Rebels on the Road: Memphis Eateries

The Lookout at the Pyramid offers stunning views of Memphis. Sip a cocktail while browsing a light fare menu and watching the sunset.
Photo: Bass Pro Facebook Page

The Rebels are on the road this weekend to play the Memphis Tigers at Liberty Bowl Stadium. Here’s a list of five great places to wine and dine in the Bluff City.

Flight is the number one restaurant in Memphis, according to Trip Advisor.
Photo: Flight Facebook Page

1. Flight- Flight was ranked the number one restaurant in Memphis by Tripadvisor, and is located at 39 South Main. Many wine tasters know that a “flight” of wine is a sample of three tastings. The restaurant is known for small plate samplers of soups, salads and entrees served with taster-size pours of wine pairings, according to Google. Flight takes reservations and is open Monday through Thursday for dinner from 4:45 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday dinner hours are 4:45 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. and on Sundays Flight is open for brunch from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. (After 3 p.m. on Sundays, the bar and appetizer menu is available until 4:45 p.m.)

“The Diver” is Silky O’Sullivan’s famous specialty drink. A fruity tasting concoction of a secret recipe in a gallon cup.
Photo: Yelp.com

2. Silky O’Sullivan’s- Silky O’s is another local and top rated dive bar/restaurant. If you’re looking for something a little more low-key, then head to Silky’s- located at 183 Beale Street. Google describes it as “an Irish Pub in a 100-year-old building with a BBQ menu, outdoor patio and a pet goat.” Silky O’Sullivan’s features live entertainment, (outdoor patio with music, dueling pianos/blues inside) specialty drinks like the hurricane and the diver, and a large domestic beer selection. The diver bucket is described as “a gallon of Southern fun served in a gallon bucket with a secret blend of libations.” Silky’s sits in the old Gallina building which has more history than any on Beale Street, as it was an old saloon that ran all day and night with 14 bartenders. Hours are every day of the week- 11 a.m. until 12 a.m.

The garlic picanna at Texas de Brazil.
Photo: Texas de Brazil Facebook page

3. Texas de Brazil- Texas de Brazil is located at 150 Peabody Place, Suite 103. If you’ve ever eaten at a Brazilian Steakhouse, then you know what to expect. While Texas de Brazil is a chain, there are currently only two locations in Tennessee- Memphis and Nashville. It is described as an “Upscale Brazilian eatery featuring all-you-can-eat grilled meat carved table side and a salad bar.” Bring your appetite here because once you flip your card green, the meat is never ending. Vegetarians can dine on the salad bar option, as it features gourmet artisan breads, imported cheeses, steamed asparagus with strawberry sauce, Brazilian hearts of palm, grilled Portobello mushrooms, Greek olives, shrimp salad, imported Italian salamis, sautéed mushrooms, herbed sweet onions, feijoada (black beans), jasmine rice, spicy surimi sushi, soup du jour, and many other specialties. Texas de Brazil takes reservations, and is open for lunch Wednesday through Friday- 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., dinner hours are Monday through Thursday 5 p.m. until 9:30 p.m., Friday 5 p.m. until 10, Saturday 4:30 p.m. until 10 p.m., Sunday (lunch) 12 p.m. until 3:30 p.m, and dinner 4 p.m. until 9 p.m.

The elevator inside the Pyramid.
Photo: Bass Pro Facebook page.

4. The Lookout at the Pyramid– This restaurant is located at the top of the Memphis pyramid and offers outstanding 360-degree views of the city. Inside of the Bass Pro Shop and the Big Cypress Lodge Hotel, the world’s tallest freestanding elevator will take you up 25 stories to the restaurant where you can sip martinis and enjoy the view. The menu includes light fares like sliders, flatbreads, duck wings, tacos and crawfish tails. If you don’t have time to linger, but want to check out the glass-floored observation deck it’s only ten dollars for non-hotel guests to take a ride and enjoy the views of the Mississippi river. For an extra special treat- try to make it by before sunset and watch as the sky lights up shades of pink, orange and yellow.

Corky’s Sign in Memphis, Tn.
Photo: Pinterest

5. Corky’s- Corky’s Barbeque is a Memphis favorite that specializes in slow-cooked, Memphis style BBQ meat and ribs. It was ranked number 15 out of 1,333 places to eat in Memphis, and rated Memphis’ best BBQ 22 times. Located at 5259 Poplar Avenue, Corky’s is open Sunday through Thursday 10:45 a.m. until 9:30 p.m., and open Friday and Saturday 10:45 a.m. until 10 p.m. Corky’s side items feature the usual barbeque fare:, cole slaw, baked beans, mac n cheese, and potato salad. For dessert, try the peach cobbler with a scoop of ice cream or fudge pie. Corky’s also has chicken, pork shoulder, beef brisket, sausage, tamales and spaghetti, and can ship barbeque meals anywhere in the country overnight via Fedex.

Kathryn Winter is a social media specialist and staff reporter for hottytoddy.com. You can e-mail her at kathryn.winter@hottytoddy.com