We drove to Graceland and found it was closed so we headed to Beale st and found this place. We had ribs, gumbo and catfish. We delicious food and food service. read more

Blues City Cafe - Gumbo - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

See all

We asked during check in our hotel and without hesitation the answer was Blues City Cafe. My boyfriend wanted to go to the BB King place but because Blues City was recommended we went there. The service was great. John Joe was our waiter and he was awesome. Super friendly and casual. I like when I just meet someone and I feel like we have known each other for years. John Joe got us. He was on top of it and getting us things before we even had to ask. The food was amazing. Ribs, fried chicken tenders, greens, fried catfish, French fries, potatoes, and desserts. The only think I didn't like was the apple dumpling. I feel bad saying that because everything was so good. We got pecan pie and that was excellent! We have been driving around the country for 8 days and this was our favorite restaurant this trip (so far). read more

I really enjoyed the gumbo and the catfish was fried well but lightly seasoned and not enjoyable without hot sauce. Everything else was just ok, service included. read more

See all

We were in Memphis for a conference and had the chance to eat a meal before we checked in. My cousin recommended Blues City Cafe. Now I'll know not to trust his opinion. We got there around 2 on a Thursday afternoon. Not very many people there, but it was an off time. Our waiter seated us and was pretty friendly and helpful. I ordered the rib plate and added a piece of catfish for my wife. She said it was ok. Everything else was barely warm and not very good. Ribs were sauced and were very fatty. Fries and hush puppies were old and cold. Baked beans had much too much of a green pepper flavor for me. I just wouldn't try this again, I'd say there are many better options close by. read more

See all

Delicious! Sea food gumbo was great and the fish was so fresh! Christian was our sever and he made great suggestions 10 out of 10

The ribs were delicious. Fall off the bone tender. Local draft beer was good. Service was good and friendly. Sit down diner atmosphere.

Oh love this place. Service was great and people were great. Food is super delicious. This is a must stop place. Caesar salad dressing bomb. Friend chicken bomb. Collard greens bomb. I think we got pulled pork it was bomb. Picture looks okay but taste was phenomenal. read more

Blues City Cafe - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Our first stop in Memphis. Started with the seafood stuffed mushrooms and gumbo cheese fries. For entrees we got a house salad and the "Beale Street Platter" which was half rack ribs, catfish, coleslaw, baked beans, Texas toast and choice of fries, potatoes or green beans. So much food! Everything was very good and the meat on the ribs literally falls off the bone. Good service and the food came out really quickly. Location is right on the corner of Beale Street. read more

See all

Blues City Cafe was recommended by the Mississippi cruise tour guide and my group and I are glad he did. The food was excellent. I tried the fried shrimp and catfish. The shrimp was large, juicy and flavorful. But the star of the experience was our waiter, Marico. He exemplified customer service at its finest. His food suggestions were on point and his personality was fantastic. read more

After having a bad experience at another restaurant, I decided to try this one after peeking at the reviews. The reviewers were correct. The restaurant is located on a busy corner on Beale Street. I was seated right away and went over the menu. The server, was very pleasant, I wish I can remember her name. I had mentioned about my previous at the restaurant and she had assured me that I have selected a much better place. I decided to have the 1/2 Ribs meal. Within a few minutes, the meal was dropped off. Wow! The meat fell off of the bones as the previous reviews stated. The fries and the beans were very well flavored, btw, the sauce was just right.... sweet. As for the decor .... it was very homey and relaxing. I would highly recommend this great restaurant. read more

