I went to Afternoon Tea at Chez Philippe in the Peabody Hotel. Here's how afternoon tea works. Make a reservation with Chez Philippe by 9 a.m. on the day you'd like to have tea. When you arrive, you order two kinds of tea, one to go with the sandwiches and one to go with dessert (I tried the very flavorful blackberry tea and the mint tea). A tiered tray of mini-sandwiches is brought to the table. On the day I was there, the sandwiches were chicken salad, ham and apricot preserves, crab salad, salmon and cream cheese, and cucumber. I wasn't quite sure how to eat the sandwiches. Was I supposed to pick them up and eat them with my fingers or transfer them to my plate, cut them up and eat them with my fork? I went for an awkward hybrid of the two methods that didn't seem to offend anyone. After we finished the miniature sandwiches, full-sized blueberry scones with marmalade and clotted cream were brought to the table. They're not quite scones like you'd buy in a bakery. They're a little more like biscuits. Sometime between the sandwiches and the scones, the second cup of tea arrived. With it came a giant tiered tray full of shrunken desserts. Let's start at the top. There are chocolate dipped strawberries, red velvet cupcakes, chocolate boats filled with white chocolate mousse, orange and pistachio quiche things and raspberry lavender cheesecake. Everything on the tray was tasty, but I'm going to be dreaming about that raspberry lavender cheesecake for a long, long time. It was more like a mousse than a cheesecake and the lavender flavor was a perfect (and unassuming) complement to the raspberry. Don't let the tiny food fool you - afternoon tea will fill you up. I skipped lunch and still wound up taking some of the desserts home with me. Afternoon Tea is definitely not an every day thing, but it's great for special occasions. It would be a great mother's day treat for your mom or grandma, a good afternoon meeting spot, or a great treat for a little girl. I would have loved afternoon tea as a kid (though, some of the food may be a bit sophisticated). read more

Chez Philippe - Scones at Chez Philippe Afternoon Tea - French Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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This is a review for Afternoon Tea & Duck March: If you're new in town, Peabody Afternoon Tea is something that should not be missed. It has been a long tradition here in the famous hotel. Tea time reservation starts at 1pm and goes until 3:15pm in restaurant Chez Philippe. And afterwards, you can hang around the lobby to see the duck march at 5pm, then take the elevator up to the S (roof) floor to enjoy additional cocktails (not free), the view, and to see the duck palace. Note, people start arriving around 4pm for the duck march. Once you're seated, you choose your choice of water (extra charge for specialty water of course), 1 type of tea of your choice, champagne or no champagne and the course starts. The courses are listed at $30 for no champagne and $40 with champagne. Additional glass of champagne is $10 each. Also, there was a kid's tea course price listed as well. I chose the raspberry quince tea (a recommendation from a previous reviewer) and my date chose the darjeeling tea. My tea had a beautiful rose color, complex, with a variety of fruitiness without the tang you get from most herbal fruit teas, a southern classic. Darjeeling had more astringent, tannic characteristics that carried on a musky spice vibe. They bring you a beautiful tier of tea sandwiches. Chicken salad in mini croissant, smoked salmon on pumpernickel, crab salad on toast, tomato & cucumber, and prosciutto & melon. Then perhaps a refill of your tea kettle followed by a warm scone with soft whipped butter & strawberry jam. Then the course finishes off with another beautiful tier of mini pastries consisting of strawberry shortcake, white chocolate in dark chocolate cup, hazelnut mousse on a crisp, berry tart, and peach preserve in puff pastry. The whole experience was well worth the money and the service was exceptional. All the china is from Villeroy & Boch and they were quite charming. Definitely recommend it to everybody who is visiting Memphis! It was a very pleasant experience and a nice way to spend the afternoon. If I had to comment on one thing, I hope they invest in fresh new table linens. The fabric definitely has aged over the years and it's quite noticeable to the guest. read more

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Perfect proper English tea. Everything was delicious. Started with the tea sandwiches which were wonderful. Chicken salad, goat cheese with cucumber and something with salmon. Next came the blueberry scone with some kind of butter and jam, the best scone I ever had. The desserts were ample and very pretty. The restaurant itself is a bit over the top which makes it perfect for an indulgent meal. Going to high tea is a very girly and fun thing to do..... read more

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My party of 2 visited Chez Philippe for the Afternoon Tea. We made reservations a couple of weeks ahead of time and barely got in. Upon arrival, we were led to a cute, cozy corner table with plush seating and pillows. The waiter was very nice and informative, explaining the various teas that we could choose from. The food was plenty, starting with a variety of sandwiches followed by a mouthwatering blueberry scone and various desserts. The sandwiches and scones were definitely the highlight. The desserts left some things to be desired, but that's okay because we were already full by that point. I chose the chocolate chai tea and the other guest had the mystic mint. They were both really good. The tea is unlimited, however you need to allow ample time for it to steep after they refill the water. The price of the tea also includes valet parking, which is an added bonus. The tea is a must do in my opinion. read more

