Here are some of the best places to eat and drink in Memphis!
The Bar-B-Q Shop
1782 Madison Ave, Memphis, TN 38104; (901) 272-1277
The Bar-B-Q Shop, voted #1 ribs in America by the Food Network’s “Top Five Restaurants.” Located at 1782 Madison Ave, in the heart of Midtown, less than a mile from the Overton Square Entertainment District. “The Shop” is a local Memphis barbecue eatery that opened in November of 1987. It is a place known for real-pit barbecue with old fashioned barbecue sauces and cole slaw that are made from scratch.
Located at 1782 Madison Ave. next door to the Madison Place Apartments. Best things to try include their ribs, the pulled pork sandwich on Texas toast, and their famous BBQ Spaghetti! You can also purchase a bottle of their dry rub and their BBQ sauce when you visit.
Boscos
2120 Madison Ave, Memphis, TN 38104; (901) 432-2222
Locally brewed craft beers, cask ales & wood-fired pizzas, and Sunday jazz brunch. Great patio for when the weather is begging you to come outside.
The PERFECT casual dining spot. Boscos features a variety of in house craft beer that perfectly compliments any dish on the menu. The wood fire oven pizzas are simply made and simply delicious! Go on Sundays to enjoy live jazz and one of the best brunches in town! Check out their menu here.
The Rendezvous
52 S 2nd St, Memphis, TN 38103; (901) 523-2746
The Rendezvous offers classic Memphis style BBQ, and for many, the best ribs in Memphis!
In 1948, Charlie Vergos cleaned out a basement below his diner, discovered a coal chute, and started a legend. The coal chute gave him a vent for his considerable talent over a grill, and allowed him to expand from ham-and-cheese sandwiches to ribs.Today, several thousand people on an average Saturday night pour into our basement and sink their teeth into a slab of what makes Memphis, well, Memphis.
For decades, this basement based restaurant has delivered the spirit of Memphis style BBQ to locals and travelers. Start with a cheese plate and move on to a “full order” (ribs). You won’t be disappointed!
Memphis Pizza Café
2087 Madison Ave, Memphis, TN 38104; Hours: 11AM – 10PM; Website
For over 25 years, Memphis Pizza Café has been voted one of the best pizzerias in Memphis. It’s original location in Overton Square (Jan. 1995) remains a staple in the restaurant community and a favorite among locals. They are known for their thin-crust style pizzas, and fresh ingredients. The pizza dough is made daily (never frozen), and they receive grocery deliveries several times each week to ensure they use the freshest meats, cheeses, and vegetables.
Beauty Shop
966 Cooper St. Memphis, TN 38104; (901) 272-7111; Website
“At this offbeat restaurant, the décor pays homage to the space’s beauty parlor past, while the food offers flavors from around the globe. The Beauty Shop’s fabulous menu is not for the faint of flavor. The cuisine is clean-cut sophistication. The sights, scents and flavors of the Beauty Shop are both bold and quirky, and make for an out of the ordinary dining experience. The menu has a down home American stance with world-beat tints and edges.”
HOURS:
Lunch: Monday-Saturday 11-2
DInner: Monday-Thursday 5-10
DInner: Monday-Saturday 5-11
Brunch: Sunday 10-3
Babalu
2115 Madison Ave, Memphis, TN 38104; (901) 274-0100
Babalu serves inventive Southern-influenced tacos, tapas & cocktails served in lively, modern digs. Today, Overton Square is once again transforming itself into an entertainment mecca. After sharing a plate of gourmet tacos and a round of hand-crafted cocktails at Babalu, check out a live show or shop at one of the unique boutiques in the area.
Tsunami
928 Cooper St, Memphis, TN 38104; (901) 274-2556
“Tsunami, the brainchild of Chef Ben Smith, opened its doors on July 14, 1998. Smith drew inspiration from his travels to New York, California, Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia, and Hawaii to create a new, one-of-a-kind dining spot in his hometown of Memphis.
Tsunami’s daily changing Small Plate menu is designed to take advantage of the freshest seafood and seasonal offerings from the growing number of farmers and food producers in the rich Mississippi Delta area. Our proximity to the FedEx hub here in Memphis guarantees that we have access to a diverse plethora of amazing seafood from around the world delivered within hours of being pulled from the water.”
Bayou Bar & Grill
2094 Madison Ave., Memphis, TN 38104; Website
The Bayou Bar & Grill offers New Orleans style Cajun specialties like Muffalettas, Po-Boys, Jambalaya, Gumbo, Oysters, Etouffee, Red Beans & Rice, and much more!
Head to Midtown’s only true sports bar to catch your favorite team or game on one of our seven HD TVs, or on one of our two 120” HD projector screens. They also offer all the Direct TV packages including the NFL, NBA, & MLB.
Hours: Mon-Sat 11AM-12AM. Sunday 11AM-9PM
La Baguette
3088 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN 38111; (901) 458-0900
Since 1976, La Baguette has been pleasing the palates of Memphis. When you walk through the doors of La Baguette, the first thing you notice is the fragrance – a warm, wonderful, can’t-wait-to-eat-this smell that beckons you in. It lingers in our bakery case, where you’ll find an array of chocolaty, fruity, almond-y, sugary goodness.
Located in Chickasaw Oaks Plaza at 3088 Poplar Ave. The perfect dine in, or grab-and-go cafe for breakfast. Try one of their freshly baked croissant sandwiches, and pastries. They also sell 1 day old baked loaves of bread for cheap!