Overall this restaurant is as solid as they come. The menu is creative and well executed. The vibe is really nice. The service was the real star of the show. Our waitress Ashley was excellent in her detailed explanations and suggestions. Very attentive and seemed to really care that we were enjoying ourselves. Don't usually care about service but this one stood out for all the right reasons. Tried as much as we could. It wasn't all perfect, but I would eat here again and look forward to the rotating menu. Belly - really smoky, great flavor. Acidity felt muted. Needed more. Gnocchi - enjoyed the preparation. Favorite thing was the fennel verde. What an awesome flavor. Hate saying this, but I was missing some salt. Okra - I'm certain everyone a lot of ppl will love it. The flavors are all there, excellent. I struggle with okra texture and the char helped but it just wasn't for me. If you like okra, order it. Carrot - these were delicious. The kimchi worked so darn well. Big fan. Didn't expect the texture of the carrot but all good. Duck - best thing I had. Licked the plate clean. Contrast in flavor was a chefs kiss. Not a single critique. Local Beef - this was coulette cut. Good dish. Good components. Tender. Lemon dessert - another star. Every bite was better than the last. Then you get these random bites of sesame that are so interesting. Man I want more. Try for yourself. These are just my insane notes :) read more

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This place came recommended by some folks at the Peabody! We very much enjoyed the pasta and the pork chop was excellent. The cauliflower was too sweet, but all else was well done. read more

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LOVE the menu at this place. They rotate out frequently and serve reasonably priced dishes that are carefully curated. Service is always impeccable and the staff is super personable. I love their patio area when the weather is nice! read more

Stopped In for a drink with a few coworkers at the bar area. They have a nice selection of bourbon, I ended up with a Blantons old fashioned which was nicely prepared. All of the drinks had great presentation and the staff were very friendly and professional. read more

The Lobbyist - Blantons old fashioned - Bars Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

This restaurant was delicious, had modern ambiance, and attentive. We sat in the entrance near the bar, and ordered a drink, an appetizer, a vegetable and a main. The food was five stars easily. I rate this review as 4 because of the lack of transparency with the pricing of one menu item we ordered. We ordered the appetizer of pork belly and were absolutely blown away. I would easily order this many more times. Next, you're supposed to order a vegetable. The menu is very hard to decipher but we did end up ordering Brussels sprouts. These came with a similar cheese to feta or cotija, and also had corn. It was divine. We looked at the entree protein menu which had multiple items around the $35-40 mark. We ended up ordering the ribeye for 2 which was labeled at mkt price. Never did the waitress say are you sure you're okay with this price? or do you want to know the price before ordering? The flavor was immaculate. The portion size easily could have served 4-5 people. Until we got the bill and realized it was around $165 just for this steak. That was so much higher than anything on the menu. I feel like this was blind sighting and we should have had a discussion about price prior to ordering such an expensive entree. Like stated above, the flavor and portion size were more than enough but price transparency would have been appreciated. We came to this spot upon recommendations of friends that's it was fine dining on a smaller budget. Everything tasted great, the wait staff was attentive, they even gave us a 1/2 pour champagne toast for our anniversary. I just felt like the waitress should have had a price discussion with us before we ordered an almost $200 steak. Since the steak came with sides that were not mentioned, we would have not ordered the Brussels sprouts to save some $. read more

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Second visit to the lobbyist and it exceeded my expectations. Started with corn mash, pork belly, and eggplant. All were great. Then we had scallops, okra, and teres major. All were very good. Service was also quick as we were catching a show at the orpheum. read more

The Lobbyist - Duck tamale - Bars Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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First time visit. Happy Hour served a lovely French 75. Beautiful interior and excellent location!

OMG The Lobbyist is now in my top 10 restaurants worldwide, in fact I would travel to Memphis just to come and eat here. The flavors are carefully crafted and treat your palate to a party. We had the belly and carrots as our first sharing course followed by the cauliflower and red fish. The food was not the only great thing Barbara's service was awesome and all of the staff we interacted with were so friendly. We left enough room for the strawberry and donut desserts which were worthy the sacrifice. I truly can not say enough good things about the Lobbyist, if you enjoy flavor, something different then you have to go. read more

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First time back at lobbyist since right after open and man it is top tier. Each dish will blow your mind and service at bar is great - walked in and they were able to seat us. Ambiance is lively and active ! read more

The Lobbyist - Charcuterie - Bars Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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This place never failed me. Fanatic foods, the waiter and waitress are so personable. Good ambiance. read more

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This is a very cool trendy place. The atmosphere was really good and the food was great! I do recommend.