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My wife and I visited recently for the fixed-price meal. The service was excellent, as was the atmosphere. The food was french-inspired and delicious. I find it nice once in a while to go to such restaurants and experience such cuisine, though it's costly and you're paying more for the experience than for the portion size. read more

Sat at our table for 15 minutes with no service after being seated. Didn't even get to order due to poor service. What a shame

I was looking for a nice weekend activity to end my summer's stay in Memphis. My two girlfriends and I booked a 1:30 reservation for afternoon tea. I'd been to the Peabody before, and even into the atrium where the ducks swim in the central fountain, but I hadn't noticed Chez Philippe's inconspicuous entrance before. Once you enter, you're submerged in absolute elegance. The low ceiling in the front room and chandeliers make it a cozy dining experience. The tableware is polished and set perfectly. The chairs are cushy and velvety. The maitre d' and the rest of the wait staff were impeccable. They were jovial and never let a water glass or tea cup run low. Our server was kind enough to show me around the upper level of the restaurant, where a mural is painted on all 4 walls depicting the family of the man who established Chez Philippe in a semi-French portrait style. His descriptions of the mural's meanings were highly entertaining. I ordered the blackberry sage tea, at our server's suggestion. It was fantastic! Our first course consisted of traditional tea sandwiches - cucumber and tomato, prosciutto and melon, salmon, chicken salad croissant. Everyone at the table agreed that the chicken salad croissant was the stand-out by far. The second course was a cinnamon apricot scone with devonshire cream and cranberry jam. The third course was a helping of tiny desserts - so many that we couldn't finish them all. There were strawberry cream puffs, carrot cake, cheesecake, and my personal favorite, the mango puree in a chocolate cup. If you're in town and looking for something special, book the afternoon tea here! read more

I don't think I have enough nice things to say about Chez Philippe. I have been here several times for afternoon tea with the girlfriend, and also came here for downtown dining week. Every time we have been here, the service has been beyond friendly and attentive, the ambiance is simply gorgeous, and the tea and food is absolutely delicious. I am personally an avid fan of the Raspberry Quince tea, simply...amazing. The tea sandwiches, scones, and desserts are simply out of this world as well. This is probably the best value tea you'll find in the area. Note that I'm not saying least expensive, but best value; you cannot beat the intimate environment and superior service and product and a relatively reasonable price. This is great for a group of friends, a date, or to bring family! And if it's Downtown Dining Week and you're looking for a place to go, look no further than here; you get amazing service (other places are hit and miss) and it'll likely be the best meal you get during the week. I personally look forward to the occasion that I can come here to enjoy one of their seven course dinners; I can only imagine what a wonderful experience that is! Chez Philippe is highly recommended! read more

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First, this restaurant is small but yet exquisite and beautiful. I felt like I stepped back in time when opulence and tradition were highly regarded. The staff is very knowledgable and their service is well coordinated. In regards to their food, beautifully presented and was flavorful and delicious. However, the only reason why I gave them three stars is because their food wasn't hot ... hot as in temperature wise. The food was luke warm. I expected my food to be pipping hot ... straight off the stove hot. read more

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As I walked through the grand lobby of the Peabody, I was taken aback by the splendor. Once inside Chez Philippe, I knew I was in for a treat, as usual. They definitely pay attention to the details of setting a beautiful table. They also understand service at its highest level. High tea is quite the production of three courses with multiple teas to choose from as well as champagne. First up is a savory course, served on silver tiered tray. You have one of each nibble for the number of people in your party. Next up is a scone with Devonshire cream and jam. Yesterday's version was blueberry, still warm from the oven. Finally, another three tiered silver server appears with the dessert course. We were so full that most of that went home with us. Dinner is equally splendid. Service is impeccable and the food is always divine. Well worth the trip downtown. A nice lagniappe is that valet parking is comped. You just need to remember to get your ticket stamped. read more

Chez Philippe - High tea for Downtown Dining - French Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

We always love getting to visit Chez Philippe any chance we get -- we ordered the 7 course dinner for my birthday dinner with my family a few weeks ago and had a fabulous time! The service was excellent and we felt constantly attended to without being overwhelmed. While making the reservation a week or so before, the host made notes of what we were celebrating, spelling of my name, special requests, allergies, and special preferences of the person being celebrated (me). The ambiance of the restaurant is so elegant while also being welcoming and warm -- for an early dinner reservation it can be a tad quiet so if you have a large party or don't want to feel like you're bothering other dinner parties with conversation, I recommend making your reservation later in the evening. Every dish was delicious, and while each dish is small, you'll be full by the end of the night from the assortment of excellent selections. Everything was flavorful and exotic and we were always left wanting more and looking forward to the next dish. I was so impressed with the custom chocolate dessert the chef created for my birthday -- the staff made myself and my entire family so special and attended to all throughout the evening -- which is saying something since our dinner lasted 3+ hours! It's always a treat getting to spend time with family at Chez Philippe, I can't wait to come back! read more

