A delightful restaurant with friendly professional service. You know it is a great restaurant when they can make a salad not only look beautiful but also taste amazing. I had the peach arugula salad and it was simply amazing a wonderful balance of sweet, salty, spicy, tangy and also a great balance of textures. My companions enjoyed the crab cakes Benedict which they thoroughly enjoyed. Next time I'm in town, I will return with a heartier appetite. read more

I've been here a few times for drinks and I love it. When I have gone, the bartenders were always nice. Plus the drinks/cocktails taste great.Oh Clementine is my favorite!!! I also love Alchemy's atmosphere. It has nice vibe and is very relaxed. read more

See all

Every time I come here, the food is awesome! We went last night with a group of people and had Sage as our waiter. The food was awesome as usual, but had to come leave this review to say the service was excellent too! read more

This place was super cool. Really fantastic, hip, and modern decor and that's how the food looked and was presented. We were just here for a drink really quick, but the bartenders were super nice and my friend ordered a 16 dollar Manhattan. He gave me a taste it was pretty dang good! I just had a brew but loved the environment and all the plates looked divine! Totally a place I would stop back if I had more time in Memphis! read more

Great, fun place. The music playing in the background was nice, and not so loud that it interfered with the conversation. Attire ranged from jeans and t-shirts to suits and ties. The food and cocktails were great. The staff was pleasant and witty. Great place! read more

The drinks are top shelf. The bartender Ian was very polite and knowledgeable. I was unsatisfied with my order and they were kind enough to not only replace the meal but offered a round on the house and an extra shot. Not only was I pleased with my salmon and green beans but the service was nothing short of impeccable! read more

Great bartenders, great atmosphere, great Happy Hour (I believe it was something like 50% all their cocktails and beers). Their drinks aren't just the regular liquor and a mixer. They have specially crafted cocktails with fresh ingredients. I had the Hound Dog - Buffalo Trace, Ginger, Lemon, Peach, Mint ($5.50 on HH). So yummy, so refreshing. I also was introduced to a local coffee stout called "Gotta Get Up To Get Down" by Wiseacre Brewing. I didn't get a chance to try their food, but looking at the plates around me, everything looked great. I will definitely be going back. read more

I've been here 3 times but I haven't had the food here yet, so my review may be biased (grain of salt not included). The first time I came here was a year ago and it was packed and since they don't take reservations there's a wait which would be fine if the bar didn't get slammed, mix that in with the "meat market" vibe it was less than worth it. BUT, the last couple of times I've been there, the vibe and clientele have steadily changed to the "less douchy" side of the spectrum which makes it ok to deal with the no-reservation policy. Why 4 stars...well I'd give them 3.75 but can't do fractions here soooo there you go: 1. The space itself is pretty nice and they've done a great job with the decor and actually using the space without making it too tight. 2. The staff have been really nice and not pretentious, a plus anywhere and anytime. 3. The bar/bartenders actually know how to make a drink.....go ahead, ask for an Old Fashioned! That's right, you'd think most bartenders would know how to make a standard drink....IT.IS.IN.THE.NAME! But you'd be surprised how many "different" versions I've received in this city. So, how an Old Fashioned is made has essentially become my litmus test for a "good" bar/bartender....and Alchemy's definitely made the cut. If I try the food, I'll update rating and review....until then, i feel good with the 4/5. read more

I was reading some of the other reviews on Alchemy and I agree with Amanda E the hostess was a rude snotty chick. We had brunch her on a Sunday at 1pm and after drinking a whole bottle of champaign the night before the last thing I want is some chick with an attitude before I had my coffee. Another reviewer said this is an upscale bar but its not at best its trendy and a fun place to grab a drink with friends. As far as the food I enjoyed most of it. The Bacon egg and cheese sandwich was just ok. The pancakes, french toast, biscuits and gravy, pimento cheese hash browns, and the biscuits with butter and jam were all pretty tasty. Our waitress was nice and kept our glasses full. read more

See all

Fun place to grab drinks and socialize. I've also had dinner here and the food was good too. Loved the chorizo mac and cheese especially. The servings are small, so go for tapas or a very light meal. The bar is very crowded on weekends- definitely a place to see and be seen. Don't go for a quiet, romantic weekend date but rather for a fun night out with pals. read more

Food and aesthetics were great, and everyone was very friendly! Ordered the "Bees Capris" and it was seriously the best cocktail I had during my stay in Memphis. My boyfriend and I chose to order a few plates to share: Crab Croquettes, Beef Carpaccio and the creme brulee. Everything was delicious. The reason for 4 instead of 5 stars is that we ordered a salad which never came. It ended up being fine because we were way too full anyway but they never removed it from the bill. Once we brought it up the bartender it was quickly fixed. Other than that, a great experience. read more

