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    Blues City Cafe

    4.0 (2k reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 1:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    BLUES CITY CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Blues City Cafe

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    Gumbo cheese fries
    Kelli D.

    Friendly reception at the door and great wait staff. Recommendations from the server help navigate the huge menu. Gumbo cheese fries were 10 out of 10. (I don't usually like gumbo and I could stop eating these.) Catfish combo and baby back ribs were outstanding. Even the red potatoes were done well. The coleslaw was almost dessert for us - creamy and sweet and chopped into perfect spoonful bites. Greens were good, but the chili is a must!! Kidney beans throughout -- finely ground beef -- poured over the bread or with hush puppies dunked into it was a great meal!

    Fish and ribs combo
    Alek H.

    The meat was falling off the the bone on my ribs. The chili fries were delicious to my surprise. Everything was surprisingly yummy and we were very impressed because honestly, we thought that this was going to be a tourist trap. From the hostess to the servers, and to some of the staff - service was hit or miss and it appeared that some of the staff had somewhat of an attitude. Also, some of the servers looked like total slobs who do not belong serving food. Otherwise, this place would've got five stars from us.

    Full rack ribs
    Chase F.

    Great BBQ? Depends on who you are. I was in Memphis for a night and asked the bartender where I should go. They said Blues City Cafe, I asked them about central bbq and they said that this place was better. Who am I to argue with a locals recommendation. So that's where we went. This place sits on Beale street and has been around for awhile. The restaurant is clean, and the staff was friendly. It was pretty busy so that is always a good sign. I was there for one thing and one thing only, RIBS! BBQ RIBS! I ordered the full rack of ribs with fries. It came with baked beans and coleslaw. The food came out about 10min or so later. Pretty quick in my opinion. The ribs looked great. They were charred on the top with bbq sauce and the smell was awesome. Now these ribs are fall off the bone ribs. Super tender and juicy but they do fall off the bone. I know that a rib that does that is overcooked but this is how they are made and it works. The ribs had good flavor with the bbq sauce they use, one thing I noticed was the lack of smoke flavor. I'm not sure if they smoke their ribs or not, if they do it's a light smoke or make just cooked over charcoal, not sure. But they did taste good, they were moist and tender, and they were very meaty. The baked beans and coleslaw were average. The beans tasted like Bush's baked beans and nothing amazing about the coleslaw. The fries were steak fries though and they were great. Crispy and hot and salted just right. Overall I think this place is ok. I myself want a smoked rib but these ribs were not bad At all. Also this place is open till 2am or later so it could be a great spot for a late night eat. Happy Eating!!!

    Yvonne D.

    I dined here about 3 times while visiting Memphis. First introduction was on a food tour. We had the infamous ribs, baked beans and coleslaw. The ribs fell off the bone! So I knew I was coming back for more. Then I came back just for dessert to try the apple dumpling. Served hot and bubbly so beware. This wasn't that sweet, so perfect for people who don't have a crazy sweet tooth or don't like overly sweet things. Then I came back for dinner and had the ribs and catfish and the brownie for dessert. The first few ribs I had were delicious but like the last two were on the drier side. The hush puppies it came with were delicious. Now the catfish.. omg so sweet and fried to perfection. The brownie was more my speed, sweeter compared to the apple dumpling. It was warm and gooey with lots of ice cream and fudge sauce! I always sat at the back bar with the tvs and the service was friendly and attentive. Clean bathrooms.

    Seafood stuffed mushrooms
    Nicole S.

    I used to love this place. Me and the girls would hop in the car and ride down to Memphis. This was always the first stop. Truthfully, I didn't want to eat here. Because it was on a decline last time my husband and I were here. He convinced me to give them another try. I had the cup of gumbo and the chicken strip platter. He got the shrimp. I feel like they fried them together because all of my food tasted fishy. The broth of the gumbo still had the peppery taste I liked from them but the other ingredients were not the best. The toast is still the best thing on the plate. They say is down by the band that was cool. Our waitress, Jordan was efficient. I was just so disappointed. One of my favorite places is now a place I would rather skip.