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The food was creative and delicious, and the waiters were professional but also fun. Many of the dishes were almost too pretty to eat. The desserts were gorgeous!And what a spectacular room. The only drawback is that even for this fine a meal, for Memphis the bill is still too high. Two of us had the 4 small courses with one drink each and it was $230 without tip. The restaurant was almost empty. I think if they dropped their prices a bit they would have many more diners. We also went to Flight where we had fine meals for less and it was packed both nights. The boxed macaroons and thank you card signed by the whole staff was a classy touch. We did have a lovely evening. read more

This place has potential, but we were quite unimpressed after our anniversary dinner. Most of the entrees we had were average at best, but it was $200 alone for the least expensive option they offered. This was their four course option, and they wouldn't allow us to split it. I've never spent over $300 for a meal, and to say Chez Philippe didn't live up to my expectations would be an understatement. That being said, it is probably the most beautiful setting for a restaurant in Memphis being inside the Peabody. Hopefully they will take a hard look at either lowering their prices or finding a new chef. We won't be back until one of those two things happens. read more

My daughter and her boyfriend. Both 18. Wanted a special evening out in place of a boring prom at school. Daughter wanted a classy place where she could dress elegant and enjoy magnificent meal. They were both taken aback as they entered the restaurant. She has shared pictures through the entire meal. Every drool worthy beautifully plated course. She was very excited by the extra special treats from the pastry chef. All I can say is I'm very happy to know that these kids were treated so well on a special night out. I must say, I can't wait to make my reservations!! Thank you to everyone there!! read more

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The restaurant is absolute perfection. Don't let the reviews about portion sizes and prices deter you. You are going to leave stuffed and thoroughly satisfied with your amazing dining experience. To start, the wait staff is first class all the way. The dining experience is amazing. My wife and I visited for our anniversary 9-27-19. It was nothing short of amazing. We chose the four course option and had cocktails instead of wine. Where to start, you're treated first class for the entirety of your dining experience. Courses are perfectly timed, surprise nuggets in between. If you know fine dining then you will love it. This quickly moved into a tie for my best dining experience with a visit to one of Gordon Ramsey's restaurants I visited. I had the elk as an entree, effing delicious and perfect. I don't know what to say except just go and do it, absolutely amazing read more

Delightful restaurant in the Peabody Hotel. The presentation and service is superb - worthy of a special occasion or a trip to Memphis. read more

Chez Philippe - Pomme de caramel - French Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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The afternoon tea was to celebrate the memory of my mother and her birthday who passed away in 2022. I brought my 3 sons and what was anticipated to be a lovely experience, was anything but. The venue is of course lovely and I noticed the usage of Villeroy and Boch tea setting. We were seated by a welcoming young lady and seated to be served by Solomon. He served with trite service but was was anything but hospitable. I did notice he engaged with his others table more and was disappointed that this did not change throughout service. I took notice of the other servers that I wish we had since they exuded warmth and engagement with their tables. The tea was delicious and the tea offerings quite tasty. Service was slow even with our earlier reservation. I dare say this is a one and done, mainly given our server. By the time he dropped of the bill we were over the frosty reception from him. He did not care to mention if we needed validation for our parking and had to send one of my sons to inquire. We have dined all over the world and this experience ruined this restaurant for me. I will not recommend to family, friends or clients. read more

A childhood friend and her sisters came to Memphis so that we could celebrate our 70th birthdays together. We don't get to see each other often so thought a special occasion called for a special dinner. Chez Philippe did not disappoint. The food was delicious and the presentation and service was elegant. The maitre d and wait staff were warm and accommodating. We want to celebrate birthdays at Chez Phillippe next year. We enjoyed the four course dinner. There were enough choices for our varied tastes and preferences. Servings were beautifully presented with interesting flavor combinations. We started with an amuse-bouche of ambrosia. A tart berry sorbet was the palate cleanser before the meat course. Servings were appropriately sized for the number of courses--small, but not tiny. Just right. read more

