Great neighborhood place with delicious breakfast and friendly community. Had the country ham and egg platter. It was huge and tasty. If you're in Memphis treat yourself! read more

Barksdale is a Midtown Memphis institution. A good place for a southern breakfast, or meat and 3 lunch. It is usually a breakfast stop for me. They have really good biscuits. The bacon is always a bit too crispy for me, and the eggs are done to order. My wife likes their white gravy, but I would never touch the stuff. If you haven't been in the South much, this is kind of a typical neighborhood American restaurant, where the waitress is likely to call you Hun. Also if you are not a Southerner you probably won't understand if i tell you the grits could be a little grittier (a little to smooth for me). Good place to see Midtown characters of all types- from hipsters to politicians. read more

A truly old fashioned hometown diner. We had the country ham and the western omelet. These were quite good. I asked for a mocha coffee. He didn't have that, but went out of his way to improvise. Congenial and chatty service. read more

I recently bought a house within walking distance of Barksdale Restaurant and decided to give it a try one Sunday morning. There really isn't much to say about this place. It's not very exciting but the food is decent and cheap. I ordered a bacon and cheese omelet with hash browns and a biscuit. The omelet was okay. The coffee wasn't the worst I've ever had but it could have been better. Good coffee is some thing I appreciate especially with breakfast. Grand total for the meal with coffee came to under seven dollars. Pretty darn cheap if you ask me. Breakfast isn't the only meal offered. They also serve sandwiches and plate lunches. My server was really nice. He gave me a menu to take home and suggested that I also give lunch a try. He also mentioned that I could give them a call and place on order for pick-up. I think I may try lunch in the future but I haven't had the urge to return for breakfast. read more

This is an older restaurant that doesn't survive on sentimentality but great food. We went for breakfast and it was busy, but worth it. I had the Greek omelet and my wife had the veggie omelet and both were fantastic. The grits were amazing, the hashbrowns were cooked perfectly, and the biscuits were great. We had to wait a bit, but people watching in Mid-Town helped the time to fly by. Employees were friendly and on the spot. The only thing that didn't tickle my fancy was the coffee but I've had that brand elsewhere and its not my favorite. Will definitely return! read more

Great place for breakfast. Nothing fancy but absolutely delicious food. The staff always super friendly. I highly recommend going.

Went for breakfast on a Saturday morning and wasn't too crowded. I tried the Greek omelet since that is what everyone on Yelp seems to recommend. Was not disappointed. The menu seems to indicate that the omelet contains "gyro", but I don't think they are using the term correctly. A gyro is a sandwich. Does the omelet contain a sandwich? I wasn't sure what to expect. It came quickly and had a strong Mediterranean flavor seasoning that was accented by copious amounts of feta cheese topping everything off. Well done. In total, great service, good food, and they even had a bucket of toy cars for my 2-year-old to play with. A big plus in my book. read more

Every time I come home to see Mom and Dad, Dad inevitably suggests lunch at Barksdale's and I involuntarily cringe as I suggest somewhere, anywhere else. It's actually not THAT bad. I mean, who wouldn't want to be transported back to the 70's for some greasy Southern cooking? I think he suggests it every time because they have a vegetable plate or something. He clearly doesn't know how to deal with the fact that I am a vegetarian (and have been since, oh... roughly 1992?) because his other favorite place to suggest is The Cupboard--also for the vegetable plate. I do recommend the pies at Barksdale's. Unless something has changed, they are homemade with no shortcuts, and they are delicious! All stars are for the pies. read more

A Memphis staple. Barksdale's is what a good ol'American breakfast is all about. The Barksdale has numerous different entrees available for breakfast and all of them (quite literally, all of them) are delicious. Moreover, the Barksdale doesn't give out behemoth proportioned breakfasts only pro wrestlers could consume in one sitting. Have a stack of pancakes and you won't feel terrible afterwards. Add maple syrup (yup, they've got the real sugary stuff too) to that beautiful stack of floury goodness and you'll reach breakfast nirvana in no time flat. Service is always speedy and accurate. Going on a weekend. Don't forget to arrive early because the Barksdale fills up early and often. Enjoy! read more