Alchemy is funky, loud, somewhat pricey, and awesome. The food is tapas style, the service is spot on, and the drinks are not your standard fare. This is a wonderful spot to take clients for a drink, or to avoid the rubes at chain restaurant bars. Skip the valet and park (legally) on the street - I, and other Cooper-Young residents, have no qualms about calling the police to extract your car from in front of our driveways. The area is safe and vibrant, and you'll enjoy walking through the neighborhood and seeing the other great places. Plus, after the wonderful food, your swollen middle could use some exercise. Please note, most of their drinks are handmade and/or made with fresh ingredients. You won't find neon colored margaritas or watery Jack and Cokes here. Step out of your shell, order some plates, and enjoy Alchemy! read more

Friendly place (Nick the owner definitely leads the charge)...great food and drinks. My new favorite Memphis spot.

Alchemy hosted a dinner for 30 last night and everyone raved about the drinks, food, and service - we could not have been happier. An Executive VIP said "in all her travels stateside and internationally, this was her favorite meal of 2015". The planning was seamless, execution flawless, and service impeccable. Congratulations on a job well done to the management, servers, bartenders, and kitchen staff - our sincerest THANKS!! read more

Alchemy - Corporate VIP dinner - excellent food, drinks and service - thanks to Cy and the entire staff. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

First impressions -- Alchemy does not understand that they are in Memphis and not, say, Chicago. Small plates, big prices, and a hoity toity attitude. At 5pm on a Saturday the place was not crowded, but our waiter took his time getting to our table. He was quite knowledgable about the menu, both food and drinks, but he disappeared again right when we were ready to pay our check and leave, which was quite frustrating. The food: small and fancy. I consider myself a decently cultured person, but I did not know what a lot of the things on the menu were, and everything generally sounded very complicated. I went for dessert and ordered what was described as a trio of cheesecakes. They were quite small, but spread out over a large plate, and the waiter did not tell me which was which, leaving me trying to remember what the menu said (chai tea, bitter chocolate with pretzels, and....uh....plain??). My friend ordered a (small) plate that consisted of some bread, cheese, salami, and olives. Really? I could have made that at home for half the price! The drinks: complicated, as I had expected, and for some reason the cocktail menu did not have prices on it, which I simply do not understand. My friend paid the bill, so I never did find out how much my mojito cost, but I'm guessing in the $10 range, given the rest of the prices. The last straw was when, having finally paid our check, we went outside to where we were parked in front of the restaurant. They had set up a valet service and left several cars idling, blocking in the cars that had parked on the street. A valet guy asked us if he should move the cars -- really?! No, we just want to sit in our car all night, we don't actually want to go anywhere. He then parked a valet car in the vacant spot -- I'm sure glad that person paid $7 plus tip to have their car parked right in front of the restaurant! Needless to say, I won't be going back. Only go here if you've got money, time, and a small appetite. read more

Alchemy is classy and casual, hipster and refined, and fits the midtown vibe to a tee with an upscale twist. The drinks are tall and tasty and the small plate menu is filled with unique tastes and textures. The decor is something like shabby chic industrial, and it all comes across as modern yet comfortable. When we visited last, on a late Saturday afternoon, there were quite a few tables and booths available and it was a really pleasant, subdued atmosphere. At other times, it can be more crowded and excited, as most bars can be. First, looking at the drink menu, it's a little overwhelming and exciting all at once. Trying to conjure up in my mind what each unique mixture would taste like is a little bit of a challenge but it was almost as much fun talking about a decision between a Hound Dog, Boss Crump, and a Main Street Shakedown as it was to drink them. I think my favorite drink there is a Zippin Pippin, but they have a mix for every taste. The small plate food is good but... It almost seems like sometimes they take pains to make a dish fancy or exotic over making it something that tastes good altogether. This is coming from someone who loves to try new things, so I appreciate the uniqueness but feel taste suffers in some dishes. That's not to say the food isn't good, because it is, but it could be better with a little more simplicity. The service has been solid but sometimes lacks personality. Managers seem to check on us regularly, which is a nice touch. I always prefer table over bar, so I can't really speak to service at the bar. I'd recommend Alchemy whole-heartedly for anyone looking for good drinks, a cool vibe and some new twists on old favorites. read more

Probably the best happy hour in Memphis. Half off almost everything. I always order an Oh Clementine and truffle deviled eggs.