Chez Philippe is billed as not only the finest restaurant in Memphis, and not only the finest restaurant in Tennessee, but in all of the Mid South put together. After a handful of very disappointing meals, I considered canceling my reservation. So far during my week in Memphis, I hadn't had any particularly memorable meals, and looking over the menu, everything looked fairly pedestrian to me. So claims of being the best restaurant in the region wasn't saying much, was it? What can I say? I'm from San Francisco - the town that boasts the most restaurants (per capita) than anywhere else in the world. And we're only a stones throw away from serveral of the best restaurants in the world. I can be a bit of a foodie. But I soldiered on. There may be a lot of crappy food in Memphis, but Chez Philippe's accolades have been earned from people everywhere. And rightfully so. I went in thinking that the 7-course tasting menu wasn't a very bold showcase of the chef's creativity, nor that the wine pairing was a particularly good selection. Items like day boat scallop, sea bass, or grilled pork loin are culinary cliches I expect on everyday restaurant menus, not from someone who was under the tutelage of a chef with three Michelin stars. But after each taste, I remembered what it is that separates these chefs from the rest of the pack. It's not just the creative or outrageous bits, but their ability to turn everyday, run-of-the-mill items into their own little masterpieces by using the freshest ingredients or the most unlikely pairings. And as such, Chef Reinaldo Alfonso bowled me over seven times in a row. The addition of pumpkin seeds to a butternut squash bisque... the use of olive oil as a light marinade for scallops... the pairing of lentils with sweetbreads so as to mask any hint of organ meat aftertaste... the most perfectly cooked sea bass, unfettered by overflavored accompaniments.... caramelized apple-horseradish sauce to give the pork loin some character... It goes on and on. What truly won me over was that the wine pairing was brilliant. While using some of the cheapest wines I've ever seen on a fine dining restaurant's menu, the selections paired perfectly with each course, proving Chez Philippe's worth as a dining destination. As a partial wine snob, I was a bit aghast and had to "fake it" with my politeness a bit when a couple of the wines were initially presented, but the consistently perfect pairings eased my worries, and I got over my snobiness in no time at all. For anyone who knows me, this is no small feat. Of course, my snobbishness can't get over a couple of things. The service, while extremely friendly, rather knowledgeable, and fairly efficient, was not seamless. Some of the younger staff actually appeared a bit nervous, there was a lot of noise as other tables were being cleared, and there was a bit of inconsistency in how some courses were presented and by whom. And I was a bit disturbed that the small side plates for bread didn't match the rest of the restaurant's china. In fact, after a week of taking my meals at the Peabody, I was fairly certain they were the same dishes used in the rest of the hotel. These are not dealbreakers, but the little things that separate hotel-based restaurants from being business class or world class. Still, despite the tiny shortcomings, I'm happy to give Chez Philippe the full five stars. It certainly proved to me that it's the best restaurant in its category and most likely in its region, and I walked out of there completely satisfied (and ridiculously full for a tasting menu). And then there's the value. Very seldomly can you have a full-service fine dining experience at the low price offered here. I know Memphis isn't San Francisco or New York or Paris or London, but with the quality of food and level of service provided at Chez Philippe, the prices are well beyond reasonable. And that's the bottom line. While you're getting *nearly* Michelin star quality food and service, you're not paying *nearly* close to the price. That should make anyone - food snob or otherwise - pretty happy. read more

My wife and I come from the school that says if you're going to spend $400 on dinner for two, then the restaurant either deserves five stars, or you're a fool. Call us fools. If the room per se were the sole criteria for review, it would earn 5 stars. Two massive "Corinthian Plus" columns dominate the center of the room and bookend the stairs which lead from lower to upper level. Six huge mirrors with chandelier-like sconces give the room an expansive air, and the murals in between the mirrors depict scenes from a masqued ball reminiscent of one or another of the French Kings Louis-the-Teens. If the plating of each course to artistic perfection were the sole criteria, again 5 stars. We ordered the seven course wine pairing dinner and each course LOOKED so beautiful, we were pained to destroy the art by eating it. If the service alone were the sole criteria, then 4 stars. Our assigned server Tevin -- a young man with an excellent manner and eyes on a prize greater than schlepping plates at Chez Phillipe -- worked exceedingly hard to see that we were well taken care of. However, we give only four stars for service because it appeared some of the other, older, perhaps more senior-in-the-workplace wait staff who supported Tevin were occasionally undermining him with little acts and omissions designed to trip him up. And one of the others, who asked if we needed more water, made a point of sneering when he asked, "And will that be more of our FINE Memphis tap water?" This is allegedly a French restaurant, so perhaps it was that man's job to impersonate the rude French waiter. Tevin got a full tip for the evening, but his campadres, if you can call them that, deserved less. So how did such a nice LOOKING place get knocked down to two stars? The food, and the wine. Overall, the food looked great, but with some exceptions, had little flavor. And the wines -- the pours were short by a third, and the flavors were just plain disappointing. We're well aware that French cuisine comes in small portions, and that's fine, but I've seen a bigger slices of salmon on a clump of sushi rice at a bad Japanese restaurant than the one slice we got as the first appetizer here. And uncooked salmon is supposed to be one of the boldest tastes of all raw fish, but this had very little flavor at all. The pheasant appetizer was much the same -- a tiny piece of meat partially obscured by some garnish, undercooked (was it supposed to be raw?) and with little flavor. In retrospect I can't say whether or not the wines served with these first two courses were the same as those on the menu (because we are certain that some later wines were substitutions), but both were unremarkable. Fortunately the lobster course provided a pleasant reprieve from its predecessors, with some very flavorful ingredients including a small red sweet pepper which neither of us had seen anywhere before. The wine with this course was again unremarkable. The meat course, four slices of ribeye with small vegetable accompaniments and a bourdelaise sauce, was nearly tasteless. I don't mean to be rude to the chef, but I found myself taking inventory of my senses -- were my nasal passages clogged? Was my tongue covered with motor oil? -- but no, all senses were operating normally and I could not taste what is usually one of the most succulent cuts of meat found anywhere on the cow. The wine with this course was not just unremarkable, but disappointing, a Bordeaux with some strange metallic aftertaste. My wife, who normally loves most red wines, refused to finish hers. Of course my palate has no such pride, so I helped her out with that. Then came the second high point of the meal (the lobster was the first): the cheese course. It included a Roquefort/Bleu that was so strong it could power manned space flight, and that's wonderful in my book. Unfortunately, the wine again was unremarkable, but we were both excited because we KNEW from the menu which wine was coming up with the last course. We even transferred some of that good Roquefort to our bread plates so we could enjoy it and the dessert course with an excellent Sauternes, one of the sweetest and most wonderful wines there is, thanks to this thing called "Noble Rot." The stuff is very expensive because its quality is entirely dependent on a fungus which varies greatly from year to year. So out comes the fruity dessert course and with it.......................... .................a bottle of some crappy sparkling Rose'!!!! WHERE IS MY SAUTERNES, DAMN YOU!!!! Without exaggeration I say that this just completely took the wind out of an otherwise mostly unremarkable meal. But by golly, after giving our server Tevin a well deserved tip, I spent $400 in this place! And I do wonder how many of the four- and five-star reviews of Chez Phillipe came about because their authors didn't want to look like fools for spending so much money on so little substance. Call me Fool. read more

