate some items! Plus, I don’t really get the name, and our receipt still says Do Restaurant on it – guess they didn’t update their POS!
That being said, I would definitely return here, for dinner, drinks or a midnight snack. It was pretty reasonably priced too — $ 56 for the two of us, including a couple of $ 9 cocktails. I’m sure the company had something to do with it, but I had a great time here!

Another Karen Carrier eclectic awesomeness. This is definitely a charming spot — and I just love that it is in Cooper-​Young.
I can’t exactly put my finger on why I like this place so much… perhaps simply because it is cozy and cute. The perfect place for date night or to catch up with friends.
I typically don’t like menus that change too frequently (I like to know what I’m getting) but every month DKDC features a new country and this month happened to be Jamaican cuisine. I wasn’t particularly blown away by any of the dishes but I do love tapas style since I get to try a little bit of everything and don’t have to commit to one thing. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the food (particularly the shrimp) but nothing really had me salivating for more. That might be a good thing that I can try something else entirely next month.
All of the drinks are served in mason jars, which may be a little overplayed at this point, but the mismatched dishes are definitely cool. As are the varied chairs and tables. It is almost like a mini Molly Fontaine Lounge with more emphasis on the food.
Plus the photo booth in the corner is awesome.

When I walked into this place I was expecting something completely different… The place is quite quant and intimate. I loved the décor in the place. It had a funky flare to it with a vintage inspired spin. A lot like her other restaurants which I love. There is also this cool photo booth that I will have to try next time I venture here.
I ordered a beer and they brought it to me in a mason jar… love that style. I ordered the fish tacos. They were extremely good but the size of the two tacos was small. Lets just say it did not fill me up so I ordered more!
I will be coming back to this place but for me it won’t be a regular spot. I look forward to going back with my friends to try more items on the menu.

When the Pats’ uncharacteristic performance cost them the AFC championship, I decided to do something uncharacteristic myself: to check out the brand new establishment Bar DKDC in Cooper Young — self-​conscious of my own uncoolness, I tend to stay clear of this kind of places.
I don’t usually drink alcohol, but decided to try one of their speciality drinks, just to be completely out of character. I was thankful that the bartender talked me out of ordering something that I would definitely regret after the first sip.
Having already eaten dinner, we decided to try a couple of the small plates. Their current menu theme is Mexican/​Spanish street food (I read somewhere the menu changes monthly). Knowing little Spanish, I had to ask the bartender what most items were and he was very helpful. We tried the Patatas Bravas and Artisan Tostado (spell?), both of which were poorly executed. Their Patatas Bravas were the saddest looking fries I’ve ever seen: tiny and limp, drizzled with some kind of aioli that didn’t help to elevate them. Besides, my buddy Google told me afterwards Patatas Bravas are supposed to be cubes or chunks. There was nothing artisan about the Tostado: five pieces of small toasts smeared with some melted dark chocolate as if they were some kid’s kitchen project and the toasts were not evenly toasted (or fried), some piece being harder than the others that almost cost me a front tooth. So based on the very limited samples we tried, I gave the food two stars but I realize that being brand new (one-​week old when we visited), their kitchen must have some kinks to work out, or maybe it was just an off night? Distraught Falcons or Pats’ fans on duty?
The décor, the setup, the drink list (and the bartender I may add) make Bar DKDC a perfect place for girls night out, and therefore guys will find it a «target rich environment».
Oh, I don’t know how you cool kids cope, but I had to put my purse on the floor and hold my coat on my lap since the barstools don’t have back support and there was no coat/​purse hanger under the bar.