Downtown and Midtown Memphis Dining GuideDee Garceau and Timothy Huebner |
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Key: Closest to the Marriot Convention Center (within walking distance or a short trolley ride) Café Francisco $ Ȃ 400 N. Main, (901) 578-8002. On the trolley line in the historic Pinch District, three blocks north of the Marriott, one block east of The Pyramid. European-style cafe, coffee roastery, sandwiches, salads, breakfast, espresso, antique mall, stock ticker board, DSL connection, and free parking. A great place for convention-goers to meet. Erika's $ • 52 South Second, (901) 526-5522. Deutschland comes to the table with traditional German fare, such as sauerbraten, wiener schnitzels, streusel, dumplings, and, of course, bratwurst and "bier"! Grill 83 $$ • 83 Madison Ave., The Madison Hotel, (901) 333-1224. New to the downtown restaurant scene, this high-end restaurant claims to offer the ultimate dining experience in Memphis. Specializing in steak and fresh seafood. Reservations recommended. High Point Pinch $ • 111 Jackson, (901) 525-4444. Featuring one-of-a-kind specialty sausages: Polish, Bratwurst, Chorizo, and Italian. Also a variety of sandwiches, appetizers, and salads. "Pride of the Pinch." Kudzu's Bar & Grill $ • 603 Monroe (901) 525-4924. Live music Thursday through Saturday. Homemade soups and desserts. Great burgers, grilled chicken, Philly sandwiches, tuna, tamales, salads, and steak. The Map Room $ • 2 S. Main Street (corner of Madison and Main), (901) 579-9924. A cool place for coffee, music, or just to hang out. Also offers information about Memphis and city tours for the curious. McEwan's on Monroe $$ • 122 Monroe, (901) 527-7085. Offers fine "contemporary southern cuisine" at reasonable prices for lunch. Dinner is a bit more expensive. Dinner reservations recommended. The North End $ • N. Main, (901) 526-0319. Located in the historic Pinch District, one block north of the Cook Convention Center. Lots of imported beers, famous Hot Fudge Pie, wild rice dishes, burgers, and sandwiches. Good for the grad student budget. T. J. Mulligan's $ • 362 N. Main, (901) 523-1453. Close to Convention Center in Pinch District, across from Pyramid. Features outdoor patio and weekend entertainment. "Cold brew, great stew." Wall Street Deli $ • 103 N. Main, (901) 528-0875. New York-style deli with salad/pasta bar, fresh baked breads, muffins, and bagels. Yellow Rose Café $ • 56 N. Main, (901) 527-5692. Country ham with red-eye gravy. Homestyle plate lunches, sandwiches, salads, homemade desserts. Union Avenue and South (a trolley ride from the Convention Center, mostly near the Peabody Hotel) The Arcade $ • 540 S. Main, (901) 526-5757. A Memphis landmark, the Arcade is the oldest dining establishment in Memphis. Sandwiches, pizzas, sides. Located right across from the National Civil Rights Museum. Automatic Slims $$ • 83 S. Second, (901) 525-7948. An odd name and distinctive cuisine earned this small restaurant a big reputation. Everything about it is calculated to awaken the senses. Décor resembles an Art Deco coffee house in Pompano Beach. Recipes hail from Latin America and the Caribbean. This is a popular spot, so expect crowds, and the bar does allow cigars. Reservations recommended. B.B. King's Blues Club $ • 143 Beale Street, (901) 524-5464. A world-famous landmark on Beale. Pub grub and great music. Maybe you'll even spot B.B. Blues City Café $ • 138 Beale, (901) 526-3637. Open early for lunch and late night for dinner. A "great meal on Beale," from BBQ ribs and hot tamales to steaks. Live entertainment nightly in the Bandbox. Buckley's $ Ȃ 117 Union, (901) 578-9001. Home of the classic filet mignon. Are you tired of wan, vegetarian menus? Do you hanker for a fine cut of beef, tender and cooked to your liking? Go to Buckley's. Here you will find a limited but hearty menu. This is a Norman Rockwell table updated with a few contemporary touches. To complement your filet, sample the garlic mashed potatoes or the homemade ravioli soup. Service is cordial; the décor, white table; and the atmosphere, dignified. Located one block west of the Peabody. The Butcher Shop Steak House $$ • 101 S. Front (1/2 block south of Union), (901) 521-0856 Incomparably thick, juicy steak dinners. 