One of the most hair-pullingly frustrating experiences one can go through is to be host/tour guide to a mixed group of mostly non-travelers in a city you do not know. Where do you take these people to eat? How do you know what they're going to like? And if a lot of them don't travel that much (one person had never been on an airplane before) do you err on the side of familiarity or encourage an even more exotic experience? Thanks in part to the adventurous spirit of my group and in part to the warm assurances we received from the restaurant manager, we decided to dine in the posh environs of a high-end French restaurant our final night in Memphis. It was the right decision. The group quickly determined that a 5 course tasting menu was the way to go. Our server was wonderful - patient and enthusiastic by turns as he described various dishes. He answered a LOT of questions for the uninitiated - and for those who showed some knowledge already he was quick to steer them to options they might like. The wine selections (picked by the staff based on our general preferences and price range) were lovely. I would come back just to wander through the wine list again! Overall an elegant and wonderful evening, made even more so by warm, friendly service. One note - when we dined the menu was traditional French. My understanding is the menu has shifted to a more French-Asian fusion at this point. read more

Great atmosphere! Wait staff did a great job serving. Love the desserts! My favorite was Bananas Foster, made at my table. read more

Chez Philippe - Had a wonderful Anniversary Celebration! - French Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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My wife and I are both Memphis natives and had never eaten at Chez Philippe. That is now rectified. For the most part what's kept me from going is having to get dressed all fancy (I don't like to wear pants if I'm not at work). Turns out a collared shirt is all that is required, but I could have worn my tuxedo and not felt out of place. We had the five course dinner. 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, 1 dessert. Each. Oh, and wine paired with it. The dining room is beautiful and service very attentive. The only negative thing about the entire service was I asked for my wife's 5 courses to have 1 entree and 2 deserts. The server shot me down. Didn't even ask. Argued with me that it wasn't designed that way. OK. I'm spending $400 on dinner, if I want all five of them bitches to be dessert, you say YES, SIR! As soon as the first appetizer came out, I was over the service lapse. All of the dishes were thoughtfully prepared. They were beautiful and complex when they needed to be without being pretentious. Some of the dishes had many ingredients, but not so much the flavors were confusing or muddled. Everything on the plate had a purpose in the flavor, not just the aesthetics. At the end of the meal the manager came by and bought us a glass (or three) or champagne when he found out it was our wedding anniversary. A class act. If you're looking to have a fancy-ass dinner and aren't worried about the price, this is your spot. There's better food in Memphis, but probably not a better food experience. read more

Review is for tea and 3 course dinner. My boyfirend and I went for afternoon tea and had the most delightful time. Matt was our server and he was very attentitive and was kind enought to answer our many questions and indulge us as we requested pictures to enjoy the experience. I won't go into too many details as others have reviewed the experience but tea is served in three courses of savories, scones and sweets. For me it is enough to skip lunch but still want a dinner, for the bf he was not full when we skipped lucn hfor tea. With my aunt coming to town to visit me grandmother I recommend tea as a family afternoon event and again Matt was our server and treated us well, the entire family enjoyed the experience. Since tea had peaked our interest in dinner but we're not the type to spend $175 per person on a meal we decided to go during downtown dining week. Wow, what a night! The room was dimly lit and had candels on each table - there was enough lighting to see across the room but was dim enough to create a romantic tone, soft music was playing but I cannot recall specifically what typle of classical. Matt placed us in his section and was wonderful to us. Since we asked, he did share a few things as to how the DDW experience was different from the traditional dinner. Typically, they do not turn over a table during the night, you are the only one to sit there for the evening - no rushing. The 7 course meal takes 3 hours! For DDW we were still there for and hour and a half. Also, they typically only have 20 people a night, so don't be alarmed when you go and there are not a lot of people there.Not only was the food an amazing price but the wine list was deeply discounted - we were also told if the cork was pulled out slightly we could buy wine to take home - they must use DDW to clear our wine invetory as the seasons change. Our bottle was $19 and is ually $65 (retails for $25). It was very good, an excellent recomendation by Matt. Were we brought out amuse bouche (an appitizer served complimentary to prepare the guest for the meal and give a glimpse into the chef's culinary approach - so basically the food version of taking a sip of wine to try it before it it served) and then placed our orders. I had the salad which had a very light but sweet vinagrette and the bf had the soup, he let me try a few spoonfuls and it was wonderful. For dinner I got a seafood croquette and he got te entrecote (steak) both were very good - we each like the other one's better but still liked what we had ordered. For dessert was a espresso opera cake and ice cream - yum! I also ordered coffee with was served in a silver french press and came with rock candy as the sugar - the french press had two cups worth so it is desigend for sharing. With our check came two muffins to take home and enjoy the next morning, a sweet touch. we could have used valet parking but did not, our self parking was validated - which was good for 2 hours of parking time. At no point in time did I ever feel treated like a 2nd class diner or that I was given subpar food altohugh I understand that fancier ingredients are used during regular dinner. The expereince was a great showcase as to what the dining expererience is a Chez Philippe and was enough to convince me this is worthy of visiting for a special ocassion. For the regular menu a couple could get the 3 course meal and spend $207 with tax and tip, no wine or $452 for the 7 course menu with wine parings including tax and tip - quite the range of expereinces. read more