    Christopher S.

    The ribs are amazing. Great food right on Beale Street. Not busy when we went but the waiter made it seem like they get busy.

    Menu
    Ebony R.

    When we walked no one greeted us and we did not know whether to be seated are wait for someone. Someone finally came and sat the other couple behind us. The fish was a little light for my taste it still looked like the color of cornmeal. But the taste was okay I only ate one piece and took the rest to go. I didn't like the coleslaw or the potatoes they were to mushy I think they boiled to long and I had to add a lot of salt. I was out of my drink for atleast 7 mins before the waitress came by for me to ask her for another one.

    Beale street
    Teah W.

    Came on a Thursday around 2:30 it wasn't too packed. It took about 5 minutes overall to be seated and greeted. I thought the service was really good and I got the best meal of Beale that came with half rack of ribs, one piece of catfish , baked beams, coleslaw fries and a piece of bread. I do wish the bread was buttered on both sides and the ribs needed some seasoning but catfish was really good. And it wasn't loud

    Tamales and chili
    Krysten E.

    Living in Memphis, I've tried to stay away from Beale St because I didn't see the sense in fighting with tourists and less than appetizing drunk crowds. Our friends came in and wanted to check it out, and it seems I've been missing out on this cute spot. The wait staff was gracious, kind and friendly... even made some recommendations for music that evening. On to the food... gumbo fries were great, seafood stuffed mushrooms flavorful (get extra bread to sop that garlic butter), and the steak was great too. I was really surprised, happily so. Glad the place is such an ambassador for Memphis.

    Bbq pork fries
    Gidget F.

    This place was great. We started with the Seafood stuffed mushrooms really good we shared a half rack of The Ribs and they were Outstanding. I highly recommend this place.

    Pork chop
    Zoe B.

    History, live music, and fantastic southern food. I would go again in a heartbeat. It's a lot of food and you won't finish it, but you'll be glad to have leftovers later after listening to live music on Beale.

    The tamales and chili were my absolute favorite, of all time I do believe!
    Cindy P.

    Beale Street in Memphis is a tough one for food. It's all around the edges but within the road blocks, where all the lights are, it's a tough one! We found Blues City Cafe because the line outside of BB Kings was too long and it was too cold. So very thankful we did, it was amazing! I will forever crave those little paper wrapped tamales and chili and am kicking myself today for not getting a few orders to go!! The ribs are phenomenal, best we've had anywhere in a long time and BBQ is usually our go to. Steak fries, hot and crispy and a pork chop smokey and tender. Everything about our meal was top notch and our server Shaq made sure the entire experience was one to remember! We'll be back for sure, the tamales are calling my name! Oh, I left a little 3D print keychain, if you find it, let me know on FB at #3DFind!

    Kevin T.

    Great BBQ spot in Memphis, Tennessee. Ribs were tender and literally falling off the bone. Sides were good and rounded out the meal. Bathroom was really clean. Plenty of seating. My waitress was very nice and very attentive. I will definitely come back.

    Yummy ribs!!

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    1 month ago

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    19 days ago

    great service and amazing food, the ribs are great, the food came so quick great environment and live music so nice!

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    20 days ago

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    22 days ago

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    9 days ago

    Tasty fried catfish plate. It was my first time there and I will be back. Good portion size and the servers were friendly and attentive.

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    3 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    15 days ago

    Great food and amazing service. The ribs plate for two could have fed 3-4. The location right on Beale adds to the experience.

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    1 hour ago

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    7 days ago

    Shrimp was delish. Tamales not bad as group is from AZ. Loved the coleslaw. Waitress was the on the ball.

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    Blues City Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Blues City Cafe

    What makes this place a "southern" dining option? Looking for more Memphis soul food as I have some employees from out of town here. Thank you.

    Is this a kid friendly place until a certain time?

    It is kid friendly and friendly to all. Some of the nicest staff is the world. They will get you taken care of whether your party is large or small, young or old.