One of the worst experiences I've ever had. The worst customer service in Memphis. Waited 2 hours for eggs and bacon. Never got any food to our table. Manager said their kitchen was slow because of new cook, yet several tables that arrived after us got their food, ate, paid and were out the door. After being told "It'll be out in 5 minutes" for an hour, we gave up and left. Would give a zero if Yelp allowed it. Will never go back. read more

Coffee very good, biscuits and gravy worthwhile. Pass on the veggie omelet and grapefruit juice from a can. 3* in part b/c of above, plus gnats swarming in the bathroom, right next to kitchen- I'm sure a temporary problem. read more

Great customer service and the food was great!! My family and I ate off of their all day breakfast menu. We had the omelet meal and pancakes and it was all delicious! read more

Let me start off by saying this, if you are looking for good down home country cooked breakfast, Barksdale's is the place to go! From the grits to the sausage gravy with biscuits, you cannot go wrong. Down home cooking with great southern charm & hospitality. All of the staff we met here was extremely helpful and friendly. I will put this on my permanent list for when we return to Memphis. read more

This place... I cannot say enough good things about this restaurant! We visited Memphis & came here every morning for breakfast. I love a small diner feel anyways but Barksdale felt like home. Bert was a great server & I felt like I'd known him all my life! Would drive to Memphis again just to eat here. read more

Still the same place! The people really do have a good memory! I still go get my pancakes to go and the other day I went to actually sit in and the lady said aren't you the young lady who gets the pancakes and bacon to go. Lol, my waiter was so nice and friendly!!! I even witnessed someone celebrating their bday and they put a candle in the pancakes! Just too sweet! I love this place and that syrup! read more

See all

Great cheap breakfast. It's what neighborhood diner food is supposed to be. read more

Barksdale's - Monday morning. - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Coffee: The coffee at the Barksdale Restaurant (henceforth Barksdale's) is definitely the instant stuff. Drinking coffee there is a purely utilitarian experience, but it does get the job done. Biscuit: Barksdale's biscuits are consistently inconsistent. Some days (like yesterday) they were small, round, and a little dense. Other days, they're flatter and wider, saltier and more delicious and buttery. I prefer the latter biscuit, but the ones that were served yesterday weren't terrible. Bacon: This is probably the best bacon I've had so far - not too crispy, not too limp. It's total Goldilocks bacon. Scrambled Eggs: I'm realizing that it's kind of hard to mess up scrambled eggs. These had a good texture and weren't at all runny or rubbery. Bonus points to Barksdale's for offering egg substitute (an extra .50) Pancake: The pancake was seriously awesome. It was sweet, but not too sweet. It was great with just butter on it. It seemed like it had a little bit of a French toast flavor to it. I want to have this pancake's babies. Grits: Barksdale's grits were alright, if a little runny. They needed some butter or something as a thickening agent. Again, a purely utilitarian item. Service: The service at Barksdale's is great. It's fast, efficient and super friendly. It seemed like everyone that came in knew the waitresses by name. The coffee refills were frequent and the food and check came quickly. Atmosphere: The Barksdale Restaurant is a total greasy spoon. It's also bizarrely UT-themed (Bob, the owner, went to school there). There are pictures on the wall of local celebrities (Jerry Lawler and Miss Tennessee were over my booth) and plenty of Tigers and Grizzlies posters. Price: The total came to $8.65. Not bad for a full belly and great service. read more

Barksdale's holds a special place with me. I'll start with what Barksdale's is. Barksdale's is friendly. I've been going for a few years and often, before I take my seat at the bar, Burt will have a coffee and OJ waiting. I often go alone and without fail Carol will ask about my girlfriend by name. Barksdale's is the breakfast I could make for myself at home. It's a simple breakfast of marginal bacon and eggs. I go because I'm lazy and enjoy the laid back style of the place. Barksdale's is not an uppity breakfast/brunch. Even the atmosphere will feel outdated which lends to the cheap price tag. Do not go if you expect anything trendy. I have had a couple of bad meals there but overall it will always be my go to place when I want a quick easy breakfast. read more

