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    Hard Times Deli

    4.4 (42 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Hard Times Deli Photos

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    HARD TIMES DELI ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Hard Times Deli

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    Spicy Italian
    Ellie F.

    Sometimes you just need a thick, juicy sandwich, ya know? I liked their twist on a classic Italian sub with the spicy garlic sauce. I also tried the chopped cheese and it was kind of life-changing. I can tell that there is a lot of technique and attention to detail put into the food by how well-seasoned and balanced everything is. The inside of the shop is retro and cozy, and it connects to a store next door with lots of cute Memphis merch. I'll be back to try more sandwiches!

    Pickles and Shells
    Camille F.

    I finally made it to Hard Times Deli and tried the Buffalo Chicken Caesar sandwich--so good! I'd been eyeing it for a while, and it didn't disappoint. The sour pickles on it were a game-changer. I never would've thought to add those to a Caesar-style sandwich, but it worked perfectly. My lunch date had the SSS Chopped Cheese and thought it could've used a bit more meat. It disappeared before I could even get a photo, so that says something! We also tried the "Pickle and Shells" seasonal side. I love pickles, so I was curious, but it didn't quite win me over. The flavors didn't blend the way I expected--I think chopped pickles instead of diced might've made a difference. The staff was really friendly, the space was clean, and we even browsed the little shop next door afterward. I'm already planning to come back to try the Italian sub next!

    Chopped Cheese, kimchi, tater salad
    Mathew S.

    Seems a little ridiculous to have to keep updating reviews, but this one is important. The crew has settled in at HTD. A bit more efficient, the sandwiches consistently the best in Memphis and certainly within 10 minutes of the downtown core, the crowds still large but thing move along a bit more quickly. And I've tried 4 of the sandwiches. So, a ranking: 4. Ourby's 3. Italian 2b. Chopped Cheese, double beef 2a. Chopped Cheese 1. Chicken Caesar A few considerations: 1) beef is better than chicken. And somehow the chicken Caesar is superior. How? The Caesar sub is a friggin' revelation. It's ALL THE FLAVORS, somehow melded to compliment each other. It's alchemy, I tell you. Pure alchemy. 2) somehow there is, in fact, too much of a good thing. See the chopped cheese, double beef. My vote is that the way they made it, tested it, and worked on it has the perfect portions despite my propensity for a wallop to the gut o' meat. The regular is better than my melding carnivorous amendment because the gents behind the operation know exactly what in the hell they're doing. Don't be a dilettante like me, you'll wind up short-changing yourself. 3) once all the hype died down, it's started to feel a little more like a mom and pop joint. A quick convo with the (same, and I love this) ladies that work the register and end-of-the-line positions, the pop up joint next door, the kitsch/merch/books filling up the shelving. It's getting the feel to match the culinary flash.

    Buffalo Chicken Caesar
    Tommie B.

    My teammate decided to try this on a random day and shared half of their buffalo chicken Caesar sandwich with me. This sandwich is the truth! The sauce is very flavorful, the chicken is juicy and you receive a very large portion size.

    Chop Cheese. It's okay
    Tarshe C.

    We tried this new deli shops because they recently opened. The food here is just okay (My Opinion) not delicious though! We ordered the chop cheese, it lacks flavor and the sandwich was very dry. The sandwiches are also kind of pricey too. We paid $3 for potato chips and another $3 for a Coke. Sandwich average around $17. The ambiance is very welcoming and charming. I like the Decor but it's very hard to move around. The cashier was very nice and friendly, loved her personality. The wait time was around 20min, it gets busy around lunch times so that's understandable and great for business. Maybe next time I'll try something different. If I do decide to return.

    Outside
    Julie G.

    Excellent sandwich... very busy and crowded little shop packed full of delicious sandwiches.. the service was fast for as busy as they were and it's the cutest little place

    Chopped cheese
    Anthony

    My wife and a friend of mine recommended this spot. They both know that I don't like sandwiches. But I got the chopped cheese and my goodness for $16 it was fire and WORTH. Highly recommend. Will be going back again.

