Deli$cooper-young
Young Avenue Deli has anchored the Cooper-Young Memphis corner since 1995 with cold beer, deli sandwiches and the city's deepest tap lists, plus live music.
Signature: Deli Club, Philly cheesesteak
Order: Deli Club on sourdough with a cold pint of Wiseacre Tiny Bomb.
Tip: Counter service for food, table service for drinks. The patio fills first on game days.
Latin$$overton-square
Babalu in Overton Square Memphis runs Southern cooking with Latin flair from a Madison Avenue patio, with tableside guacamole, tacos and craft cocktails.
Signature: Tableside guacamole, Tacos
Order: Tableside guacamole, then the carnitas tacos.
Tip: The patio is the seat in spring; Sunday brunch is the easier seat than weekend dinner.
Pan-asian$$east-memphis
Mosa Asian Bistro on White Station Road in East Memphis runs a Chinese, Thai, Korean and Vietnamese menu from a strip-mall favoured by chefs on their nights.
Signature: Beef pho, Spicy Korean noodles
Order: Beef pho and spicy Korean noodles.
Tip: Lunch is the easier seat; the room fills with regulars after 18:00. Closed Mondays.
Soul food$$south-main
Sage Restaurant is a soul fusion room on South Main in Memphis from Chef Eli Townsend, with globally influenced Southern comfort food and a downtown rooftop.
Signature: Chicken and waffles, Catfish
Order: Chicken and waffles; the catfish if it is on the night's menu.
Tip: Wednesday to Sunday dinner; the rooftop opens earlier than the dining room on weekends.
New American$$east-memphisMon-Sat 11:00-22:00, Sun 11:00-14:00
Hen House on South Mendenhall in East Memphis runs an eclectic wine-bar-and-eatery menu with charcuterie, salads, pastas and the crispy chicken sandwich.
Signature: Crispy chicken sandwich, Hen House burger
Order: Crispy chicken sandwich or the Hen House burger.
Tip: Open Sun-Thu evenings, with weekend lunch service Sat-Sun 11:00-14:00.
Cajun Creole$$east-memphisMon-Sat 11:00-21:00, Sun 09:00-14:00
Owen Brennan's in Regalia on Poplar Avenue is a long-running East Memphis Creole-Cajun room with French Quarter styling, baked oysters and tableside bananas.
Signature: Oysters Brennan, Bananas Foster
Order: Oysters Brennan to start and bananas Foster prepared tableside for dessert.
Tip: Reserve online; the Sunday jazz brunch and the tableside bananas Foster are the marquee orders.