Oh Alchemy -- with your great food, incredibly Bloody Mary's (brunch options of building your own has to be the best idea, ever). Steak and potatoes are some of my favorite in the city, and the grits they have on Sundays are absolutely mind blowing. With this quality of food and such fun ambiance why do you have to have such a hit or miss staff? The blonde haired manager is pretty okay, she always looks pissed off but I have seen her be extremely helpful with vegans trying to find something they can eat (she is apparently vegan herself). With the waiting staff I've had the full spectrum from absolutely un-tipable, to rock star. I will disagree with the lady about the seats at the bar in regards to the bartender saying seats were reserved. While that was absolute crap on the bartenders side -- what is the manager really supposed to do there? Chastise the employee for the sake of appearances and asked the two people who sat down to leave? read more

We spent a Thursday night here and it was absolutely packed due to the Monkey Whiskey tour truck in front but I have to say the service was astonishing even though they were wall to wall busy. Tin served us some of the most amazing beef sliders and "oh, my word" outstanding mac and cheese - that m/c was the best I have EVER had in my life. It had shrimp in it - but so, so good. Everything was top notch! read more

We had a large group with multiple tickets and Sage handled it all with perfection. A dozen ordering multiple drinks and various food items and the waiter did a phenomenal job keeping it all straight and the drinks coming. At no point did he seem flustered or frustrated, which is understandable with a large group. Excellent experience between the service, drinks and food read more

For anyone that frequents the corner of Cooper and Young during an evening of bar hopping, you should definitely consider stopping by Alchemy. As soon as you walk through the door, the first thing that crosses your mind may very well be "We're not in Tennessee anymore." The interior decorators and creative consultants have gone through great lengths to make sure you feel as though you've just stepped into a bar in in NYC when you're still far below the Mason Dixon . You'll come for the unique and varied selection of food and stay for the specialty cocktail menu as you're taken care of by one of the many 'mixologists' behind the bar. If you're looking for a calm, classy, laid back atmosphere, visit Alchemy any night Sunday - Thursday. If you want an experience with a more lively crowd, try it out on Friday or Saturday. Even if you're just exploring the area and wondering where to drop in, Alchemy provides the perfect blend of the northern/southern restaurant worlds. Once you experience 'culinary bartnending,' you'll never want to go back. read more

Well where should I start....really had high hopes based on a local recommendation. Atmosphere and decor is just about all this spot has going for itself. The prices $$$ for the small plate options versus the quality of the food just was not dialed in. Maybe im overly harsh as a veg head but ordering the brussel sprouts is not the way to go(try 5 minutes broiling these crunchy greens) If this place can step up their food game or more specifically their veggie game I would be less critical. Im pretty sure my brussels were flash fried 1 to 2 minutes and possibly freshly cut from a local supermarket and not a market know for quality veggies. Im not one to send something back to the kitchen but kind of wish I did The hummus was solid, flavorful based on the added oloves and possibly the only veggie option that couldnt go wrong. Consider other local veggie options if you are looking for flavorful tender greens. Possibly shame on me as I asked for the sprouts (without) the bacon....but now im kicking myself for not just driving to City Silo and listening to my logical mind. To counter my shade, the bartenders were cool, but outta towners beware, this spot is deceptive. Nod to the designer, question the seasonal menu if you are considering quality. Good luck here read more

Alchemy - Decor and atmosphere on par with the local vibe. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Why is this place suppose to be so fantastic. The plates are small, the price is through the roof and the bar tending staff is the worst. I have been to this establishment several times and each time it keeps getting worse. The bartenders have tried to overcharge me on several occasions. The food is mediocre at best and way over priced for the quality and creativity. I would stop by a cocktail, which are tasty provided you order the right ones, but leave before you order too many. Your bill will quickly be inflated by the $9-13 drinks. read more

Such a great place. I loved the edamame hummus and the pearl white cocktail. The atmosphere was great, bartenders were on point and I can't wait to go back! read more

