Turn the (Menu's) Page: J Roddy Walston and the Business' Five Favorite Restaurants

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by J Roddy Walston and the Business

"Frederick the Great allegedly said, 'An army, like a serpent, travels on it's belly.' With an understanding like that, it's fair to wonder how many tour managers out there are reincarnated Prussian Conquerors.

"Bands, by and large, eat garbage. (Unfortunately, not literally—if we did, think of what we would save from our per diem!) When we're on the road, we're always on the move and our choices are usually limited to what's on the same exit as a gas station. Arby's, Subway, Taco Bell—we know you well. (Cook-Out, we don't know where you came from, but we like you already.)

"But on the rare occasional we're able to sit down and have a good meal of our choosing, here's where we go."

Photo by Andrew Reilly

Taqueria Esperanza

100-200 Pickle Rd

Austin, Texas 78704

"The best food in Austin comes from the carts. There are seemingly hundreds of them, serving everything from brisket to crepes. Some roam the streets like New Age ice-cream men, but most have fixed addresses in small cart congregations in parking lots spread out across the city. The names range from double-entendres (Evil Weiner, Love Balls Bus, Mrs. P's Electric Cock) to probably double-entendres (Sushi Box, Ugly Banjos). Wherever, whenever and whatever you're hungry for, there will be someone with tattoos serving the best version of it you've ever had somewhere in Austin.

"Our favorite cart is a little off the beaten path. Taqueria Esperanza lives in the parking lot of a drive-thru beer store on South Congress, about three or four miles outside of town. A local took us there after one of our shows, and we've made it a point to come back every time we're in town. There's always the same guy working there, spooning meat out of big metal pots into tortillas. The consensus is that the barbacoa tacos rank somewhere just north of winning the lottery. Pick up a drive-by case of Shiner Bock and go watch the bats."

Photo by Reed R. Radcliffe

Gus's

310 South Front St.

Memphis, Tenn. 38103

"This is a Memphis landmark, and among fried chicken connoisseurs it needs no introduction. The key to Gus's is the seasoning—phrases like "perfect," "just the right amount of spicy" and "they nailed that shit" get thrown around whenever we stop here. This is where we celebrate special occasions, like Band Date Night. You can't really change the spiciness gradient—just pick white meat or dark; wings, breast or thigh, and all of it comes out the same way, with same heat—perfect goddamn chicken all day long.

"As a vegetarian, I go for the fried rice, which is more of a soul food take on the dish, with enough hot sauce that you can physically feel the lining of your stomach being peeled off...but you can't stop eating it. (Your stomach settles up with you later.) The potato salad, with the distinct taste of honey, is a favorite, and the baked beans."

Virago
1126 McGavock St.

Nashville, Tenn. 37203

"This isn't only the best sushi we've had eight hours from a major body of water—which, for the purposes of sushi, does not include the Mississippi or Tennessee rivers—it might just be the sushi we've had, period. The fish is as fresh as it gets, the cocktails—especially the Ginger and Lychee Mojito - were fantastic, and the Bomb roll (tempura shrimp, avocado and asparagus on the inside, baked jumbo lump crab and spicy mayo on top), and the Rising Sun (crab, salmon, shrimp and tempura crunch rolled without rice, then fried with tempura batter) were excellent. And, best of all—someone else paid for it."

The Grit
199 Prince St.

Athens, Ga. 30601

"The Grit is as ingrained in the local music community as crappy jobs and Epiphone, and its place of honor is well-deserved. It turns out vegetarian and vegan cuisine so delectable that even meat-eater's in the band don't mind stopping here. They do tofu like no one else. Their perfectly-fried soy- and nutritional yeast-covered cubes are at the center of their Golden Bowl, a divinely-inspired mound of said tofu, rice, peppers, onions, broccoli, cheese and gravy that nails every pleasure receptor in your brain like Whack-a-Mole."

Cracker Barrel
Everywhere Good People Abound

Side of the Road, USA

"The best days on tour are the ones where we're able to get a late check-out at the motel and take a leisurely morning to have have real sit-down breakfast like adults rather than pretending that a V8 and powdered donuts cover your nutritional bases. On those days, the ole' C.B. is our go-to: Nothin fancy, just solid breakfast choices slightly above diner fare, with an atmosphere of Confederate Disneyland. (And, I must add, a slight air of exoticism because we only have one of them in Maryland, and it's a half-hour outside Baltimore. WTF?)

"I always go with the Marionberry pancakes with whipped cream, but the Old-Timer's Breakfast is a group favorite as well. Another fun fact: They have really adorable little muffin containers, if you don't finish yours at the table.

"(Visitor's Note: Once the waiter or waitress finds out you're in band, you'll be sure to hear about the time they waited on J. Geils in 1987.)"