Today we celebrate our 47th wedding anniversary and was looking for somewhere to have brunch downtown and my husband found ESCO we had a wonderful dining experience the food was awesome my husband had shrimp & grits and I had salmon croquettes. ( taste like true southern cooking) breakfast potatoes were scrumptious and the biscuits were delicious you will not be disappointed hats off to the chef read more

ESCO has officially earned a spot at the top of my Memphis brunch list. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere speaks for itself--upscale without being pretentious, energetic yet inviting. The music, décor, and overall vibe create the perfect brunch experience. Every detail feels intentional. Now let's talk about the food... As a chef, I appreciate when dishes are more than just visually appealing. ESCO delivered chef-curated recipes with thoughtful layering of flavors. Lamb Chops - Perfectly cooked with a beautifully seasoned crust and incredible tenderness. Every bite was balanced and flavorful. Smothered Potatoes with Grilled Onions & Scrambled Eggs - These weren't your average breakfast potatoes. The grilled onions added a subtle sweetness and depth that elevated the entire dish. Even the scrambled eggs were seasoned--not just cooked--which tells me the kitchen pays attention to every component on the plate. Red Velvet Waffle & Fried Chicken Wings - This was the star. The waffle was rich, incredibly moist, and topped with a luscious cream cheese drizzle that complemented the red velvet instead of overpowering it. Paired with crispy, perfectly seasoned fried wings, it was sweet, savory, and absolutely unforgettable. Pineapple Mimosa - Bright, refreshing, and perfectly balanced. Sangria - Fruit-forward, refreshing, and dangerously smooth. One of the better sangrias I've had in Memphis. A special shoutout to Alex, our server. His hospitality, menu knowledge, timing, and personality made an already amazing experience even better. Service like that deserves recognition. Overall Ratings Food: 10/10 Drinks: 10/10 Vibe: 10/10 Venue: 10/10 Service (Alex): 10/10 ESCO isn't just serving brunch--they're creating an experience. If you appreciate elevated comfort food, handcrafted cocktails, and genuine hospitality, this is a reservation you'll never regret. read more

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I enjoyed the food, but the service was hit or miss. I never saw the brunch menu until after I'd ordered; I appreciated being able to change my order. The seating made eating food requiring silverware challenging, and the floor/table were both sticky. For a place that's not inexpensive, these details are important. read more

This was a solid spot! I wasn't sure what to expect. I visited on a Saturday at 2 pm. It was loud - there was a dj. I sat at the bar to eat. The service was great. My drink, a watermelon margarita, was good but not as flavorful as I expected. I ordered calamari. That was disappointing. It was a bit overcooked and there was more fried onions and veggies than calamari. The flavor was good though. I also ordered the steak and eggs. I wasn't a fan of the whole flaming the butter (tasted burnt), but the steak was soooooooo smooth. It was cooked to perfection. I barely had to use my knife. If you want a high energy brunch, you will like this place. read more

Esco Restaurant & Tapas Memphis - Watermelon margarita - Lounges Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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First time at Esco..... hmmmm I don't see the hype. Food was fresh, fries were good, fish wasn't seasoned but fried just right! Crab cakes were OK to me BUT very fishy! My best friend enjoyed the crab cakes(they were his) I didn't care for the drink only took about 3 small sips Atmosphere was nice! Service was good... May be willing to try them again in the future! read more

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I have written a review before, but wanted to update because I tried a new menu item worth mentioning. The Salmon Chips are sooooo delicious! They are packed with chunks of flavorful blackened salmon placed atop crispy wonton chips. Garnished with fresh tomatoes and red onions, and drizzled with a rich remoulade sauce and dollop of creamy sour cream. A blend of textures and tastes that was pleasantly delightful. As for the wings, they are always on point! read more

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came to Esco's and tried the chicken and red velvet waffles--super flavorful and cooked just right! The food was definitely the highlight of my visit. This spot leans more toward a lounge vibe than a traditional restaurant--think loud music, drinks, and hookah in the air. Service was decent, nothing to rave about but nothing bad either. Ambiance-wise, it didn't really stand out to me--pretty standard, not much in terms of decor or uniqueness. Overall, a solid spot if you're looking for good food in a party-style setting, but probably not the place for a quiet meal or date night. Would return for the food and energy, just with the right expectations. read more