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If I could give this wonderful place 10 stars I would. I am going to try very hard to keep this as unbiased as possible, but it is going to be very difficult. My now wife and I were lucky enough to have Chez Philippe as the restaurant were we had our first official first date. (I know, I may have set the bar high but I thought what the heck) As a retired Enlisted Soldier I have never had the opportunity or funds to be able to experience this nice of a restaurant. It was time. The restaurant was very nice and everyone we encountered treated us as if we were the most important customers there. Our head waiter, Patrick, was absolutely perfect for us. I politely explained to him that I may need a little help as I had never been in such a nice establishment and wanted to make sure I displayed all the proper etiquette, he was very helpful. We were lucky enough that on our return visit Patrick was our waiter again. The food was wonderful, all of it cooked and seasoned to perfection. All plates and the desert were beautiful. The food and ambiance were perfect for such a nice evening. Even though my now wife and I had known each other and been best friends for over 30 years, this was our first official date and it could not have been better. Thank you Chez Philippe for two perfect evenings, we will be back. read more

Everything was truly delicious. Wait staff were excellent and went above and beyond. When we had no room left for dessert they sent it up to our room. The 4 courses were interspersed with little treasures. Was one of the best dining experiences I've ever had. read more

Chef Ryan Spruhan is wonderful, both with his cooking and his charm. Sadly, his servers (or at least mine) are not so wonderful. The good: the food. The salmon dish I had was exquisitely prepared. The amuse-bouche was lovely. The dessert was beautiful and tasted good. The after dinner sorbet was nice. Also, Chef Spruhan visited each table and spoke to each group. Oh, and the maitre d' greeted me by name when I arrived. So, that was nice. Things started well. The bad: the server. This is not in chronological order, but the party next to me hadn't seen our server in so long that they almost went for a smoke break. And then after he returned and disappeared again, they asked Chef Spruhan (who they called Ryan, but I can't really rate a place based on the manners of the guests) for a drink, for a side of parsnips, etc. That never would have (or should have) happened if their server had been attentive. The poor maitre d' was running up and down the stairs serving things, and had to call out to the server that a couple needed bread. Speaking of which, I never received bread. Nor did I ever (until after dessert) receive an offer of an additional Diet Coke. Even TGI Friday's--heck, even the bar I went to yesterday--offers me another drink when the drink is 2/3 down. I just paid over $100 for dinner, and I expected to pay for each drink I ordered, but I only got to order the one. And though I don't care about the bread so much, when you spend $100 for dinner, it's nice to get all that you expect at dinner. Like bread. I had a lovely empty bread plate and unused knife. The dessert was good, but it wasn't what I usually order when I go out, so I hope Chef Spruhan was not insulted when most of the chocolate peanut butter dessert went back. I'm just not that into chocolate. I should have ordered the creme brulee, perhaps, but I like vanilla, and it was a trio that included chocolate (see above) and pistachio (I'm allergic). So, I ventured out. The homemade ice cream was good. The main part was simply too rich for my taste, but I think anyone else would have expected what I received and would have been delighted. In all, I know what to expect when I eat French haute cuisine. I expect a slow-paced meal. What I do expect, however, is an attentive server who makes sure everyone has something to drink and gets their roll. As Patrick Swayze says in Dirty Dancing, "You just put your pickle on everybody's plate, college boy, and leave the hard stuff to me." This stuff isn't rocket science. Any average middle class restaurant server handles this sort of thing all the time. But when you're paying over $100/meal? Not so much. I will say that I don't eat non-kosher animals (by species, not cut), so there were a lot of things on the menu I couldn't eat, but that's not unexpected in Memphis, where there is a lot of shellfish (and pork). I'd checked the menu in advance. Often, a server will mention this to the chef who will come up with something, but I don't expect a chef to prepare something off-menu for me. The food I was served was very good. I just mention this if you are particular about foods you can't or won't eat. Chef Spruhan deserves four or five stars. The maitre d' deserves at least four (he wasn't present to say anything as I departed--no one did). But the service? 0 stars. And that's the main thing that dictates an experience in a restaurant unfortunately. One expects superb service at a four-star restaurant. I didn't receive it. read more

