Where to eat/drink in Memphis (LONG)

AssEndDawg · Aug 30, 2011

Welcome to our fair city and ignore those ******** trying to convince you it's a horrible place. Memphis has come a long way in recent years and we have some of the best food in the nation. I've lived in Memphis for 14 of the 18 years since graduation so I know the town pretty well. I'm also a foodie, so I go out to eat all the time. All of the places I am going to mention I have been to so you are getting my personal opinion. I'm going to split these up by regions and then by class.

MIDTOWN

Fine dining and drinking - If, like me, you aren't a college kid anymore and you want to actually eat some good food and enjoy some good drink here are some places in the Midtown area:

Iris - the best restaurant in Memphis. If you can get a reservation here I promise you will enjoy yourself. Great staff and an awesome chef in Kelly English. Fine food with a nice southern influence.

Bari - Italian food but not the same pasta and sauce you are used to. They put a lot of focus on fine meats and cheeses. If you can get a spot at the bar I recommend camping out and following this can't miss method. Two drinks, order a cheese plate, two more drinks, order the meatball appetizer, two more drinks, order the carbonara, more drinks to taste.

Cafe 1912 - Relaxed semi-fine dining. I like 1912 but there is nothing that jumps out at me and forces me to go. Definitely good food.

Tsunami - most of my friends love Tsunami but it's not my thing. Still, pretty good food.

Casual dining - So, you just want to hang out and eat some food or just drink heavily. Not looking to break the bank or really experience something amazing. Here ya go:

Beauty Shop - Great restaurant with a decent bar in the heart of Midtown. It's right at Cooper and young so it groups will with Young Avenue Deli and Cafe Ole. Fair warning, if gay people freak you out this may not be the best place for you. Not a gay bar or anything, but if you can't handle that you might feel uncomfortable here.

BBQ Shop - The best BBQ in Memphis. Well, one of the best. One of my top three Q places. The pulled pork sandwiches are amazing (on Texas toast with slaw of course).

Central BBQ - Another on my top 3. The best meats of the bunch. This is right near the Liberty Bowl so it is likely to be packed out but if you can get in there it's definitely worth your time.

Soul Fish Cafe - You want Southern fried food you say? Well, your dream has come true. The fried catfish with hush-puppies and fries is just awesome.

Fino's from the Hill - Owned by a mixed Mississippi State / University of Memphis family Fino's is an amazing Italian Deli. they have hot pasta specials everyday and kick *** desserts. Odd hours (they close at 6:00p) but would be perfect for an early dinner before the game.

Slider Inn - A new restaurant in Midtown it has quickly become a favorite. The best sliders you have ever eaten. Seriously. They take fresh meat cooked perfectly and put it on a homemade potato bread roll. Then you get fries with some bourbon mayonnaise for dipping (trust me, it's +$%!+%@ awesome). I try not to think about them too much because now I gotta go there for lunch today.

Bosco's - I find Bosco's to be middle of the road when it comes to food but their micro-brews put it over the top. Go get a Germantown Purist pizza and either some Flaming Stone or a Midtown Brown and you will be loving life.

Bayou Bar and Grill - mostly bar but they have some really good cajun inspired food. Great shrimp po-boys and strong drinks. How could you go wrong!

The Blue Monkey - Surprisingly good food for a bar. This is a fun place to hang out and drink and it can get wild some nights. It has an interesting mix of people too with all different ages partying together.

Cafe Ole - Mexican food, not great, not bad. The stuffed shrimp, while deserving of a warning from the American Heart Association, are AMAZING! They have a great patio and strong drinks too. This is a classic midtown drinking hole.

Young Avenue Deli - Decent food, great selection of beer and liquor, and usually live music. This is the one place in Midtown that would probably feel right at home on Beale Street.

DOWNTOWN

Fine dining - Memphis has become home to a number of really good restaurants. Really more than we deserve. These places are amazing, unless otherwise noted:

Flight - Second best restaurant in Memphis behind Iris. I love Flight. Usually restaurants with a gimmick suck, but here it is fun. They do "flights" of everything (three smaller portions instead of one big one). So you can get wine flights and bourbon flights and food flights and dessert flights. Let's say you get the beef flight, they will bring you three complete mini-meals with mini-entree, mini-sides and everything. you can still get a regular drink and a regular entree if you want, but seriously, why would you?