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Cocktails and vibes are excellent! Whether it's a chill night or wall to wall. Wait times can vary but the hookah is great! I haven't tried the food but it looked good as well read more

Esco Restaurant & Tapas Memphis - Lounges Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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The seafood mac is amazing and I'm not a mac n cheese gal. But for this dish, I make an exception. I also ordered a lobster and red velvet waffle which came with a skewer of fried shrimp. All of it was amazing. My first time eating fried lobster was a win. I chose the Gouda grits as my side: they were just okay, and I felt like it needed bacon. So I cut up my shrimp in it to make shrimp and grits. That made it better since the shrimp was also fried. I had tasted the lamb and greens a few days prior. It was also great, hence how I ended up returning with colleagues. We had reserved for a large party so they called in an extra staff member. She was missing for a while, so not sure that really worked out. But overall, everything was really good. The vibe was really great, so we weren't too concerned with the absentee waitress. read more

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If you like super loud music, without a party, while you eat, this spot is perfect for you. I don't, so there's that. Staff that I encountered were nice and professional. I had sweet tea, "hot" wings and loaded fries. The tea was really good and the loaded fries were okay. The wings were far from hot and barely seasoned at all. I asked for extra wing sauce and was given something that was basically some type of oil mixture with no taste at all. The restroom was clean. I would go back and try a different dish or have a cocktail only if I were attending an event at the FedEx Forum because it would be convenient. Overall, although I did not enjoy my food, if this vibe is what you like, I do recommend trying it out. read more

Esco Restaurant & Tapas Memphis - Sweet tea, loaded fries and wings - Lounges Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Me madre recommended this spot because she heard about the red velvet waffles, so we made early Saturday afternoon reservations. The interior is nice, and they even have a robot server, which was a cool touch. Our server was super sweet, but unfortunately, that's where the good times stopped rolling. I ordered the red velvet waffles with lobster tail and shrimp. The food came out cold, the batter slid right off the shrimp, and the lobster was just okay. My mom had the lamb chops, but they were tough and not enjoyable. For the prices, we expected a lot more. We also tried the lemon drop tower which sounded fun but it ended up being waaaaay too sour for our taste. As time passed and the restaurant filled up, the music helped set a better vibe. So if you're more into a party vibe than the food & drinks, you might enjoy this spot. On the bright side, I did get to meet a Memphis Grizzlies legend, Zach Randolph, so that was a highlight! read more

Esco Restaurant & Tapas Memphis - Lobster Waffle - Lounges Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

We stopped in for a short while for drinks. The vibe is grown and sexy. The night was slow so our server availed herself and didn't miss a beat. There was a UFC fight on and the tvs encircled you read more

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I say this with love, those young ladies need better uniforms and something that actually fits them well. Also, some of the bartenders need to pick up some speed and stop yapping. NOW! To the things yall came here for: The best thing I've tried is the TITY BOI TURKEY BURGER! The CHICKEN CEASER WRAP is good but get the dressing on the side, mine was drowning. It was also a little warm which I didn't hate but it was different for a wrap (in my opinion). I've tried the WINGS and they were decent and large. This is a club/lounge with a full menu and plenty of seating but again...this is a club/lounge. I just want you all to understand that. read more

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I went to Esco for a birthday party in the evening. The ambiance was club-like, but relaxed. I liked that they maintained a standard for being dressed up. The seating was spacious and it seemed that the people who went to the bar came back quickly. Our waitress was fantastic. I had a few wings and they were quite tasty. It is not my scene, but I can certainly see myself coming back for the food. read more

Love the food, love the vibes, and service is great! The lamb chops were absolutely DELICIOUS!!! read more

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We have just returned from our USA trip, stopping at Memphis for 2 nights. We stumbled across this restaurant on the 6th July which looked clean and vibey hence why we entered. We were so pleased that we did as it was one of the best meals we have had in the US on all of our visits. The chicken was incredible, my Mom even commented on it being the best meal she's had in her 30 years Visiting America. The food was excellent, atmosphere was great and your staff are a credit to your restaurant. Super friendly and attentive. We will be recommending this restaurant to anyone who is visiting Memphis and we hope to return one day. Thank you, The Britnell family of Teesside, United Kingdom read more

