Both kids were spending the night out at friends' houses, so I saw a date night opportunity, no sitter required! My husband and I consider ourselves foodies, and our favorite restaurant in Memphis is Restaurant Iris. It is the standard by which we compare all other restaurants. The pace is different at EJs, they give you a moment to order a drink and sip it before laying the menu and ordering process on you. The wine list was a little slim, I must say! Our salad was gritty, as it the lettuce hadn't been washed well- I know it's tough to get the grit out of butter lettuce. Our server was great, but I can't remember her name. She packaged up our ice cream in a ziploc full of ice so that it would make it home, and I ended up eating my blueberry marzipan cobbler over the course of 2 breakfasts. Anyway, I felt as though the side dish of risotto was not worth $18. My husband agreed. Our server let us know when we left (very full), that they have brunch specials on Sundays that we might enjoy. The bread and butter were very good- seeded with maybe soaked nuts or seeds. Delicious, and the sweet butter is monogrammed. For the perfect meal, I'd take the server from EJ's to Restaurant Iris, where we'd save so much money we could buy her a meal, too. read more

This was one of the best dining experiences I've had. The food was incredible, the service was even better, and it was very unique. The only complaint was that we were sat in a small room that was very crowded so it was loud but everything else made up for that and it still deserves 5 stars. The bison ribeye is an absolute must. It was incredible. read more

We went there yesterday and as always, the food was so good. We didn't have a reservation but were able to get seated at one of the bar tables immediately. I had the lobster salad sandwich with truffle parmesan fries. Delicious. Each time I come here I wonder why we don't go more often, but we will definitely return soon. Thanks, Erling! read more

Erling Jensen The Restaurant - Lobster Salad Sandwich. Yum! - French Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Great food, great service, great experience, great place..... We went for a quick Sunday night get away Erling's did not disappoint. The Sunday night 3 course meal was an excellent. Much better than some of the other high end choices in east memphis. read more

This is seriously the best restaurant in Memphis. You couldn't ask for a better staff yet alone find anyone who comes close in this city at another restaurant. Many props to John who is the host. One of the best bars too and I haven't even got to the food yet! Started with the crab cakes. Wow! Went to the dusted oyster salad and shared a bowl of the crawfish bisque with my wife. Delicious! My entree was the buffalo with lobster bearnaise sauce. OMG! By this time I'm stuffed but I pushed forward with the chocolate soufflé. My wife and I shared this dessert but I had to tap out. I was in the best food coma I've ever been. Erling Jensen is the man! This is our favorite place to come for a romantic dinner, celebration, or any special occasion. First class all the way. read more

We were tourists on first vacay since Covid. Went here on recs from Uber driver. A Sunday night with a prix fixe menu. Plenty of good choices. The food was fabulous! Great atmosphere! Ryan was our waiter and he was outstanding! We were in the mood for a good relaxed meal, and this was perfect! We had cocktails, bottle of wine, spinach and field green salad, romaine salad, N.Y. strip, scallops, peach tart, strawberry and kiwifruit cheesecake. Several different tastes were offered during the meal, all of which were good. Overall, a great experience! read more

Great food!!! Main lobster pancake, Tiramisu, Red Snapper, Sunflower Seed Risotto, Black Garlic roasted tomato coulis, cornbread crumbke , charred onion oil. Delicious!!! read more

Erling Jensen is THE BEST CHEF in Memphis!!! The food is exceptional in both presentation and flavor profile; plus the desserts are a work of art. If you want a terrific dining experience I highly recommend Erling Jensen. Happy 20th Anniversary!!! We look forward to helping you celebrate 20 more. read more

I went for the half priced bison burger on Wednesday. The burger was great and huge and was served with a large serving of fries. Before I had the fried green tomatoes with a caper remoulade sauce that was great. I wasn't able to finish my burger as the appetizer was huge. You also receive pork skins and kale chips complementary. Next time I return, I will try the Truffle Mac & Cheese with crab. read more