Majestic Grille - one of my favorite places in Memphis it's a tweener. It's not stuffy fine dining and they have a kick-*** bar. But it's not a college hangout either. Awesome food, great environment, and just a cool place to chill out. It's a lot less expensive than some of the places on this list but the food is just excellent.

Felicia Suzanne's - Great Southern inspired food and nice strong drinks. They have an exceptional staff and a bat-**** crazy owner which makes everything more fun. The head bartender is the best bartender in Memphis so if you go ask for Austin and tell him Lee sent you (I'm not Lee, but everyone in the Memphis bar-scene knows Lee).

Grill 83 - I've only been here once and I wasn't feeling well so I can't really give my opinion. But everyone else loved it. I mean LOVED it. So I think it's worth a shot. I will go back soon.

Itta Bena - located above BB King's on Beale you would never find this without knowing it's there. Good Southern fine dining that I thought was amazing. Have heard from a lot of people that the food is inconsistent though. So it's an up and down place. Worth the risk if you are going to be in Memphis a lot or want to try something really different.

Spindini - Excellent Italian. Not my favorite but a lot of my friends would eat there every meal if they could.

South of Beale - I love this place. It's a Gastropub which means they experiment with food. If you just want a steak and potatoes then this might not be the place for you. But if you love food and want to try something new I can't think of a better place.

McEwen's - Good food, good drinks, and a fun place to hang out. Nothing rocks my boat here but I've always had a great time.

Bluefin - this is the place for Ole Miss fans. Style over substance. Cool over comfortable. The food looks better than it tastes. they have good sushi but I'm not a fan of the place.

Casual Dining - If you are going downtown and you don't eat one of the places above a pox on your house. Serously, what's wrong with you? Anyway, I guess I'll give you low-life pricks some options too:

Alcenia's - got a few hours to wait and willing to try something cool? This is the place. Traditional Southern and Soul food cooked by the nicest woman in Memphis. She usually comes out of the kitchen and gives everyone a kiss on the forehead as a welcome. Nothing moves fast here but the food is amazing!

Flying Saucer - yes, it's a chain. But if you want beer they got you some damn beer! And the food is surprisingly good, I think some of the most underrated bar food in Memphis. Plus hot girls in slutty outfits waiting on you don't hurt either.

Bar None - Awesome bar, decent food, go, drink, enjoy. (this is the bar version of Circa and it's done very well)

Bardog Tavern - The same people who own Slider Inn above with the same great food. Good bar, great food and a cool place to hang out.

The Blue Monkey (Downtown) - more of a casual drinking setting with decent food. I don't like it as much as the BM in midtown but then again I'm a traditionalist.

Earnestine & Hazel's - Good bar and I think decent food. I'm pretty sure I have never eaten here while sober though.

Gus' Fried Chicken - not a bar at all just kick-*** fried chicken. One of those fun places to go in Memphis.

Arcade - Breakfast. Do it. Seriously.

Dyer's Burgers - Are you drunk off your *** and hungry at 2:00a? You're welcome.

Pearl's Oyster House - Just what the name implies. People who love Oysters love this place. I am not those people.

Mollie Fontaine Lounge - this place is hard to describe. It is an old house converted into a bar/hangout/restaurant. Every room is decorated in it's own quirky way and it is just generally one of the coolest places to hangout. The food is really good too. Not the most manly place in the world and honestly not the place I feel the most comfortable leaving my car parked on the street. It's located in the Medical district so not what I consider "Downtown" but it's still a fun place.

GERMANTOWNish
Seriously? What are you doing in Germantown? Did you not want to have a good time while you were here?

Circa - fine dining with excellent food. Moved from downtown to Germantown (the owner turned the downtown location into Bar None). This is John Bragg's restaurant and the guy can freaking cook.

Germantown Commissary - and we round out my top 3 for BBQ. This place hasn't been as good of late but I just can't drop them yet. Great ribs and some of the best banana pudding you ever had (if it's not fresh, who want's fresh banana pudding, it needs a day to invade the wafers!).

Los Tortugas/Deli Mexicana - The place so nice they had to name it twice. Crazy good Mexican food made by a man who is not shy about his skills. It's tiny and it's quirky but it's oh so good. Get the corn (sweet yellow corn with mayonnaise and a blend of cheeses). I know it sounds weird, but damn it's good.

That's it, I refuse to provide more reason to stay in Germantown.

Oh, and for anyone asking "Where is Corky's and where it The Rendevous?". both those places suck now. Don't go there. It's like going to McDonalds and talking about the beef. They played a big part in building the BBQ tradition in Memphis and then ran off the rails at some point. Case in point, the last time I went to Corky's (about a year ago) I was in the drive-thru picking up a pulled pork plate. While I'm sitting there I see one of the "cooks" open up a packaged, frozen rack of ribs that they sell at Kroger. Dip in in some sauce and throw it into the smoker. I haven't been back since.

So, that's nice and all but I just wanna get drunk!
Beale Street - Alfred's and 152 are great dance spots. Silky's for your drinkin' and piano pleasure.
Blue Monkey
Bar None
Bardog
Young Avenue

I wanna grab some quick food before the game.
Fino's (support some Mississippi State folks)
Slider Inn
Central BBQ
BBQ Shop

I'm staying Friday and I want to dine like a king.
Iris
Flight
Grill 83
Felicia Suzzane's
Circa

Queue the flood of Memphis people telling me how wrong I am and adding their own favorites. Bring it! I'm always up for some new ideas.

AssEndDawg · Aug 30, 2011

Welcome to our fair city and ignore those ******** trying to convince you it's a horrible place. Memphis has come a long way in recent years and we have some of the best food in the nation. I've lived in Memphis for 14 of the 18 years since graduation so I know the town pretty well. I'm also a foodie, so I go out to eat all the time. All of the places I am going to mention I have been to so you are getting my personal opinion. I'm going to split these up by regions and then by class.

MIDTOWN

Fine dining and drinking - If, like me, you aren't a college kid anymore and you want to actually eat some good food and enjoy some good drink here are some places in the Midtown area:

Iris - the best restaurant in Memphis. If you can get a reservation here I promise you will enjoy yourself. Great staff and an awesome chef in Kelly English. Fine food with a nice southern influence.

Bari - Italian food but not the same pasta and sauce you are used to. They put a lot of focus on fine meats and cheeses. If you can get a spot at the bar I recommend camping out and following this can't miss method. Two drinks, order a cheese plate, two more drinks, order the meatball appetizer, two more drinks, order the carbonara, more drinks to taste.

Cafe 1912 - Relaxed semi-fine dining. I like 1912 but there is nothing that jumps out at me and forces me to go. Definitely good food.

Tsunami - most of my friends love Tsunami but it's not my thing. Still, pretty good food.

Casual dining - So, you just want to hang out and eat some food or just drink heavily. Not looking to break the bank or really experience something amazing. Here ya go:

Beauty Shop - Great restaurant with a decent bar in the heart of Midtown. It's right at Cooper and young so it groups will with Young Avenue Deli and Cafe Ole. Fair warning, if gay people freak you out this may not be the best place for you. Not a gay bar or anything, but if you can't handle that you might feel uncomfortable here.

BBQ Shop - The best BBQ in Memphis. Well, one of the best. One of my top three Q places. The pulled pork sandwiches are amazing (on Texas toast with slaw of course).

Central BBQ - Another on my top 3. The best meats of the bunch. This is right near the Liberty Bowl so it is likely to be packed out but if you can get in there it's definitely worth your time.

Soul Fish Cafe - You want Southern fried food you say? Well, your dream has come true. The fried catfish with hush-puppies and fries is just awesome.

Fino's from the Hill - Owned by a mixed Mississippi State / University of Memphis family Fino's is an amazing Italian Deli. they have hot pasta specials everyday and kick *** desserts. Odd hours (they close at 6:00p) but would be perfect for an early dinner before the game.

Slider Inn - A new restaurant in Midtown it has quickly become a favorite. The best sliders you have ever eaten. Seriously. They take fresh meat cooked perfectly and put it on a homemade potato bread roll. Then you get fries with some bourbon mayonnaise for dipping (trust me, it's +$%!+%@ awesome). I try not to think about them too much because now I gotta go there for lunch today.

Bosco's - I find Bosco's to be middle of the road when it comes to food but their micro-brews put it over the top. Go get a Germantown Purist pizza and either some Flaming Stone or a Midtown Brown and you will be loving life.

