Austin, TX
Whoa. For the past decade I have become accustomed to the fact that you can't miss a Hard Rock. There's always a huge neon guitar, big Hard Rock logos, or some other distinguishing feature that makes it stand out. Austin, as it turns out, is a bit different. I drove by three times before I could actually find it. There is only a small logo on the door and another hanging from a "Bar and Grill" sign to let you know where it is! In the end, the result is different but good. The original building seems to be used to great effect, creating a beautiful tri-level property that retains the interior brick-work and wonderful arching support columns (with a few "Chicago-style" display cases tossed in for good measure). There's even a stage at the back, making this a "Hard Rock Live" venue as well. Texas is now a Hard Rocker's dream, having four unique cafes, each a destination in their own right.

Chicago, IL
I love Chicago (except in the winter!) and was happy to find that the Hard Rock here was a bit different from other properties I've visited (but, in a good way... the Planet Hollywood here sucked ass before it closed down). Unfortunately, the allure of a real Chicago pizza has so far been too tempting to lure me into eating here. UPDATE: This restaurant has underwent a hefty renovation, and re-opened in August of 2000. The interior is sleek, modern, and a little boring... but hasn't entirely lost its Hard Rock "flavor" as I had feared. My veggie burger was over-done, but the service was good.

Chicago, IL
Working on it!

Choctaw, MS
CLOSED! While not even close to the magical extravagance of the Bali Hotel & Beach Club, this is still a pretty cool property. There's a heated pool for year-round enjoyment, a real-sand volleyball court, and a great tiki-themed cafe with a staff that was psyched to have visitors during the slow off-season when I visited. Is it worth the four-hour drive I had to take from New Orleans? I'm not so sure... it certainly could be if you wanted to gamble at the reservation casino or play at the water park. On its own, however, it could use a Hard Rock Hotel, Hard Rock Casino, or some other Hard Rock-type venue to make it truly worth the trip (even for die-hard Hard Rockers!). The staff here was attentive, entertaining, and overall very cool... from the minute I walked in, until the minute I left EVERYBODY was working overtime to make sure my visit was a good one (which was much appreciated).

Dallas, TX
How cool! I wasn't expecting much from the Hard Rock Dallas, but ended up being totally blown away! The building used to be a church, and when the restaurant moved in they kept as much of the interior in tact as they could (my table was facing the old altar which is now a stage). The place was totally slammin' when I got there, with high energy, an incredible staff, and one of the best HR Veggie Sandwiches I've ever had! This quickly became a top-five favorite within minutes of walking in the door. The outside boldly states that this is the "Supreme Court of Rock & Roll," and it isn't a lie. The memorabilia is amazing, varied, and EVERYWHERE... one of the best "museums" in the entire chain.

Denver, CO
No visit to the "Mile High City" would be complete without a trip to this great Hard Rock! A cool split-level design that's packed to the rafters with memorabilia, they've worked hard to create a unique atmosphere in an otherwise pedestrian location. Everything from the nifty curved bar and outside patio dining to the dedicated staff will make this a memorable addition to your Hard Rock travels.

Houston, TX
Uh oh. I showed up at 12 noon and was worried that I would have to wait for a table. Nothing could prepare me for the shock of being the ONLY person in the restaurant during lunch hour rush! Ouch. The wait staff was cool enough, but there wasn't enough energy here to light a 20 watt bulb. Probably due to the wacky location (in the middle of nowhere, outside of downtown Houston), I could not figure out what the attraction was. Fortunately, Hard Rock HQ is not oblivious to this fact, and has moved the restaurant downtown.

Houston, TX 2
While the exterior of this property is pretty boring, the interior gets the best compliment I can give a Hard Rock: it looks like it was built ten years ago instead of two. Along with Minneapolis, these beautiful properties give me hope for future cafes! A lot of care was taken to make a visit interesting... from the "Lone Star Room" to the impressive memorabilia wall and centrally located bar. To top it all off, the downtown location is only a big improvement over the previous cafe in Houston. Here is yet another compelling reason to make a Hard Rock Run through Texas!

Memphis, TN
If you are not into Elvis, Country Music, or the Blues... then Memphis probably isn't for you. But if you're in the neighborhood, the Hard Rock here is worth a look. Located on historic Beale Street, I hit here at lunch hour on a Friday and found the place to be fairly empty (yikes!). This property is fairly typical for the chain, but does have some great Elvis stuff if you're into that kind of thing.