Erling Jensen The Restaurant - French Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Great food and great service. Everything was prepared to perfection. It is very pricey, but that expected for the quality of food you will be served. Highly recommend when looking for an elegant dinner. Erling even made his way around to the table a couple times to make sure everything was good and we were enjoying everything. read more

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I can hardly begin to express my love for the experience tonight! We had the romaine salad, oyster salad, quail app, lobster pancake, rack of lamb, buffalo tenderloin, and grand mariner soufflé. Also, our table neighbor insisted on sharing their foie gras we had never tried before. (Delicious!) Not sure the oysters needed a salad on the side they were so finger licking good. The quail app tops the lobster, but I could easily order both again. Buffalo tenderloin was tender, flavorful, and a generous portion. Our soufflé was light, fluffy, sweet -everything you could ask for in a dessert. The highlight was our rack of lamb. One of the best things I have ever eaten, if not THE best meal we have had together. If you are going to order one thing and one thing only, this is it my friends. Love the unique touches, absolutely beautiful presentation of every plate, little surprises between courses, and the incredibly wonderful server we had. You can tell the chef takes a lot of pride in his restaurant as he stops by every table. The bottom line is you will not find better food or service than this. read more

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I don't know where to start but lets see. Hostess - very friendly and welcoming The bar - the waitress was very accommodating and even recommended great drinks Table - we didn't have a reservation so we waited for like 15 minutes until they found a table for us. We got one of the rooms. Very classy. I loved the PiCassio paintings everywhere. The chairs were comfortable. We were there for like close to 4 hours and didn't have back pain The food - everything we tasted was cooked to perfection. The vegetables were fresh and crisp. The food took long to come but that meant they were making everything fresh. The chef came to say hi to our table but unfortunately we couldn't compliment him too much because that was before we had our mains and dessert. Parking - Valet parking staff were very friendly One of our favs in Memphis read more

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I debated between a 5-star and a 1-star review... the food was phenomenal, the service SUCKED! I went with the 1-star review because I came home annoyed about the service and not raving about the food. Our waitress (Shannon) was terrible. I've had better service at the IHOP. She was slow and inattentive -- it took forever to get our drinks, our waters were empty several times, butter ran out, no bread. She didn't scrape the table between courses. She walked around when describing the menu items so we couldn't hear her. She didn't pour the wine. She didn't take a drink order with dessert. Unfortunately, I could go on but you get the point. The service was truly awful, and to be frank, it ruined the night for me. The food on the other hand was great -- 5-star food. We started with the quail and the foie gras appetizers. The foie gras was the best in Memphis -- super tasty. The fried quail was decadent and delicious. I would order both appetizers again in a heart beat. We had the '09 Louis Canas Rioja, which was absolutely fantastic. It was flavorful and smooth. For my entree, I ordered their aged wagyu NY strip with mushroom risotto, which was a special. The steak was killer -- melt in your mouth good. I loved every bite. The mushrooms were delicious too. For dessert, I ordered the grand marnier souffle, which was incredible. (I wanted to order an after dinner drink, but our server never came by for a drink order...) The restuarant was super loud. I could hardly hear over the roar in the restaurant. All in all, the food was great but it was ruined by bad service. The valet made up for it though -- he was extra funny! read more

You'll not be disappointed. I went with 6 of my besties and what a great experience. The food was sooooooo good, and the service was outstanding. I've already booked reservations to go again. This will be my once a month spot. Loved it! W.Triplett read more

Really disappointed with this one. Had heard and read such great things. The server was not terribly helpful in selection and the food was mediocre as were the cocktails. Hopefully just a bad night. read more

