6 editor picks in Memphis.
6 new american places in Memphis we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Memphis | New American across every city.
New American cooking is where Memphis chefs work most freely, plating seasonal, market-driven menus that borrow from the South and beyond. The Beauty Shop in Cooper-Young and Curfew downtown sit at the casual-creative end, while Acre Restaurant on South Perkins Road and Chez Philippe on Union Avenue carry the more polished, refined dining. Belle Meade Social and Hen House in East Memphis round out the contemporary set.
Karen Carrier's Cooper-Young Memphis room sits inside a 1940s beauty salon where Priscilla Presley once did her hair, open since 2002 with a globe-trotting.
OrderWatermelon wings with feta and the Vietnamese pho.
TipSaturday brunch fills the booths fast. Sit at the bar for a faster meal under the dryer hoods.
Curfew is Fabio Viviani's Union Avenue Memphis room on the ground floor of Canopy Downtown, with wood-fired steaks and house pastas served until late.
OrderWood-fired bone-in ribeye with whatever pasta is on the daily list.
TipKitchen runs late by Memphis standards (until 23:00 Fri-Sat). The bar takes walk-ins; the dining room books on OpenTable.
Belle Meade Social is a Perkins Extended East Memphis bar and restaurant pouring craft cocktails and serving modern American steaks and salads, opened 2023.
OrderBone-in ribeye, dry martini, the seasonal salad.
TipSunday brunch starts at 11:00; the bar takes walk-ins on weeknights and the patio is the seat in spring.
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.
OrderCrispy chicken sandwich or the Hen House burger.
TipOpen Sun-Thu evenings, with weekend lunch service Sat-Sun 11:00-14:00.
Chez Philippe is the modern American fine-dining room inside the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, with white tablecloths, formality and weekend afternoon tea.
OrderAfternoon tea at 13:00; the prix fixe at dinner.
TipOpen Thursday to Sunday for dinner; afternoon tea Wednesday to Sunday. Reserve on OpenTable two weeks out.
Acre Restaurant in East Memphis on Perkins runs seasonal New American cooking from chefs Wally Joe and Andrew Adams, plus one of the city's best wine lists.
OrderWhatever the seasonal tasting menu is featuring; the wine pairing is worth it.
TipClosed Sundays and Mondays. The patio under string lights is the best seat in spring.
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