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    Arcade Restaurant

    3.1 (1k reviews)
    Open • 7:00 am - 3:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

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    ARCADE RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Touristy
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Arcade Restaurant

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    All incredible!
    Jeff W.

    I love this place: the history, the food, the super old Formica tables!! This place is mandatory when you visit Memphis. It's just so full of history. It is said to be the oldest restaurant in Memphis. Super high ceilings, which is what they had before air-conditioning. The scratch made biscuits are incredible. I had the bacon biscuit among other things, just fantastic! Great pancakes and bacon. It's all great! Fun old vibe! Super friendly and good service. You must try this place out. This and café eclectic are my two favorites.

    Sweet Potato Pancakes Plate
    Rich A.

    Elvis may have left the building, but you can still enjoy one of his favorite fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches on the menu at Memphis' oldest cafe -- the Arcade Restaurant. Founded in 1919 by Greek immigrant Speros Zepatos and run by his family to this day, the well-worn linoleum tables and vinyl booths installed in the 1950s offer a casual dining experience in the historic South Memphis neighborhood featuring an extensive menu of simple-but-well-executed breakfast, sandwiches, pizzas, and salads. My dining companion and I had breakfast at the Arcade twice while staying at the Central Station Memphis hotel located steps away across S. Main Street. Food was cooked fresh to order and the portions were very filling. I really enjoyed the Sweet Potato Pancakes platter ($14), comprised of a short stack of sweet potato pancakes, two eggs, bacon/sausage/ham, and a side of hash browns or grits, and the French Toast platter ($12.50), comprised of three pieces of french toast made from French bread, two eggs, bacon/sausage/ham, and a side of hash browns or grits. Both were fantastic. My dining companion opted for a Create-Your-Own Omelet ($15), available with up to 5 toppings, including 2 meats and 1 cheese, on our first visit and the Avocado Toast on our second visit both of which she enjoyed very much. Neither of us were a fan of the coffee, which just didn't seem strong enough for us. Service was mixed on the two visits, with our server on the first visit taking our order promptly and stopping by the table several times to refill our coffee mugs, but our server on the second visit disappeared as soon as she dropped our meals off on the table returning only to drop off the bill. PRO TIP #1: Bring your EMF meter. The Arcade Restaurant is allegedly haunted. An eerie incident occurred when a row of shot glasses was mysteriously swept from the bar onto the floor in the newly opened back room of the restaurant, attributable to founder Speros Zepatos's long-standing aversion to serving alcohol in the restaurant. PRO TIP #2: Bring your camera. Scenes from movies including Mystery Train, Great Balls of Fire, The Client, The Firm, 21 Grams, Elizabethtown, Walk the Line, and My Blueberry Nights and other films have all been filmed at the Arcade Restaurant.

    Stacey S.

    Amazing food, service a little slow, but the atmosphere/ambiance made up for it! Cannot wait to come back!

    Full breakfast
    Sunshyne T.

    Wait was only about 15 minutes about 12 noon. It was crowded but food was good. One of our people had to request her food heated but otherwise a good experience. Definitely a memphis vibe and classic diner decor.

    Zach S.

    Arcade Restaurant is Memphis' oldest cafe-- founded in 1919. The restaurant was remodeled in the 1950s and still to this day has the original flooring, booths, tables, and decor. It feels like a nostalgic step back in time. Lots of movies and tv shows have featured the classic interior with dozens of notable celebrities from Justin Timberlake to Elvis Presley making appearances. Supposedly, Elvis was a regular at one time with a special booth in the back corner that is now a dour ed with his own marker to make it easily recognizable for tourists! We made reservations for the main dining room the night before for 9:30 am. We arrived on time and there was no wait. They were going to sit us in the newer addition in the back room; however, we asked to stay in the front room and they had no problem with that! The inside is very clean, but also very retro. The table designs were worn from years and years from plates, coffee mugs, elbows, and maybe even Elvis's hands. It was pretty cool to see the building and furniture is in such great shape. I ordered the pancake breakfast which came with 3 pancakes, bacon, and egg. I added chocolate chips to my pancake! The portions were huge for the price, and the food did not take very long to arrive. Our server was very friendly and checked on us multiple times. It was such an enjoyable breakfast, it felt very unique to the area, and the food was delicious. Since we were staying at the hotel across the street, we did not have to move our car to find parking. I am unsure what parking availability is; however, I did see a large lot on the corner of this street beside the restaurant and local shops.