Best. Happy. Hour. In. Memphis!!! 1/2 off food AND drinks 4pm every weekday! How can you go wrong with that? The food is oh so good, and they have a seasonal cocktail menu as well as classics. This is my friends' go-to spot for a nice drink and bite to eat after a long day, and we always leave happy. read more

I just don't like this place. Or it's valet parking, or it's crowd, or it's cost. I'm biased because I miss the club Dish that was much cooler and a little cheaper that used to be next door. And I think Young Ave Deli across the street is awesome. The first time I went to Alchemy it was a bit Yuppie and very packed because it was less than a month old. I've been back only once, and not had the food here. My mediocre Dark and Stormy (Rum and Ginger Beer) cost $9, so that pretty much was my last straw. I actually hear this place is really cool during happy hour...IDK. read more

Twas a peaceful, rainy evening at Alchemy. My glass twinkled like the stars as I delightfully sipped the heavenly Sparkling Pear cocktail. In between sipping and mingling, I noshed on mouthwatering bacon beef sliders. The butterscotch crème brûlée was ok. The custard lacked smoothness and the peanut brittle lacked air and was very hard. I was crossing my fingers to not leave with a broken tooth. The ambiance was warm and festive with the lighted Christmas tree at the entrance and cool art pieces hanging on the walls throughout the restaurant. I liked the variety of seating arrangements that surrounded the centrally located bar. Our bartenders and servers added to the chill vibe of this hip restaurant bar. They were attentive and hospitable, but not obtrusive. Alchemy is a bright, vibrant place in Midtown Memphis to grab a bite, savor wonderfully prepared cocktails, and converse with friends in a modern atmosphere. read more

Been to Alchemy a few times now for Sunday brunch. I enjoy coming here, the wait staff is wonderful and very welcoming. Drinks are also spot on and the atmosphere is very pleasant. I will say that everything is great but the food falls short, don't get me wrong it is good but there is no OMG that's awesome! I will recommend this place to friends. Personal recommendation: try the Irish coffee Food:ok/good Drinks:good Cleanliness:great Wait staff:great read more

I do love this place for dinner, drinks, and now, especially, brunch. They have a build-your-own bloody mary menu that rocks the charts. From selecting what kind of salt you'd like on the rim (celery, pink Himalayan, etc) to which pickled delectables you'd like dropped in to how hot you'd like it, it was definitely a winner for five bucks. That said, you'll pay for your brunch on the menu. To me, the prices were *super* high. I just had brunch in Rochester last weekend and had a delish eggs benedict for eight bucks that was essentially equivalent to their $18 benedict. For me, the price is way more than ya get. That said, they have tons of space and good drinks. I doubt I'll eat there very much, but I'll drink there often! read more

I have tried several brunches in Memphis and this has been my favorite by far. You can customize your Bloody Mary's or pick from several flavors for a Bellini, and their sangria was phenomenal. They have by far my favorite brunch drinks around and for a very fair price. They have a great variety of liquors and beers on tap. In addition, their crab cake Benedict was so delicious on top of the best biscuit I have ever tasted. You can't go wrong with any of the dishes here. The Benedict dishes were a little pricey, but I think it was worth it. They have other dishes half the price if you're trying not to spend much. I highly recommend this place. Their service is never disappointing and the atmosphere is modern and inviting. Another plus is that there is usually no wait. I say that because you never know, but I have never waited on a table here. read more

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Lovely/Clean atmosphere. Lovely vibe. Lovely cocktails. Lovely service. Lovely Sliders and Brussels Sprouts. They are open late... * SWOON * This place! read more

Best cocktails in Memphis!!! At the bar, Parks is a MASTER Mixologist with wit and charm. When it comes to a Martini you cannot stump him. Whether you prefer the James Bond shaken not stirred or the fruity-type, or the adventurous just surprise me... he will AMAZE you! If we are not eating at Alchemy, we always stop in for a couple of libations with Parks. read more

Alchemy may just be the coolest place to eat not just in the Cooper Young community, but in Memphis. My wife and I have eaten here twice and I can honestly say that we have enjoyed both of our trips. I highly recommend trying their shrimp and grits and beef sliders. read more

