It's very rare to find a place that is the utmost of perfection. The food was absolutely delicious, every bite. Our server was a young man who was definitely on his game. I wish I would of remembered his name. He was spot on! read more

This restaurant is above BB Kings, look for the awning on 2nd street and go up the stairs. It's a nice quiet beautiful break from the Beale Street madness. Food and service was excellent, I had a hard time deciding what to get, the menu was packed with great options. I got the wedge salad, it was perfect, really good. And the deep fried avocados stuffed with crab were also amazing. Really great place to go for a nice, upscale dinner. Really I glad I didn't settle for food on the street, this place was an awesome choice! read more

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The atmosphere was wonderful! Our waitress was wonderful! The food was even better! I would definitely recommend. For three people, with multiple beverages, 5 sides, and a dessert. (4 with meal 1 extra), our total was around $200. If my sister hadn't gotten alcohol, I imagine our check would've been closer to $150 read more

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My second time coming here and somehow there was a disconnect on my reservation made online. The staff and manager went out of their way to get us a great table. The food was wonderful, the staff was excellent and you can't beat the location! We had the lamb it was cooked to perfection. Don't miss out on this beautiful dining experience when you are In Memphis. read more

Outstanding food, service, and atmosphere! Was impressed by the presentation and taste of the meals!

What a hidden gem on Beale Street! I was exploring Beale Street with 2 other colleagues and we pulled up Yelp to try and figure out what we should do for dinner. We had lots of options, but Itta Bena won out. It was a little tough to find because you have to go through B.B. King's Restaurant to get to it. BB. King's restaurant was was lively and we had to be directed up 2 sets of stairs to get to Itta Bena. When we walked in, it felt like we were in a different world! It was kind of a romantic atmosphere. There was a lovely lady playing the piano and the ambiance was totally different from where we just walked from and in a good way. We were seated right away. Our server took a little while to come to our table, but he was super friendly and accommodating. He even split our checks, even though it says on their menu that they don't really do that. The food was amazing and pretty reasonably priced. I had the pork chop with creamed spinach and it was awesome. The pork chop was cooked perfectly and was paired with a nice chutney and the creamed spinach was full of flavor. I spent a week in the Memphis area and this was the best food I had all week....I would highly recommend Itta Bena. read more

Itta Bena - Pork chops and creamed spinach - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Nice quiet place with good food and customer service.I would recommend this place and return soon

Swanky feel, beautiful decor and design. Upscale. Food and service were outstanding. We went for a business dinner and everyone raved about their food. I had the shrimp and grits which I inhaled immediately. The ambiance is just wonderful. I loved everything about it. Ordered smoked cocktails that were brought to the table in the lantern looking smoke box. Very cool presentation. This place is above BB Kings on Beale but you would never know it. It feels like a secret supper club. read more

I enjoy Itta Bena's ambiance. It is great for birthday celebrations or a romantic evening. The vibe is classy and the location reminds me of an exclusive speakeasy. I ordered the seabass. The seabass was fresh and tasty and the cocktails were delicious. The service was top tier. read more

This place is outstanding. Probably the best food I've had in a very long time. Everything was perfect from the appetizer to the entrée to the dessert. The vibe was great as well and the service here was terrific. Would come back again. read more

Such an incredible restaurant with great staff, great food, and a great view! We had a party of 10 go here over the weekend for my birthday, and the staff was BEYOND accommodating!! So professional, so on top of it all, and we did not want for anything! The food was incredible as always, and the drinks where made right!!! 2 of my greatest nights out in Memphis, both include dining here!! Will be back, and recommend everyone try it!! I had the lamb...it was delicious!!! read more

Itta Bena was an incredible find on my last minute trip to show my friend the wonders of Memphis. We were looking for an upscale Memphis experience before diving into the Blues music of Beale Street and were advised of the third story Piano dining space above B.B. Kings. I'm glad we listened. My friend A and I seated ourselves at the bar just feet away from the Piano that played gentle Blues and Jazz music. The atmosphere is elegant yet inviting, warm and relaxing. Despite the limited menu, we had a difficult time choosing our dishes without wanting to eat it all. I had a lovely cup of the she-crab soup, which was creamy and thick, followed by a duck confit grilled cheese and a side of mac n cheese (because - it's my favorite). Each dish was incredibly flavorful and thick. Unfortunately, my mistake was to order three thick dishes. I should have had only two of the three which would have been plenty, as it 'whomps' into your belly and made my stomach a bit uncomfortable -- that's on me though. My friend did a cup of the she-crab as well, followed by the red snapper with crawfish etouffee. He yummed it up without letting a scrap left on the plate. For drinks, the server made my friend a great Manhattan while I had a glass of Chardonnay. Both were made to perfection. Make sure to not look like a slum coming up here, it is an upscale spot and deserves the respect it has built over the year. I would advise looking at their menu in advance - as I said, we had a bit of an ordeal finding the perfect dishes that night. read more