    This was Elvis Presley's booth

    The fried peanut butter, banana and bacon sandwich was good. (Fried like a grilled cheese sandwich). But the cheese bacon fries were nasty like they used old nachos cheese. Asked for ranch for the fries had to asleep a different waitress for it ( it was like our waitress really didn't want to be there.) The ascetic (ambiance) of the restaurant was comfortable. We sat at Elvis Presley's booth.

    Ken K.

    I've lived in Memphis 25 years , but I had never been to this iconic diner downtown. So glad we went ( breakfast/ bruch/ lunch ). All the food was very good, portions were large and the service was great. It's got that great old diner ambiance. Prices were ok... a bit high for a diner but quality and quantity were there.

    Country Fried Steak Breakfast Plate
    Andrew K.

    Nice breakfast in a historic, essential Memphis restaurant. Just prepared for the wait- a group of 6 was an hour wait with an hour ticket time on a Sunday around lunch. Country fried steak and eggs was delicious.

    Breakfast shots
    Megan W.

    Lovely establishment! I visited in a party of 4 and we had a great time. Our food was good, the server was attentive, and the drinks were great! They make a perfect breakfast shot! Loved it. The hasbrown bowl really impressed me. It was large enough for 2 people to eat & prepared correctly. I will say we got simple breakfast items to tread lightly since it was our first visit, so I can't speak to their soul food items or anything more complicated. The dining room was nice and spacious as well so you don't feel like you're crowded even when they get busy. We sat on the overflow side. The original dining room is a bit smaller and looks like an old style cafe. Very cute! This was my first time visiting and I'll be back! They did well for a quick breakfast drop in.

    Eda X.

    The Arcade diner should be the first stop to everyone's weekend when downtown. The classic American diner features an extensive list of breakfast options as well as Elvis Presley's favorite fried peanut butter and banana sandwich. I personally recommend ordering your customized omelette with 5 ingredients of your choice. It's an absolute guilty pleasure--oily, meaty, hearty, and melty paired with hashbrown and two biscuits with gravy. Generous portions to fill two bellies. The Hibiscus salad is a huge portion and my favorite healthy item on the menu. The staff here are all extremely friendly. Great value and will definitely get you full, honey.

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    2 months ago

    Went for breakfast and the food was great. Best biscuits and country ham in town. Friendly and efficient service.

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    Page 1 of 26

    Arcade Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

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    Sunrise Memphis - Mimosabiscuit kitchen sink breakfast great!

    Sunrise Memphis

    4.6(1.1k reviews)
    1.4 mi•Downtown
    •$$

    Driving from Oklahoma City to Maryland sounds absolutely insane (because it kind of is), so when we…read morefound ourselves passing through Memphis around lunchtime, I turned to my trusted Yelp experts to help us find a local gem. Sunrise Memphis did not disappoint. We stopped in around 12:30 p.m. on a Wednesday and didn't experience any crowds or much of a lunch rush. That being said, after eating here, I completely understand why people mention waiting hours on weekends. The ordering process is simple: walk up to the counter, place your order, grab a number, and seat yourself. I appreciated that they offer both breakfast and lunch all day because it meant we didn't have to choose between the two. I ordered the chicken tenders with tater tots and an Arnold Palmer. Everything was fresh, hot, and exactly the kind of comfort food you crave in the middle of a long road trip. Kyler ordered the Kitchen Sink, which came with eggs, bacon, hash browns, grits, and a biscuit. He asked if he could swap the cheesy grits and biscuit for biscuits and gravy, and they ended up bringing him everything anyway! It was a massive meal, but absolutely delicious. Beyond the food, the staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming. I also loved the fun, eclectic atmosphere. The colorful Memphis touches throughout the restaurant gave it so much personality, and there was even a bar area that made me think this would be an absolute blast for brunch with friends. Sunrise Memphis ended up being one of our favorite surprises of the entire drive. If you're passing through town, do yourself a favor and stop here.