I had high hopes. Brought a group of coworkers here based on the reviews and reputation. I was (I suspect "we" were) underwhelmed. Compared to other "fine dining" establishments in Memphis this was probably my least favorite so far. The building had an odor, and the decor felt awkward. The atmosphere was just...off. A fly was buzzing around the table, which to some degree one can't help but was still off putting. The service was ok, but my drink took forever. My food had a good enough flavor but was not well executed. In fact some in my party didn't even like their food. I got the salad with fried oysters and there was an extra French fry in there for example. My buffalo tenderloin was supposed to be med rare, but looked straight up raw in some pieces. Just overall not impressed, not worth the money they charge when there are much better places available. read more

Absolutely loved this place! I went there for a reunion dinner; not only we got one of THE best foods in town, we also got to experience the great art work and personality that an amazing chef puts in his restaurant and service! Small yet elegant! Professional yet personal! What a fantastic dining experience!!! Would love to go back again and next time, we are going to take a picture with the amazing chef and owner Erling Jensen ;) read more

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Incredible buffalo steak!!! Best ever and cooked perfectly. Amazing wine list that were solid value pricing. The crab cakes were also more crab than filler and as good as it gets. This place rocks. read more

Celebrated Valentine's a little late last night due to us both being in the industry. We were almost 30 minutes late (which is actually really good for Nikki). John was extremely accommodating at the front door, I believe our server's name was Ivanna, she was absolutely amazing. Great food, great service, thank you so much for making our Valentine's dinner special. read more

One of our favorites! If you are in the mood for just a burger or want something more exotic like an Elk Chop, Erling's does not disappoint!

Second review in a while...5 stars last time...and would give him 10 stars this time if I could! Had my birthday meal there last night...Asparagus soup..Veal Chop Special...Chocolate soufflé...My other three fellow patrons were knocked out with the crawfish bisque, filet and also the soufflé. Someone help me give this guy 10 stars!!! read more

Wow. What an absolute gem. Incredible food and service, I can't say enough about this place. I stopped in for dinner while in town for work, and I would absolutely come back just to go here for dinner again. read more

Great atmosphere. Good food. Drinks were subpar, but the regular bartender was not there. The waitress tried. The staff was great, but they needed more people. The poor waitress seemed like she was serving the entire place. The decor/scenery could be updated a bit. read more

The food was decent, even though you don't have many options to pick from. The ambiance was very off for it to be an upscale type restaurant. It gave a bland vibe and the service could've been way better. Also my friend and I grabbed a flower and the manager ran to us at the door and snatched them right out of our hands! We paid too much money that night and the treatment we received was just down right horrible. I'm only giving two stars cause the food itself was good. read more

This is the schmanciest restaurant in Memphis. We attended an event here, and everything was quite gourmet, but looking at the prices on the website I don't think I'd ever dine there on my own. The service is impeccable. The atmosphere is quietly classy. The food? Sort of uneven. Take my salad (please): The menu called it "Baby Romaine with Black Pepper Caesar Aioli, Shaved Pecorino Romano, Pancetta Crisp - 13." OK, this 13-buck salad was all about the presentation, not so much about the taste. The lettuce was placed like a little bouquet in a large bready crouton cup. The dressing was drizzled on the plate. The diner needs to figure out how to actually eat the salad -- what worked best was to turn it on its side, cut through the crouton cup, and sort of swish the whole thing through the plate to get some dressing on each piece. The entrees are in the $30-40 range and are lovely to look at but like the salad not all that spectacular to eat. Dessert was delicious, but it is hard to screw up dessert where I'm concerned. read more

A gem in the Memphis restaurant landscape. Tucked away in a small neighborhood, valet parking at the door of a house converted to restaurant, and a great hostess are all a piece of the inviting nature of the place. The preferred location to eat is up at the bar with regulars, and to order "what's special tonight?" The cocktails are creative and well done (despite sometimes a bit of a novice can be behind the bar), the wine selection is very good, and the food is excellent. Erling is an unassuming and quiet gentlemen who will come through the restaurant regularly to ask how your meal is. Most people don't realize he's the chef/owner, as he is typically dressed in dark colors like the rest of his kitchen and waitstaff. He is creative in the culinary offerings that are on the menus, and despite the fact that you'll pay a bit more here than most places in Memphis, you'll also get quite a lot more. Enjoy! read more