    Will there be music through the day or specific times for shows?

    The music is in the bar adjacent to the restaurant. There are two bar adjacent one on the left with no music and one on the right

    Do I need reservations?

    No u don't. We literally went from the airport checked in then went to the restaurant

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    Coastal Fish Company - Delicious

    Coastal Fish Company

    4.6(664 reviews)
    12.8 mi
    $$

    Coastal Fish Company is always a great spot for a romantic night out or a great dinner experience…read more For starters, we had the NOLA oysters, and they are probably my favorite oysters in Memphis. I love the sauce, and you can definitely tell the oysters are fresh. Next, we had the steak and mashed potatoes -- the steak was cooked perfectly and full of flavor. The lobster bisque was my starter, and it was honestly one of the best I've had in a while. The only small disappointment was the dessert , pineapple upside down cake. It seemed a little overcooked because it had a slightly burnt taste at the bottom. Overall, the service is always 10/10, and I'd give the food a solid 9/10. Definitely one of my favorite places in Memphis for a quality dining experience. i'd like to come back again and watch the sunset from the patio.

    I came to Coastal Fish Company for a special occasion after wanting to try it for years, and…read morehonestly the experience was really disappointing--especially the service. Our server was barely attentive to our table. She went around checking on other tables near us, but hardly came to ours at all. The only time she really interacted with us was when she brought the check. No follow-up, no asking how the food was, no drink refills--nothing. It honestly felt like we were overlooked the entire time. To make things worse, she wasn't even the one who brought out our food. Someone else dropped it off, and after that we were basically on our own. For a restaurant at this price point, I expected much more attentive and professional service. The food didn't make up for it either. I ordered the Chilean sea bass, and it was very underwhelming. The fish lacked flavor, the potatoes were soggy, and overall it just wasn't enjoyable. Definitely not what you expect for the price. Overall, between the inattentive service and the disappointing food, the experience just didn't live up to the hype at all.

    Photos
    Coastal Fish Company - Sunset view

    Sunset view

    Coastal Fish Company - Delicious

    Delicious

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    Porch and Parlor - Steak tar tar

    Porch and Parlor

    4.6(357 reviews)
    3.6 miMidtown
    $$$$

    This restaurant is a great place for family and friends to come together and enjoy themselves. My…read morefamily and i went to celebrate my cousin birthday on yesterday March 23, 2026. We have visit the restaurant for several occasion and never had an experience like this before this was embarrass and disgraceful. The server was great and the food was great. The problem I have is the manager (Mark) on duty was very rude and unprofessional toward my family. We were all talking and having a great time three of them were standing and talking to the each other and playing with the baby. He walked up and said to them you need to sit down right now. I think if there was a problem with anyone he could have came in a respectful way and said excuse me can you have a sit for me and lower your voices to respect the other people that are dinning in the area. This man was rude and stood on the side with his arms cross and watched my family this was wrong on every level that people in the restaurant start looking and talking which was so embarrassing to us. I think the company need to give each employee any manager some more training on how to connect, interact, and speak with customers. Thank you,

    Dinner at Porch and Parlor was wonderful. I have heard a lot of people say this is their favorite…read morerestaurant in Memphis. The food was great, and the service and ambience were fantastic as well, especially for our larger group. They also have a fantastic Whiskey selection. What I ate: Apps Bacon Rack 7/10 (Good, but a one time thing) Deviled Eggs 8/10 Fried Green Tomatoes 10/10 Main Cup of Lobster Bisque 9/10 Oxtail and Scallops 9/10

    Photos
    Porch and Parlor - Entrance

    Entrance

    Porch and Parlor - Lobster thermidore mushrooms

    Lobster thermidore mushrooms

    Porch and Parlor - IG: @foodsnoblegacy Potatoes Au Gratin

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    IG: @foodsnoblegacy Potatoes Au Gratin