8-oz. filet mignon to 30-oz. Also serves fresh fish, chicken, and prime rib. Café Samovar $$ • 83 Union, (901) 529-9607. Unique Russian cuisine with a romantic atmosphere. Full bar with the biggest vodka selection in Memphis. Belly dancers and live Russian music Friday and Saturday. Capriccio Restaurant, Bar and Café $$ • The Peabody Hotel, 149 Union, (901) 529-4199. Open daily, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late night. Tuscany comes to The Peabody as extraordinary cuisine in a uniquely chic atmosphere. Weekend live music in Capriccio bar. Famous Peabody pastries in Capriccio Café. Center for Southern Folklore Café $ • 119 S. Main (901) 869-5623. A quaint place where delicious Southern specialties and live music make lunch a great experience. While there, enjoy the unique folklore store and gallery. Smoke-free. Chez Philippe $$$ • The Peabody Hotel, 149 Union (901) 529-4188. Peabody's signature restaurant is the epitome of exquisite dining. Impeccable service, distinguished wines, and a wonderful atmosphere. Chez Philippe is the Mid-South's only Mobil Four-Star restaurant. Elliott's Restaurant $ • 16 S. Second, (901) 525-4895. Gourmet burgers, salad bar, variety of sandwiches, soup, baked potatoes. "The Best Burgers in Memphis." Elvis Presley's Memphis $ Ȃ 126 Beale, (901) 527-6900. Go for the ambience, all you Elvis lovers, and to say that you've been! Peanut butter and banana sandwiches, BBQ, and more! Exlines Best Pizza - Downtown $ • 103 S. Court Square, (901) 543-9477. Delicious pizza, salads, sandwiches, appetizers, and pasta dishes. Front St. Deli $ • 77 S. Front (901) 522-8943. Memphis's oldest delicatessen, since 1976. Hot/cold sandwiches, plate lunches, homemade desserts and salads. Beer served. Sidewalk café. Gus's Fried Chicken $ Ȃ 310 S. Front, (901) 527-4877. Absolutely the best fried chicken you will ever eat. If you want an authentic Memphis experience, don't miss this place. Huey's $ • 77 S. Second St., across from the Peabody Hotel, (901) 527-2700. The best place in Memphis for beer and a burger. Don't leave without shooting a toothpick into the ceiling. Isaac Hayes Music Food Passion $$ • 150 Peabody Place, (901) 529-9222. Live entertainment during brunch! Get into the soul of Memphis. Feast on lip smackin' cuisine such as smoky barbecue beef brisket, turkey meatloaf, or one of Isaac's own specialties! Live entertainment seven nights a week. And, yes, you may see Isaac Hayes. King's Palace Café $ • 162 Beale, (901) 521-1851. Live R&B and Memphis music nightly. Home of championship gumbo. Dining and entertainment in the tradition that made Beale Street famous. Enjoy the Beale Street Tap Room, serving more than 139 beers from around the world. Marmalade $ • 153 G.E. Patterson, (901) 522-8800. Southern food-pork chops, catfish, chicken, and fresh vegetables. Memphis music: live blues and jazz. Full bar. Free parking. The Pier $$ • Wagner (901) 526-7381. Fresh seafood, prime rib, and steaks in a historic, nautical atmosphere, overlooking the Mississippi River at Union and Riverside. The Rendezvous $ • 52 S. Second St., (901) 523-2746. One of Memphis's best-known restaurants, the Rendezvous serves the most delicious dry BBQ ribs you'll ever eat. Located just across from the Peabody and next to the Holiday Inn select. Enter through the alley. Just follow the scent of great BBQ. Rialto Restaurant & Bar $$ • Gayoso House at Peabody Place, (901) 432-3675. Italian and Mediterranean