Blues City Cafe - Great Rib meal - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Mildly let down. Driving down to Louisiana for work i made the decision to stop and get some of the famous Memphis style BBQ ive heard about. I was seated right away and the gentleman at the door was kind. Taken to a table and was greeted by a gentleman in a long sleeve under armour polo. Didn't really seem like restaurant attire. But whatever, run it. I tell him, im here for some good southern style bbq, he tells me they sell the most and have the best ribs in the city (its a cliche phrase). I ordered the half slab and catfish plate, with some gumbo to start my meal off. Starting with the sides: The cole slaw - tasted like your generic every day gordons food service cole slaw. I covered it in pepper to make it taste better. The baked beans - in my opinion were the best thing about the entree. They had some peppers mixed in, gave it a nice bit of heat. Great. Hush Puppies - pretty solid, real corn inside. Good. New potatoes - these are boiled red skins. Nothing else. No seasoning, no butter. The catfish - good breading, cooked well. If i ever ended up back there, i would just get catfish. They also give you enough tartar to feed a group. Ribs - fall off the bone and thats where the good praise stops. They were a bit dry. Not nearly any barbecue sauce on them. I resorted to the dry seasoning on the table for flavor. The ends of the meat were actually charred and quite crunchy. 5/5 for the gumbo though, i have never met a gumbo ive hated. Everything else, pretty underwhelming. read more

Blues City Cafe - Gumbob - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

See all

This place is one of my faves when I'm in downtown Memphis and know I want a quick meal that will taste well and hit the spot! It's conveniently on the corner of Beale and Second Street. We got seated fast and the food came out even faster. The crispy, golden brown, deep fried catfish was the mission for me this time. You can never go wrong. It came with slaw, fried or new potatoes, texas toast and tarter sauce. With a little Louisiana hot sauce I was a happy lady. This is a big enough spots where they can accommodate crowds so the wait time should never be much of an issue. Not a fancy, thrilly spot but it's typical to the other restaurants on Beale St. Their decor includes many of the blues lates and greats and other memorabilia on the walls combined with the red booths and seats. read more

Blues City Cafe - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

See all

Blues city cafe had some delicious Memphis BBQ. It was packed. I ended up sitting at the bar. The vibe was good since I was from Louisiana. They give you a lot of food I saved the rest for my wife which she stayed at the hotel while I went out and got dinner and ended up getting caught in the rain lol. read more

See all

This restaurant is the epitome of good bbq in Memphis. Pleasantly greeted as we walked into the cafe, offered a cold beverage immediately, and fabulous food in a reasonable amount of time. This is a must eat place. read more

Food was excellent. I got the 1/2 rack of ribs. Ribs, slaw, beans, and fries were all great. Service was excellent. Casual and comfortable atmosphere. read more

Blues City Cafe - 1/2 rack of ribs - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Best gumbo we've ever had. It was simple, comforting and the perfect portion for us. We only stopped in for a quick bite and it was so satisfying. Service was great and the restaurant had a very fun vibe to it. read more

Blues City Cafe - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Overall the experience was great. The live blues band was super good and created an energetic atmosphere. The food was great we had gumbo cheese fries and ribs were 5/5. The upstairs service was great they were friendly and so helpful. There was a lady server at the bar that was really rude yelling at customers and ignored people. Multiple people walked out due to behavior. She is the only reason it is a 4 star and if the wait staff upstairs wasn't so friendly and helpful it would have been a 1 star due to the service that she provided read more

This place is mediocre. I can't believe the hotel driver recommended this place. There was so much noise that no one could hear one another. I was unable to even ask the woman behind the bar for recommendations for food. The ribs were dry. I was expecting some juicy ribs. read more

Delicious gumbo. $20 for 2 small cups. The service was good and fast. We got ours to go since we were on a tour. The restaurant was full of what looked like local workers (we went on a Monday). The space was fun with local flare. read more

See all

The best BBQ In Memphis. It was great. The place was nice and cool too. Great on a hot and humid day. Sr Service was fast! read more

My favorite for wet ribs! The turnip greens were sent from heaven! Catfish and ribs combo is the bomb! A must for Memphis eating!

