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    River Oaks Restaurant

    3.8 (162 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    River Oaks Restaurant Photos

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    RIVER OAKS RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Dressy
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - River Oaks Restaurant

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    Souk S.

    What a great little place in Memphis. The ambiance and decor is comfortable and chic. Service was fabulous and food was very good. I had the salad with big juicy pan fried shrimp. The 5/5 was because the bar and selection of bourbon was amazing. They had some top shelf bourbon including a selection of Pappy's!!! If you are in the area and want good food and drinks - check this place out.

    Eda X.

    River Oaks is classy restaurant with quality food. I tried their "jumbo" crab cakes and pan seared halibut. Surprised that the two crab cakes were not larger than two meatball and is a bit misleading to call them "jumbo" as how they are served in other parts of the US. The pan seared halibut is a well balanced entree with a high quality piece of fish, perfectly cooked green beans and homemade fried potatoes. I love that both appetizer and entrees are well balanced with protein and greens and vegetables.

    Caramelized Salmon with Cauliflower Risotto. Sooooo good!
    Kontji A.

    I'd call this a true fine dining experience. It can be a special occasion or a quest to have delicious food prepared by amazing chefs. The moment you step inside, you're welcomed by an atmosphere of sophistication and elegance. You can tell the chefs here are well-trained and take pride in their craft. One of the chefs, and this is the really neat part, painted a massive, breathtaking fish painting that's a centerpiece in the restaurant. It's like having dinner surrounded by art. I mustn't forget to mention the salmon. It's so succulent and perfectly prepared that you'll swear it's the best you've ever had. And for those who are health-conscious or just looking for a unique twist, the cauliflower rice is an absolute dream. It's a testament to how this place blends classic elegance with contemporary tastes. So, there you have it, River Oaks Restaurant - a fine dining establishment that's like a time machine back to the refined dining experiences of yesteryears. They've got a mix of the old-school charm and modern culinary delights that'll leave you with a truly memorable dining memory. Bon appétit!

    The food was very good, my entire family enjoyed their meal, and the waitress that our table was very nice (he deserves a promotion immediately his name is) (Ahmad) he was very attentive and literally the best waitress I ever had, my experience was the best here 10/10

    Chocolate Dessert, yum!
    Blair P.

    My wife and I celebrated last night where she enjoyed a chicken dish with beet salad. I had what I consider the best tuna I've ever eaten and it was perfectly prepared. Warm chocolate dessert was awesome. Photographs are attached for your review. Pleasant atmosphere where the service was great. This restaurant is easy to pass by and I don't recall any advertising. I assure you we will return. Though pricey, this was a wonderful meal. Thanks, River Oaks!

    Baked Brie with that amazing rustic bread
    Ty M.

    My take away impression is Meh. The food is really hit and miss. The tuna tartare was beautifully presented (as are all the dishes) but completely void of flavor. We also had baked Brie, short ribs, and tuna nicoise, key lime pie for dessert. The only thing we ate that night that was anything approaching outstanding was the rustic cranberry & pistachio bread served with the baked Brie. Everything else was just standard fare, not a place I'd go to again to drop $200.

    A thirsty crew!
    Mandy K.

    Chef Jose is a genius. This restaurant is absolutely stellar. We were lucky enough to dine in the private room. The set up was welcoming and cozy. Our server was charming. The food was incredible. Truly. And the presentation was gorgeous. The salmon appetizer, jumbo lump crab cakes, scallops, the duck, the filet, the apple purse for dessert. I can't say enough. We had one vegetarian in our group, and she was well catered to by our server. We were a lively group of 12. We ordered different wines for each course, and our eyes popped out of our heads at each pairing. This was my first trip to Memphis. Shall we return, we shall seek out Chef Jose!

    Proof of call
    C R.

    Would rate 0 if possible based on service & lack thereof. I spent a week traveling in Memphis for work and had a semi free day on a Friday. In the midst of an errand filled morning I thought to begin planning my lunch around 10:30 considering most establishments open at 11. Good restaurants answer their phones whenever any staff are present and even better ones provide quality service whether business hours are present or not, yet BAD restaurants give customers and potential customers the exact attitude they allow & facilitate in house no matter the hour or occasion. Having never visited River Oaks but often passing and seeing it come up on Yelp I thought to call and inquire about their burger as I'm always on a quest to find the perfect one to suit sporadic cravings. Upon calling at 10:30a a woman answered the phone and I asked if they serve a burger, what is the price and what is it made of. She hastily said "We don't open til 11" to which I replied "I'm aware yet I'm trying to decide where to eat for lunch". She again repeated "We don't open til 11, YOU CAN CALL BACK AT 11", with a harshly disrespectful tone. She stated that her name was Melanie and I thanked her for helping me decide where NOT to EVER eat at. What a disgrace to humanity! Subsequently I called The Butcher Shop in Cordova moments later and was met with EXCELLENT phone service and an even greater experience once arriving. Their burger & service was impeccable. So glad I went there!