Food was incredible and has always been. The drinks were also incredible and has always been. Tonight, my friends and I sat at the bar and had a rough experience. As I said, the food and drinks and most of the costumer service was on point. Christine on the other hand was not very friendly. She was one of our bartenders. Christine was rude and judgmental. She was not receptive to questions and acted as if we were dumb for asking question. She did not have good costumer service. I will return to this restaurant but hope to not have her as a bartender. read more

Went last night for a late dinner with my girlfriend, we had cocktails , the shaved Brussels, and split the octopus, pork cheek and butchers cut. Our server was on top of everything and very helpful from the start and the food was fantastic. Great way to spend a late evening. I'd come back for the pork cheek alone read more

The food and drinks were amazing! Navina, our server, was the best. She was so attentive and had great food and drink suggestions.

First off, wish I could do half stars, would go 3.5. Stopped in here on a Tuesday evening and they were not very crowded. Our bartender was very knowledgeable about the cocktails and quick with information about how the ones we were interested in were made. We found our choices to be very good and a normal price for a craft cocktail bar of $11 a piece. When a few more folks came in it seemed that the service suffered a bit. I would probably attribute this to not enough staff for a very large bar area. This place has a very large bar and with the attention needed for perfect craft cocktails you may need to have a few more knowledgeable bartenders. All in all a fine place for a great cocktail. Best regards, Tony read more

Delicious and unique drinks! They also have really good drink specials. It's a great place for girls night or after work spot. They also have a great cheese board and appetizers. I didn't try anything else but I'm sure it is all great! Wonderful service and atmosphere. read more

First, we loved the ambiance. Cooper-Young on a Friday night, and it was busy, so the valet parking was welcome. The bar looked lively and there were plenty of people having a great time. They have the best Artisan Cheese Plate I've ever had. And we love our cheese plates. Great wine list -- we enjoyed a yummy rich pinot. Jim had the Pan Seared Hanger Steak, Duck Fat Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Smoked Paprika Aioli and I ordered the Seared Diver Scallops with Winter Squash, Red Coconut Curry, Cucumber and Lime. Jim loved the steak, and those scallops were incredibly rich and delicious. Highly recommend. I don't think either of us left anything on the plate. It's definitely a great place for a nice, relaxing, romantic dinner. We'll certainly be back. read more

Best brunch we've had in Memphis since moving here 6 months ago. The drunk specials are good. The food is excellent. It was all so fresh and the menu was unique. Try the crab cake benedict and the pimento cheese hash browns. read more

Alchemy - Crab Cake Benedict - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

I had my first visit to Alchemy with a group of friends (we call ourselves the Lady Posse). Our server, Navina, not only has a beautiful name, but made us feel like we were the only people in the place (and she did have many other tables.) I asked her to recommend a drink and boy was she spot on with that - Oh Clementine - and it was amazing!! Our table shared many plates of share-ables, and the House Frites were my favorite! Of course, I had to top off the night with a desert, and Navina hit it again with the Strawberry Shortcake! It was so wonderful! Ask for Navina, and you will be well taken care of! read more

The whiskey selection is great and the bartenders are knowledgeable about most things boozy. The food quality, once great, has slipped a bit in past year or so -- so much so that I have stopped recommending the place for eats but as more of a great bar to stop in before or after your meal at better restaurants in Cooper Young. The roasted brussels sprouts are still on point though. Made with bacon, apples and brown sugar vinaigrette, they're a plate of sweet, savory & bitter goodness that is a deal at $9. Get those. read more

I've been here on and off since this place has been opened and it has been pretty consistent. The drinks are getting better and better and they get a round of applause for adding TEQUILA COCKTAILS!! not just a margarita but actual tasty cocktails. And for a mama who still enjoys a nice ladies night out and a tequila beverage I was one happy cookie to see that. The music is always between loungey and quiet party. It's filled with people on the weekends mingling and seemed like a good spot to spot a nice looking lady. The fellas weren't that good looking though, but I do have a married woman's eyes now so idk. The food has always been my least favorite. I've tried a few small plates and it seriously takes me a lot to get full so it's kind of the place to go after my real meal and just order a fee to stay as far from crappy drunk as possible or eat a little something and still fit in that bondage dress. One complaint would be that it seemed like the cooks from my view were having too much fun themselves because they left out the andouille sausage from our Mac n Cheese. Now fortunately it was still delicious but I had to tell the waitress and she had them fix. But I don't know how you forget that. Hmph. But anywho overall it's definitely on the top of my list for martini night with my ladies or the end to a hot date with my man or even a good spot to pregame before heading out to dance. If it's more on the pricey side for you but you can handle a stiff drink order a whiskey cocktail and I'm sure one will get ya there lol. read more