The waitress was respectful. The food was good. The setting was for the most part quiet and inviting. They had two beautiful fresh flower arrangements. There were fresh flowers at the table. I love flowers. The waitress and wait staff were very attentive and we have an enjoyable outing. read more

I was expecting to like EJ having heard and read rave reviews. But if you look through the reviews closely, you'll notice that EJ sometimes has off-nights, perhaps it depends on who's in the kitchen. We definitely went on an off-night or at least I hope that was not a true reflection of the restaurant's cuisine. First off, the atmosphere and service were great. No complaints there. The food was forgettable--and the check was memorable. At $40 an entree, you expect to be wowed with every bite, but this was not the case. One overarching problem was the lack of salt--and the dishes could not be fixed with simple table salt. Each dish was huge in portion--so by the standards of size, you get what you pay for. These are great cuts of meat--just not seasoned properly--which is a shame. We had the crawfish bisque, potato leek soup, veal chops (on the special menu), ribeye, and blueberry cobbler. That was a lot of food...and we left underwhelmed and dissatisfied. The best thing about the meal was seriously the bread and the sorbet they provided as a palate cleanser. I normally give restaurants a second chance (especially if others have said great things) but it's hard to justify the price of going a second time and possibly being disappointed again. read more

This is an amazing elegant Memphis in restaurant. It is named after the chef, who did walk around and talk to us during our meal, which was, of course, a nice touch. At the start of the meal, they walk around and offer you fresh bread. They have a brown one and I white bread. The brown one was much better than the other one. Then they gave us a complimentary amuse-bouche (which is to whet your appetite). I can't remember what ours was, however. One member of our party ordered the saffron crawfish bisque, which to me, was amazing! A great soup. Another person ordered a lemon grass soup. He loved it, but I thought it was just ok. Then we each got a complimentary sorbet to cleanse our palate. One person ordered the Dover Sole Meunière with Jumbo Lump Crabmeat. Fish with more seafood. Yum. One person ordered the rack of lamb. It was very tasty. It comes with a pecan, mustard, garlic, and molasses crust. Per the server's recommendation, I had to order the filet of buffalo tenderloin with lobster Bearnaise. I love a good rare steak and this one was melt in your mouth, and it combined some lobster chunks! Seafood and steak is the perfect combo! For dessert, we split the chocolate souffle. It came with a milk chocolate cream that we dumped in the center. It was so rich, but so good. Sinfully good. We were each given a complimentary dessert square at the end of the meal. The prices seem high, but they really give you plenty of small courses that are complimentary. The service is also impeccable, and the food is to die for. It is really that good. read more

Dinner last evening was a delight. From the greeting by the host to the very professional service, everything was exceptional. Each dish was delicious. The lobster pancake appetizer was unique and perfect, the crabcakes melted in your mouth and the atmosphere was relaxing. Definitely will be back. FIVE STARS ***** read more

Erling Jensen was one of Memphis' first fine-dining establishments. Tucked out of sight down a small road in East Memphis, this cozy restaurant offers a unique twist on classic French cuisine. My husband and I decided to check it out for our anniversary as it's been on my "to dine" list for as long as I've lived in Memphis. I decided to make my meal from three separate appetizers (two salads and one hot app), while Tom took advantage of their amazing Sunday night dinner special (a $38, three-course, prix-fixe menu with 3-4 choices per course) My first salad (and my favorite dish all night) was comprised of bibb lettuce, endive, goat cheese, local honey, black cherries and a pine nut vinaigrette. At first, I balked at the idea of spending $18 on a salad that didn't have any protein, but I'm so glad I ordered it. The combination of flavors was one I hadn't tasted before, and the ingredients were super fresh. It is definitely makes my top-three all time salad list. My second salad consisted of pork belly confit, arugula, apples and a soy gastrique. This was another successful dish. I honestly believe that making a good salad is one of the most difficult culinary tasks. It seems simple, but it's hard to take something simple and make it memorable. For my "entree'" I had the quail with ratatouille. I might be one of the few people on earth that's not a fan of truffle, but I often find it very overpowering. In this case, the chef used a very deft hand, and it accentuated the earthy flavors of the ratatouille instead of masking them. For dessert, I had the chocolate souffle', and it was almost perfect - rich and decadent. It was a fabulous ending to a delicious meal. I would highly recommend this oldie, but goodie, for any special occasion. Pro tip: go on a Sunday night for the $38 prix fixe. The menu changes weekly. read more