Bayou Bar and Grill - mostly bar but they have some really good cajun inspired food. Great shrimp po-boys and strong drinks. How could you go wrong!

The Blue Monkey - Surprisingly good food for a bar. This is a fun place to hang out and drink and it can get wild some nights. It has an interesting mix of people too with all different ages partying together.

Cafe Ole - Mexican food, not great, not bad. The stuffed shrimp, while deserving of a warning from the American Heart Association, are AMAZING! They have a great patio and strong drinks too. This is a classic midtown drinking hole.

Young Avenue Deli - Decent food, great selection of beer and liquor, and usually live music. This is the one place in Midtown that would probably feel right at home on Beale Street.

DOWNTOWN

Fine dining - Memphis has become home to a number of really good restaurants. Really more than we deserve. These places are amazing, unless otherwise noted:

Flight - Second best restaurant in Memphis behind Iris. I love Flight. Usually restaurants with a gimmick suck, but here it is fun. They do "flights" of everything (three smaller portions instead of one big one). So you can get wine flights and bourbon flights and food flights and dessert flights. Let's say you get the beef flight, they will bring you three complete mini-meals with mini-entree, mini-sides and everything. you can still get a regular drink and a regular entree if you want, but seriously, why would you?

Majestic Grille - one of my favorite places in Memphis it's a tweener. It's not stuffy fine dining and they have a kick-*** bar. But it's not a college hangout either. Awesome food, great environment, and just a cool place to chill out. It's a lot less expensive than some of the places on this list but the food is just excellent.

Felicia Suzanne's - Great Southern inspired food and nice strong drinks. They have an exceptional staff and a bat-**** crazy owner which makes everything more fun. The head bartender is the best bartender in Memphis so if you go ask for Austin and tell him Lee sent you (I'm not Lee, but everyone in the Memphis bar-scene knows Lee).

Grill 83 - I've only been here once and I wasn't feeling well so I can't really give my opinion. But everyone else loved it. I mean LOVED it. So I think it's worth a shot. I will go back soon.

Itta Bena - located above BB King's on Beale you would never find this without knowing it's there. Good Southern fine dining that I thought was amazing. Have heard from a lot of people that the food is inconsistent though. So it's an up and down place. Worth the risk if you are going to be in Memphis a lot or want to try something really different.

Spindini - Excellent Italian. Not my favorite but a lot of my friends would eat there every meal if they could.

South of Beale - I love this place. It's a Gastropub which means they experiment with food. If you just want a steak and potatoes then this might not be the place for you. But if you love food and want to try something new I can't think of a better place.

McEwen's - Good food, good drinks, and a fun place to hang out. Nothing rocks my boat here but I've always had a great time.

Bluefin - this is the place for Ole Miss fans. Style over substance. Cool over comfortable. The food looks better than it tastes. they have good sushi but I'm not a fan of the place.

Casual Dining - If you are going downtown and you don't eat one of the places above a pox on your house. Serously, what's wrong with you? Anyway, I guess I'll give you low-life pricks some options too:

Alcenia's - got a few hours to wait and willing to try something cool? This is the place. Traditional Southern and Soul food cooked by the nicest woman in Memphis. She usually comes out of the kitchen and gives everyone a kiss on the forehead as a welcome. Nothing moves fast here but the food is amazing!

Flying Saucer - yes, it's a chain. But if you want beer they got you some damn beer! And the food is surprisingly good, I think some of the most underrated bar food in Memphis. Plus hot girls in slutty outfits waiting on you don't hurt either.

Bar None - Awesome bar, decent food, go, drink, enjoy. (this is the bar version of Circa and it's done very well)

Bardog Tavern - The same people who own Slider Inn above with the same great food. Good bar, great food and a cool place to hang out.

The Blue Monkey (Downtown) - more of a casual drinking setting with decent food. I don't like it as much as the BM in midtown but then again I'm a traditionalist.

Earnestine & Hazel's - Good bar and I think decent food. I'm pretty sure I have never eaten here while sober though.

Gus' Fried Chicken - not a bar at all just kick-*** fried chicken. One of those fun places to go in Memphis.

Arcade - Breakfast. Do it. Seriously.

Dyer's Burgers - Are you drunk off your *** and hungry at 2:00a? You're welcome.

Pearl's Oyster House - Just what the name implies. People who love Oysters love this place. I am not those people.