    Throwback can of Gatorade from Hard Times.
    Shran J.

    The vibe is throwback, back to the future 80's. I had The Fin and omg, I'm funny about tuna salad but the $16.50 price tag is worth it! It's fresh, you get a lot for your bucks and can we talk about the vintage Gatorade can, love it! It make me feel like a kid again. Total price sandwich, soda and chips around $24. Definitely a 10 out of 10!

    The Italian sandwich
    Margaret J.

    The sandwiches are huge. Look at all that fresh meat! I like spicy Italian sandwiches, and the old-fashioned Cokes are pretty cool. This place is very quaint, but the service was fast. They also have a fabulous gift shop next door that you can browse as you wait for your delicious, huge sandwich.

    Turkey Bacon Ranch
    Allison S.

    I have been dying to try this new sandwich place in Downtown Memphis! And it did NOT disappoint! The restaurant itself has retro vibe with a modern twist. We went for a late lunch and I was surprised with how fast our sandwiches came out after seeing a crowd waiting. I had the Eggplant Parmesan and the flavors were amazing. They are more expensive for a sandwich but I think every dollar was worth it for what you get. I cannot wait to go back to try more sammies!

    Turkey bacon ranch
    Amber B.

    Very cute place on the inside. Busy lunch crowd. Took about ten minutes to get my order. I got the turkey bacon ranch. I love a good turkey sandwich but I did not like this one, lots of quantity but quality was lacking to me. The spread on it wasn't good to me. The avocado seemed out of place, I had to add mustard on it when I got home & lastly, this sandwich gave me a stomach ache that lasted for hours. Something about this sandwich did not agree with me. I tried. Cost with tax was close to nineteen dollars

    Buffalo Chicken Ceasar
    Hunter W.

    Amazing sandwich in a great location for Memphis history. I got the Buffalo Chicken Caesar. Absolutely delicious. Wife got the chopped cheese which was great as well. Awesome gift shop attached too. Highly recommend.

    SSS Chopped Cheese Sandwich
    Kelsey P.

    We stopped here passing through on our roadtrip because we had heard great things about Hard Times Deli. The food did not disappoint. The sandwiches are fairly large, so splitting the sandwich was the right move. After we ordered, we had to wait for a while for our sandwiches to be ready, but it was lunch time, and it was very busy. Overall, the food was worth it, and we would all go back again.

    Left is Turkey Bacon Ranch, right is Buffalo chicken, both delicious

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    1 year ago

    Best sandwiches in the city. Buffalo, turkey ranch, spicy Italian are all incredible.

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    1 year ago

    very good sandwiches in a great atmosphere. The buffalo chicken and the chopped cheese were fantastic

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    1 year ago

    Amazing sandwiches and excellent staff. Very neat restaurant and a huge plus for Memphis.

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    Mad Grocer - The Madness

    Mad Grocer

    5.0(22 reviews)
    1.6 miMed District

    Perfectly fine sandwich place. Decently priced, very filled sub style sandwiches with meats and…read morecheeses. Nothing amazing but if you're hungry it's fine. If I was right there I wouldn't be against going back. But I wouldn't rush over there either.

    Stopped by for lunch Friday with friends. Wow! What a pleasant surprise. The sandwiches were too…read morenotch and plentiful. I had the shrimp po boy that was fried to perfection for me. The shrimp was seasoned with cajun flavors and chili pepper flakes then dipped in a tempura like batter and fried. The shrimp was paired with a soft but yet crunchy bread. The sandwich was topped with lettuce and tomatoes. It did not have a sauce but would have been even better with a spicy aioli. Very GREAT SANDWICH. My friend ordered The Madness that came with a variety of meats topped with lettuce and tomatoes with an onion marmalade. My other friend chose The Philly Cheese Steak. Looked really good. The restaurant/deli is located inside of the grocery store with the same name. The place is nice and organized with snacks, local sweets, drinks, wine etc. The deli has other wonderful options in the case as well. Service was great. The gal that took our sandwich order was so nice and friendly. This grocer is found in the Crosstown Concourse. We decided to eat outside of the grocery store at a table. I will return to try some other scrumptious sandwiches.