    You know when there's an arrow the entire length of the building saying line starts here, you're…read moreabout to have some good grub! A step inside at the same time the counter guy hollered back to let the cooks know a graduation was about to begin so "expect to be busy soon" confirmed that fact! You order at the counter and are given a number for your table and your food is delivered with a smile and some casual southern hospitality banter. This place is quirky with its decor but on point with the food. Get the bacon! Always get the bacon! I'm still dreaming about it! Be warned! We were told during busy times, the line stretches around the building for a steady 8hrs at a time! May the timing of your visit ever be in your favor!

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    Brother Juniper's - 2 Piece Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

    Brother Juniper's

    4.5(1.4k reviews)
    6.5 mi•Normal Station
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    My friend and I made the drive down to Memphis this morning and arrived around 12. They got the two…read moreof us in within 10 minutes and took our order within another 10, and then the food was there in another 10. Super quick for the Sunday rush! The food and coffee was so delicious. I wouldn't say I'm a food snob, but I'm particular about breakfast foods, and this made me very happy. We each ordered a coffee and the bacon potatoes to share. I ordered the Juniper Benedict and my friend ordered the loaded biscuits and gravy. The bacon potatoes were cooked perfectly, soft and slightly crunchy with plenty of cheese and bacon. The eggs in my eggs Benedict were cooked perfectly and they used a regular house-made biscuit that soaked up the egg yolks perfectly. The restaurant was pretty big, but the ambiance felt like a small-town diner. The staff was super kind and attentive, too. The cost is par for the course for a nice diner in a big city. TLDR: Not a bad word to say about this place.

    A family favorite since we found this fine restaurant four years ago. Service is warm and friendly,…read moreand they keep your coffee mug topped off! The food is excellent. We love the omelets, the sausage breakfast sandwiches, the pancakes, and the cinnamon rolls! We also love the small eclectic atmosphere and ambiance- it truly feels like a neighborhood favorite place to gather.

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    Brother Juniper's - Build your own Omelet , biscuit and home fries

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    Momma's - Wings

    Momma's

    4.1(88 reviews)
    0.6 mi•Southside
    •$$

    My client took us here and he didn't really say what type of food they served, but it ended up…read morebeing pretty good. Later during the meal, he admits that Momma's is one of his spots, so that's saying a lot. It sort of looked like another bar/restaurant from the outside, but they have a nice outdoor patio overlooking an old decrepit building which is at least some scenery. Once inside, you'll quickly see it's highly decorated and has a claim to be one of the only trucker themed bars in the US. Inside is decked out to the ceilings with signs, neon, old mirrors, collectibles, and many other items. I swear it looks like it's been in business for 30+ years, but my client said only a couple of years. I looked over the basic menu and saw burgers, breakfast, salads, sandwiches, a famous pork chop, wings and a few other items. The client and my colleague quickly ordered devilled eggs, cheese curds, and chili cheese fries. The first two apps were really good, I didn't try the fries though. They had a burger of the day, and a food special of the day, but I settled on the wings. With those I chose the 10 pc, Buffalo with dry rub, smoked. Kind of a weird combination since most people usually order dry here apparently, but I like saucy wings. When they come out, they are huge and I knew I wouldn't be able to finish them. I think I could only eat 6-7. My colleague had a ribeye steak salad which was a protein bomb he loved, and my 2 clients ordered a big rig grilled cheese which he also loved and a fried chicken sandwich (firebird) which looked really good. Overall, I really liked this place and it's one of the best meals I've had in Memphis the handful of times I've visited.