My friends were walking around downtown, stopped by, and the Vibe was Right. Mixed crowd, Dj was on point, severs were great. The Food was excellent, and clean bathrooms. read more

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Amazingly delicious food. I inhaled my dish so fast is not even funny. We had Keke as our server and she's very attentive! Great atmosphere, chill vibe and nice decor. Will definitely recommend if you are in Memphis read more

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Nice restaurant but nothing really special. We ordered the shrimp tacos and the salmon chips. We came during the end of Happy Hour, so it was definitely lively and noisy. They probably could have turned down the music a bit. read more

As someone in the service industry I could not believe how awful the service was. We were 4 co-workers from out of town and saw this restaurant was review highly. Don't believe a word. Slow doesn't describe how bad it was. One meal came out after 30 min, two others after the first meal had already been finished. Our drinks didn't show up until after all meals were served and almost done. They weren't difficult drinks (shots, bottled beer) and every time we asked the server about anything she got angry and let us know we weren't the only guests in the restaurant . No we weren't. But it was half empty and others were getting their drinks and food , we weren't. We began to wonder if we were not the clientele they want in their restaurant. Awful experience I'd give a zero if possible read more

While visiting Memphis for my bday this place was recommended to us by our tour guide to try this place. The ambiance of this place could use some adjusting. It reminded me of being at the night club once the lights came on at the end of the night. The floors were sticky, tables were wobbly, seats torn and very very dusty air ducts. I wasn't too sure about staying, but I'm glad that we did. Our server(FaNise J) that night was really great. She helped us with our ordering and our substitutions and her suggestion for the food worked out great for everyone! I really enjoyed my crab cakes and the seafood mac n cheese was off the hook DELICIOUS. The food was so good that we came back the next day for lunch. However the service that day was HORRIBLE!! The food being so good kinda makes up for the service received although it doesn't excuse it. This server had her earbuds in her ears the whole time, talking to her friends about her personal business. And because she wasn't focused on serving us, she messed up our orders and our bills. I would recommend this place for the food but definitely not for the service. Would I ever return again? Probably not, if I do, I'd call in my order in and get my food to go. read more

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I have been wanting to try Esco for a while now, and I am so glad we finally did :) Their happy hour is from 4-6:30 with half odd their drink menu and selected food items. The ambience was so fun and lively, and service was perfect. I would love to try more of the drink menu because the 2 we got were so good. I think Esco is my new favorite place to start a night out downtown! read more

Esco Restaurant & Tapas Memphis - Lounges Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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Can't speak for the food since I left before then, but the service was incredibly slow and within the roll of silverware was a chewed up piece of gum . I was completely appalled and grossed out. If they didn't catch that mess up, I don't even want to imagine what gets overlooked in the kitchen. read more

Great atmosphere great ambiance! Nice restaurant and the food was awesome . Great service read more

Esco Restaurant & Tapas Memphis - Chicken wings & red velvet waffle - Lounges Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Folks were very nice! Friendly and welcoming. Came at a poor time as they were doing construction/renovations inside the restaurant. Seemed like an ideal spot for night life. Seemed like a higher end place with decor vibe going on, but serves drinks in plastic cups. Water carafe was a cheap, dingy plastic. My regular (nonalcoholic) soda came out in one of those tiny plastic cups used in bars. Plastic silverware. Some of the decor didn't match, like the rustic chandeliers at the bar. I loved them, but did NOT fit the "high end" modern vibe of the rest of the restaurant, or the other light fixtures throughout the restaurant. Some of the TV screens displayed pictures of food served, which was a nice touch. But some of the pictures were screenshots taken of social media, not properly cropped. One of our servers was dressed more moderately while the other was in short shorts with fish nets and a crop top; her butt cheeks were hanging out of the shorts. It was an odd mix. Seemed like a decent outfit for late night service, but at 1pm it was certainly a choice. Food came out quick. I loved my shrimp club. Fries were delicious. My friend ordered chicken and biscuit w/ gravy. Gravy was overly salted. I'd come back, but wouldn't be my first choice. Just seemed like a major mismatch with their attempt at a high end vibe (especially with 'The Expensivest' menu) with an utter lack of attention to detail. read more

