West Indies-style ribs, jerk chicken and Jamaican grilled chicken wings are intensely flavorful at this island-themed restaurant, Bahama Breeze. The paella and the Jerk Chicken Pizza are less authentic but just as well done. One of the best and most popular dishes is the Yucatan-Style Pan-Seared Mahi Mahi in a sour cream sauce. There is a little Asian fusion influence, too, in the seared tuna with soy-sesame dressing. The décor has a Caribbean theme—palm trees and all. You are likely to have a 30-45 minute wait for your table, but you can spend that time listening to reggae music and sipping a frozen drink at the lovely outside bar.
Everything from seafood to burgers can be found on the menu at this casual East Memphis restaurant, which also features a friendly bar and attracts a large under-30 crowd. Order an icy margarita to sip while waiting for one of the seafood specialties to be brought to your table. If you're more the steak-and-potatoes type, try one of the hand-cut steaks. Reservations are recommended on the weekends at this popular eatery.
A cool, dark stop on a hot Memphis day, this place is a regular East Memphis haunt. During the Great Depression, turnip green sandwiches were sold at this location, but the fare has improved greatly since then. The burgers are a cut above the usual and the aroma of char grilled burgers fills the air. This place is also known for sandwiches, such as the catfish steak and the po' boy. Follow up your meal with some key lime pie. The servers here will make you feel like a regular.
If the goats, kept outside in an empty lot next door, don't get you, then the "Diver" will. The Diver is a gallon-sized drink specialty served here at Silky O'Sullivan's. Not a place to go for dinner, this place packs in the hardcore party crowd. If you're feeling brave, ask the bartender for a Fuzzy Leprechaun. This bar hosts a raucous annual St. Patrick's Day celebration each March. By the way, the goats, which are mascots for the establishment, won a permanent place in the bar only after city authorities concluded they posed no threat to public health and safety.
A regular drinking-hole in Memphis's Overton Square, Side Street Grill is a great place to have a late-night drink or light snack. Especially so for tourists, as this place is quite light on the pocket. They serve speciality martinis that quite reflect the creativity of the brewer with some unconventional flavors on offer like wedding cake, chocolate- and-strawberry and so on. A few dinner items like steak are also served. The best thing to do here, however, is to gather a couple of friends and have a peaceful cigar and drink on the restaurant's patio in the balmy night.
The Brookhaven Pub and Grill is the city's favorite watering hole and attracts large groups on the weekends. Infused with a warm, positive buzz, the pub sees both young and old crowds who come here for their exciting theme nights. An extensive menu serves classic pub grub such as Mozzarella Sticks and Chicken Sandwiches, while both bottled and tap beers make for fine accompaniments. A backyard patio plays live music on weekends, while sports fans can catch some action during crucial games on the pub's TV screens.