Memphis' Best Neighborhoods for Eating, Ranked

Memphis is go through a renaissance at the mo , with more and more new creatives planting their roots Downtown – or in the artsy , historicneighborhoodsaround Midtown . And with new house physician add up new creature comforts and attractions ( wheel lane , wienerwurst park , solid food trucks ) and , of course , voguish new restaurants and cocktail barroom . Memphis ’ food scene is rivet in those areas – Downtown and Midtown – with a small , yet phenomenal , exception in a pocket of East Memphis . Here ’s our ranked list of the top neighborhoods for dining in Memphis .

7. Crosstown

deposit around the one-time Sears Crosstown building – a long - defunct 1.4 million - satisfying - foot warehouse and retail store – is the Crosstown neighborhood , a diverse residential residential district of multitude from all income brackets . That monumental building is currently being recreate for a 2nd lifetime as Crosstown Concourse , a “ vertical urban hamlet ” with arts , medical , and education facility , apartment , restaurants , a gym , and more . That undertaking should wrap up in 2017 , but you do n’t have to hold off until then to notice amazing food in the surface area . Midtown Crossing Grillis the pizza pie parlor and neighborhood bar responsible for some of the unspoiled PIE in Memphis . The Artist Pizza , no doubt a nod to the expanse ’s status as a burgeoning liberal arts district , features a unique coupling of tomato jam , mozzarella , and chevre . Midtown Crossing also sport passel of vegan choice , include vegan cheese for pizzas and a bean curd banh mi sandwich . Just down the pulley block you ’ll rule authentic Middle Eastern felafel , fava bean swither , and kabobs atAl Rayan , a prima donna - y mom - and - pop .

6. Beale Street

Beale Street is a uncoiled - up tourist trap . But if you ’re pass through Memphis , it ’s a must - see just so you may say you ’ve partied on Beale . If you wade through the drove of partiers and shield your eye from the public eye of the shoot neon , you ’ll find some secret gems . Itta Benais a speakeasy - expressive style eating house located up the fire relief valve from B.B. King ’s Blues Club , and it offers a gourmet twisting on Lowcountry Southern menu ( think shrimp & grits or duck’s egg & waffles ) and helping hand - crafted cocktails . For a not - so - classy experience , do n’t missBlues City Cafe , home of gumbo cheeseflower small fry and Beale Street ’s best barbecue ribs .

5. South End

The South Main Arts District is home to art gallery , boutiques , and plenty of restaurants , includingSOB . It stick out for South of Beale , an appropriate name since the gastropub is literally in the south of the Beale Street Entertainment District . SOB boasts an imaginative card of fusion food , like Reuben egg rolls and Southern pet , like fried chicken & waffle . It also has an impressive batting order of specialty cocktails , like the salted caramel brown martini . Just a few blocks south of the nontextual matter strip is a former warehouse district that ’s been transformed into a residential domain with condos . There are n’t as many nightlife or dining choice on that end , but do n’t let that keep you away . It ’s deserving the stumble up the block to visitLoflin Yard , a unequalled outside bar and eatery with a covered patio , waterfall , drinking barn , and a monumental greenish space for lounging with a feeding bottle of vino ( from the grab - and - go case ) or one of Loflin ’s barrel - aged cocktail . There ’s a smokehouse on land site , so the kitchen is cranking out smoked brisket and pork tenderloin United States Post Office - boys .

4. Downtown Core

The central area of Downtown sees most of its natural process during the work workweek , as office prole jump in and out of eateries in the Main Street Mall – or in the skirt neighborhood for dejeuner or coffee . On Fridays , you ’ll see actor gather atFelicia Suzanne’s– typically more of a classy dinner party spot – for its once - a - week , Southern - inspired lunch special , like prawn & dumplings or creole - spiced catfish . Bonus : Felicia Suzanne ’s offers 25 - penny martini during Friday tiffin . There ’s spate happening in central Downtown after moody as well . For a casual night out , Bardogoffers local beer and puff transportation , like Grandma ’s Meatballs or the Mother Clucker crybaby sandwich . But if it ’s a date night you ’re after , schedule a booking forFlight Restaurant & Wine Bar . entry and wines are served in flights , which is a relievo for buffet car who have fuss make choices . For example , the Butcher ’s Flight have pork undercut , veal scallopini , and Australian lamb chop , and the seafood flight of stairs features peewee & grits , lobster gnocchi , and pan - seared sea escallop .

3. Cooper-Young

The Cooper - Young Historic District is hand - down the cool neighborhood in Memphis , with 1920s artisan - fashion bungalows , rainbow flag flying from every other porch , and a laid - back nightlife scene . The dining scenery is equally hip . Strano Sicilian Kitchen & Baroffers seasonally inspired Italian fare crafted with local element ( cerebrate roasted & stuffed acorn squash or pesto pick gnocchi).Sweet Grassfeels both informal and sophisticated with its daily ambiance and New American - style carte du jour of seasonal offering and tappa . For high - end Pacific Rim culinary art , Tsunamioffers a seafood - cloggy menu with a special izakaya menu that features snacks like bacon - wind dates or Asiatic nachos ( which are almost exactly like steady nachos , but more relative with the toppings ) .

2. Overton Square

Overton Square is the nerveless full cousin of Beale Street . It ’s the entertainment territorial dominion where locals go to imbibe and dine , and there ’s plenty to keep you busy all night . If you ’re looking for fine dining , make a reservation forRestaurant Iris– acclaimed chef Kelly English ’s upscale creole and Gallic restaurant ( the five - course degustation carte du jour offers diners a surprisal repast prepared according to the chef ’s whim ) . On a laid - back Friday night , grab a beer and a brisket grilled tall mallow atLocal Gastropub , or order a tapa plateful of tacos , guacamole ( made fresh at the board ) , and a TC Iced Tea ( unfermented afternoon tea vodka , quite a little , and lemon ) atBabalu Tacos & Tapas . Robata Ramen & Yakitori Baroffers up authentic Nipponese - style ramen and meat and vegetable skewers , plus it has a hearty selection of sake .

1. Brookhaven Circle

All of the spots boast thus far are located in Midtown or Downtown , both of which are regarded as being home to some of the best restaurants in the city . But there ’s one pocket “ out east , ” as Midtowners and Downtowners call it , that ’s worth the thrust . Along Brookhaven Circle in East Memphis , you ’ll feel two of Memphis ’ most acclaimed eateries –Hog & HominyandAndrew Michael Italian Kitchen . Both are endure by the same distich of lifelong best friends ( Andrew Ticer and Michael Hudman ) , and both offer a modern-day tailspin on the Italian menu they grew up eating with their families . Hog & Hominy is the more experimental of the two eating house and feature Italian food with a southerly twist ( mean cooky gnocchi with gripe short ribs ) , while Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen features more traditional dishes and some secret family formula , like Maw Maw ’s Ravioli with center gravy .

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Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen