MEMPHIS, TN -
(WMC TV) - PROJECT GREEN FORK RESTAURANT OF THE MONTH: Otherlands Coffee Bar, 641 S. Cooper St, Cooper-Young/Midtown Memphis, (901) 278-4994, http://otherlandscoffeebar.com/
Futons simply weren't in Karen Lebovitz's future.
That's what Otherlands Coffee Bar was -- a futon store. Until 1994, when Lebovitz traded couches for coffee, local foods and an environmentally-conscious business plan before that kind of thing was cool.
Now families, friends and colleagues who appreciate recycling, quiet weekdays, live music-Fridays-and-Saturdays, good coffee and great local foods call Otherlands' back deck Midtown's "home base."
"Anytime you want to see anybody, and you don't know where they're at in Midtown, you just come here, and they are probably on the deck," said Eva Trimble of Cooper-Young.
Otherlands earned its Project Green Fork (http://projectgreenfork.org) certification through Lebovitz's extensive recycling program. Not only does her staff recycle cardboard, plastics and glass, but also the very locally-produced coffee grounds that flavor Otherlands' distinctive brew.
"We put them in buckets and put them at the back of the parking lot and different gardeners come and get them," Lebovitz said. "They're great for your garden."
Otherlands is great for escaping the cookie-cutter coffee shop. Lebovitz designed Otherlands as a European-style "cafe society." Part coffee bar, part gift shop, part getaway -- what the baristas and hipsters call their third place.
"You've got home. You've got work. Then you've got the place you hang out, and this has very much been that," said Lebovitz. "People from all over the world come in here as well as a lot of 'Memphibians.'"
'Memphibians' like T.J. Janus appreciate Otherlands' support of local farmers, producers and bakers. Homemade muffins, breads, pastries and soups grace the menu next to veggie burgers, bagel sandwiches and quiches.
"I love that they buy local," said Janus. "It's delicious."
WHAT ANDY LIKES: The Coffee (any variety!), Blended Frozen Drinks, Breakfast Burrito w/Turkey Sausage, Groovy Fruit Granola, Tuna Melt.
SCORES OF THE WEEK:
Taco Bell, 4811 Navy Rd., Millington, TN, 98 on May 22
Just In Thyme, 5063 Old Summer Rd., Berclair/E. Memphis, 97 on May 22
Sonic Drive-In, 3790 S. Houston Levee Rd., Collierville, TN, 97 on May 24
Sekisui of Collierville, 2130 W. Poplar Ave., Collierville, TN, 97 on May 24
Marciano Restaurant, 780 W. Brookhaven Circle, White Station Area/E. Memphis, 96 on May 23
Pei Wei Asian Diner, 2257 N. Germantown Pkwy, Cordova, TN, 95 on May 22
Bonefish Grill, 1250 N. Germantown Pkwy, Cordova, TN, 95 on May 21
Lenny's Sub Shop, 153 S. Main St., Downtown Memphis, 95 on May 24
Java Cabana, 2170 Young Ave., Cooper-Young/Midtown Memphis, 95 on May 23
R.P. Tracks, 3547 Walker Ave., U of M Area, 95, date not listed
Rafferty's, 505 N. Germantown Pkwy, Cordova, TN, 94 on May 21
Panera Bread, 714 N. Germantown Pkwy, Cordova, TN, 94 on May 21
J. Alexander's, 2670 N. Germantown Pkwy, Cordova, TN, 94 on May 23
Newk's Express Café, 3680 Houston Levee Rd., Collierville, TN, 94 on May 23
Kabob International, 2050 Dexter Rd., Cordova, TN, 94 on May 23
