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    Itta Bena

    4.4 (545 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Itta Bena Photos

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    ITTA BENA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Romantic
    Classy
    Live music

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    Recommended Reviews - Itta Bena

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    Fried Green Tomatoes
    Alexis B.

    Decided to check out Itta Bena on a Friday evening and it did not disappoint! The restaurant is a little hidden, and honestly I probably would've never found it if the person I was with hadn't been before -- but once inside, the atmosphere completely makes up for it. The space is upscale with dim lighting and a very romantic vibe. Perfect for date night, drinks with friends, or just a nice night out. The hostess was welcoming, and we decided to sit at the bar since it wasn't too crowded. Service throughout the evening was excellent. We ordered a few appetizers along with drinks: the lamb chops, crab dip, and fried green tomatoes. Everything was delicious! I personally prefer my lamb chops cooked a little more, but the flavor was still really good. The drinks were made perfectly, and the bartender even put on a little show while making them, which added to the experience. The live music was also a great touch and really elevated the overall ambiance. Overall, great food, great drinks, excellent service, and immaculate vibes. I'll definitely be back!

    Jennifer A.

    The food and drink at Iia Bena was so good! Besides the service the thing that stuck out from me, the most was the ambience. Piano playing guitar playing spacious inside, but felt very private.. They didn't have gluten-free items marked on their menus, but there's no way I would've been able to see them if they had lol everybody was using their flashlight on their phone so don't worry.!!!!

    Interior
    Laura P.

    My sister and I had a lovely evening at Itta Bena in Memphis, TN - classic cocktails and delicious Sourhern inspired meal. We were greeted by a friendly hostess, efficient service and found a lovely, relaxing vibe - a welcome find after a day of travel. Itta Bena touts classic southern fare and that's what we found. My entree of Boneless Braised Short Ribs with mashed potatoes, asparagus and covered with wild mushroom Merlot sauce was fantastic! My sister enjoyed her herbed brined Pork Chop Tomahawk with lemon tiered Blanc and served with sweet potato pecan casserole and maple bacon Brussel sprouts. Southern sides are served family style and include classics like Mac n Cheese, Smoked Gouda grits and creamed spinach. I could have enjoyed a vegetable plate! I hope to return sooner than later!

    Blue Window Wedge
    Joshua P.

    The service and ambience is always on point. This is my third time here and I love the vibes. I ordered the short rib this time and it was good but the gravy was like gel. It wasn't warm enough or something and the flavor wasn't there. Braised short rib should be flavorful and it just missed the mark. I had to add salt and pepper. This was my first time trying this dish. I'm giving them a five because I've been here before and my previous meals didn't disappoint. This dish didn't do it for me. I will stick to what I know. My salad was delicious tho. I will still come back.

    Chilean Sea Bass
    Sondra J.

    Restaurant is really nice. The jazz pianist and singer was a very nice touch. The staff were nice and attentive. Giving this place a 3 star for the experience alone because the food was okay at best. Shocking for a Memphis restaurant. I'd come here for the drinks and vibes but go downstairs to BB King's for food.

    Chilean Sea Bass.
    David B.

    Steven is an incredible server. Ambience, food and drinks were amazing. tomahawk pork chop and salmon were perfect. Seabass good as well.

    Bacon appetizer
    Tameka W.