    TV dinner

    First time visiting for lunch it was very good the Chef's TV dinner changes daily and the fish is fresh and was brought in today. Excellent!

    Watermelon & tomato salad
    Tom F.

    Food was out of this world with a unique take on presentation. Whipped Ricotta is some of best in the city. Service was great and ambiance is pretty solid!

    Seared Tuna Salad. Beautiful and delicious!
    Leslie B.

    Excellent food! We had a fantastic lunch. The crab cakes were perfectly done. Best crab cake I ever tasted. The chicken dish was amazing. The greens with the chicken were super fresh and delish. The lemon caper sauce with it was light, citrusy and balanced. Highly recommend this restaurant. The tuna salad was so pretty I didn't want to disturb it but drove in and loved it!

    Crispy Lemon Chicken Paillard
    Denise A.

    In town visiting from Las Vegas and found this little gem even though the Yelp reviews may have deterred me from enjoying an amazing lunch. It was a fabulous day to sit outside and enjoy a beautiful fall afternoon. We ordered some wine and one diner opted for a Belvedere martini (after a stressful morning !!) Our server was knowledgeable on the menu and the specials. Our group ordered a hot pastrami sandwich, breaded chicken breast (Organic Lemon Chicken Paillard) on a bed of mixed greens, a BLT sandwich and a chefs TV dinner (todays special included red snapper, Mac and cheese, salad and a pear Creme brûlée.) What a wonderful presentation!!! All the selections were incredible, one better than the other. Chef Jose came out to greet our table which added a flair of personality and charm. Highly recommend this restaurant. We will definitely return to experience the dinner menu.

    Chef Joses Sirloin Burger Pomme Frites

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    8 years ago

    Had a great dinner tonight with colleagues. I had the lamb and it was fabulous. Becca was our server and she was very welcoming

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    9 years ago

    Food really not worth the bang for your buck. Service was slow. Took four of us 45 minutes to get meal. Sadly unimpressed.

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    9 years ago

    Awesome chef, bar and staff. Nice ambience. My second night dinning here this week!

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    Seasons 52

    Seasons 52

    3.9
    (471 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    Great food! Everything was quite tasty. The service was great!…read more A large group left the restaurant and it took more than 45 minutes for someone to clean it up. There weren't that many customers in during this time and I saw quite a few waiters that could have cleaned it up. Maybe I'm a bit of a prude - when I eat out, I'd prefer not to see dirty dishes on empty tables when I'm walking to/from the laboratory. Regardless, I will be returning next time I'm in Memphis. One more comment - when I used to live in Memphis (maybe 5 years ago?) this restaurant had a piano player some nights. This was AWESOME !!! Any chance of bringing that back??? That piano player made the place SO SPECIAL compared to other restaurants. It was the perfect blend of a good meal in a nice environment with a magnificent musician demonstrating their talents. Always kinda felt magical in a manner of speaking

    As an international traveling food critic and unbeknownst to the staff, the following is what I…read moreexperienced: - We arrived at 11:10 for an 11:15 reservation and it was clear that the management did not plan for ample staff nor were the scheduled staff in position ready to serve prior to their 11 o'clock opening. - Our waiter, Matthew was very pleasant, but it took him over seven minutes for his first visit to our table. He was then subsequently also tasked with an entire conference room full of people to serve. - When our food did finally come out, it was lukewarm and the appetizer arrived when the rest of our meal arrived, 47 minutes after we arrived. --- Total miss management of staffing!!! - Also, they are cutting back on the size of the meatballs now, which used to be a favorite. We'll think twice about returning here!

    Photos
    Caramelized Grilled Sea Scallops served with broccolini and mascarpone risotto.
    Caramelized Grilled Sea Scallops served with broccolini and mascarpone risotto.
    Cedar Plank-roasted Salmon with seasonal vegetables, marble potatoes and dill-mustard sauce
    Cedar Plank-roasted Salmon with seasonal vegetables, marble potatoes and dill-mustard sauce
    Seasons 52 has a wide selection of varietals on our wine menu

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    Seasons 52 has a wide selection of varietals on our wine menu
    Moondance Grill

    Moondance Grill

    4.1
    (453 reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$$

    Had a chance to have a cocktail at the bar before the members in our party arrived for our…read morereservation time. Great, friendly service and very quick. I had a perfect dirty martini and my husband had an excellent old fashioned ( chose not to do the smoked version. ) We were seated at the time of our reservation with courteous and prompt attention from our waiter. He informed us of all the specials and gave us the right amount of time to relax before ordering. The food was excellent and beautifully presented. I like the atmosphere, not too large of a dining area, I like the separate room of tables, with a fireplace, along with the area of booths for a more intimate setting. The bar itself is large and has seating on the outskirts of it as well.