    I went two separate times and had two different experinces. One experience with an invited group…read moreand second experince was togo order. With the invited experience the food was hot and fresh because we are featured guest. However, even with food togo there is a reasonable hottness that stays with fresh cooked food. I ordered a Cobb salad with fried chicken and a burger with wedge fries at a lil after 5:00p and text to pick up was 5:21p. I was there to pick up at 5:28p. I walked in and stood in the entrance, near make shift board hostess stand, not sure but to my left was a hostess counting money, a guy at a kiosk eating with an apron on and the busy bartender. The hostess saw me, smiled and finished talking with guy at kiosk, they talk briefly until he sees me then walks over. I grab the order and feel no warmth. I figure the buger on top of salad maybe but nope, sure enough I get home and it's old and the fried chicken on the cobb salad is frozen. It was dried out and reheated. The amount of blue cheese was insane the lettuce was not fresh. The cheese on the burger was two different colors, the toppings looked old as well. $45 for a salad and burger, trying to support our local spots and the inconsistency is appalling. The burger was so good and fresh at the invited event only for me to remember it, and want to go back months later. The I pay my hard earned money, use my expensive gas to drive from East Memphis to Downtown and get a frozen breaded chicken patty on a salad and an old burger. If my feelings ain't deeply hurt because why are you not cooking real chicken breast?

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    Sugar Grits - Sugar Grits Biscuit Board

    Sugar Grits

    2.9(323 reviews)
    0.7 mi•Downtown
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    My fiancé and I went here when we couldn't find anything else available on Valentine's Day. It was…read moreshockingly not that busy. And I'm not gonna lie. This was probably the worst service I've ever had. Everything except getting seated took at least four times what it should have. So why five stars? My fiancé and I agree that this is some of the absolute greatest food we've ever had in our lives. We ate well past the point of being full and (consciously and willingly) compromised our dinner because of how delicious the food was. Seven months later, I'm still thinking about this meal. We had the biscuit board, the biscuit bake, and Pioneer Pancakes. I am devastated and almost positive that unless I travel back to Sugar Grits in Memphis, I'll never have a breakfast (or meal) this utterly mind blowing again. I sincerely hope the service improves because this is what food should be. I would gladly wait twice as long as I did just to taste this food all over again. But since I hope this place stays open, I need the service to get better. If you're planning on coming, make sure you don't have plans afterwards. Not just because of the service time, but because you'll be too gleefully full to move. Without the extraordinary quality of the food we received, this would have been the easiest one star of my life. Instead, this is the easiest five star I'll ever write. God, I hope I get to visit this place again.

    Bad service Walked in and waited…read more Another group came in after me and they waited too then they got service before me I walked out....

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    McEwen's Memphis - new signage

    McEwen's Memphis

    4.4(667 reviews)
    0.9 mi•Downtown
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    I really like this restaurant. We just happened to be hungry while shopping and found this place…read moreand it was great! The food, atmosphere, service, easy parking and friendly staff were all 5 out of 5.

    This place was very interesting to me. The look and vibe of it was very nice. It is a more upscale…read morerestaurant which is always nice for a special evening out. The food however was honestly meh (in my opinion). I got a creole dish and to be fair my dish looked beautiful. The plating was 10/10 but the taste for me left something to be desired. After eating this dish I questioned if I even like creole sauce because it really just wasn't that good. If this is a preference issue, I honestly don't know. I also thought the charcuterie appetizer had a weird mix of items on it from club crackers, to meat and cheese, and random veggies. Not bad but just kind of a weird mix. My husband ordered the salmon and he said it was good, not the best he's had but it was good. Other friends of ours got the white fish among the many other dishes. I did have a salad with these apples on it which was incredibly yummy. I will say though my dish looked amazing some of the other dishes were not plated well. Not to nitpick but to want to be considered a more upscale restaurant which means charging guest more money than say a local Applebee's then knowing how to appropriately garnish or drizzle sauce to elevate at plate is important (see my picture of the chicken dish). All and all not my favorite restaurant but definitely not the worst!!

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    Arcade Restaurant - diners - Updated September 2026

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