So, I don't make a big secret of the fact that I LOVE to eat. Going out for a meal is one of my favorite things to do. I just find it relaxing and fun to have someone else cook my choice of a meal and then clean up after me. I'm always looking for recommendations for new places to try so feel free to comment on your favorites!
Disclaimer: I realize that a couple of the restaurants on my list are chain restaurants and are not unique to Memphis but hey, I like what I like. :)
10. Lee Kan's Asian Grill
255 New Byhalia Road #111
Collierville, TN
My favorite menu items at Lee Kan's are the firecracker shrimp, egg rolls, and sweet and sour chicken. I don't like sushi but they also have a great selection of sushi rolls. My sushi loving friends rave about Lee Kan's Velvet Roll. Prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is nice.
9. Olive Garden
All over the city though we tend to like Wolfchase
This is on my list because who doesn't love endless salad and breadsticks?! I also happen to really like their entrees. I usually stick with The Tour of Italy because I like the variety. I also cannot leave without a piece of the Black Tie Mousse Cake. It is one of my favorite desserts of all time.
8. Huey's
Also all of the city and I think I've eaten at all of them and never had a bad meal
I cannot go to this restaurant and not get a burger--it just seems sacrilegious. The Huey Burger is my fave with cheddar or swiss and some yummy steak fries and a pickle spear.
7. The Grapevine Tea Room
6286 Chester Street
Arlington, TN
This little tea room is just cute and cozy. It is ranked #3 of 40 tea rooms in Tennessee. They serve the most amazing little cheese biscuits as a starter. You will find salads, soups, and sandwiches on the menu. Their homemade chicken salad and pimiento cheese are to die for. They also make a delicious caramel pie.
6. Central BBQ
2249 Central Ave (I just prefer this location but there is also one on Summer Ave)
It's all good! I really love the sausage and cheese plate, pulled pork sandwich, and the ribs, of course!
5. Swanky's Taco Shop
6641 Poplar Ave (I prefer this location to the newer one further west on Poplar)
Germantown, TN
This is a restaurant that my whole family can always agree on. Ava loves their chips and queso. I have had their taco salad, tacos, chicken quesadillas, and nachos and they have all been fabulous. Very reasonable as my family can eat there for under $30.
4. Bonefish Grill
Another chain with 2 Memphis locations--Cordova and Collierville
BANG BANG SHRIMP!!!!!! I cannot go to Bonefish and not start with this as an appetizer. YUM! I always get either the Chilean Sea Bass or the Imperial Longfin as my entree.
3. The Little Tea Shop
69 Monroe
Downtown Memphis
This is the oldest restaurant in Memphis having been open since 1918. When you go in they have their daily menu "ballot" on your table. You take your little golf pencil and go through and check off what you would like to eat. Everything here is homemade fresh every day. The owner, Miss Sue and her husband, live above the restaurant and she gets up every day and begins cooking by 5. The Little Tea Shop is only open for lunch (11-2 pm). You start with warm, crumbly corn bread sticks. Everything is awesome but the Lacy Special is where it's really at--chicken, rice, and gravy also with delicious veggies. This is Southern comfort food at its best. Before you leave, try the frozen pecan ball covered in hot fudge.
2. Folk's Folly
551 South Mendenhall
Memphis, TN
Kevin and I love to splurge a little and go here occasionally (when I say splurge, we usually don't get out of here for much under $200). I love the fried dill pickles and calamari for appetizers but my heart belongs to the catfish beignets. I move along to the caesar salad before my favorite, the Maker's Mark Medallions. Medallions of filet mignon seasoned with salt and cracked pepper on top of a Maker's Mark peppercorn sauce. Be still my beating heart!!! I am such a steak and potatoes girl! We love the twice baked potatoes and then I round it all out with a piece of cheesecake or Southern pecan pie.
1. Jim's Place Restaurant
518 Perkins Extended
Memphis, TN
I remember eating at Jim's about 20 years ago with my parents for the first time. I fell in love then. Fortunately, this is also one of Kevin's favorite restaurants. Jim's recently moved across town to a new location. The atmosphere is completely different in the new place--Jim's went from a quaint, creaky, old house to a sleek, shiny, uptown bar. That's fine with me, as long as the food doesn't change, which it hasn't. I love munching on their crunchy, crouton-like bread while I'm waiting for my meal. We always start with the Souflima as an appetizer. You won't find this on a menu anywhere else as it is a family recipe of rotisseried pork tenderloin that will melt in your mouth. I am also a huge fan of Jim's house salad dressing. It is like a kicked-up Thousand Island that I have just about figured out how to duplicate to perfection (I'll post the recipe another day). My favorite entrees here are the parmesan chicken, the pecan crusted catfish, and the filet bearnaise. You can't go wrong with any of the desserts either.
If we cook at home but are just in the mood to go somewhere for dessert, I like to go to the Cheesecake Corner (downtown on G E Patterson), YoLo for some great frozen yogurt and local toppings, or Gigi's Cupcakes (the Southern Comfort is my all time favorite)!
Well, all this has definitely made me hungry. Definitely time to scrounge up some dinner--too bad it won't be from any of these places!
What are your favorite Memphis restaurants?
Is the Grove Grill still there? I used to like Buckley's. Bon Thai? The Cottage...all you can eat fried chicken? Brad's BBQ in Bartlett? Those are places I miss.
ReplyDeleteAmber McG
Yep, there are all still here. I recently went to a baby shower at the Grove Grill and Buckley's almost made my top ten. I've never eaten at The Cottage but it sounds like something I would want to try.
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