cuisines, as well as extensive specialty beverage list. Guests will also enjoy live entertainment at "Downtown Memphis's finest piano bar." Rum Boogie Café $ • 82 Beale (901) 528-0150. Blue plate lunch offers, championship gumbo (four years running), BBQ ribs and chicken, and world-famous red beans and rice. A true Southern dining experience with nightly music. Full bar/casual dress. Sawaddii $ Ȃ 121 Union Ave., (901) 529-1818. Features authentic Thai food made from fresh ingredients, at reasonable prices. Serene décor and pleasant service make Sawaddi a classy retreat from the bustle of downtown Memphis. Try the Shrimp Masana or the spicy lamb with red pepper. Bring your friends; you won't be disappointed! Located a block west of the Peabody Hotel. Sekisui $ • Union at Second, Holiday Inn Select, (901) 523-0001. Authentic Japanese cuisine, including a sushi bar. Shane Battier's Prime Minister's $$$ • 135 S. Main, Pembroke Square, (901) 432-3675. This new restaurant owned by the former Duke and current Memphis Grizzlie star specializes in steaks, including the 24-oz. Cowboy-cut ribeye. Sleep Out Louie's $ • 18 Union (901) 527-5337. Fresh oysters, cold beer, and patio make for one of Downtown's most popular destinations Brunch, lunch, happy hour, and dinner. Spaghetti Warehouse Italian Grill $ • 40 W. Huling, (901) 521-0907. Good Italian food, featuring grilled dishes and pizzas. Texas de Brazil $$ Ȃ 150 Peabody Place, (901) 526-7600. An upscale Brazilian-style grill house, featuring seasoned meats, side dishes, and salads. Wang's $ • 1 Beale, (901) 543-8388. Great Chinese. Full-service bar, live piano music, convenient parking. Located where Beale Street meets the River. Zanzibar $$ • 412 S. Main, (901) 543-9646. Hot and cold coffees, imported teas, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Lunch and dinner menus combine ingredients and techniques with a Caribbean twist. International wine selection. Sunday Brunch. Live Jazz Thursdays at 8pm. Very cool place in the South Main Art District. Midtown (short cab ride) The BBQ Shop $ • 1782 Madison, (901) 272-1277. A regular winner in the category of "Best BBQ Sandwich in Memphis." About four miles east of convention center in midtown. Free parking. A favorite lunch spot of the Rhodes History Department. Boscos Squared $$ • 2120 Madison, Overton Square, about four miles east of downtown, (901) 432-2222. Features pasta, seafood, steaks and sixteen varieties of pizza. And many more varieties of freshly-brewed beer! The Brushmark $ • 1934 Poplar, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, (901) 722-3555. Affordably priced, delicious luncheons served in one of the city's most beautiful settings. Outdoor dining, weather permitting. About four miles east of convention center in midtown. Free parking. Cielo $$$ Ȃ 679 Adams, (901) 524-1886. This restaurant in the Victorian Village section of town offers a changing seasonal menu and a beautiful, historic atmosphere. Nightly seafood specials. Hatley's Garage $ • 1761 Madison, (901) 726-3000. A unique place for lunch or dinner-located in an old gas station/garage. About four miles east of downtown. Neely's BBQ $ • 670 Jefferson, (901) 521-9798. Another great place for BBQ in Memphis. Located in the medical center district, just east of downtown. Free parking. Paulette's $$ Ȃ 2110 Madison, Overton Square, about 4 miles east of downtown, (901) 726-5128. Fine dining with a French flair, including steaks, chicken, seafood, crepes, and rich desserts. Reservations recommended. Free parking. Tsunami $$ Ȃ 928 S. Cooper, Cooper-Young Historic District, about four miles southeast of Convention Center, (901) 274-2556. Specializes in Pacific Rim cuisine. Free parking. Dee Garceau and Timothy Huebner are both associate professors of history at Rhodes College, in Memphis.
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