Horrible experience! Went last night ordered a beer from bar, watched bartender pull a beer from refrigerator and then "top it off " with beer from tap and gave it to me. I laughed and said sir I don't wanna pay 6$ for a beer that's been in your refrigerator, please pour me a fresh beer. ( not sure why I even had to request this). Then he said oh sure but beer doesn't go bad for 6hrs, we poured that beer like 20min ago it's still fresh. (Wth!)Are you serious?! So then I get my fresh beer, try it, don't really love it so I request another beer I know I like and tell bartender I will pay for both beers but can I please have an IPA instead. So he pours a fresh IPA and then sticks my beer I have drank out of back in beer cooler so he can resale it to another customer. ARE YOU SERIOUS !!!! The bartenders and manager both see no problem in reusing beer to save money. I have a real problem with drinking beer someone else has already drank out of and then they pour " a fresh head" on and try to resale. I told manager to pour out my beer and to refund my money. I'm disgusted with this place and there reusing beer policy. read more

Top pick for happy hour! Excellent specials on drinks and snacks (with wide variety), great and attentive service, and cool and relaxed atmosphere. I'd recommend to anyone! read more

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

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Wasn't impressed. Maybe because we went during Cooper-Young fest and it was crowded. The menu was different. They were great about getting a grilled cheese for our toddler. I get it. Not a toddler friendly place but he was starving and needed to eat, they were close. The food was ok. Nothing great. They get 3 stars because they were so accommodating to the kiddo. read more

The Brussels sprouts, fried Cauliflower, and truffle fries are must haves! Great shareable portion sizes and the service is great!

Really good drinks and brunch options! Their crab cake Benedict is amazing and they have great selections for different mimosas. Awesome place morning or night! I will definitely be back even though I live on the west coast. read more

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We left a Downtown restaurant that turned out to be a flop and looking to make up for lost time. We should have just come here to begin with. The place was almost full and the crowd was fun to be around. We ordered a couple of cocktails and a charcuterie board. Everything was delicious. Our waitress was laid-back and took great care of us. Well earned 5 stars. read more

Love this place and was excited that they had an outside area to eat on a beautiful night. Used to this place being two deep at the bar so it was sad to see only one couple inside and two tables outside on a great Saturday night. Hope they are able to weather COVID. read more

Stopped into Memphis for the evening and luckily ran into this place just walking distance from where we were staying. Food was good, but the drinks were the highlight of the evening. For our first drinks we ordered straight from the menu. Matt was our bartender/server and was excellent. He got a good feel for what we liked to drink and was able to make us drinks to our taste. My boyfriend ended up with the Alchemist and I had the classic old fashioned. On top of the excellent drinks, Matt gave us some excellent recommendations on places to check out in New Orleans. We ended up visiting one of his recommendations, Barrel Proof and it freaking rocked. Thanks, Matt! Alchemy gets 5 stars for great drinks, great service, and great people. read more

This place has the best happy hour that I have found. The entire menu is half off and the service is good. I really like alchemy, definitely going to keep coming back. read more

The food was great and the services was fast. The are good and me and my fiance really enjoyed our night here read more

Alchemy - The shrimp and grits - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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I've loved this place since it opened. Yes, it's a little pricey, and yes, obnoxious people from out east have learned about it. I don't care, they did a beautiful job with the space and continue to offer tasty small plates and hard to find booze in an attractive atmosphere. Seriously, look at the bourbon list. One tip: I have noticed some turn over, and although most everyone has been top notch, if its busy and a guy named Parks is bartending, opt for the bar. read more