The absolute best biscuits and gravy I ever had! I like little places like this, unpretentious and genuine. Coffee was great. Service awesome! I don't know want else to say except ya'll need to come on down here! Oh and this is my first five star review so you know that's saying something. read more

Barksdale's - Interior - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

My husband and I enjoy breakfast at Barksdale's on a regular basis. In fact I look forward to it. Occasionally you have to wait but the tables turn over very quickly. You never know who you are going to run in to. Mayor Wharton and Bill Gibbons are regulars. I highly recommend the Greek omelet, the hash browns and the biscuits. If you want something lighter, I recommend the oatmeal. I am not a fan of the plate lunches but the sandwiches and burgers are good for lunch. On the weekends try to sit in a booth. Ms. Debbie is the best server and that is her section. read more

My First dining experience in Memphis @ Bob Barkdale's was a success. Didn't make it in time for the Homemade biscuits (they were all gone by 10:30), but they did give us a few rounds of their Homemade Yeast Rolls that were made with love. Washed those down with their short stack pancakes (with some of the sweetest syrup I've ever tasted) and some legit grits for a good ol' Memphis Southern Breakfast. Loved the Memrobilia, photos, and authenticity they have in here, definitely up my alley for a good quality breakfast. (And everything was less than $5 altogether!) read more

See all

The food was delicious and at a great price. The staff were also very friendly. However, the coffee was WEAK. It was barely more than water with brown food coloring, so disappointing. I saw them brew some more, so I got a refill (thinking it had been a mistake), but it was just as bad. I have only been once, but I will try it again since the food is so good to see if the coffee has improved. read more

Barksdale is my savior. I used to live in Germantown- so driving home after a late night was never an option. Luckily, the best breakfast place in the world awaited me every morning after a long night out! This place is simple- same breakfast menu every day but they have specials for lunch. The workers are fantastic- my favorite is B. They are very personable, remember your name and are sweet enough to leave you a note on the back of your receipt. The decor is awesome- looks like you've stepped into another era. It takes me back to memories of my childhood. I have a favorite booth that I always sit in, but I recently sat at the bar for the first time. The experience was nice but I will always love my booth more. Come here for some delish eggs and other breaky breaky fast foods! read more

Came here for breakfast on a Saturday and it was packed. The service was a bit slow but it was packed so weren't in a rush since we could see how packed the place was. The coffee was very weak. Not quite what you want to wake you up in the mornings. The food was good and homemade which was nice. The biscuits were fresh and delicious however the sausage gravy was pretty lacking in the sausage dept. overall we were happy we came here and enjoyed our breakfast. read more

Awesome family restaurant!!.Delicious food and friendly environment . Make sure you eat here!. You will enjoy it!!

The Barksdale. Well, I just felt like I was at home, in my grandma's kitchen about 20 years ago full up of my cousins aunts and uncles. Its just a homey, nice kinda place. I went there last October on my first trip to Memphis, during the rainiest coldest week they'd had in a while. I was staying in the neighborhood and very happy to have a great place to get a down home meal nearby. I went on a Tuesday for lunch and got the country fried steak and three sides, I think the greens, potatoes and dressing. I wish I had had room for desert, but no such luck. I think I got the cornbread and it was delicious but I wondered if the biscuit would have been a better call, I'll have to go back some time to find out. The country fried steak was good, nothing amazing, nothing lacking. Same for all the sides. Just a good home cooked meal. And for a blue plate special that with my drink cashed in at just over $7, I had absolutely no complaints. If I went back for a blue plate I'd try the recommended special of the day. Service was fast and gracious, in a southern way.. The place was full for lunch as I'm sure it often is, there seemed to be a lot of regulars. read more

Our food came out super quick with very sizable potions. I am vegetarian and I loved the veggie omelet! Our waitress was very sweet and the prices were affordable. Would come again!! read more

Stopped at this little diner on a bday trip with my family.it was actually spectacular. They were very busy. But the attitudes and service in this place makes you feel at home. The food was good and priced well.And we even talked to the owner. I highly recommend this place. They just don't make places like this anymore. read more

