Heading to Memphis and looking for restaurant recommendations.

Budgeezer

Hey guys we are in another rally that will have us in the Memphis area for a few days of fun.  Looking for a few restaurants to check out. We like all kinds of different food/cocktails. TIA

REB17

It's not bbq and a little pricey but my favorite place in Memphis is Flights. Downtown on Main.

1voyager

Melissa Cookston's Memphis Barbecue Company. It's located in Horn Lake, Mississippi, 22 miles from downtown Memphis. It's worth the short drive. Fabulous BBQ.

mEGG_My_Day

Agree that Flight is a great place.   If you like Thai food, Bhan Thai is excellent (in midtown).  Tsunami is always solid in the Cooper Young neighborhood.  Gus’s fried chicken was mentioned in an earlier thread - it’s a dive, but great chicken. 

Post which part of town are you staying and I can get a bit more specific. 

Budgeezer

@mEGG_My_Day we will be staying right off of Beale  Street.  Appreciate you recommendations.

saluki2007

Central BBQ, Gus's, Majestic are top notch.  

Budgeezer

@saluki2007 Thanks for the recommendations.  They are look great, Gus's looks awesome!

REB17

Gus's is definitely a must but either get there early, 11-11:30 or after 1:30 for lunch.

mEGG_My_Day

Budgeezer said:

@mEGG_My_Day we will be staying right off of Beale  Street.  Appreciate you recommendations.

I’ll post some more as they come to me, but you should really go get a drink at least at Itta Bena. It is very close to your hotel on the second floor above B.B.kings at Beale and Second street.  There is no signage, they really don’t advertise and the entrance is somewhat hidden.  So ask at your hotel, or go into B.B. Kings and ask them how to get up there.  Kinda has a speakeasy feel and they often have a live piano player/vocalist. Very cool place with a more upscale feel than the rest of Beale Street. 

Carolina Q

Don't bother with Rendezvous. Cool place, walking distance from BB King's on Beale St. But the ribs... no thanks. 

saluki2007

Agree with Itta Bena. And if you are looking for somewhere to "lay low" for a minute on Beale go-to the Absinth Room. 

dmchicago

Been years but is Automatic Slims still open?

mEGG_My_Day

dmchicago said:

Been years but is Automatic Slims still open?

Yes - but you just don’t here of folks going there anymore.  Probably been 15 years since I went in there. 

leemschu

I like Gus’s first, cozy corner bbq second, Texas de Brazil third (at lunch half price).

Budgeezer

@leemschu appreciate your input! 

hogfan412

Ok...Live an hour outside Memphis.   It is where we go to have fun.

Gus's.   Must have.

BBQ Shop.   Best BBQ in Memphis.

Blues City Cafe on Beale - solid eats and drinks.

Have fun - the city is fun.

leemschu

Budgeezer said:

@leemschu appreciate your input! 

Just a warning if you go to Gus’s to get to eager because it will be fresh out of the fryer and will make the skin in the roof of you mouth hang like curtains.

jdm78

Central BBQ

dannys

Just got back from a wedding in Memphis. Went to Central Market for BBQ and Second Line for lunch. Stay away from both. I've had better BBQ here in Mass (and MUCH better in Austin, etc.) and the lunch at 2nd line was mediocre at best.

saluki2007

3 more recommendations I forgot about.  Go to Pearl's and get some Char-grill oysters and you have to go to the Arcade for breakfast.  If you need a late night burger (like after 11) go to Earnestine and Hazel.

HellrodKC

If you are looking for a late night grease-bomb meal, check out Dyer's burgers on Beale Street. 

Budgeezer

@saluki2007 thanks for adding to the list!  Can't wait to check it out!

whitmans77

Not BBQ but check out Chings wings and get the honey gold sauce

Foghorn

Is Paulette's still good?  When I lived there it was the best meal for the money in that town.  Same quality as the most expensive restaurants in town at about 2/3 the price - or less.

And Cozy Corner would be highest on my BBQ list just because it's such a dive.

thetrim

+1 for Central.  Did anyone mention Rendezvous yet?

OshawaDave

Was in Memphis in 2017 and Central was good. for a great burger and comfort food try Hueys downtown

https://hueyburger.com/

BLDGMAN

If you’re going though Jackson stop at exit 87 BBQ stand on I-40. 

Markarm4119

I don't know if there still open, but Grisanti's used to have great Italian food.

Hairless_Hand

Payne’s BBQ 

Budgeezer

Thanks for all the suggestions.  Heading out later this week.