Had dinner here with my S/O and it was so good I had to leave a review! We had the pork chop and the fish of the day (salmon) and it was sooooo good. Honestly I wasn't expecting too much since I'd never been there to try the food before but the pork chop was bursting with flavor! The pork chop itself had apples and a sauce that was braised with some kind of whiskey. It didn't look like much when I first saw the plate but after tasting it I can definitely tell you I wasn't disappointed. The S/O ordered the fish of the day and the salmon was perfectly executed. The skin of the fish was crunchy but the fish itself was moist. Perfect combination. That entree came with two sides, some greens and mashed cauliflower? Couldn't figure out the taste but the sides weren't the okra or tomatoes that it listed on the menu online (maybe they sold out?) either way everything from the sides to the actual entrees themselves were delicious. Highly recommend the pork chop and whatever the fish of the day is to anyone! Side note: we came in on a Saturday night around 8pm or so and the hostess said we needed a reservation to be seated (mind you there were a variety of spots all over the place to be seated) so we left but I opened up the app Open Table on my phone and secured a table for us 10 minutes from the time we were there. Went back in, told the hostess we had a reservation (slightly awkward interaction with the hostess who turned us away due to not having a reservation) and sat down without a hitch. They said they do reservations on nights that are busy so for the weekend you might wanna save your spot by using Open Table! read more

Terrible drink prices and extremely small plate foods. I can understand a pricey drink in midtown Cooper young area but this was unreal. read more

Food is so so and the atmosphere isn't that great It's usually just over crowed and to loud. Not anywhere I'm rushing back too. read more

Loved this restaurant! My son & I ordered the deviled eggs with smoked salmon, macaroni and cheese, shrimp tacos, chargrilled broccolini & smashed potatoes. We were too full for dessert. I don't even like hard shell tacos but these were awesome! If you like bacon, you must try the smashed potatoes! read more

Had an amazing brunch and Sage was our waiter! He did an amazing job! Best waiter ever! And amazing spot!

Visited Alchemy to grab a late night drink and ended up having a great time. The service was excellent. Chealsie was my waitress and she was fantastic. She was attentive, responsive, and had a great smile. The beers were ice cold and the liquor selection was vast. I definitely recommend. read more

Im just starting to come around to this spot! Their cocktails are to die for! I don't even drink old fashioned but I told myself that I tried anything once! And omggg their old fashioned were delicious!! Friendly bartenders and great scene. It's going to be my new spot to hang! read more

I just love the atmosphere of this place. The floor to ceiling bar is breathtaking; and the fact that it is two-sided with seating all around definitely increases the availability of a spot to park your bum. The lounge feel also makes it a great spot for a girls' night or even a late evening cocktail with your date. I used to eat dinner here sometimes (love the fish tacos) until I had their Sunday brunch. What a great selection and large portions! (a far cry from the tapas-sized dinner selections) read more

Great place to go if you want to feel like you're not in Memphis. We dined and drank. Go with a couple of people to share small plates with. About 2 per person is enough to get plenty full. Plates run about $7-10. We ordered 9 plates for 4 people and all left satisfied and pleased with our dining experience. They will stagger the plates in a progressive order appropriate for your palette. You must try the grilled cheese! Favorite one out of the 9. The pan-seared scallops were to die and the crab cakes were perfectly fresh and not over seasoned. The mixologist who created the drink menu is a genius. The Dancin' Jimmy was my favorite and Pearl White was the runner up. Not able to take reservations at the moment as Memphis's hottest bar, I suggest arriving no later than 7:00p on a Friday or Saturday if you would like a table without waiting. The service was not overwhelming but with the food and drink offering I'm confident the staff with eventually make a perfect merriment. Also, dress sharp as this is Memphis's most elite, best looking crowd I've ever seen. read more

I love this place. They recently changed the menu though and have gone away from Tapas somewhat and are now offering some actual plates. I love the Tapas myself. The grilled cheese/tomato soup is super cheap and my favorite on a cold day. But overall, the menu is eclectic in taste and price range. Also, it's a great bar for late 20/early 30s who still like to go get a drink but avoid the younger crowd. read more

The food is great!! Chef Josh knows how to please a stomach, and his presentation is just as satisfying. Unfortunately, I do have one negative perspective. I heard the bartender say something very hateful about a co-worker.. and it hurt my feelings for the person of whomever he was speaking about. I believe the bartender's name was Justin, and his words were "he is the dumbest mother f***** I have ever met." And I get it. I worked in the industry too, but that wasn't something that should be said then and there.... and he seemed to be catering to a group of friends more than anyone else. read more