The presentation was very nice and the food was good. There was a large group that seemed to dominate, and overwhelm, the wait staff, and as a consequence the service at our table was disappointing, at least until that group left. We were also surprised, and disappointed, to learn that the menu is solely prix fixe and that there is no option to order a la carte for light eaters. Overall, it was not the experience that we expected for a restaurant of this caliber, and we were disappointed. To make matters worse, I just received an email from the restaurant, via OpenTable, stating that we were a no-show. It jseems to me that, either this restaurant was having a bad night, or they need to get their act together. read more

My first visit during Downtown Dining Week this year will be my last. To summarize: crummy service from top to bottom with the exception of the woman who served our bread and replaced the fun duck shaped butter. When a person from our table spoke with management she was called a liar, "Oh, I find that very hard to believe." which is management speak for 'Yeah, whatever liar. What's your angle? '. She was also told that on an average night CP turns over about 30 tables but just the night before they turned over 100. Not...our...problem. Your restaurant participated in DDW so any belly aching falls on deaf ears, mec. I *had* some small sympathy for our server, Matthew...or was it Patrick? His name tag said Patrick but both he and the bread server said Mathew. At any rate, I had some small sympathy for Matt-rick as I imagined he must have been exhausted. It's not really an excuse but if the table turning excuse from the manager was true I could only imagine how tiring.....until I saw him chat and laugh and linger at a table just over my left shoulder. In closing, feck off Chez Phillipe. I have eaten and will continue to eat Downtown just not at Chez Phillipe. read more

My wife and I dined here during Easter weekend 2011. We were staying at the Peabody and decided not to go far for a meal and gave it a shot. At the end of the night we were glad that we did. From the moment you walk in it's a culinary adventure. The place is beautiful inside and is very romantic. Once we were seated (I mean people actually pulled our chairs out for us and laid our napkins in our laps) the adventure began. Our waiter was a great help and was prompt with everything. We both decided to have the 5 course dinner and we wouldn't regret doing so. The 5 course dinner includes two appetizers or soup, two entrees (meat & fish dish) and a dessert. To start off I got the Lobster Bisque and the Squab and my wife got the Sweet Potato Soup and the Wild Mushroom and Short Rib Terrine. The Bisque was amazing, creamy and tasty without being heavy. The Squab was beautifully presented and was cooked perfectly. My wife said she was amazed at how good her soup was but she wasn't the biggest fan of the Terrine. This is because she has a thing about texture, but she did love the flavor. I sampled it and I enjoyed it greatly. Next up we both had the Dover Sole which is served tableside. Our waiter effortlessly deboned our fish and provided us with a sauce and serving each of lobster safron-yukon puree (lobster mashed potatoes if you will). Sole is now my wife's new favorite fish and the lobster potatoes are out of this world! Next I got the Venison Loin and she got the Strip Loin. Both dishes were beautiful and were perfectly cooked. You couldn't ask for anything better to eat than those two dishes. Next was dessert (also I should point out that this trip was for my wife's birthday). I got the Baked Alaska and she got the Blueberry Tart. Now the only time there was a mention of it being my wife's birthday was two weeks prior when the reservation was made, so when the desserts arrive her plate has the words happy birthday written on it in chocolate. That my friends it attention to details and going the extra mile. The desserts were magnificent and by the time we were done we were sure we couldn't eat another bite. We ordered coffee and to our surprise it was served in a French Press with rock sugar on a stick for you to dissolve into the coffee. It's little touches like this that makes places stand out in your mind. Once we were done they brought us a small plate with a Mango Marshmallow and a small bit of Pine Nut Brittle for a palette cleanser. They were both great and as an added bonus we were given a small gift each for breakfast the next morning (a Banana-Walnut bread muffin, which was so good). So all in all I'd say it was a great experience and one I hope to enjoy again in the near future. From the surrounding ambiance, great wait staff and the chef it was a perfect evening. read more

Chez Philippe - Venison - French Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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Chez Philippe comes with a reputation in Memphis. I wasn't sure what to expect and it wasn't exactly what I thought it would be. The menu is a bit limited. On page 1, you have a choice of a 3 course or a 5 course meal. You select from 8 starters, 10 main courses (Half fish, half meat), and 5 desserts. For 3 courses, pick one of each, for 5 courses pick 2 starters, 2 mains and a dessert. Price is $68 or $75. Page 2 is a 7 course meal. To qualify everyone at your table has to take it. The wine list is extensive and expensive. I took the 5 course. I was expecting to find menu choices I had never or seldom seen. Nope. Nothing exotic. The food was very good though. The servings were small but very nicely presented. Oysters with caviar was a nice touch, but only three of them. The atmosphere and the setting was not stuffy and was very friendly. Not snooty at all. The service was very good. I found one of our team of waiters a bit too chatty, at one point he took over the conversation at our table. The service extended to having my car brought up by the valet parking when I validated my ticket so the car was waiting when I walked out. (P.S. Free valet parking when you eat there.) Overall, very good, but not great. Not the over the top experience I was expecting. Value for money is OK surprisingly, except for wine. It would be more accessible if there were more bottles under $100. read more

