Just depends on what you are in tbe mood for and how far are you will to travel to get.. this was…read moredefinitely out of the normal area, I'm in. I was actually referred to this establishment by a friend. I think she might have discovered on TikTok but here we are.. I think what drew us,was they were opened kinda late.. The bags are stuffed. They look and smell delicious . The flavors were on point,didnt miss.. n the seafood wasn't over steamed. Sweet meat is what I call it.. After you.eat all dem seasonings and finger licking. They sell alkaline water by the liter, by the case. Help yourself to wellness. Sorry,ion what happened to my pics

I love the food here--it's always seasoned really well. I usually go for the crab boils. I'm not a…read morefan of the sausage they use, but the crab is always on point! It may look like a hole in the wall but don't let that stop you! The food IS bussing. I'm giving it 4 stars only because they don't provide gloves, bibs, or anything to help you stay clean while eating the boils. Other than that, the food is a 10/10.

You must be wiillnd to wait They cook while you wait. It's worth waiting for 4 starsread more

Crawfish season is coming, and this is hands down my favorite spot in Memphis: Ellis Seafood!…read more They have the best crawfish in town! Big, juicy, fresh, and always perfectly seasoned. The owner is super nice and even remembers our usual order and preferred flavor, which makes it feel extra special. Must try: ! Corn nuggets (crispy, slightly sweet, so good) ! Fried catfish (crispy and flavorful) ! Crawfish (less salt, garlic butter, 3lb is my routine, 5lb if I'm not on diet) During crawfish season, I could honestly eat here every week and never get tired of it. Tip for serious crawfish lovers: I've heard my friend said Thursdays may be the time they restock crawfish.

I can not believe I have not reviewed Soul Fish as of yet. I am a huge fan…read more Let me preface this review by saying ... My grandfather owned two successful catfish restaurants. As a child I grew up on fried fish filets and hush puppies until my grandfather had to retire and sell his restaurant due to his Health. He still cooks up a mess of catfish for us about two or three times a year when we visit. Yum! My standards for good catfish are extremely high. Good fried catfish is not greasy, light cornmeal batter, tender flaky inside, and slightly crispy on the outside. Sounds simple enough but the truth of the matter is... Good fried catfish takes skill. After an epic searched for any decent catfish in Memphis and surrounding areas that took a few years ... My family and I decided to give up. And when I heard about Soul Fish it took some considerable convincing to get them to go. We where, none of us, disappointed! Soul Fish is without a doubt the best Catfish in Memphis. It is perfectly fried... Hushpuppies are tasty, coleslaw edible if not always yummy, fried pickles crisp and tart, pickle green tomatoes so yummy I could swim in them, and vegetables always cooked and seasons well (special recognition to the cabbage, broccoli, and black eyed peas). The service is always friendly, fast, efficient, and correct. The blackened catfish is pretty tasty too ... Sometimes they get a little heavy handed on the seasoning. Deserts are pretty great as well. My sister loves the Mississippi mud chocolate thingy they have (I'm not a chocolate fan). I've introduced many people (about 40 or so) to Soul Fish - locals and visitors alike - and no one ... And I mean not a single one of them where disappointed. So why four stars instead of five? True... the catfish is the best in Memphis - however it is not the best I've ever had. And Sometimes a filet or two at Soul Fish fall short of perfection... However ... I'm a regular and a fan of Soul Fish Cafe. If you have spent hours and disappointed meals trying to find good catfish in Memphis ... Look no further ... This is the place for you. I promise you will not Be disappointed!

Still on the amazing food stops from our December 2025 Smoky Mountains trip, our final Tennessee…read moremeal had to be memorable--and Soul Fish Cafe delivered. Memphis is a slight detour on our way back to Texas, but there was no way we were settling for fast food along the highway. We wanted good seafood--fresh, satisfying, and worth the stop. So glad we chose this spot. From the outside, it's simple and unassuming. Inside, it feels like a slightly bougie fish cafe--clean, cozy, and well-kept, with subtle holiday decor and that warm Southern hospitality greeting you at the door. Our server, Denise, was professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely welcoming. The one-page menu keeps it simple, and she walked us through it along with the daily special. We ordered the gumbo, salmon burger, and a grilled salmon plate--everything tasted fresh and cooked to order. A perfect seafood meal in Tennessee. We left full, happy, and already planning what to try next time. Definitely a spot worth revisiting.

