The Full Monty sandwich at Railgarten Diner combines fresh-cut bacon and smoked turkey breast with melted cheddar, Swiss and a sweet strawberry mascarpone cheese placed between two golden waffles. The all-day breakfast sandwich was named after a popular ‘90s comedy film.
Chef Aaron Gardner’s love for food is universal. Working in restaurants all over the country and some other parts of the world, Gardner has brought back his knowledge of worldly cuisine to Memphis and has managed to completely transform the typical all-American diner food at Railgarten Diner on Central Avenue.
Gardner, who has been cooking “since he could walk,†felt the need to spice up the typical “finer diner†scene with worldly influences, a change from the traditional cheeseburgers and fries usually found on a diner menu.
“I like the balance of flavor,†Gardner said. “I wanted to really mix in some different cuisines and some worldly flavors with American cuisines.â€
These “worldly flavors†include Korean influences, like the Bibimbap Salad, a take on a classic Korean dish with kale kimchi, egg noodles, avocado and egg. As well as Spanish influences like the Southwest salad—a salad packed with greens, corn succotash, avocado and pico de gallo.
The Southwest Salad at Railgarten is one example of the Mexican flavors brought in by Chef Aaron Gardner. The salad combines corn succotash, spinach tortilla chips, fresh avocado, cojito cheese and pico de gallo.
The RG Burger, Diner Dog and even Short Rib Mac and Cheese are all on the menu alongside the culturally influenced dishes to satisfy cravings for some good old-fashioned diner food.
Railgarten’s Short Rib Mac and Cheese is served in a sizzling skillet. A three-cheese pimento blend makes up the creamy mac and cheese in the dish.
However, if diners want something traditional but also want something with a little twist, try the Waffle Battered Chicken Tenders. These tenders put a new spin on fried chicken. Covered in Wiseacre’s Gotta Get Up to Get Down (a coffee stout beer) and waffle batter that is fried to perfection, these tenders will make consumers “get up†and get more. You can trust me on this, because I ate every last bite on my plate and wanted more immediately.
Along with bringing together flavors in its food, Railgarten also specializes in bringing its people together. With its ping-pong bar, volleyball court and outside area filled with lawn chairs, it falls into similar concepts of restaurants such as Loflin Yard, Bounty on Broad and Rec Room.
“You can come away to not only physically talk with each other and hang out, but physically engage with the space,†Jordan Walker, general manager, said.
Chef Gardner’s mission for Railgarten is a success in my book. It is a family-friendly place with a little something for everyone. Gardner said it best when he said the food is “fun and unpretentious.†I think this can also be said about Railgarten as a whole.