Absolutely everything was amazing, starting with the friendly and crazy-quick service to the cocktails to the food. *fingertips kiss motion"

My husband and I spent a lovely evening here celebrating our first wedding anniversary. Booked last minute reservations through open table and were pleasantly surprised when we were offered the private booth area for our dinner. Our server was very attentive, helpful and graciously offered us each a glass of champagne for a toast. I have a Dairy allergy and was able to get the Traditional Wedge Salad with vinaigrette and no blue cheese. For entrees I had the 8 Oz. Center Cut Filet Mignon with a side of the maple bacon Brussel sprouts and my husband had the herbed chicken, potatoes and spinach dish. Our meals were fantastic, especially the Brussel sprouts!! I would recommend this restaurant for any celebration if you want it to be special! The restrooms were clean (always a plus). We hope to dine here many times in the future!! read more

Great food and deserts! Nice calm setting and great atmosphere! Will definitely be back

Very welcoming and perfect romantic date night location. Enjoyed the "speak easy" style entrance. Just added to the character of the place. Service was amazing as well! read more

We decided to try Itta Bena for our first dinner in Memphis. We were not disappointed! Our server, Kelsie, was engaging and very helpful as we considered our options. The pork chop was enormous and very flavorful. The shrimp and grits were not prepared in the usual way and were both unique and delicious. The evening was topped with a shared peach cobbler that was perfect! We would not hesitate to recommend Itta Bena . read more

Loved this place for years! Nice hideaway spot. Great food. Great service! Awesome music!

Food was OK but service was really bad. I think the waitress just had too many tables , she would go really long times between stopping by. I wasn't mad or anything, just wasn't a great dine out event. read more

Beautiful food, service and ambiance lamb chops were amazing and wait staff friendly

Excellent atmosphere for an upscale Memphis dining experience on Beale Street. I've eaten here several times, the food is always delicious. Thanks Justin and Morgan for bringing us a great southern experience. read more

I've been wanting to go here for a very long time! I heard a lot of good things from words of mouth. I went and got the famous avocado and crab, heard that it's the best, got very high hopes but it was alright. I ordered the red snapper with the crawfish étouffée and it was amazing!! Thinking about it now makes me drool! The filet with the sautéed broccoli and button mushrooms were delicious! I love the entrees that we've ordered. Our waiter Stevin did a wonderful job, very helpful and made sure our Mississippi mules keep coming. Fast and friendly service! Definitely coming back! read more

Excellent service and the best food in the world . Our server was Jonathon and he was so sweet and he made the best suggestions for our meal. We had the wedge salad, shrimp and grits and Cajun pasta. The food was fantastic. We were so glad we found the restaurant. The owner was incredible too. We got to the restaurant 10 minutes to close and the team absolutely took the very best care of us. We will definitely come back. The chefs were amazing. Thank you for a very special meal. read more

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Food & service were both excellent! Love the Amoretto Snowball from the bar. Refreshing! Little too pricy for me, but I am frugal!

Food was over-cooked. Took over an hour to bring out the food. Manager was rude and inexperienced.

I decided to try this place out for my birthday and I definitely made the right decision. The food was excellent. The ambience was amazing. Our waiter, Johnathan, was amazing. I enjoyed the warm fudge brownie topped with vanilla ice cream as a birthday treat. If you visit Memphis, make sure you visit this restaurant. read more

Itta Bena - Dessert - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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Service and food were outstanding and I hope to get back soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bb bbb

Tucked away on top of B.B. Kings on Beale through a hidden staircase, it's a cool spot to bring guests to Memphis. The atmosphere was nice, and the entire team was lovely. The prices are steep, but due to its location, that's to be expected. The food was okay. Leagues ahead of any tourist trap, but not quite up to par with other fine dining spots nearby in Memphis (Catherine & Mary's, Flight, Gray Canary). For the price you pay, I probably won't return unless to entertain a guest who wants to experience Beale Street. read more

Staff and management were very accommodating. Great service as well. The disappointment was the limited menu compared to the past. Food lacked anything special. The filet was good and temperature on point. The Shrimp and grits as well as Cajun pasta were bland and lacked the diverse flavors that usually accompany the dish. The bread pudding and Godiva cheesecake topped off the meal. A word of caution ladies, the steep stairs getting to this historic venue make navigating in heels difficult. read more

this was my favorite restaurant in Memphis! I loved the fact that it was hidden in plain sight. No sign for this place and it's above the famous BB Kings restaurant. It was really loud in Bb Kings with the blues band but after finding the secret door and going up the stairs it was it was pretty shocking that now all you heard was the piano player here. This was the best pork chop I've ever had. It was really thick and the sauce had bacon in it! All of the breads they served were spectacular. The atmosphere was really nice. read more

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I enjoyed the shrimp and grits (I could have done without the capers though) and mashed potatoes. The stuffed avocado was not hittin the way I expected and the lobster bisque was a little salty but still good. read more