I only came for a quick drink but I'll be back soon to check out some other things on the menu! We came later in a Friday night. The service at the bar was stellar. I enjoyed my visit! It's really nice in there too by the way. read more

The Lobbyist - Fern Gully - Bars Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Mitchell and Austin behind the bar made excellent cocktails. I recommend trying one of their unique options on the menu, or letting them know your favorite flavors and letting them make you something. I asked for a Paloma, and Austin made me one of the best Palomas I have ever had! Then I asked for something similar but different and they made me a Blonde Redhead and it was perfect. We will definitely come again the next time we're in the area. read more

The Lobbyist - Paloma - Bars Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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The lobbyist might be my favorite new restaurant this year, not just in Memphis, anywhere! I dined with some friends, one of whom is a vegetarian. Typically our friend is sidelined to mediocre, starchy or boring vegetables dishes but that is hardly the case here. The large produce section of the menu illustrates how creativity, innovation, and skill can elevate plant forward eating. As this population of consumers grows so too will the offerings of restaurant industry , but Chef Jimmy Gentry and team are ahead of the game. Since I don't live in the area I indulged a bit and ordered all 8 items under the produce section. I understand Chef Jimmy doesn't like the term fusion but there are obvious influences from Chinese, Indian, Mediterranean cuisines all executed w a precise hand, balancing flavors and focusing on textures. A shout out to our lovely server, Barbara who was warm and knowledgeable about the menu and preparation of dishes. My would definitely order again dishes ... Focaccia Board Shareable -Scallops Produce -Blistered Shishito peppers -Sweet Choy salad -Carrots kimchi (omg the carrots!!!) -Charred Okra |berbere | green goddess -Brussels| corn |Anaheim | queso Dessert Carrot baked Alaska (applause) I can only say I shall return and will spread the gospel of the Lobbist to anyone visiting Memphis! read more

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The only reason I'm giving 4 stars is because the menu is small. I like having a little more variety, but I do appreciate the creativity of the dishes they do have. Just need more options. Now, the patio alone gets 5 stars. It's so relaxing and cozy. Beautifully decorated with simple decor and perfecrly located , this review is more like a 4.5. Lol The Lobbyist is a beautiful open kitchen concept that I thoroughly enjoy. I always receive good service and good cocktails, and the food I've had so far has been super flavor. They have a really good happy hour with Saturday specials included and are just an all-around good downtown dining option! They are ideal for friend dates, romantic dates, business meals, solo outings, or whatever else you need at any given moment. read more

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Absolutely the best meal I have enjoyed in many years. The pork belly is stunning! There are not enough ways to describe how good the corn mash & acorn squash is. Shared a couple of other dishes and all were great. The marshmallow dessert is one thing I am coming back for! Service is great. Cocktails were ingenious. Definitely treating myself to more meals in the future, even if it's just cocktails & a starter by myself! read more

Wow! The Lobbyist is not just delicious, it is an experience!!! You will find things on this menu that you won't find anywhere else! I love not being overwhelmed by a huge book of choices. Your server will literally describe everything on the one page menu if you ask, way better than just getting a mouth watering description of only the specials! Every choice is a special! If you think you don't like something you have had before, I urge you to give Lobbyist a shot at it. I promise it is way better and different than you have had it! Just select everything that interest you and let your server decide what order to bring it out! Like I said, it is an experience!! The cocktails are spectacular and also unique and created by their bartenders! Go to this place, you will not be sorry!!! read more

The welcome and service were great! We had the rigatoni and it was amazing!! Good selection of drinks and dishes. We will be back! read more

Such a gem in Downtown Memphis & not talked about enough. Great size portions, wonderful atmosphere, a fun & tasty twist on healthy veggies! Will be back again soon read more

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Delicious food and cocktails, amazing service. Met friends for drinks and then had dinner. Mussels were amazing. Excellent options for vegetarians and vegans. read more

If you are looking for an amazing Chef-oriented place - you are absolutely in a right place! The food was incredible, drinks is a hit or miss, the interior is truly elevated. P.S. The service could be better tho ... I want to be happy, elevated, inspired after I leave any luxury restaurant like that... (not feeling like I've got judged and hint of sarcasm I didn't appreciate either) read more

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Awesome experience but the menu it's a little difficult to understand and I believe it changes periodically. The food was amazing, a lot of flavors! The ambiance was great for a date. I would highly recommend to go in group of 4 at least so you can order and share. read more

Beautiful restaurant, terrible service. My colleague and I ordered drinks and decided to cut our visit here short due to consistently poor service and terrible attitudes in the staff that we encountered. Our server, Grace, at the bar was very rude and impatient. We had to ask another young lady for help and she was just as bad. We cancelled the rest of our order and continued elsewhere. I certainly don't patronize restaurants with service of this caliber. read more