    I've been here a handful of times. Most of them have been quite lovely. Out of the times I have…read moredined here, almost all have been with people from work. I do believe C and I have only been here once as a couple. It did not go well at all, so we have not been back together, as she is holding a bit of a grudge. It's a long story but it all ties back to service. That night we had the worst table in the building and service was spotty at best. Food was still pretty good, just whole ass annoyed by the entirety of the rest of the experience. I am lucky enough to be able to be taken to/host dinner with clients and manufacturers a good bit. They like places like this so I get by ever so often. Gotta love expensed meals!!! Tehehe I like the open kitchen concept they have and the bar is really cool. The metal shelves at the bar that store the booze are bad ass. It's warm and cozy and has a great vibe overall. The last time we sat on the enclosed patio. I had not sat out there before. I think the larger tables all go out there. We had seven and there was another group of about twenty in the same room with us. Food ranges from fairly good to fucking great. I've never had anything bad here, but a few sighs have been had, mostly by misunderstood expectations of what I was getting I would say. So, quite possibly I am the problem. As with most of my problems, actually... The oysters Rockefeller are very different from the norm. Fried oysters on a side of spinach. That's what it seems like. I ate it up, don't get me wrong. I did just switch to only fried oysters after the first one. No need wasting stomach space on spinach. Charbroiled oysters is always a good move and the preparation remains traditional on that one. I do find the oysters to be quite massive and hard to chew the whole thing at once. Cutting them just seems silly though. Steaks are prepared very well and to your liking each time. I have never had a bad one. Good flavor too. I am going to spring on the Hawaiian Ribeye the next time I go on my dime. It's a classic that I remember from Steak and Ale as well as Houston's. Both now gone from Memphis. I like the she crab soup an awful lot, and just about every entree I have had here is killer. You really cannot go wrong with the food. Just order something you normally like and boom. I will also say this. The short ribs I had last time were some of the best I have ever had. Bravo on that! Additionally, I had two giant pieces for like $40! I could only eat one of them after all of the appetizers. Oh.... Yea. They have a hot lobster roll that is good! You don't see that in Memphis very often!! Get you some. Wait.... Lamb Lollipops. They have evolved some of the years but they have really good lamb chops. They used to be the exact same dish as their sister concepts of Itta Bena, BB Kings, and Lafayette's. I am not sure if the whole family still has the old version or not. Here it has changed a good bit. As I write this, I crave it.... Ugh. Damn your foods and your seductive prowess food skills! Lastly, Tommy Peters did great things for this city's food scene. I am sad that he is gone but I know he was proud of this one! Ok. That's enough, Adam.... No one reads this crap anyway. '26 - 48

    Photos
    Old fashioned
    Old fashioned
    Lamb chops loaded baked potato and asparagus.
    Lamb chops loaded baked potato and asparagus.
    The Empress of Germantown

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    Southern Social

    Southern Social

    4.6
    (744 reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $$$

    The overall experience was delightful. The service was the definition of southern hospitality - the…read moreentire staff was welcoming and personable. The building has a classic charm with a hint of elegance that elevates the dining experience. Okay, let's get into the food- the southern strawberry cake was absolutely delicious. Each bite took my palate on a joyride of goodness. The mashed potatoes were velvety and delicious- smit was the best mashed potato I've ever eaten. The redfish and crab was the perfect combination. The fish was fresh with just the right amount of flakiness. The cheese grits were very tasty too. Definitely a southern experience worth having.

    Chose Southern Social to celebrate Father's Day. Made a reservation a month in advance for the…read morefirst available time at 4:00. We attended church in Memphis which ends at 12:30 and bc we live out of state, we had to find things to do for 3 1/2 hrs. We discovered when we arrived that they had opened up reservations an hour early after we booked. I wish that they had first informed those of us who had first reservations so that we could move ours up. We arrived about 20 minutes early expecting to wait until our 4:00 reservation but they seated us immediately. We ordered wedge and harvest salads for our first course and the oyster deviled eggs appetizer. Both salads were very good. I did think the egg were a little bland and I didn't taste the oyster on one of the 4 deviled eggs. The candied bacon topping is what made the eggs overall good. Otherwise l, without the candied topping it was bland. I ordered the pork chop with sweet potato casserole and Brussels sprouts. My dish was very good and enough for me to take more than half for leftovers. (This doesn't mean change the portion bc it's just right.) My husband ordered the fried chicken dish. It was a giant piece of chicken. Fried very nicely but the coating was not seasoned well, if at all, to me. However, he enjoyed his meal and that's what counts. He said the collard greens were absolutely delicious and the mac and cheese was very cheesy and good! He also took home most of his meal. We don't have big appetites so the portions are probably just right for the majority. I took home the lemon pie dessert. I was expecting more of a meringue taste based on the description but it wasn't, so I wouldn't order it again. We ordered the house wine and 1 of the specialty drinks. The staff were very professional and friendly. The manager (I assume) stopped by every table to check on us. The restaurant has very nice ambiance and the tables have a nice amount of distance between them. It looks well maintained and the bathrooms are clean. The price point isn't bad esp for the generous portions. We've eaten at this restaurant a couple of times before over the years, and I still recommend it.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Shrimp and Grits
    Shrimp and Grits
    Redfish & Crab

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    Redfish & Crab

    River Oaks Restaurant - newamerican - Updated July 2026

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