Five stars simply aren't enough. This deserves twenty…read more My husband and I are food people. We travel extensively, we eat everywhere, and we've been fortunate enough to have some truly extraordinary dining experiences over the years. So when I say that Porch & Parlor may be one of the best overall restaurant experiences we've ever had, that is not something I say lightly. And it started before we even made it through the front door. The restaurant itself is absolutely charming from the outside -- whitewashed brick, Southern, understated and beautiful. But before either of us could even reach for the door handle, a gentleman appeared with the warmest smile and opened it for us. Such a tiny thing, perhaps, but it immediately set the tone for the entire evening: You are our guest, and we are delighted you're here. Inside, three lovely attendants greeted us at the front, all smiles and genuine Southern hospitality. We had reservations and were seated immediately in the most gorgeous, moody dining room. Elegant lighting, beautiful raised paneling, rich finishes -- classic steakhouse without feeling stuffy or predictable. As a miniature artist, I spent an embarrassing amount of time mentally figuring out how I could recreate those fabulous light fixtures in miniature. And then came Wade. For years -- and I mean years -- my husband and I have had a benchmark for exceptional service: a wonderful gentleman named Seth in Birmingham who was exceptional at what he did that we still talk about him. Well, Seth... you finally have competition. Wade is an absolute gem. Charming, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and incredibly intuitive, he possesses that rare ability to actually read a table. He listened. He remembered. He made recommendations without ever making us feel "sold." He helped my husband choose a bourbon, shared little tidbits and stories with us, picked up on our personalities and genuinely connected with us. And the timing of this meal was impeccable. We never once felt rushed, yet we never found ourselves wondering where the next course was. Nothing arrived too quickly. Nothing lingered too long. Wade was there exactly when we wanted him and somehow invisible when we didn't need him. The entire evening just moved along smooth as silk. That kind of service is an art, and Wade has it. Of course, none of that would matter if the food didn't deliver. It absolutely did. The steaks were phenomenal, the meal was incredible from beginning to end, and oddly enough, that fabulous bacon rack may be one of the things we talk about forever. It's delicious, ridiculous, memorable and exactly the sort of thing you want to order when you're out having a wonderful evening. By the end, we were far too full for dessert -- which naturally meant we ordered dessert. My husband knew exactly what he wanted. I was torn between two choices, so finally I told Wade, "Go into the kitchen, choose your favorite and surprise me. I don't even want to know what it is. I'll find out when I get back to the hotel." The man understood the assignment. He chose the cheesecake, and good heavens. It was lighter than a cloud, with these gorgeous cherries in a rich syrup whose tartness cut through the creamy cheesecake beautifully, alongside vanilla ice cream that somehow pulled the entire thing together. I opened that box back at the hotel and knew immediately that Wade had once again made exactly the right call. But what really makes Porch & Parlor remarkable is that Wade wasn't the exception. Every single person we encountered -- from the gentleman at the door, to the front desk, to everyone who touched our table -- was gracious, polished, welcoming and genuinely lovely. You can serve an extraordinary steak in a beautiful room and have a great restaurant. But when the hospitality is every bit as exceptional as the food, you create an experience. Porch & Parlor did exactly that. We were told this was considered one of the very best steakhouses in Tennessee. After dining there, I completely understand why. In fact, forget Tennessee. This is one of the best steakhouse experiences we've had anywhere. And Wade, if you happen to read this: Seth held that title for a very long time, young man. You earned this one. Five stars feels woefully inadequate. Give them twenty.

The food (chef's kiss) The ambience ( robust and romantic)…read moreThe service (top notch) A lovely steak house that I can't wait to return to. Our server was amazing (unfortunately I can't remember her name.) Every recommendation was 10 out of 10!

food was great, service was better. sweet little girl with black hair was our host and she was so…read morenice and friendly. will be coming back and recommend to everyone!