Great atmosphere and location. We were here on a quiet Wednesday night before heading to an 8:30pm Grizz game. I had to step out and take a phone call and told the hubby to just select a few things for us to share from the menu. Yeah, probably shouldn't have done that. Our palates are a little different and he selected things that I would not have selected: the Southern Antipasta plate with several salads, one which was a smoked chicken Salad (I don't like smoked meat), a pimento cheese salad (nothing special IMHO) and some pickles veggies. Meh. Then he ordered the roasted brussel sprouts. I do love my roasted veggies, but I had made roasted sprouts at home the night before we came to Alchemy and I thought mine were better. Just sayin. Thankfully, he let me select the third item after we'd sampled these: the Basil breaded fish pasta. Bingo! My palate started singing and it wasn't the blues. I think I'll need to come back and select my own things next time, to be fair. And I will gladly. read more

Alchemy - The bar - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

BEST BAR in Memphis! Where do I begin... The food, the ambiance, the selection it's all amazing! BEST HAPPY HOUR by far in Memphis. Make sure you get Austin as your bartender. He is AWESOME!! Made great selections for food and drinks..He is very friendly, professional and knows his stuff! You have to check this place out! You would be silly not to! read more

On a late Wednesday evening I met a few friends for drinks. Parking was easy enough, drinks were good & food was decent. I initially ordered a blueberry martini but it was more raspberry so I ordered a couple lemon drops that were delish! I also ordered the duck spring rolls & they were pretty good but the duck was a little tough. Pretty good service & experience overall...I'll be back soon I'm sure. Very swanky place! read more

Alchemy - Duck Spring Rolls - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Alchemy is a perfect place to begin a night of continued revelry! My husband and I met another couple here prior to our attending a concert at Minglewood for the N MS Allstars with Lightnin Malcolm. The atmosphere of Alchemy was high energy and youthful feeling. It reminded me of cool spots I used to go to while I lived in NYC. Variety of drinks and selection of liquors was outstanding. Our wait wasn't too delayed and the hostess sat us in an elevated room just off the big room. We liked this as it was a bit quieter but still fun! Our server was fantastic! She was attentive, helpful and really connected with us. The small plates were ALL divine but the very very best was the feature that night--the duck confit! OMG! It was so divine, my husband and I ordered a second serving! We will definitely go back to Alchemy the next time we visit Memphis. read more

Best happy hour in Memphis by far! Everything is half off and literally the drinks and food are to die for. Waiters and waitresses are super cool and interactive. It's a welcoming environment and I have seriously gone like 4 times in one week since I've been back in Memphis. The Oh Clementine drink is delicious if you like fruity. The grilled cheese and tomato soup are from another world! The cauliflower and the fries are amazing as well. The fries dipping sauce is perfect. Love this place to death and would 100% recommend coming whenever you want a good drink or food. read more

Would love to comment on the food, but never even saw a server! We went on a Friday night, shortly before 8pm. The hostess informed us there would be a 15 minute wait, so we ordered drinks at the bar. After 45 minutes, we checked in with the hostess, who told us it would be just a few minutes more. After waiting a full hour, we were seated on the patio. The menu looked tasty, but no server ever appeared at the table. In fact, no one came out to check on any of the tables on the patio at that time. When we got up to leave, a server had stepped out of the front door, and she watched us walk away, without a word. We will not be returning. read more

I love Alchemy for happy hour. The cocktail list is inventive and sorted by level of alcohol (from "Lightweight" on up), there's a great beer selection, and lots of comfy spaces to have a conversation with a group of any size. I've NEVER come here at peak dinner/after-dinner hours, so I have never experienced the wait that I'm sure this place has during those high-traffic times. Right as it opens in the afternoon, Alchemy is downright placid (just the way I like it). It's worth mentioning that Alchemy also plates up the best darn grilled cheese in Memphis (and perhaps anywhere). It takes a lot to impress me where grilled cheese is concerned, and this one hits the spot with its baguette-ish bread and deliciously sharp, un-greasy cheese. I'd eat it any day of the week, and you should, too! read more

Unique and delicious food offerings at a very reasonable price for an upscale place. Outstanding custom cocktail menu. Trendy decor and a nice outside sidewalk patio. And best of all, the most professional waitress I have had in the south. She was on it - made great suggestions, always attentive, nonintrusive. she was a star! read more

