American$$east-memphis
Mortimer's East Memphis neighbourhood room on North Perkins has run family-owned pub burgers, soups and bread pudding since 1981, carrying recipes.
Signature: Cheeseburger, Bread pudding
Order: Cheeseburger with onion rings; bread pudding for dessert.
Tip: Open Monday to Friday from 11:00 and Saturday-Sunday from 16:00. The bar fills with regulars at 17:00.
American$$downtown
Tug's Casual Grill anchors the Harbor Town neighbourhood on Mud Island in Memphis with a wide riverside patio, burgers and Mississippi catfish dinners.
Signature: Catfish dinner, Burgers
Order: Catfish dinner with hush puppies; sit on the patio at sunset.
Tip: Wednesday is half-price burger night. The walk from downtown across the Auction Avenue bridge takes 15 minutes.
Seafood$$$east-memphisMon-Sat 11:00-22:00, Sun 10:30-22:00
Coastal Fish Company sits on Hyde Lake in Shelby Farms Park in Memphis with day-boat oysters, grilled fish and a long sunset patio over the water.
Signature: Day-boat oysters, Grilled snapper
Order: Half-dozen oysters and the whole grilled snapper.
Tip: Sunset tables face the lake; reserve at least a week out for Saturday dinner on OpenTable.
Mexican$$germantownMon-Sat 10:30-20:00
Jose Magallanes's family Memphis-area taqueria in Germantown has run tortas, al pastor and braised meats from a strip-mall counter since 2002.
Signature: Tacos al pastor, Tortas
Order: Tacos al pastor with house guacamole; add the cochinita pibil torta if available.
Tip: Closed Sundays. The Poplar Avenue East Memphis branch at 6300 Poplar runs the same menu if Germantown is full.
New American$$$downtown
Curfew is Fabio Viviani's Union Avenue Memphis room on the ground floor of Canopy Downtown, with wood-fired steaks and house pastas served until late.
Signature: Wood-fired steaks, House pastas
Order: Wood-fired bone-in ribeye with whatever pasta is on the daily list.
Tip: Kitchen runs late by Memphis standards (until 23:00 Fri-Sat). The bar takes walk-ins; the dining room books on OpenTable.
New American$$$east-memphisTue-Sun, dinner and brunch Sunday from 11:00
Belle Meade Social is a Perkins Extended East Memphis bar and restaurant pouring craft cocktails and serving modern American steaks and salads, opened 2023.
Signature: Wood-grilled steaks, Craft cocktails
Order: Bone-in ribeye, dry martini, the seasonal salad.
Tip: Sunday brunch starts at 11:00; the bar takes walk-ins on weeknights and the patio is the seat in spring.