Itta Bena - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Excellent Service, Sophisticated Atmosphere, Delicious Food! 8 Oz. Center Cut Filet Mignon

I was a frequent traveller to Memphis for years but it wasn't until this year I finally made my way above BB Kings Blues Club (mind you we could not hear the music below) to try Itta Bena thanks to one of my favorite travel and dinner pals, C. We had plans for an upscale Memphis dining experience but we hadn't made dinner reservations. Luckily, it was a cool Sunday night in early Spring so we gave it a shot before we went out to take in more blues music and they happened to have a table for two. The menu was a bit limited; however, it still took me and C ages to figure out exactly what we wanted because it all sounded so scrumptious. Add in that we were inquiring about local selections of bourbon and gin for our cocktails, we were clearly taking our time. I had a delicious cup of she-crap soup to start which was lovely and creamy. It warmed me up perfectly on such a cool evening. This was followed by the lamb and a side of brussel sprouts. I may have just tried brussel sprouts last year but they are a newfound favorite and they were fantastic here. The lamb was good but it was a bit more cooked than I would have liked for medium-rare. My companion had the Abita BBQ Shrimp and because I snuck a taste, they were so good with a mixture of sweet and a little kick of heat at the end. He yummed up the ribeye that they were serving and didn't leave anything on the plate; however, it didn't "wow" him. To finish, we stuck to the tried and true "Creme Bruelee". We had had our fill of bread pudding and pecan pie elsewhere. For drinks, we stuck to the traditional gin n' tonic or bourbon for me. I also had a wonderful Ferrari-Carano red to pair with the lamb. Overall, it was fantastic and I am a fan! The vibe of the restaurant is definitely upscale but you can roll in in business casual and be alright. As mentioned by others, it is right at the "top" of Beale Street so the location is fantastic. Looking forward to eating here again! read more

Amazing dining experience. The atmosphere is very elegant yet inviting and warm. The hostess was very pleasant and seated us right away. Our waiter Mark was remarkable and provided us his recommendations. The food was just as described, delicious. Definitely a must if your visiting Memphis. read more

Talk about a cool place . . . I've heard a few things. Maybe it's named after the birth place of BB King. But the food is very good - really delicious dinners. The atmosphere is cool, a place I would hang out if I lived in the area. It's amazing when you go upstairs from a incredibly busy and loud place and none of that transfers upstairs. The staff is lovely. Very well trained and knowledgeable; and very professional. I will definitely make a reservation here next time I am in Memphis. read more

Fantastic experience. Very cool low-key atmosphere. Food is incredible and Stevin is the best server I have ever had the pleasure of dealing with and the epitome of excellent service. 5 stars all around. read more

This is probably my new favorite date place in town. First time here and the experience was amazing. The ambiance is romantic, good for date night. The food is superb especially the mash potatoes that goes with the pork ribs. The lamb was well doe and seasoned just right. read more

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Came in last night for our anniversary and had a wonderful time, our server Lauren was awesome! Very sweet and was always on top of everything. We got a bottle of wine the shrimp appetizer and lamb chops, everything was delicious. Lamb was cooked perfectly and came with some fantastic risotto and demi glace. Great date night spot with a very welcoming staff and romantic atmosphere. We will most certainly be back for another date night read more

Itta Bena - Vanilla bean Crème Brûlée - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

It goes without saying that Itta Bena is the best restaurant on Beale St. & Many will add that the best music downstairs is in B.B. King's Blues Club. My reservation was @ 6pm, a leisurely dinner before an 8pm Orpheum show. Understated elegance & ambiance like the fine restaurants of yesteryear, Itta Bena features Southern Cuisine. That extra touch of candlelight & white linen tablecloths, & I loved the Downtown lights shining through the blue-tinted windows. After finishing the She-Crab Soup, my companion mentioned there was no crabmeat in it. It's irritating when a diner doesn't speak up in time for a mistake to be corrected. Every restaurant owner/manager will tell you that. So I'm going to chalk that one up to the diner. The Blackened Gulf Red Snapper was perfectly spiced & served over andouille hash & fried string potatoes. Jumbo Shrimp & Grits is a very popular dish here, reminded me of the 1st time I ordered it many years ago @ Charleston Place. Now, variations can be found in the finest restaurants in New York City & others. Convenient Valet parking is the icing on the cake prior to Fed Ex Forum & Orpheum events. read more

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This is and probably always will be my favorite restaurant in Memphis. The entrance is an adventure. The dining area is white table cloth perfection. The lighting is sultry and if you sit by the Beale St. side, you get one of the best views of Memphis. The bar is sophisticated and yet welcoming. The bathrooms are even gorgeous!!! This is the place where I fell in love with scallops. I have never had a more perfectly seared one since! I love how they embrace southern style in all their upscale dishes. You can't go wrong. There is no item on the menu that disappoints. If you hear someone distastefully moaning with pleasure, it's me. If you want to impress/shmooze/marry someone...take them here!!! read more