Top Rated Restaurants & Cafes in Memphis

Bistro-like atmosphere and service make McEwen's one of downtown's most comfortable restaurants. Its two chefs make lunch and dinner quite different experiences. Lunch offers excellent sandwiches, such as the Grilled Ahi tuna with Creole aioli and the roasted chicken salad. Salads include the savory grilled apple salad, and there is also a good selection of soups. Dinners are more elaborate and inventive. Standout dishes include smoked trout and potato pancakes, and an unusual lamb carpaccio. Portions are large!

Flight Restaurant and Wine Bar is perfect for those who want to try a little bit of everything. Sample soups, salads, entrees, desserts, and of course, wine, in flights. The seafood flight features small portions of Maine lobster and crab pie, a sea scallop Benedict, and shrimp and grits. The atmosphere is perfect for a romantic evening out or an intimate dinner with friends.

Situated atop the spectacular Memphis Pyramid, The Lookout At The Pyramid is a must visit to get an uninterrupted view of the city and the Mississippi River. For a fee of USD10, you can ride to the top of the tower in a detached elevator, where from the observation deck on the 28th floor, you can enjoy breath-taking panoramic views. When you are done, head inside to dig into a meal of New-American cuisine dishes, in the quirky retro space. With a massive aquarium set in the center and an array of decor that is inspired by a steam-punk theme, this eatery has a casual and fun ambiance. Sip on a crafted cocktail and sit back as you lose yourself to the incredible sights.

Jose Gutierrez is the award-winning chef at this flagship restaurant of the Peabody Hotel. He creates imaginative dishes, grounded in traditional French cooking techniques, but with Pacific Rim and Southern influences.The Smoked Pork Tenderloin cooked with a glaze made from Jack Daniels Whiskey (a Tennessee product) and served with grits couscous. Other entrees are based on free-range chicken, black sea bass and guinea fowl. The pastas are excellent as well.The setting is possibly the most elegant in Memphis—velvet curtains, fresh roses on the tables, and gilded mirrors on the walls. Jackets are required for men.

This is the Peabody Hotel's second tier restaurant, after Chez Philippe. The setting is still elegant, and the food sophisticated—this is a place to linger over a meal with the well-dressed crowd. Service here is not as formal as at Chez Philippe, and sometimes has a very Southern, down-home flavor.The food is contemporary, with fusion elements. Local roots show in dishes such as Tennessee Persimmon Wood Smoked Chicken. Lunch offers salads and pasta dishes, and the homemade potato chips with blue-cheese dip draws locals back again and again. Desserts are irresistible. Try the Chocolate-Apricot Torte or the Sundried Cherry and Apricot Bread Pudding.

The Majestic Grille has a long history in Memphis. A century ago, it was known as the Majestic No. 1, a theater that played silent films. It has since been renovated and turned into a restaurant, but it still plays old movies on a projection screen so you can enjoy a show while you dine. The restaurant is involved in the arts, and inside, you'll find local artists' work featured. With a full bar, this restaurant is the complete package. Come for brunch and enjoy mimosas and bloody Mary's. On the menu, you'll find flatbread pizzas, burgers, steaks, and pasta dishes.