Alchemy - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

See all

This restaurant has definitely been a great addition to the Cooper-Young neighborhood. Objectively, it has all of the necessary ingredients to make an absolutely great place to dine and have drinks. Most of my experience with Alchemy has been with the latter...the drinks. They have a very broad and diverse menu of all different types of craft cocktails, in addition to a respectable array of wine choices. The craft cocktails that I have ordered are almost always completely satisfying and well made. However, this place can get very busy at times. When this happens, the drinks can get sloppy and their quality suffers dramatically. So, be warned if the restaurant is busy when you go there. Also, although I am not a bourbon drinker, I am told that they have a massively respectable assortment to choose from. As far as the food goes, it is average to above average. Some of my favorites, which warrant sampling are: Grilled Artisan Cheese Sandwich; Crab Cakes; Gulf Shrimp and Charred Green Onion Grit Cake; Smoked Gouda and Andouille Sausage Mac & Cheese (yes, it is as good as you are imagining!); and Beef Sliders with Pimento Cheese. The one major drawback to this restaurant, as many other people have observed, can be the service/waitstaff. Even when the restaurant is relatively empty, servers can unexplainably go missing for long periods of time. This is very annoying. Very. The bartenders are the most attentive. However, they are often so slammed and overworked when the restaurant is busy, that they have very little time to attend to everyone's needs that are jammed around the large bar. The interior is very attractive and there are plenty of different seating areas to accommodate multiple party sizes. However, be forewarned...they do NOT take reservations. This means that you could either get right in or be waiting for up to an hour on a table. If possible, I would give this place 3 1/2 stars. However, because I enjoy this restaurant and definitely the neighborhood immensely, I have bumped it up to four stars. However, that could change easily if Alchemy lets taste, quality, or service slip any further. read more

Had a delicious brunch at Alchemy yesterday. I love that they open at 10:30 AM on Sunday for those of us who like to get their brunch on a bit earlier. Their Bloody Mary bar is delicious as you get to choose all your accoutrements. Perfection. They all have a large selection of Belinis and Mimosas. For food, they always have a good size selection of staples and specials. You can order tapas style or bring it with big Cajun hash or Shrimp Omelette. French Toast stuffed with banana is to die for. They have a great steak and eggs as well. Food is excellent. Service can be a bit slow at times but it's worth it! read more

Alchemy - Brunch at Alchemy. Delicious. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

The grilled cheese and tomato soup combo, is to die for. I've been a few times, and I find that the service tends to be better at a table with a waiter, than when seated at the bar. I am not a huge fan of one of the older male bartenders who tends to be behind the bar often. He is not very friendly, nor very intuitive. I could understand in a busy nightclub setting waiting long stretches for another drink...but during the dinner hour for a pre-dinner cocktail sitting with empty cocktail glasses and empty water glasses waiting 20-30 minutes to get his attention and request another round, is not awesome. Then being told to wait while he completed numerous barback duties before tending to those of us needing drinks, was unfortunate. We chose to tab out and leave instead. This is the same bartender who chased me down the street a few months ago accusing me of walking out on my tab, when my friend who was sitting next to me took it and was paying it with his while I walked a few doors down to grab a table for us and our friends who were meeting us at another establishment. read more

Alchemy understands service, quality and atmosphere. Very interesting rustic minimalist decor, attentive and friendly staff, food has unexpected combinations of flavors that my husband and I ended up loving. Possibly the only draw back is that the bar was very full and the acoustics were echoey and cavernous. This made it difficult for us to have audible conversation at our table without yelling. Overall it was a good experience. read more

I've been wanting to go here for a while and I finally went to Alchemy for brunch after church on a recent Sunday. I'll definitely be working my way back there soon. We walked right in and were greeted and seated immediately. They were busy, but not too busy - it was a really cool scene of couples and groups hanging out and having a good time chowing down on what looked like some at least decent food. The atmosphere was nice and the decorations were neat. The most important part is always the food though, which didn't disappoint this afternoon. I had the BEC (bacon egg and cheese) Sandwich which was the best BEC I've had in recent memory. I'm not a big hot sauce fan, but it had just a little splash on it and it did the job nicely. My girlfriend had their blueberry pancakes which I tried and really enjoyed. I may get them next time. We both had mimosas and they were good. In fairness, mimosas are hard to mess up, but kudos to the bartender for not messing them up anyway. Our waitress was quick, efficient and pleasant as well. You must try this one of many Cooper-Young great food establishments. read more