    McEwen's Memphis - new signage

    McEwen's Memphis

    4.4(658 reviews)
    0.3 miDowntown
    $$

    This place was very interesting to me. The look and vibe of it was very nice. It is a more upscale…read morerestaurant which is always nice for a special evening out. The food however was honestly meh (in my opinion). I got a creole dish and to be fair my dish looked beautiful. The plating was 10/10 but the taste for me left something to be desired. After eating this dish I questioned if I even like creole sauce because it really just wasn't that good. If this is a preference issue, I honestly don't know. I also thought the charcuterie appetizer had a weird mix of items on it from club crackers, to meat and cheese, and random veggies. Not bad but just kind of a weird mix. My husband ordered the salmon and he said it was good, not the best he's had but it was good. Other friends of ours got the white fish among the many other dishes. I did have a salad with these apples on it which was incredibly yummy. I will say though my dish looked amazing some of the other dishes were not plated well. Not to nitpick but to want to be considered a more upscale restaurant which means charging guest more money than say a local Applebee's then knowing how to appropriately garnish or drizzle sauce to elevate at plate is important (see my picture of the chicken dish). All and all not my favorite restaurant but definitely not the worst!!

    Cozy little place located downtown. Went on a Saturday night and it wasn't too packed out. Since…read morewe had reservations, we were able to be sitted quickly. Waitress came over to introduce themselves and recommend us starters & drinks for the evening. Starters & Drinks: I ordered the Caesar salad & my man got the goat cheese salad. He ordered a blackberry smash while I got sprakling Pear. Took the waitress some time to come back over so we can order our main course. Took another 30-35 mins for the entrees to come out. Entree: creole spiced braised pork osso buco & short rib pasta. I give this place a 7.5/ 10 due to the food wait times. I will try on another day

    Photos
    McEwen's Memphis
    McEwen's Memphis - Long week in Memphis, dining at one of my favorites!

    Long week in Memphis, dining at one of my favorites!

    McEwen's Memphis - Complimentary biscuit

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    Flight Restaurant and Wine Bar - Flight of Grouper, Red Snapper, & Waygu Beef

    Flight Restaurant and Wine Bar

    4.6(1.7k reviews)
    0.3 miDowntown
    $$$

    Outstanding restaurant with educated servers who were helpful but not intrusive--that's a skill!!!…read more Love the concept of this restaurant with flights of food and wine! We had the bone marrow--delicious with an herb crust and the seafood flight appetizer, all excellent but the bbq shrimp was intoxicating! Exactly what bbq shrimp should be with a rich sauce, maybe with cognac added? Not sure, but I'm going on a treasure hunt for a recipe! The bubbles flight was fun--great start! Salad flight was a crisp palate refresher for the next two flights of red meat and fish! We loved the lobster ravioli and the Boursin filet, but the lobster Benedict will be in our dreams! The dessert flight was good with the crème Brûlée--avoid the peach cobbler since peaches are not yet in season! The lighting is perfect! Love how I could see the menu and my husband and still feel romantic! This restaurant would be competitive in NYC, so certainly a jewel in Memphis!

    After spending the past six days in Memphis, this spot easily stands out as one of the best dining…read moreexperiences in town. From the moment we arrived, the service was exceptional--our server was knowledgeable, attentive, and took the time to walk us through the menu with genuine enthusiasm. The lobster bisque was a standout--rich, perfectly balanced, and absolutely memorable. Every detail of the experience felt intentional and well-executed. What truly elevated the visit was the professionalism of the management team, who were present, polished, and clearly committed to delivering a high-level guest experience. Overall, an outstanding meal backed by top-tier service. Highly recommended. Restrooms are very clean and the decor is high end all the way

    Photos
    Flight Restaurant and Wine Bar - Outside

    Outside

    Flight Restaurant and Wine Bar - Lobster

    Lobster

    Flight Restaurant and Wine Bar - Blueberry strudel, Key lime pie, pecan cheesecake

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    Blueberry strudel, Key lime pie, pecan cheesecake

    Blues City Cafe - southern - Updated May 2026

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