Mollie Fontaine Lounge - this place is hard to describe. It is an old house converted into a bar/hangout/restaurant. Every room is decorated in it's own quirky way and it is just generally one of the coolest places to hangout. The food is really good too. Not the most manly place in the world and honestly not the place I feel the most comfortable leaving my car parked on the street. It's located in the Medical district so not what I consider "Downtown" but it's still a fun place.

GERMANTOWNish
Seriously? What are you doing in Germantown? Did you not want to have a good time while you were here?

Circa - fine dining with excellent food. Moved from downtown to Germantown (the owner turned the downtown location into Bar None). This is John Bragg's restaurant and the guy can freaking cook.

Germantown Commissary - and we round out my top 3 for BBQ. This place hasn't been as good of late but I just can't drop them yet. Great ribs and some of the best banana pudding you ever had (if it's not fresh, who want's fresh banana pudding, it needs a day to invade the wafers!).

Los Tortugas/Deli Mexicana - The place so nice they had to name it twice. Crazy good Mexican food made by a man who is not shy about his skills. It's tiny and it's quirky but it's oh so good. Get the corn (sweet yellow corn with mayonnaise and a blend of cheeses). I know it sounds weird, but damn it's good.

That's it, I refuse to provide more reason to stay in Germantown.

Oh, and for anyone asking "Where is Corky's and where it The Rendevous?". both those places suck now. Don't go there. It's like going to McDonalds and talking about the beef. They played a big part in building the BBQ tradition in Memphis and then ran off the rails at some point. Case in point, the last time I went to Corky's (about a year ago) I was in the drive-thru picking up a pulled pork plate. While I'm sitting there I see one of the "cooks" open up a packaged, frozen rack of ribs that they sell at Kroger. Dip in in some sauce and throw it into the smoker. I haven't been back since.

So, that's nice and all but I just wanna get drunk!
Beale Street - Alfred's and 152 are great dance spots. Silky's for your drinkin' and piano pleasure.
Blue Monkey
Bar None
Bardog
Young Avenue

I wanna grab some quick food before the game.
Fino's (support some Mississippi State folks)
Slider Inn
Central BBQ
BBQ Shop

I'm staying Friday and I want to dine like a king.
Iris
Flight
Grill 83
Felicia Suzzane's
Circa

Queue the flood of Memphis people telling me how wrong I am and adding their own favorites. Bring it! I'm always up for some new ideas.

xxxWalkTheDawg · Aug 30, 2011

And yes the Rendevous and corkys have taken the lazy way out as of late. Eat there for the history and not great BBQ.

Edit: and if any of you ever are in the southern burbs of Nashville and are thinking about eating at Corky's in Brentwood, DONT. The pulled pork sandwhich I got from there was made using boiled pork. Got the same sandwhich two separate nights so that makes it a trend. Also spoke to someone in the same conference who said the same thing.

AlCoDog · Aug 30, 2011

Damn, lunch seems so ****** now.

PettysDumpster · Aug 30, 2011

pretty sure I would have paid about $20 for that writeup... I'm now locked and loaded and dead set on getting into Mempho in time to grab Central BBQ prior to tailgating. Staying at the Residence Inn downtown, don't know how that affects my logistics but Arcade for breakfast on Friday sounds like a brilliant idea too.

codeDawg · Aug 30, 2011

Let me second that if you are looking for fine dining, eat at Iris. Kelly English knows what he is doing.

Some random additions:

Midtown:
D? Sushi: Sushi Fusion. Excellent, but not your typical sushi place.
Sweetgrass: Run by a Mississippi grad, but generally pretty good. Elevated southern cuisine. Very nice atmosphere. The good food is really good, the bad is really bad. It also has a nice sports bar next door called Next Door with the same kind of problem.
Memphis Pizza Cafe: Great option for college students. A mid-town staple for many, many years. It's cheap as hell, family friendly, full of hippies, and the pizza is pretty good.

Downtown:
Trolly Stop: More in the medical district than true downtown, but totally worth it. Some of the best thin crust pizza I have ever had including Italy. They also have a great general menu. Very casual, and very family friendly. This is a great Friday night option if you have kids under 12. The surroundings are a little sketchy looking, but it is safe.

olemissbydamn · Aug 30, 2011

Chef Kelly English is an old roommate of OP4's at OM.