Esco Restaurant & Tapas Memphis - Lounges Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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Went for breakfast and the wait for our food was extremely long and the food arrived warm, not hot. Also, I ordered the lemon drop martini flight, which per the menu, comes in 4 flavors. When the check arrived I noticed the waitress (Chrystal), added an additional dollar for each of the flavors that came in the flight. It's the principle!! read more

We had reservations here for my sister's birthday dinner. No wait time upon arrival as we were promptly seated. Our server Carmen was amazing. The layout of the space is nicely decided. We had a booth which was a able to perfectly accommodate our party. However, the table space is small so be aware when it's time for food arrival. Nice music selection from live dj. Televisions also showing sports. Food: Cajun salmon, rice pilaf and bussin Brussel sprouts. Everything was bomb!! Cocktails: Blueberry Lemon drop and a T.R.U. story. Originally wanted to try a lemon drop tower but didn't have anyone else willing to partake. The blueberry lemon drop was tasty which one of my go to drinks. I really enjoyed the T.R.U. story and preferred it over the two. I would for sure visit again 10/10 Be advised: during events such as Grizzlies games parking can be a headache. read more

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Service 2.5/5 Food 4.5/4 Cocktails 5.5 I struggled here between a 3 and 4. There's minimal street parking however this location is 6 adjacent to a parking garage. You can expect to pay around $12 for parking. We were here celebrating a friend's birthday. Our reservation was at 1:30 however we weren't seated until almost 2:30pm. Our waitress was very short with us & seemed overall agitated. I was very concerned our orders would be wrong. Fortunately, everything came out correctly. Everyone enjoyed their food, although 2 members of our party had to send back grits because they were cold. I was pleasant surprised by the fresh well seasoned shrimp basket with yummy fries. I tried 2 different cocktails and they were both delicious and well crafted. Everyone in our party ordered different items and everyone was pleased with the food. As an added touch, they brought out a card for the birthday girl. Id definitely come back, but maybe with just a friend or 2 & sit at the bar because the service there while we waited to be seated was excellent. I also really enjoyed the pay by app feature that we were able to utilize. The bill was also very reasonable with my meal and one drink coming to around $34 read more

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Amazing service staff was wonderful. Food was exceptional and delicious. Drinks were definitely drinking. Hubby brought me here for my birthday for brunch and we will be back read more

Esco Restaurant & Tapas Memphis - Lounges Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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Someone recommended this spot so we decided to try it out. Great location, right off Beale street. I did a reservation ahead of time just to be safe. The inside aesthetic was really nice, it gave club/lounge/restaurant vibes which wasn't bad. It took our waitress a while to come over to us and we didn't have a menu for a bit but she eventually come over. After viewing the menu, she came over to take our order. She was really sweet and offered some suggestions for my substitutions. I ordered the tenders and waffles, instead of wings and got the grits. The food was really good. These were probably some of the best red velvet waffles I've had in a long time, and I really love red velvet. The tenders were really juicy and moist, I wished they were seasoned a bit better but overall my food was great. I wouldn't mind trying them for dinner if I'm ever in town again. read more

Esco Restaurant & Tapas Memphis - Chicken & Red Velvet Waffles - Lounges Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Enjoyed the food, enjoyed the music. The drinks were good also. The service lacked. We were there for almost an hour and a half and could only get 1 drink and a dinner order. We had completely finished our meal wanting water and another round. I'm not sure if they were understaffed or we just had a bad waitress. I had to go to the bar to get our tab then the waitress came out and said y'all ready to tab out. She did apologize. Hopefully she understood that ignoring customers hurts the bottom line. We ended up going to another location to have drinks.. I will still try this place again. Other than service that day it was ok read more

I came here for my birthday with a couple of family members on a Sunday afternoon. There was a DJ playing live music but there were a lot of empty tables. I expected a bigger crowd for Sunday brunch, but I noticed the place began to fill up closer to when we decided to leave. Our server was very friendly but ended up forgetting to bring around something we ordered a couple times. The food and drinks were OK. I'm trying to recall if there was anything that made this place stick out amongst other black owned spot, but nothing really comes to mind. read more