I have followed Chef Erling Jensen from La Tourelle, being educated in his cuisine at their Sunday Brunches. Chef Jensen's own restaurant is a departure in style from La Tourelle. Erling Jensen's is decidedly modern, but still elegant in its simplicity. The food is, MARVELOUS. Fans of his Mesclun salad, from LT days will be pleased to see it on the menu here. Other favorites: Seared Ahi Tuna with Sticky Rice & the Black Angus Filet is one of the finest cuts of beef available anywhere. For desert, try the Warm Brown Sugar Peach Tartlet or the 'Chocolate Split'-NOT your father's banana split. Service is friendly and attentive. Reservations Highly Recommended. read more

This is likely one of Memphis' nicest, if not the nicest, dining establishments. I have eaten here over a handful of times. If you like upscale dining, uncompromising service, and cutting edge recipes with impeccable presentation, then EJ is the place you need to go. The wine list is extensive and provides a multitude of selections to compliment the outstanding cuisine. If you're unsure of what wine to order, just ask; the helpful and attentive staff is very knowledgeable and can provide you with a satisfying selection. I will not waste time pointing out any of the individual appetizers, salads, or entrees that are offered by EJ because, suffice it to say, that everything is absolutely outstanding, without compromise. The price point is admittedly on the upper end. However, I have never felt slighted by the food-to-price ratio at EJ when it is combined with the high quality nature of the ingredients, the superb preparation/presentation, and the unparalleled taste of each dish. Bottom line...if you are a foodie, a true foodie, this is your place to visit for superb food and a superb dining experience in Memphis. Five stars. One caveat...some reviewers have noted "off nights" and problems with their visits. This can happen, and I have experienced it, although only once, at EJ. However, this is not the reputation that should be attached to this restaurant. It is great. Period. Eat there. Soon. read more

Wow, wow, wow! Such a *fancy* place, and so humbly magnificent! Classy service (the valet guy even watched my friend & I go to our cars---so nice), delectable food!!!!!! (the kahlua dessert was divine), and a warm ambiance. Cannot wait to go back!!! I wish I could give it 6 stars! Definitely the best restaurant in Memphis! read more

5 Star- class act establishment in Germantown. I've entertained large parties here many times when I used to do business in Memphis and absolutely everything on the menu is inventive and top rate. The atmosphere is elegant and cozy. It's a renovated house! The chef constantly surprises and revels any in LA or elsewhere. The service is superb. Patti is so personable and accomodating. The wine list is first rate. Thank God there are armed security guards at the front door. Bring your checkbook. read more

Finally a cocktail list not filled with kool-aid flavors. The barmaid took some intense time to craft a tangy and bitter campari concoction. Worked perfectly with every small plate on the bar menu. Sharp, attentive service. Nice job. read more

I visited this restaurant with my wife for my birthday dinner. We live in East Memphis and are staunch supporters of the local food establishments in Midtown and East Memphis. The food at this place is phenomenal. Highlights of the dinner included antelope tenderloin, fried quail and chocolate soufflé. More than the food, it was the impeccable service. The restaurant was busy on a Thursday night. Despite that, our server lady was very courteous, hospitable and knowledgeable. She also handled several tables with glee and abandon. Truly stellar service. Also, the chef himself came to the table and introduced himself and checked on us. This restaurant is on par with the Top 5 in Memphis, for sure!!!! read more