I'm between a 1 (not that good) and a 2 (could have been better). I really don't know because they didn't or couldn't honor the reservation we had. It was opening night. Chaos planned for. Dave Chapelle and Chris Rock were playing at the Forum, I had reservations for 6pm, for a modest 2 people, for the 7:30 show. We arrived promptly at 6pm, waited in line, and I gave them my name. I was told it would be a few minutes. This was perfectly understandable. It was busy, it smelled delicious, it was reasonably entertaining to watch the line folks in the kitchen tend to their wares. After 20 minutes I saw a few colleagues from work seated at a table across from the hostess station with their wives and was waved over to their table and said hello (that was, really, the highlight of the experience, as a gathering place for the well-to-do and well-respected crowd and for those people to embrace and welcome me...this is what The Lobbyist can set the table for). The gentleman overseeing the front of the house came over afterwards and apologized for the wait, I said I understood, my dad was a GM of a few resturaunts for years (I grew up running around kitchens and learning Spanish from back of the house staff). And so the wait continued. The food didn't seem to be coming out that quickly, and our concern for making the show grew. We waited for 45 minutes. I regretted that cancelling the reservation was what we did, but the thought was it worked down the backlog, someone else who would be waiting longer than we had at that point in time would jump up in the queue, and at least someone would get the experience. The aforementioned front of house person apologized, said he had my information (as I placed the reservation online) and would be in touch. As with the follow through on the getting us seated glitch, that has yet to happen. Defeated, we went to Aldo's where the service was great (prior to, we tried SOB, The Green Beatle, Pearl's, somewhere else, Lenny's was closed - we were desperate and the wait everywhere was, on a Monday night where availability is limited, over 30 minutes). They got us in and out, the food was good, but it wasn't the experience I was hoping to treat my girlfriend of 4+ years to (what! 4+ years and she's still your girlfriend! Yes, yes, I know, but this is about The Lobbyist, not about me, folks). I'll try again. But it'll be framed differently. The first time was with optimism that Memphis was getting a place that could rival the glitz of Nashville or Atlanta; the next time will be just to confirm skepticism. All in all, cavet emptor. The space is beautiful, airy, dim in a warm way. No comment about the food or the service, though it (the food, not the service) smelled fantastic, because I don't have personal knowledge of such. Will update when I can do so intelligently. read more

I'm giving this restaurant 4 stars, but it will most likely be a one & done for me when Catherine & Mary's is right next door or Amelia Gene's is close by. To start we were seated by the door and were freezing. They were so kind to move us, but I still had to sit with a jacket over my legs because the restaurant was simply cold. I know the wait staff are bustling around, but bundle up if you're a patron. The food was okay. Not mind blowing, but solid. Tried the corn mash and it just didn't look appetizing. Loved the miso Mac & cheese. Shared a full roasted chicken - just meh. The carrot cake isn't carrot cake at all. It looks like a marshmallow with ice cream inside. As a carrot cake lover I was disappointed. The best part was their signature doughnut dessert. Amazing! The worst part other than the cold temperature was their bar service- incredibly slow. Our kind waitress kept apologizing, but for a dinner that had over a $200 price tag I expect much better. read more

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Christmas Eve was my first time dining at The Lobbyist and it exceeded my expectations which, going in, were quite lofty. (The result of friends recommending the restaurant to me in the most glowing terms.) Of course, we had to try the Corn Mash, especially after its nice write-up in The New York Times, and it didn't disappoint. I have to say that, to me, the perfectly roasted squash, an integral part of the dish, was the true star. Since the menu items, from small plates to entrees, are all made to be shared (and are all of ample size), we (there were three of us) jumped right in. We proceeded to the Focaccia Board, replete with a fine assortment of pickled produce (the cauliflower was my favorite), delicious spreads (from red pepper dressed with toasted hazlenuts to yummy babaganoush), and fresh baked focaccia bread - served warm, delicately crusted on the outside, soft and moist within, and with just the right amount of fragrant olive oil throughout. The Indian-inspired beets, cooked expertly and brushed with a savory dried spice mix, were nested in crisp papadams and accompanied by two complementary sauces -- one, spicy with green chilis; the other, cool and yogurt-based. Excellent. This next dish was, hands down, my favorite of the evening: A thick, succulent cut of Pork Belly, at once perfectly sweet and savory, plated with a hot ginger sauce and creme fraiche. This one took me back. It reminded me of the old fashioned, Chinese-style spare ribs (sans bones) I've always loved, but elevated to a sublime place. Our two entrees arrived next. The Red Fish was good, if not spectacular, and I'm still glad we ordered it. On the other hand, the Orecchiette with braised oxtail, set in a tasty cheese sauce, was superb. My only regret? We were each too full to try anything from the list of very inviting deserts. Next time. And there will be many. For sure. read more

the food is good. if you're hungry, food is the move. and this place has it. can't go wrong with a place that gives you food in exchange for money. mm i'm thinking about food right now not gonna lie. anyway this is a great place to eat some food. give it a try! read more