Firstly, Kita was a 10/10 for service and hospitality! This is a fun spot for brunch because of the ambiance and the music was perfect for the time of day. I ordered the chicken biscuits and gravy with a side of mac and cheese. The flavor was on point and the food was at a perfect temperature. The chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside. The biscuit was nice and fluffy. Definitely want to go back and try out more items on the menu. read more

Esco Restaurant & Tapas Memphis - Chicken Biscuit & Gravy - Lounges Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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Sat at bar and the food and drinks were amazing. Had the chicken sliders, hot, spicy, tender, plump chicken. And the fries have a wonderful flavor and texture. Off the beaten path of Beale Street. read more

The service were excellent and the food was 5 stars. The food came out fast and was fresh....will be my go to spot when visiting Dallas.

Food was Great!!!! Service was just as good as the food. Ambiance was nice, I bit loud but it was a great vibe. Really enjoyed ourselves. Hopefully we can come back soon when visiting Memphis. read more

My family and I reserved brunch on 1/13. The restaurant is beautiful. The staff is kind..greeted us right at the door. Took us to our seats instantly. I would definitely go back to try dinner. Only drawbacks, our waitress disappeared for 15 minutes..maybe she went on break but the next time we saw her, she was bringing out the food. Food was amazing, everyone enjoyed their food..however, I think the grease needed to be changed. The wings (not pictured), and the catfish was dark. Again..good new establishment for Memphis and I would def go back. read more

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My husband and I dined at ESCO Memphis on a recent trip to Memphis. From the moment we walked through the door, we felt welcome. Everyone from the owner, to our server, to all staff in between made us feel at home. It was an amazing experience where delectable food, exceptional service, and a vibrant atmosphere fused to create the ultimate dining experience. We selected the Salmon Chips and the Oysters Rockefeller. Not only did the food look like art on a plate, the dishes were some of the best we've ever tasted. What we also loved about ESCO Memphis, aside from the incredible food and ambiance, was that they attracted an eclectic set of patrons. Every age, every color, every background came together to enjoy an incredible culinary experience. It was truly unlike anything we've ever experienced. ESCO Memphis is simply the best of everything, and we can't wait to return! read more

Esco Restaurant & Tapas Memphis - Lounges Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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We had 5:30 reservations to eat before going to a concert at Fedex Forum. We arrived on time. We stood at the door for 15 minutes before someone bothered to greet us, and another 5 minutes to be seated. They immediately greeted others that walked in but ignored us. I know this is because we are white. It was so loud in there, my husband and I couldn't hear each other. The floors were very sticky and dirty. After being seated, it took 10 minutes for a waitress to take our drink order. We ordered 2 cocktails. 20 minutes later, we still have not received our drinks, and our dinner orders have not been taken. We got up and walked out. Other people (black people) that were seated at the same time as us were served promptly, but not us! When we got up to leave, the black people at the table beside us and in front of us cheered. I will tell every white person I know to never eat here! read more

Walked it at 3:40 with no reservation and was sat right away. The hostess said "y'all came to the right place, we got everything you need, food, drinks, hookah and vibes!" The fact that we were seated right away was the highlight of our experience. We really weren't hungry, so we ordered a hookah ($50) and drinks. Drinks came in about 15 minutes okay cool, hookah came out about 15 minutes after that. We smoked on our hookah for about 30 minutes before it needed new coals; we were told it would be $25 because they refill the shisha and coals not just the coals, we didn't refill it. Ordered food, it came out in a decent amount of times, fries were cool, and wings were wings. We also go the salmon chips, and they were cold like they had been sitting there, after I added some salt it was decent, nothing to rave about. As far as service, the hostess had us hyped like we were about to have a blast, but she was the only person with that energy, our service, was cool, we just didn't see her much. She took our order and checked on us twice, but she didn't bring our food nor did she check on us after we got the food. Between the 2 DJ's we experienced, they both played throwback R&B with a little hip hop sprinkled in there, no current music, which would have been cool if the hostess didn't hype everything up lol We ubered, but there is a parking garage right next door and very limited street parking. Overall, the experience was just okay and I never have to go back. read more

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