TheCosmoKramer · Aug 30, 2011

I'll add a few thoughts, though without the fancy breakdown and links because I'm lazy.

In addition to the Central BBQ on Central near the Liberty Bowl, they have another location on Summer (the link above has directions to both locations). It's not as convenient to the game (but still not far) and the area around it is a little more working class (but still safe), but it's got quite a bit of room and good BBQ. If you have kids who might be running around, I think the Summer location is the better Central BBQ to go to.

I haven't eaten at Local on Main Street downtown, but I've heard a lot of good things about it. It's a gastropub.

Flight is fantastic. I can't recommend it enough.

I think Circa is actually in East Memphis, though barely.

And since you left off East Memphis, some other places I'd recommend are:

Folk's Folly (steakhouse)
Interim (fine dining)
Napa Cafe (fine dining)

Bryant's is great for breakfast, but I think they close by 2 p.m., if not earlier. They only take cash.

I'm sure I'm forgetting some.

codeDawg · Aug 30, 2011

If you are into pulled pork sandwitches and really like BBQ sauce, Tom's at Getwell and East Raines is really awesome. It is really out of the way, but their sauce is my second favorite behind Germantown Commissary.

redawg.sixpack · Aug 30, 2011

Folk's Folly and Interim areexcellentand I'd also add Andrew Michael. It is Italian and they specialize in pork.

ckDOG · Aug 30, 2011

I might add that if anyone is thinking about Iris, they better call right now and see if there are any reservations left. It's a small place and very popular.

Also, there's now a brand new Gus' fried chicken on Mendenhall between Poplar and Park. That would be a a cheap and fairly quick pre-game meal not terribly far from the stadium. It's bigger than the downtown location, but they managed to maintain the Gus' "atmosphere" - granted, it's MUCH more clean since it's a brand new building. I think they have $2.50 24 oz. PBR's as well...

AssEndDawg · Aug 30, 2011

codeDawg said:
Sweetgrass: Run by a Mississippi grad, but generally pretty good. Elevated southern cuisine. Very nice atmosphere. The good food is really good, the bad is really bad. It also has a nice sports bar next door called Next Door with the same kind of problem.

Trolly Stop: More in the medical district than true downtown, but totally worth it. Some of the best thin crust pizza I have ever had including Italy. They also have a great general menu. Very casual, and very family friendly. This is a great Friday night option if you have kids under 12. The surroundings are a little sketchy looking, but it is safe.

I love both these places. Trolly Stop is focused on fresh / organic food and it's really good. Sweetgrass is newer to midtown but I really enjoyed it on my first visit. Was on a first date though so my mind was busy figuring out how to get laid. I don't even remember what I ate.

PBRME · Aug 30, 2011

codeDawg said:
If you are into pulled pork sandwitches and really like BBQ sauce, Tom's at Getwell and East Raines is really awesome. It is really out of the way, but their sauce is my second favorite behind Germantown Commissary.

Yes!!!! Tom's bbq is great, if you can find it.

AssEndDawg · Aug 30, 2011

TheCosmoKramer said:
In addition to the Central BBQ on Central near the Liberty Bowl, they have another location on Summer

Interim (fine dining)
Napa Cafe (fine dining)

The Summer Central BBQ location is HUGE, so it probably is the better choice.

And I should be whipped for leaving off Interim and Napa Cafe. I eat Napa Cafe all the time for lunch and it is so good. They have the Chicken Roulade which is: "Crispy Chicken filled with goat cheese & roasted red pepper served with basil pesto. So damn good. I gotta eat there tomorrow.

Jacknut1 · Aug 30, 2011

Get the wings with the dry rub. They're spicy and I swear they put crack in that rub it's so good!

VegasDawg13 · Aug 30, 2011

BigMotherTucker · Aug 30, 2011

This comprehensive write up WILL get used by me and the wife.

Thank you sir.

Fresno Bob · Aug 30, 2011

I enjoyed it thorougly both upstairs and down.

Fresno Bob · Aug 30, 2011

I love what I've had to this point but always looking out for menu-specific recommendations?

tommyboy1520 · Aug 30, 2011

Breakfast at Arcade is great, but I contend that Bryant's on Summer is hands down the best. Second on the wings at Central BBQ on Summer. Shocked at how good they were. Dry rub all the way. I've never had the wings at the Central Ave. location, but I imagine they're the same.