There are many a reasons I have faith for Alchemy. Below they are listed: 1.) The All-Star Cast: Nothing but industry professionals grace the cast and crew of Alchemy. Karen Roth, the head chef at Erling Jensen runs the kitchen and creates the recipes. Bert Smythe and John Littlefield, the owners of McEwen's, are the guys who own this place as well. Ben McLean, who has been in the industry for years and most recently a manager at Soul Fish, is now the manager here. The head bartender Dave Carlisle has spent 13 years bartending for Huey's. Not to mention, all of the servers have not only been in the industry for years, but have come from well-established businesses. All of these roles can make or break a place, and Alchemy seems to have the brains and business behind it. 2.) The Atmosphere: The atmosphere at Alchemy is romantic and a tad upscale, but it still has a relaxed comfortable feel. I have been several restaurants who have tried to master this, but it always comes out either tacky or just plain confusing. Alchemy masters it. You have several options when visiting Alchemy. You can take a seat at the ridiculously large bar. It is seriously a giant square. You have four sides. From here you can watch TV or enjoy one of their signature drinks, all inspired by mixologists brought in from New York. If you do not want to sit at the bar, you can relax in one of these cozy sofa enclaves. These are great for an intimate dinner or drinks with friends. If you want to see the kitchen in action, hang out in the chef's area. You can sit at a bar or table and watch the kitchen in action. You also have options to sit at an actual table or reserve the back room for parties. The options are endless, so pick your fancy. 3.) The Drinks: This particular night, we only had Ghost River and wine to choose from, so I am excited to come back when they start making their signature drinks. However, I was incredibly impressed by their draft beer selection. I was giddy over the choices. Just a few include all 3 Ghost River beers, Yazoo, and New Belgium Seasonal. No Budweiser or Miller Lite here people. 4.) The Food: Now here is what I am excited about. The food was overall fantastic. I chose to sit at the bar, where I saw some familiar faces. We all ended splitting a whole bunch of plates, so we could try as much as possible. Alchemy does not have a full menu. They instead have small plates, and a lot of them. Yes, you have about 40 different tapas to choose from. They are all unique to themselves, which I loved. You did not see many repeated ingredients, so each entree was designed just for itself instead of what they just had laying around already. It is also a great idea, because there is something for everyone to try. How Karen Roth comes up with these flavor combinations is beyond me, but man is she a genius at her craft. I left that place feeling fat, full, and happy. So happy in fact, that I wish I could have laid down on the park bench right outside and not moved. We all stuffed ourselves, but it was totally worth it. Alchemy had me appreciating dishes I normally shy away from. I did not have one bad dish while there. Everything was fantastic. read more

Let me start off by saying the only reason I gave this place two stars was because I haven't yet tasted the food - could be amazing, for all i know. My husband and I were very excited to check out Alchemy, given the mostly favorable reviews on Yelp and the list of craft cocktails posted on the website. We were seated immediately at about 10 pm on a Friday night, which was a definite plus. Unfortunately, this perk was immediately cancelled out when a server nearly broke my arm by smashing it in between the patio door and my chair, and then later when a different server spilled water all over my table, and then AGAIN later when our server screamed our tab across the patio when we asked for the check. Who is training these servers??? Absolutely TERRIBLE service. Regarding the cocktails - meh, I've had a lot better. Nothing on the craft menu appeared even remotely tart/citrus/clean flavored - even the Two-One-Two I ordered (Grapefruit juice, tequila, and Aperol) was sickeningly sweet. My husband's Vincent's Ruin (Bulleit Bourbon, Elder Flower, Absinthe, Lemon and Orange Bitters) was VERY unbalanced - way too much bitter flavor. We would have asked the server for a remake, but he never came back to check on us after he dropped our drinks off - in fact, he wasn't even the server who dropped the drinks off in the first place. The next time we saw him after we received our drinks was about 30 minutes later when he screamed "it's 22.00" across the porch. Sigh. Again, we didn't eat the food, so we can't comment on that. We are also VERY excited to sample some of the Bourbon menu, but only if given the opportunity to ask questions and get recommendations from servers. Seriously, TRAIN YOUR SERVERS. read more