CITY GUIDES | TENNESSEE
The Best Memphis Restaurants Don’t Stop at Barbecue
Sure, barbecue remains Memphis’ calling card. But chefs across the city have turned up the heat on an already sizzling dining scene.
By Rebecca Thompson
Updated Aug. 9, 2026
Amelia Gene’s
AUTHOR BIO: Rebecca Thompson has held many jobs over the years, from daily newspaper writer to middle-school math teacher. As a restaurant critic, she’s searched her home state of Texas for the best brisket and tacos and will gladly debate the merits of combining the two.
Barbecue smoke hangs over Memphis like the summer heat, and nobody would suggest clearing the air. Still, the best restaurants in Memphis have made the city one of the South’s more interesting places to eat, with black-truffle tortellini, smoked Cornish hens, and a bowl of corn mash that caught the attention of everyone. Anyone deciding where to eat in Memphis should arrive ready for ribs—and leave room for everything that comes after. Here are the best restaurants in Memphis right now.
Amelia Gene’s
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Downtown Memphis’ new fine‑dining destination, Amelia Gene’s occupies a beautifully repurposed 19th-century ironworks in One Beale. Executive chef Nate Henssler leads the kitchen with a philosophy of restraint—where each dish lets the ingredients shine. Think black sea bass with caviar and leek fondue, house-made pastas like saffron bucatini, and an ever-changing lineup that rewards curiosity.
Best for: Southern fine dining worthy of breaking out that gingham dress
The Bar-B-Q Shop
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A Midtown institution, The Bar-B-Q Shop serves some of Memphis's finest barbecue. Their signature dish, the Dancing Pigs sauce-slathered ribs, offers a perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors. The cozy, unpretentious atmosphere makes it a favorite among locals and visitors alike.
Best for: Dancing Rib sauce evangelists
The Beauty Shop
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Once Priscilla Presley’s salon, The Beauty Shop in Cooper-Young has retained its vintage vibe, complete with retro dryer chairs as seating. Chef Karen Carrier’s globally inspired menu shines with dishes like watermelon and wings and crispy duck spiced with cinnamon and paprika with whole-grilled Tennessee corn.
Best for: Dining in a vintage salon chair with chef‑driven global dishes
Bog & Barley
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A recent addition to East Memphis, Bog & Barley offers an authentic taste of Ireland. The family-owned spot features traditional Irish dishes and an extensive selection of whiskeys, wines, and cocktails. The cozy yet elegant décor complements the hearty fare.
Best for: Irish pub food with a whiskey chaser
Catherine & Mary’s
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Part of the Andrew Michael family, Catherine & Mary’s brings Italian soul food to downtown Memphis. Handmade pastas like the tortellini with black truffle and the rabbit sugo are deeply satisfying, as is the scallops, pictured above, with romesco, braised leeks, fermented pepper, and salsa verde. The wine list is no slouch either, so pace yourself.
Best for: When your pasta wants a side of soul
Cozy Corner
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In the North Memphis neighborhood, Cozy Corner is renowned for its Cornish hens and saucy smoked ribs. This family-owned spot has been serving authentic Memphis barbecue since 1977, and there are few places more synonymous with Memphis-style barbecue.
Best for: Cornish hens, BBQ spaghetti, and no nonsense
Flight Restaurant and Wine Bar
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If commitment issues plague your palate, Flight in downtown Memphis has your back. Their “flight” concept lets you sample three smaller portions of dishes, wines, and, as pictured here in all its glory, desserts. The lobster bisque, bison ribeye, and duck breast trio offer a culinary adventure without the need for a passport.
Best for: Commitment‑phobes who want to try everything
Hog & Hominy
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Memphis wouldn’t be the same without Hog & Hominy, a playful Italian-Southern hybrid. The red-eye gravy gnocchi and the wood-fired pizzas are fan favorites, but the dessert—olive oil cake with mascarpone—is the real dark horse. This is a city well-versed in modern takes on Southern ingredients, but the pizza pies and composed plates like shrimp and grits at Hog & Hominy are simply some of the best examples of what Memphis does best.
Best for: Pizza lovers who secretly also want shrimp and grits
The Lobbyist
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Inside the old Chisca Hotel, chef Jimmy Gentry has built The Lobbyist around the produce that comes through Memphis, with dishes like roast potatoes tossed in masala and fermented sweet potato with gochujang caramel, lime, and sesame. His signature is the corn mash, a bowl of stone-ground grits covered with roasted squash, bacon jus, burnt onion oil, and pepitas that The New York Times named one of the country’s best dishes of 2024. Michelin came calling the following year, and Gentry became a James Beard Award semifinalist in 2026, all evidence that this might be the hottest Memphis restaurant of the moment.
Best for: Finding out why everyone keeps talking about the corn mash
SOB – South of Beale
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Gastropub meets foodie haven at SOB’s two locations. The duck fried rice is a standout, and the burger—crowned with brie and onion jam—is pure decadence. With its laid-back vibe and serious food, this downtown spot is a perennial favorite.
Best for: Gastropub fare with ambition
Southern Social
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In Germantown, Southern Social brings polished Southern fare to the suburbs. The bourbon-glazed pork chop could convert a lifelong vegetarian, and the shrimp and grits have enough smoky heat to keep you reaching for that second cocktail.
Best for: Suburban swagger and refined Southern dishes
Tamboli’s
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At Tamboli’s Pasta & Pizza, fresh pasta and wood-fired pizzas steal the show. This Midtown staple combines sustainable practices with Italian comfort food. The cacio e pepe pizza, dusted with black pepper and Pecorino Romano, is proof that simplicity wins.
Best for: Mid‑town crowds who worship wood‑fired simplicity
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