This place has the most excellent food!!!! The staff are…read morealways amazing. The drinks are great!! We frequently go here because of the salmon and oysters. We have tried everything on the menu and NEVER had anything bad. I love the home town feeling of Half Shell. The ole guys sitting at the bar and the people just enjoying themselves. Really a great atmosphere!!!!!!!

Another visit this time on a Saturday super chill vibes on the front patio. Francis was a very…read moreattentive server and ensured we had what we needed. As we were coming from somewhere else, I kept it simple with a Hugo Spritz and a sundae. Good vibes and great food and drinks.

In making this sound more dramatic than it is, this is a difficult review to write because the food…read morewas excellent. We got the Yakamein NOLA Ol Sober noodles dish and the Korean hot chicken sandwich, and both were delicious. I literally felt like I was eating a roast beef po-boy in ramen form with the noodles dish, and the chicken sandwich was crisp, tasty, and well-seasoned. Everything else about our visit? Awful. The service missed the mark on numerous fronts, topped off by the overall vibe that we were inconveniencing her by being there. The music was so loud that no one could hear each other. According to the thermostat at the restaurant, the temperature was 86°, as it appeared the A/C was broken. And the drinks were just okay. I would maybe get takeout but will pass on any further visits.

We checked out the new location yesterday, 8/25/26. It was a Monday night so not as busy as busy as…read morethe weekend; the new spot is cozy and has a fun vibe. The menu was excellent, there were lots of things that sounded tasty and we had to pick. I got a roast beef poboy with Swiss cheese and a side of red beans and rice, and my wife got crawfish etoufee. All of the food was superb, I can't say enough good things about this place. You can tell having both restaurants back together really lets chef Kelly focus on quality. We will be back regularly.

Before Covid, we enjoyed many great date-nights at The Second Line in the Copper-Young area. As a…read morenative of New Orleans, this was one of my FAVORITE casual restaurants. So, we were delighted to find they had moved to the East Memphis area, next to Iris. We did date night there on Friday, 07/17/26. The restaurant was busy and the atmosphere is definitely energetic. Unfortunately, the food (Oyster Poboy, Crawfish Etouffee) was disappointing. Also, the "Levee Breaks", their version of a New Orleans' Hurricane, was a let down. The one positive in our dining experience was Morgan M, our Server. She was attentive and very personable. We will give the restaurant two more chances, because we have faith in Chef/Owner Kelly English, a Louisiana native and James Beard Award semifinalist known for French-Creole and contemporary Southern cuisine.

I stopped by one of the Memphis, Tennessee Red Pier Cajun Seafood & Bar locations for lunch on a…read moreSunday afternoon. The staff was very friendly and welcoming, and the restaurant itself was clean. The food had good flavor, and I would consider ordering it again. Unfortunately, it was served only lukewarm instead of at the proper temperature, which took away from the overall experience. What stood out most, however, was the presentation of the restaurant. Upon entering, I was greeted by numerous handwritten paper signs and messages written on dry-erase boards throughout the dining area. For a restaurant with mid-range pricing, this came across as unprofessional and distracted from the dining experience. I was also surprised that there was no standard silverware available--only individually wrapped, inexpensive plastic forks and spoons. As I was leaving, I noticed several customers were being served their meals in takeout containers rather than on traditional plates, which further gave the impression of a casual takeout establishment rather than a dine-in restaurant. Overall, the friendly service and flavorful food were definite positives, but the food temperature and the overall presentation of the restaurant left me remembering why I rarely choose to dine at Red Pier. With a few improvements to presentation and attention to detail, the experience could better match the prices being charged.

My food was great! The time to order and pick up my to-go order may have been 15 minutes or less so…read morethat was great. BUT even though I checked my bag before I left, it wasn't until I got home that I realized they had left an item out of my bag. I tried to call, the line was busy or went to voicemail each time so I never got any assistance. So unfortunately, that's reflected on my rating.