I'd also like to throw out authentic mexican at Las Delicias at Getwell and Park. We all partake in "Mexican" dining around the south, but this place is the real deal, or at least as close as it gets without a passport. If you've ever eaten a meal in Mexico that wasn't part of your resort in Cancun, then you know how good it is. Go here.

tcb.sixpack · Aug 30, 2011

It's been a number of years since I left Memphis behind, but Blues City Cafe on the corner of Beale has (had?) the best tamales I've ever eaten.....

Optimus Prime 4 · Aug 30, 2011

[No message]

Optimus Prime 4 · Aug 30, 2011

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codeDawg · Aug 30, 2011

osso bucco, but I don't remember why. I had the duck one night and it looked (and felt) like it had been reheated for the third night in a row. It reminded me of a rotisserie chicken from Kroger on it's third day. I think my wife had the tuna on the same night and there was something wrong with it too. Maybe they were breaking in a new cook. It just seems like things like this have happened several times that I have been in there.

Last time I was in Next Door I had the corned beef sandwich which turned out to be a very average ruben. A guy with us has the frogmore soup which completely lacked seasoning, and my wife had the arugula salad which was swimming in a terrible dressing. She also added chicken to it for $5 and there were literally three tiny pieces of chicken in it. In the same visit my son threw up at the table. That was a top 5 bad lunch. I'm never eating in there again.

Despite all this bashing, I really have had some wonderful food there too. It's just not consistent, but the chef is young and he'll figure it out. It is worth going to Sweetgrass.

AlCoDog · Aug 30, 2011

Been there twice, and both times it was top 5 meals I've ever had. If I were rich, I would eat there 4 times a week.

The Peeper · Aug 30, 2011

that started it, North of St. Judes if I remember right. Its on the marathon course and it smelled some kind of good even at 8:00 or so in the a.m. I've seen reviews that were good and they have a website but can't remember it. They had smoked bbq baloney sandwiches, turkey legs, and some other odd stuff like that.

newyorkdawg · Aug 30, 2011

You can get great pulled pork at a lot of places in Memphis, but Cozy Corner has the Best Ribs I have ever eaten.

I have been to dozens of BBQ joints and smoke often myself. I've never had ribs anywhere else that are as good.

Cozy Corner is only open for lunch, until 3:00 pm I think, but it is worth the neighborhood. And yes, it is near St Judes and run by the widow and son of the founder.

My wife, who eats BBQ out of compassion for me, will go to Cozy Corner for every lunch she eats in Memphis.

The Peeper · Aug 30, 2011

interested:

http://www.cozycornerbbq.com/

AssEndDawg · Aug 30, 2011

One thing though, I don't consider Cozy Corner Memphis style BBQ. It's good, don't get me wrong, but it's open pit BBQ which is more Texas style. Memphis is slow cooked over indirect heat with some smoking in there. Damn good ribs though!

DesotoCountyDawg · Aug 30, 2011

Check outBrother Junipers

One of my favorite places to eat for breakfast.

gravedigger · Aug 30, 2011

it is all I crave and I lived in memphis for 8 years.

maroonmaniac · Aug 31, 2011

Another very good restaurantleft off the listwould be Andrew Michael's in East Memphis. Great wine list and the food is absolutely terrific. I concur on all other places mentioned in prior post...except for Tom's BBQ. I work for a retailer companyHQ'ed about 500 yards from this place and will tell you that it is absolutely disguisting. Worst BBQ in Memphis! Stick w/ Central!

MemphisMaroon · Aug 31, 2011

codeDawg said:
Sweetgrass: Run by a Mississippi grad, but generally pretty good. Elevated southern cuisine. Very nice atmosphere. The good food is really good, the bad is really bad. It also has a nice sports bar next door called Next Door with the same kind of problem.

Sweetgrass is a very trendy spot right now, I hated it. One of those places with "small plates" and "large plates" and I'm pretty sure the only meat on the menu was lamb. Overpriced and tiny portions, every chick I know seems to love the place. Stay away.

JackBauer.sixpack · Aug 31, 2011

Its on Madison so its not terribly out of the way and it often gets overlooked because of the "name" places.

Where to eat/drink in Memphis (LONG)

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