My son was moving to Long Island, so he loaded up and I co-piloted the trip. We made a point to stop in Memphis for ribs and fell upon Blues City Cafe. We both had the ribs and ranch fries and were not in the very least disappointed as these ribs were NOT to die for, they were to kill (not literally) for. That is really saying something as my son is a Master BBQ and Smoker expert in his own right. I can't wait to go back!!!!! read more

I got a recommendation to go here. To be honest, I wouldn't have thought to stop in without the tip. From the outside it looks like a dive (which it is). But DANG the ribs are delicious. My fiancé and I split the rack and a side of mushrooms. The mushrooms I would not get again. Other than that, this place moves with quick and great service. read more

Blues City Cafe - Full rack of ribs - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

never had gumbo fries before!!! the plate was huge to share with whole table. also get "best deal on beale" it includes a half rack and fried catfish strip. read more

Blues City Cafe - gumbo fries. - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Food: 3 Decor: 2 Service: 1 Came here for dinner on a Tuesday evening. Food was okay, but the service was one of the worst I've ever had. Unlikely to come back. Best meal on Beale combo, 26 Okay. Ribs fell off the bone pretty easily, but they tasted slightly overbooked and dry. Catfish fillet was good and cooked nicely. Steak fries were average, and the baked beans and coleslaw were okay. Hush puppies were decent. Apple dumpling with ice cream, 10 Disappointing. Piping hot, but the pastry was swimming in butter. Ate about half. Service was horrible. I waited nearly 20 minutes before someone came by to take my order, and my server was extremely rude. My water ran empty, and I had to flag someone down. My server did not say anything after he took my order, and he did not put in the gumbo cheese fries I ordered, stating that he wanted to see me finish the entree first since it was a lot of food. read more

Buena comida y atención, los platos son de buen tamaño, para compartir. Ubicado en la Beale street. read more

Blues City Cafe - Pulled pork fries, muy buenas y las porciones son grandes. - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

This place is amazing! We went there to grab a bite, which was great (loved the catfish and the ribs!} and saw a great Blues band. After trying the big name club across the street, we ended up back at the Cafe two more nights. read more

The ribs were great and the chicken tenders were also very good. A bit disappointed in the way you couldn't just have a some chopped BBQ and some slaw. Ribs are pricey but good. Service was friendly and quick read more

I've passed this place up while going to/from Beale Street many times - looking at the outside, how good could it be? Well, as I found out, VERY good! Turns out this is a favorite of my daughter and her boyfriend. They love the various steaks and pork chops. I usually order a full rack of ribs, but had a half-rack just in case I was disappointed, but now wish I ordered the full. It was surprisingly good. We were too full for dessert, but I was assured they're great also. This isn't fast-food nor cheap place to eat - my half-rack was $23, strip steak $38. Service was good. It's on Beale, so the only ambiance is 'gritty', but that's also part of the charm. read more

Delicious and fun restaurant right on Beale street. The service was super quick and the staff was fun and friendly. Got to hear live music from the attached bar while dining. The ribs were amazing! read more

Blues City Cafe - Apple dumplings with ice cream - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

What a great experience, after driving for hours in terrible weather and stuck on I-40 for almost 2 hrs. Greeted so warmly by the owner and served with joy By Hollywood! Delicious food. read more

Erica was our waitress and she was a delight, very attentive. Loved her energy and food suggestions. Our party ordered the pork ribs & catfish plate. The large plates barely held all the helpings. We had a short wait for the food and it was steaming hot, read more

The food was ok. Not like "OMG I've never had any BBQ or catfish this delicious," IMO, but the service was great. The band was the reason for 4 stars, but they deserved 5 stars. Back to the food, hubby and I split a combo plate of ribs and catfish. About $35.00 Hubby was not impressed with either. I didn't mind the catfish. The ribs did fall off the bone. Hushpuppies were ok. Basically, everything tasted average. Not bad, but not great. We ordered 2 Titos and sprite @ $13.50 each. They were served in to-go cups. Friends order the same and gumbo, now they loved all of it! We can at least say we've eaten here. read more