Very disappointed in the service. The food was wonderful. The service left much to be desired. We came to the restaurant expecting proper service accompanied by fabulous food. The service was subpar at best, the food was a delight. We ordered the charcuterie starter. It was brought out and the person telling us about all the items spoke away from us read from a notepad and left us having absolutely no idea what one single item was on the plate. Lucky we are adventurous and just tried it all and it was lovely. Next our main dish came out we were a party of 4, they brought out 3 dishes and it was a full 5 minutes before the 4th plate arrived. Not the service one would expect at all. Last we ordered desserts. They were out of one that we wanted (on a Wednesday night at 7pm) but we made a substitute and ordered French press coffee and baileys to go with the dessert. Again the service. They brought out the 3 desserts to the table and it took so long all the desserts were finished before the drinks arrived. The desserts were good but had they had the drinks at the proper time it would've taken it to the level we had expected. Very disappointed in the service especially when they just received a Michelin mention read more

FANTASTIC food! We got the corn mash, mussels, jalapeño bucatini, and pork belly. WOW. Every flavor was unique yet approachable and I can't wait to go back and try more things! The drinks were also incredible! We love going to restaurants that are experimenting with new flavors and ingredients in their drinks and food. Lobbyist has hit the nail on the head without being pretentious or over the top. We will be back! read more

Food, service by Buyrum and the interior ambience were all fabulous. This was our second visit and we can't wait to return.

First time might've been too soon. I've got to give them another try! My husband and I heard great things about the restaurant. It's beautiful and the staff is really knowledgeable, we might just need to try the new menu. read more

This might be the best meal I have ever had in Memphis. It's certainly on my top 10 lifetime good meals. Calling it a meal isn't even accurate, this was a dining experience. Any restaurant can provide me the basics of what I look for when going out - not having to cook or clean - but The Lobbyist hits my entire wish list: Nice ambiance Excellent Service Unique Dishes / Flavors Perfect timing between courses Flawless execution We started with the pork belly, corn mash and gnocchi. The corn mash was absolutely delicious, the menu description didn't sound great but it was a great combination of flavors. I'm still trying to figure out how the squash was prepared, so tender and rich! The gnocchi was just delightful bites of heaven, I just can't even describe it because it's so unique. For an entrée I had the local beef. Let me tell you, for my entire adult life I have believed that I do not like a char on my steak, I now know that this is wrong and most restaurants just don't do it right. It was the most perfect medium rare steak I have ever been presented and I enjoyed the glaze that accented the dish as well as the potatoes. For dessert we split the chocolate dome and pineapple upside down ice cream - both were amazing delights of flavor and the perfect note to end the experience. Our server James did a terrific job of explaining dishes so we knew what to expect without ever coming off as snobbish. He was attentive without hovering and just overall top notch. I cannot wait to return! read more

My children treated me to a Chef's Table experience at The Lobbyist as a birthday gift. The food, prepared and presented by Chef Jimmy Gentry, was delicious and each course was a wonderful surprise. The wines served with each dish were exquisite. The staff was exceptional - professional yet friendly and very helpful. The atmosphere was wonderful. What more can I say? It was amazing on all counts - an experience I highly recommend and will never forget. read more

Great good. Amazing staff. Favorite restaurant in the city. Thank you Lobbyist. The Corn mash and pork belly will blow your mind. Awesome ambiance a 10 of 10. Will be back. read more

Where do I start - this is the BEST restaurant ! The atmosphere is perfect. Staff is on point . Food is amazing ! We loved everything we tried. Starter was corn with roasted squash and bacon jus - it was so good I didn't get a picture before we tasted it's much better looking we loved it. Dinner was steak & potato's and the gulf red fish with chana masala. Side was the collards - amazing flavor ! Dessert was great but have no idea what it was called but it was delicious. This is a must for a great date night! Cannot wait to go back ! read more

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I went here a while back ago and just forgot to make a Yelp review. Don't get me wrong, I only forgot because I was super tired that night. Anyways, back to the review. The food is just super excellent and perfectly cooked. The staff was super polite and welcoming. The ambiance was also equally excellent. 5 stars. read more

This place rocks. Great cocktails, great attentive service, and the food is delicious. Everything is beautifully prepared and original. The menu is also very vegetarian and vegan-friendly. A wonderful dining experience! Highly recommended. read more

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This was my first time visiting and everything was great. The drinks were great and the service was good! This is a popular spot.

Loving this new spot. I had the carrots which I loved however they were raw & I really prefer roasted! I also tried the copa which was very flavorful but very dry ! My favorite was the lamb tamale - so unique ! Dawn was my bartender and server & she's the best ! It will be fun to experience this place as it matures read more

Austin and the rest of the bar crew were fantastic and professional! I had the half chicken and potatoes was delicious