Danver’s, the unsung fast food hero of Memphis dining
By Jen | January 23, 2012
I had to take off my ring after I ate this sandwich.* Not because I wanted to track down Mr. Danver and marry him instead, but because the ring was too tight for my salt-swollen fingers.
That’s the ultimate compliment for a fast-food restaurant.
Until a couple years ago, like many people in Memphis, I only knew Danver’s as the place that gives out free roast beef sandwiches when the Tigers score 65 or more points.** The “legendary” roast beef is the centerpiece of the menu but the locally-owned chain has been serving up cheap breakfast, lunch and dinner under their signature Tiffany lamps for 40 years now.
The food is pretty good for the price. And the “Grandpa’s rec room” atmosphere attracts some quirky subjects for people-watching. As Memphis’ charms go, this place is underrated.
I once went to the Union Ave. location with some coworkers for lunch and was surprised to learn that it’s quite the happening spot. The place was packed and we had to wait in line a good 15 minutes or so before it was our turn to order. So of course I ordered a steak, because I was so tickled that it was even an option.
Even though my companions’ (work husbands?) food was already digesting by the time the steak arrived, it wasn’t bad. It was better than CK’s, where only a masochist would dare order steak and eggs. If I had a hankering for steak and only a ten-dollar bill, I’d go to a meat market. But if I wanted a baked potato and a drink too, I’d go to Danver’s.
Fellow Memphians, if you only learn one thing from reading this blog I hope it’s that you don’t have to choose between eating fast food and eating local. If you’ve never been, check out one of Danver’s five locations. Try to order a “hot ham” without giggling, and enjoy. You can thank me later.
*Lest you think I’m some kind of glutton, I only ate half the sandwich. I only ordered the “jumbo” because I prefer the hoagie bun.
**Until this season the “roast beef number” was 75. I’m not sure why the number was lowered since Josh Pastner has held the team to 63 points twice this season, thus depriving Tigers fans of complimentary shaved beef. But I’ll save that conspiracy theory for another post.