I kinda like going here, but it seems segregated. I just noticed last time I went that only white people work in the front and black people in the back. It doesn't seem unintentional and the people working in the back don't look happy. The food is tasty and cheap, but I probably won't go back until they fix the segregation issue. read more

Um... it's okay. I feel like I would get better quality food at Waffle House. Fries look like the frozen kind out of a bag. Ordered a hot roast beef sandwich, was presented with two slices of loaf white bread with a load of chunky roast beef and wayyyy too much gravy that doesn't even taste good. My bread was extremely soggy and falling apart. The only good thing about this i would say is the service. Everyone here is extremely nice and food is out quick. read more

My boyfriend & I found this place on yelp because everywhere down town was extremely packed that Sunday afternoon. We really did not know what to expect when entering. But someone greeted us & allowed up to choose a table. I really wanted a booth but they all were full & the one saw empty wasn't cleaned off. However, the food was really good. And the service was quick! They took our orders shortly after we sat down & we were already eating less than 10mins later. The employees are all very polite. We will definitely be revisiting. Next time I will post a photo. read more

Best meat-and-3 place in the city. They also have good breakfast. Service is friendly. Nostalgic old fashioned Southern cafe.

Old-timey, and simple good quality food. Service and atmosphere was stellar. Very reasonably priced.

How did I not know this place existed? I've been wanting for my husband and I to find a delicious, cheap, and cozy breakfast spot. It was here all along! Everything was cooked perfectly and the staff is warm and welcoming. I can't wait to go back and try lunch! read more

Great catfish and dinner rolls. Always friendly service and the owner is delightful. Very budget friendly. Bert and Angiolin and the crew are wonderful. read more

Also (now) known as Bob's Barksdale Restaurant. Another great place for breakfast and lunch (they're closed after 3PM). a neighborhood restaurant that's been around for years, serving good basic southern food. Bacon and eggs, grits & gravy, lunches are burgers, sandwiches and in every sense a traditional 'coffee shop'. The waitresses have been here for years and some customers are 2nd & 3rd generation regulars. It gets crowded with a before and after church crowd on weekends. read more

The lady who served my family I believe was Nancy. She was a great intro to the southern fashion of hospitality from what I've heard. I felt so warmly welcomed and my kids did too. The food was really special. Tasted like home cooking and didn't feel bad after eating here! I missed the time for biscuits so might stop by when coming home to Colorado. I especially liked the pancakes read more

Good option. The sausage and cheese omelette tasted good. The biscuits were not fresh however and a little hard. Prices are average. Staff was friendly! read more

Definitely a local hangout. Enjoyed a nice breakfast will hot coffee. Good price for good food.

i recently told a friend that my number one priority for the next place i live in memphis will be "be within walking distance of barksdale's." he told me that this was a worthy and critical priority in house hunting. and that should really tell you most everything you need to know. but i'll tell you just a teeny bit more. barksdale's is the trifecta of restaurant breakfast perfection: 1.) insanely cheap, 2.) delicious, hearty portions, and 3.) incredibly fast, seriously down-home service. if you're a die-hard memphis fan, as i am, you will just have to stomach your revulsion of the color orange while you enjoy your meal because those barksdale folks love them some tennessee vols. that stuff is, as we say in memphis, ERRRWHERE. i always get the breakfast special - it's less than $5 for two eggs, choice of meat, hashbrowns or grits and biscuits or toast. i recommend the biscuits -- we actually usually order extras, they're that good. i waffle back and forth (pun TOTALLY intended) between grits and hashbrowns. even at barksdale's i'm sometimes nervous to order grits, because they're tough to do just exactly right and timing is everything. in a restaurant that can be tricky, no matter where you are. but i can tell you that i've never been disappointed here. the grits skills are commendable. but mostly? i get the hashbrowns, and i cover those things in cheese and onions because i am hungover and my body craves grease and starch. and ketchup. even when they're packed the service is top-notch. it's not the fanciest looking place you've ever been, and there's duct tape on several of the booths. but my mama always told me that meant something was "well-loved." and i'd say barksdale's has definitely been well-loved in memphis for many years -- with good reason. read more