    Photos
    Mad Grocer - Order and pick up

    Order and pick up

    Mad Grocer - The M&M

    The M&M

    Mad Grocer - Sweet potato salad

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    Sweet potato salad

    Elwood's Shack - Amazing Food

    Elwood's Shack

    4.5(1.2k reviews)
    7.3 miBerclair
    $$

    Straight-up comfort food perfection. Everything on this plate was --crispy bacon, perfectly cooked…read moreeggs, hash browns with that just-right crunch, and the biscuits & gravy? Elite. Absolute main-character energy. Portions were generous, flavors were on point, and nothing felt rushed or sloppy. On top of that, the service was top-tier--friendly, attentive, and made the whole experience even better. This is the kind of breakfast that fixes your mood and makes you plan your next visit before you even leave. 10/10, would demolish again

    Man, the menu at Elwood's Shack is huge--almost overwhelming on a first visit. Thankfully, right…read morewhen I walked in, someone pointed me in the right direction and said, "If you're trying to decide, go with the Redheaded Stepchild." I took the advice, and I'm really glad I did. It was fantastic--stacked with pulled pork, smoked sausage, and beef brisket, all topped with slaw and BBQ sauce on a bun. I also tried a bite of the barbecue bologna, which is a thick-cut slice served on white bread, and that didn't disappoint either. Inside gets pretty smoky, so you'll probably prefer sitting outside. Luckily, there are plenty of picnic tables and seating areas to choose from. I didn't catch the name of the guy who helped me, but he was friendly, energetic, and made the whole experience even better. Overall, a really enjoyable visit.

    Photos
    Elwood's Shack - Self serve drink station (thank goodness for unsweetened tea, for a Northerner like me)

    Self serve drink station (thank goodness for unsweetened tea, for a Northerner like me)

    Elwood's Shack - Texas Patty Melt

    Texas Patty Melt

    Elwood's Shack - Patty melt

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    Patty melt

    Greys Fine Cheese and Entertaining - A simple 2 Cheese + 1 Charcuterie Flight

    Greys Fine Cheese and Entertaining

    4.2(51 reviews)
    8.3 miColonial
    $$

    Really enjoy this place and the quality food offerings tied to complementary wines. Staff is…read moreknowledgeable and loves educating. Never had a cheese or protein I didn't like there, and the sandwiches are huge and creatively delicious. Their chef comes up with creative dips and just knows flavors. Only annoyance is some flies that never leave us alone as we enjoy the visit. I know they come in from outside, but need to take some action. Maybe one of those plug in attractors.

    We had a party of 6 couples out for the evening and prearranged a champagne tasting with all of its…read moreaccompanying snacks and cheeses. We thought it was going to be a bit more substantial than it was in terms of food, but overall a really fun time. In fact, since we were a large group, about half of the entire restaurant, they threw in a few more cheeses and things to snack on as we went. What made the experience, however, was our server and wine guide. He was very entertaining and knowledgeable and played well with the group. Excellent cheeses. Nice variety of the champagne in the tasting. It was $75 per person, so go for the experience and entertainment, not for the sustenance you receive. I would also not go in a group of less than 6 people. Less people would rush through too much. Although speed of service (we took a couple hours) was not an issue as the pacing could have been a bit more frequent.

    Photos
    Greys Fine Cheese and Entertaining
    Greys Fine Cheese and Entertaining - Green Goddess Salad (1/2 portion as I split it with my hubby)

    Green Goddess Salad (1/2 portion as I split it with my hubby)

    Greys Fine Cheese and Entertaining - Some fire ass cheeses!!!  In a good way, if you are outside Memphis!

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    Some fire ass cheeses!!! In a good way, if you are outside Memphis!

    Hard Times Deli - sandwiches - Updated May 2026

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