Pizza Italia, 175 Peabody Place, Downtown Memphis, 94 on May 24
Chuck's, 5960 Highway 51 N., Millington, TN, 93 on May 23
Kooky Canuck, 97 S. 2nd St., Downtown Memphis, 93 on May 25
The Blue Monkey, 513 S. Front St., Downtown Memphis, 93 on May 24
Popeye's Fried Chicken, 1105 W. Poplar Ave., Collierville, TN, 93 on May 24
Automatic Slim's, 83 S. 2nd St., Downtown Memphis, 93 on May 25
Itta Bena, 145 Beale St., Downtown Memphis, 92 on May 22
Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken, 310 S. Front St., Downtown Memphis, 92 on May 24
Sweet Grass, 937 S. Cooper St., Cooper-Young/Midtown Memphis, 92, date not listed
Jasmine Thai & Vegetarian Restaurant, 916 S. Cooper St., Cooper-Young/Midtown Memphis, 92 on May 24
Soul Fish Café, 862 S. Cooper St., Cooper-Young/Midtown Memphis, 92 on May 24
Jack Pirtle's Fried Chicken, 1217 S. Bellevue Blvd., South Memphis, 92 on May 23
Corky's Bar-B-Q, 5259 Poplar Ave., Pleasant Acres Area/E. Memphis, 91 on May 23
El Porton Mexican Restaurant, 1016 W. Poplar Ave., Collierville, TN, 90 on May 24
Flying Fish, 105-107 S. 2nd St., Downtown Memphis, 90 on May 25
RYU Sushi Bar, 5137 Summer Ave., Berclair/E. Memphis, 89 on May 21
Wendy's, 4761 Navy Rd., Millington, TN, 89 on May 22
The Butcher Shop, 101 S. Front St., Downtown Memphis, 89 on May 23
The Majestic Grille, 145 S. Main St., Downtown Memphis, 89 on May 24
Erling Jensen, 1044 S. Yates Rd., East Memphis, 89 on May 23
Stone Soup Café & Market, 993 S. Cooper St., Cooper-Young/Midtown Memphis, 89 on May 23
Lucchesi's Ravioli & Pasta Company, 540 S. Mendenhall Rd., Mendenhall Commons/East Memphis, 88 on May 21
B.B. King's Blues Club, 143 Beale St., Downtown Memphis, 88 on May 22
Logan's Roadhouse, 2710 N. Germantown Pkwy, Wolfchase Area, 88 on May 23
Blue Fin, 135 S. Main St., Downtown Memphis, 88 on May 24
The Beauty Shop, 966 S. Cooper St., Cooper-Young/Midtown Memphis, 88 on May 22
Tsunami, 928 S. Cooper St., Cooper-Young/Midtown Memphis, 88 on May 22
Celtic Crossing, 903 S. Cooper St., Cooper-Young/Midtown Memphis, 87, date not listed
Memphis Downtown Diner, 116 S. Fourth St., Downtown Memphis, 86 on May 23
Lot A Burger, 2260 S. Third St., South Memphis, 86 on May 20
Cockadoo's, 85 S. 2nd St., Downtown Memphis, 86 on May 25
Yum's Restaurant, 3582 Summer Ave., Highland Heights/East Memphis, 85 on May 22
Otherlands Coffee Bar, 639 S. Cooper St., Cooper-Young/Midtown Memphis, 85, date not listed
Bubba's Ale House and Grille, 7041 Highway 64, border of East Memphis/Bartlett, 85 on May 24
Shaky Jakes, 4750 Navy Rd., Millington, TN, 84 on May 22
Yang's Deli, 4985 Summer Ave., East Memphis, 81 on May 21
Blue Plate Café, 5469 Poplar Ave., Pleasant Acres Area/East Memphis, 80 on May 23
Subway, 2953 S. Third St., South Memphis, 79 on May 22
Dixie Queen, 1181 S. Bellevue Blvd., South Memphis, 78 on May 23
Don Don's Hot Wings, 2926 S. Third St., South Memphis, 78 on May 23
Pete & Sam's, 3886 Park Ave., U of M Park Ave. Campus Area, 78 on May 24
Rain Premier Sushi Bar & Bistro, 1250 N. Germantown Pkwy, Cordova, TN, 72 on May 21
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