Great food, vibe, and service. This was the first restaurant we hit in Memphis and we're quite pleased. We ordered the platter with barbecue ribs, catfish, hush puppies, steak fries, Coleslaw, and baked beans. The catfish was perfectly crisp and seasoned and the ribs were falling off of the bones. Our server was really kind and attentive. Wish we would have come back here instead of giving other restaurants in the area try, because with the exception of the BBQ Spot, all other restaurants were unimpressive. read more

Blues City Cafe - Outside - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

See all

Blues city cafe hit it 100% across the board. Fast seating with a busy line. Great service our server was famous friendly and kept us well taken care of. The ribs were some of the best I have found in Memphis super flavor and perfectly cooked. They just melted away. The catfish was really good too! This place is great right on the corner and the start of Beale st. It's a must stop into when visiting Memphis! read more

See all

Staff was friendly, the atmosphere was unique and charming, the food was good. The BBQ wasn't my favorite but the Cajun garlic shrimp was amazing! read more

See all

We tried a bit of everything. I loved the tamales with chili which I really didn't expect too. My husband loved the bbq ribs. The Mac and cheese was great and idk how you make toast great but it was. It was an overall great experience. Would definitely recommend eating here. read more

Was in Memphis visiting family and decided to stop on Beale street for lunch and wanted gumbo. This place was packed inside and had people waiting outside. That was very good sign plus they sold pork free gumbo so decided to stop in and glad we did. The seafood Gumbo was delicious! Flavorful with a little spice kick to it. It came with a side of buttered bread and crackers. I also wanted to try the greens and that too was delicious and full of flavor. I ordered a sweet tea and it surely was southern sweet tea nice and sweet. I also ordered a margarita and it was tasty with some kick to it, not a lot but enough to feel it. Service was great, our server was extremely nice and helpful. Price point was not bad neither. I did not order a full entree because honestly the bowl of gumbo and cup of greens filled me up. I would recommend and would go back to try other items on the menu because if this place keep a line outside and a full restaurant inside all of their food must be good. read more

See all

Our Uber driver recommended this spot as the best on Beale. I think she was right. We visited on a Thursday night during Covid. When we entered we were sat quickly and told we had to keep masks on til food arrived, which we appreciated. We sat in the bar area and the bartender was quick to greet us and take our drink orders. For food, the bartender made a few recommendations and we both got the "best meal on Beale" which was a half rack of ribs, catfish filet, hush puppies, coleslaw and baked beans for $22. The ribs and catfish were pretty good but the hush puppies were some of the best I've ever had. The beans and coleslaw were good too. The bartender was friendly and checked on us a couple times. He was also quick to bring the bill when asked. Overall, a great spot for food especially if you're hanging on Beale. read more

Blues City Cafe - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

On a road trip across the US, we stopped in to grab some Memphis barbecue before we continued west. We walked in just as they opened, followed shortly by a large group of tourists. I told the greeter we wanted to place a to-go order as we had to get back on the road. I was pointed to a server who promptly took our order and allowed us to sit at an empty table while we waited. We took in the iconic blues and bbq vibes as we waited. It wasn't long until I was presented with the styrofoam containers containing a slab of ribs, obviously, plus their sausage and cheese platter appetizer. Dividing the spoils as we bumped over the Mississippi River and further west was not easily accomplished. I wished we had been able to give this institution the time it deserved to be experienced. However, the ribs were excellent and all ended up in mouths rather than on the floor. Slices of saucy hickory smoked sausage and bite size pieces of cheese and pickles were a better road food, and were also a great accompaniment to the ribs. Personally, I would have liked to be able to taste the ribs and sausage without the sauce, but I won't argue with what they have going. It was obvious that the food we were served was the product of a well-oiled machine that consistently cranks out good food. And I was satisfied to have a classic Memphis barbecue experience notched in my belt, even if it was quicker than I would have preferred. read more

See all