Minneapolis, MN
What could have been another mundane mall cafe (at Mall of America, the ultimate in mall locations!) instead turns out to be a fascinating downtown location that's kind of a mall (all of downtown is connected like a giant city/mall), but anything but mundane. The care in which the traditional Hard Rock "look" has been reconstructed here is an inspiration to future cafes. The memorabilia is jam-packed, and the layout interesting (even at the "mall" entrance, which is a tribute to home-town musician Prince). Minneapolis is a great city for night life, and the cafe here a perfect addition. Kudos for not taking the "easy way out" and giving Hard Rock fans a real treat when they visit the Twin Cities.

Nashville, TN
Because I haven't the slightest interest in Country Music, Nashville was a bit of a disappointment for me, but the Hard Rock here proved to be a treat never-the-less. If stuck in Nashville, it will be a welcome retreat from the constant barrage of Country tunes that permeate the beautiful city. The layout is nifty due to the long, narrow nature of the building (with a second merchant shop located on the property), and both times I stopped by, the place was slammin'.

New Orleans, LA
One of my favorite cities, New Orleans is home to a really cool Hard Rock cafe. As any vegetarian visiting the "Big Easy" will tell you, finding something to eat is a real chore... making me appreciate even more the awesome veggie options on the menu. The location is far enough away from Bourbon Street to avoid being riotous, but the high energy establishment is all New Orleans, and well worth a visit!

Phoenix, AZ
MOVED. A pleasant surprise, the Phoenix Hard Rock is an amazing restaurant with a beautiful wood interior, and plenty of memorabilia. The atmosphere here was fairly laid back for lunch, but given that they have a "live music night" to support local bands, I can only imagine that it is very different after the sun sets. This property's location may seem a bit remote but, given how spread out the city is, EVERYTHING in Phoenix seems isolated and remote! Well worth a visit if you are ever in the area... but, if you are meeting downtown or stopping over at the airport, it will be a lengthy (and expensive!) cab ride to get there. UPDATE: Sadly, this location has closed and a new property is opening in Collier Center.

Phoenix, AZ 2
If I had never visited the original Phoenix cafe, I probably would have better feelings about this new version across from the America West Arena. The cafe is nice enough (though a little slick and cold for my tastes) and the staff is top notch, but the unique beauty of the original overshadows what's going on here at Collier Center. Still, it's a cafe worth a visit, and the new location is probably a better one since you can pop by after a Coyotes or Suns game.

Salt Lake City, UT
This is one of the more unique cafes I've visited... not because it is some stunning architectural marvel (it's a nice building, but no Myrtle Beach cafe!), not because it is in some fabulous location (Salt Lake is pretty, but it ain't Edinburgh!), and not even because it has the best memorabilia (though Donny & Marie do rock hard!)... no, it's because you can't walk up to the bar and have a drink. There is no bar! In Utah, alcohol can only be served in private clubs, so to have a drink in this cafe, you have to buy a membership to "The Brickhouse" (a private bar hidden upstairs). The strangeness of walking in and not seeing a bar doesn't detract from this classy dual-level property (or its great staff!), but it does make it a Hard Rock to remember.

San Antonio, TX
I found the Hard Rock San Antonio to be an awesome experience! The street-side entrance is an architectural marvel, that looks very "Hard Rock" while still having a classy appearance that suits the location well. But where this property really shines is the lower level, which is right on San Antonio's famous RiverWalk! You can eat outdoors, right on the cool riverside patio... or wander inside and take a seat at the nifty guitar-shaped bar! Outside of Asia, this is the friendliest staff I've found, and the energy level is high... even at off-hours. The fact that this Hard Rock is done so very well, makes the lame Planet Hollywood down the street look even worse (where there is NO riverside dining!). San Antonio is a fun city by itself, but this HR makes the city destination-worthy all on its own!

St. Louis, MO
I am not a huge fan of St. Louis (okay, maybe a little... I love fried pasta!) but enjoy the Hard Rock property here quite a lot. Built in Union Station, an old railway station that has been converted into a really cool shopping complex complete with indoor "lake," the layout of the restaurant is inspired, and the building itself is both fun and interesting. The staff service is exceptional, surpassing the Hard Rock's already high standards.