My wife and I spent our 30th wedding anniversary at Chez Philippe. We recommend the 7 course meal for special occasions. We were pampered beyond belief for the next three hours by an amazing waiter named Byram. We left having consumed one of the best culinary experiences that money can buy! We give Chez Philippe our most enthusiastic recommendation! Shout out to the incredible Executive Pastry Chef Elaine for the most delicious peach dessert on the planet! We will never forget how you made our anniversary extra special! read more

Chez Philippe has the best food I've experienced in Memphis. It also has fantastic service and the perfect quiet atmosphere for going out on a date or to celebrate a special occasion. We had the seven course tasting menu and each plate they brought was fantastic. The wait staff was super attentive (but not interruptive) and professional (but not uptight). Given the quality of the experience, the menu prices are also super reasonable. read more

Elegant is the best single word to describe dining at Chez Philippe. The 4 course tasting menu provided an excellent meal for my wife and I. Service was attentive, but not intrusive. While all of the food was good, the must delicious thing we had was a "surprise" sweet before dessert. It was a caramel-chocolate whipped cream served in an egg shell (think of it as a "to die for" Easter egg). The classical music and the decor added to the wonderful effect. P. S. Ask about the paintings read more

Forgive the brief review! I've been very busy recently and haven't had enough time to keep up. But I will be releasing a number of these "brief/summary" reviews to catch-up to my recent dining experiences. If anyone has any questions or would like to know any additional specifics, please do not hesitate to ask! Cheers! My stars...(5=epic "best of")(4=really tasty and want to go again and again)(3=good and will go back once in a while)(2=fair, might return for a visit if there was some glimmer of hope)(1=avoid at all costs) Overall: 4 (note, this review was in the summer of 2012) Why I went: For high tea and for dinner. We were staying near the Peabody and read good things about Chez Phillippe on Yelp. Ordered: My wife and I went twice. Once for dinner and once for high tea. Our dinner experience was very good. Sadly, I cannot remember what we got, but I do recall it being very tasty. So much so, that we thought we'd try high tea. I must admit that I normally hate high tea. I like tea and scones...but that's about it. Everything else just is so unsatisfying for the price. I felt no differently about this high tea. My wife enjoyed it more, but wasn't thrilled. For dinner, the rating is a solid 4. For high tea, it's a 3. But, I'm really basing my overall rating on dinner. Service: Very good. Almost a little too much. It felt like dining on a cruise ship where waiters are waiting in the wings... But our waiter was helpful and nice. Hints/Final thoughts: Avoid the high tea...it's simply not worth it. Dinner is worth it, but it is pricey. It may not be for everyone, given the smaller portions ("fancy dining")...but if you are so inclined you may find it a nice experience in contrast to some of the other local casual eateries. read more

The afternoon tea at Chez Phillippe was super fancy. My husband and I enjoyed the three courses which were very filling. The first course was savory food, followed by a yummy scone and then desserts. I actually took some of the Desserts home because I couldn't finish all of it. The service was excellent and their tea was fresh. I got the ginger peach flavored tea and my husband got the Mango ceylon; both of which were awesome. Finished off the afternoon with the lovely duck walk in the lobby of the Peabody. read more

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Fixed menu this week with small portions. $410.00 for 3 people with one glass of wine. The full dinner menu is diverse and that particular dinner was very enjoyable. The fixed price was disappointing and overrated. read more

As an ideal Headquarters for a Memphis weekend a two night stay at the Peabody begins with Friday Afternoon Tea (it runs from 2-3:30 which mean you are welcome to arrive at 3:30) and the experience is a relaxing way to unwind from the previous week and the hectic pace of air-travel if that is how you arrived. The Lobby Bar is an must-stop, first start prior to venturing out on Friday night. Preen your tail-feathers boys, because this is the spot to see and be seen; don't let your ladies down! Friday and Saturday evenings are well spent exploring all that Memphis has to offer and an early evening reservation at Chez Philippe, and all the Haute Cuisine caloric density you can handle can be easily danced away on Beale Street. Prior to bidding adieu to Memphis, the Peabody Sunday Brunch is a stunning offering of precisely prepared items that will solve any residual problems from the night before and leave you well set for your trip home. I've been visiting since 1990 and if it is excellence you want, you want Chez Philippe. read more

Love this restaurant. I had the steak and it was hands down one of the best steaks I've ever tasted. Beautiful atmosphere. Perfect for a special event. I took my husband here for his birthday and they did not disappoint. read more

Had a wonderful celebratory meal here on a Friday night. The sole was fantastic. And the chocolate soufflé for dessert was special as well. Ordered a Duckhorn Sauvingnon blanc that was exceptional as well. Had the tuna in lieu of a meat course, as it was a Friday during lent. It was very good. And the deconstructed salad was tasty. Service was the very best I have experienced in Memphis -- on par with the best restaurants in New Orleans. Nice and quiet in the dining room. It actually was a bit slow that night. Highly recommended for special occasions. read more