I give props to my hubby who surprised me with an anniversary dinner here after only arriving 5 days earlier to our new hometown. I knew nothing about EJ upon arriving, I'd have to say this was such an unsuspecting spot for white table cloths, fancy cuisine, and yes, one of Memphis's higher end establishments. A romantic, dimly lit restaurant was a perfect spot to celebrate over dinner. It was a nice treat to start by cleansing the palate with an asparagus mousse and later a lemon sorbet. Both were interesting and nice touches. Our appetizer was a "bowl" of crawfish bisque which we thought we were sharing until two full bowls appeared. We thought perhaps our server didn't hear us and there was a mistake, but no, apparently, the chef was extremely generous! Along with fresh rolls and butter. It was starting off nicely. The menu is small but offers a couple of choices in each category (meat, seafood, pasta) For the main course, I chose Black Grouper it came accompanied with a shrimp, tomato, avocado stuffing and Hubby chose the Lamb chops that came with a sweet potato mash and green beans. Both entrees were prepared and served on point. No complaints! Everything was delicious, fresh, well seasoned and perfectly cooked to our liking. Unfortunately, I've I'll have to minus them really only a half star, otherwise this would have been a full 5 stars. We just expected more more from our server. I truly feel how a guest is treated and seviced while dining is really at the mercy of their sever. Luckily, Hubby and I were not going to allow our servers misses to derail our night, but something was just not right. Not sure if it was his first night or what ..but he forgot our drink orders, never explained the courses like other guests received, and his overall communication was severely lacking! Very disappointing especially when this place is at the higher end of the scale... Overall it didn't jive with such a classy establishment! I think I'd definitely be willing to try this one again just as long as we had a different server! The food, taste and coziness of the establishment are definitely deserving of all!! read more

Erling Jensen The Restaurant - French Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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To begin with, the service was genuinely friendly, and impeccable. And the wine list is extensive, well-priced, and contains an assortment of half-bottles - which is an option that I *love*. I started my meal with the lobster pancake - which was savory and delicious. (Read: contemplated licking my plate clean.) My companion ordered the oyster salad, and of course I tried a little. I'll be honest, I'm not the biggest fan of oysters - they're easy to render too chewy for my taste - but these were dusted in cornmeal and flash-fried to perfection. More of a plate of oysters with greens as a garnish than salad. My entree was dover sole with lump crabmeat, which was light, citrusy, and filling. But I couldn't resist finishing with a couple bites of the chocolate souffle... AMAZING. read more

Ok so the best part of the meal was the dessert. I feel that as much as I want to love this place and have had two birthday parties here, hoping each time That I would truly love it, if I have to be honest I'm disappointed in this place. I feel like I need to lie about how good it is because it's so expensive I don't want to make the person paying for it feel bad. Downtown food is way better and it's round the same price point. I tried the pancake app, the quail app, and crab cake app. Crab cake was disappointing, the quail was good, the pancake was forgettable. Oyster salad was ok, it came with lots of fried oysters. I got a fish meal and the artichokes were the best part-the fish wS meh. The pumpkin soufflé was pretty good. They make a very good pimm's cup. Server was very rude, specially for a $$$$ restaurant. Other people in the party said he was awful. Mind you this was a large party so he got a pretty nice automatic gratuity I'm sure so I'm not sure what his problem was. I let the manager know, he was nice. Whenever I've had his meals at large galas, they have been really good which is weird because it's for hundreds of people and its mass produced. The decor was very old and out dated too. I'm not sure what's going on but they need to revamp. I took one star away for disappointment in food, second star for rude server (he should be glad I wasn't there with just friends because I would have set him straight) Third star because it's Erling Jensen and that name comes with high expectations and it has been disappointing. I really hope I can love this place one day. read more