    Pre-Valentine's date night for two at Itta Bena, and overall it was a mixed experience with some real highlights. First Impression The greeter, unfortunately, was not very sociable or welcoming. As the first point of contact, that role sets the tone and atmosphere. A warm smile and engaging greeting would have elevated the entrance experience. Ambiance & Decor Absolutely excellent. The ambiance is intimate, romantic, and perfect for a date night. The decor gives upscale speakeasy vibes -- very fitting for the concept. Service Our waiter was extraordinary. Attentive, professional, and genuinely concerned about our experience. When he noticed my lamb was not cooked to the requested medium-well, he immediately offered to have it corrected. His demeanor alone elevated the evening. Cocktails We ordered an Old Fashioned and an Apricot cocktail (Apricot Sidecar). Presentation and flavor were top-tier. Balanced, smooth, and beautifully garnished. Easily one of the best parts of the night. Appetizer They were out of crab cakes, which was disappointing. We ordered the bacon appetizer, which leaned heavily toward pork belly -- more fat than traditional bacon. The plating and accompaniments were visually stunning and paired nicely with the entrées, but the texture ratio was off. Entrée #1 - Short Ribs, Mash & Asparagus Plating: Excellent Portion size: Generous Flavor: Underwhelming While visually impressive, the dish lacked depth in seasoning and overall flavor. I would rate it . Entrée #2 - New Zealand Lamb & Risotto Requested medium-well; served closer to medium. The waiter graciously had it corrected. The lamb itself lacked strong seasoning -- for effort. The risotto, unfortunately, was overcooked and resembled mashed potatoes in texture. While it wasn't under-seasoned, the structure and execution were not there. Risotto is technical and requires precision. I would rate it . Side - Sweet Potato "Pecan Casserole" Now let's talk about this. I loved it. For someone who appreciates the simplicity of a fresh sweet potato without excessive sugar, marshmallows, or heavy additions -- this was perfect. It tasted like a beautifully mashed sweet potato topped with a pecan strudel. It wasn't a traditional casserole in the sugary Southern sense, but it was balanced and well executed. This was a win for me. Overall Ambiance: Service: Cocktails: Food Execution: - depending on dish Itta Bena shines in atmosphere, service, and bar program. The kitchen has strong presentation, but seasoning and technical consistency need refinement.

    Grace F.

    Service was fantastic, my crab soup and salmon were delicious. The lighting, decor, and ambience seemed to fit the Blues vibe. Bb King Blues Club was downstairs.

    Diana C.

    An absolute must if in Memphis. I was referred here by my wax tech and let me just say it did not disappoint. I highly recommend Cajun Abita Shrimp for an appetizer. It has a kick to it and the flavor was amazing, the beer bread even better when you dip it in the broth. For my entree I got the Atlantic Salmon.....buenísimo. The crisp outside of the fish was perfect. The service was impeccable and I appreciated his recommendations and attentive refills of our waters. Gregory did his thing taking care of us. The ambiance was mellow and chill with the live music in the background. An overall must!

    She-Crab Soup and Caesar salad
    Claralyn B.

    Itta Bena in Memphis is amazing! We were in town with my boyfriend's Mom and took her to dinner. Will and I have been to Itta Bena last year. His Mom really enjoyed our meal. We started with candied bacon charcuterie-style board and crab dip appetizers. They were delicious. The bacon was super thick cut, almost like pork belly thickness. It was served with blueberry jam with chunks of berries, slices of baguette and cheeses. The cream dip was served hot and with toasted baguette slices. Just so delicious! I ordered the stuffed chicken that came with fingerling potatoes and sautéed spinach. My boyfriend ordered the lamb with risotto and it was prepared perfectly. His Mom ordered the crab bisque soup and Caesar salad. We enjoyed sharing a bottle of Malbec wine too. Ambiance is muted and stylish. You can hear the music coming up from B.B. Kings restaurant downstairs. Our server was excellent and attentive. I'd give more than five stars to Itta Bena!l

    Bayou Crab Dip
    Jasmine U.

    I stopped here for a old fashioned and appetizer while visiting Memphis for the first time. Like everywhere I went in this city the service was great and the food was good! I knew I had a dinner later so I only had the crab dip but it was excellent, cheesy, full of crab with bread that could've been toasted a tad longer but still good. The space is an intimate vibe, dim lights, and live music. There was a woman singing and playing piano + a guy on the guitar, they were great. It's located upstairs above BB Kings, lots of great photos of musicians and patrons from way back, reminded me of a museum. I would definitely stop here again on my next time and stay a bit longer. This is a great date night spot and no cover charge like downstairs.

    Ken A.

    Itta Bena was the highlight of our trip to Memphis. Up the unmarked staircase on the end of a bustling street is a little slice of romantic heaven. Riverset Sours and Smokin Blues were our cocktails of choice and were tasty and potent. We tried a little of everything. Pimento dip was wonderfully sweet and the BBQ shrimp were firm and saucy! The tomahawk was cooked to perfection and the short ribs were rich and fall apart lovely. Absolutely no room for dessert! Service was awesome. Thank you, Kelsie

    Oven Baked Mac N' Cheese
    Mollie F.

    We stopped in to Itta Bena for a surprise birthday dinner! They were very accommodating of all our requests and went above to make the experience special. As a larger crowd (8+), the servers were efficient and did a great job ensuring that our drinks were always full. The food was incredible! Everyone was very pleased with what they received and I am still thinking about the mac and cheese. The overall experience was fantastic!

    Boneless beef Boneless Braised Short Ribs with risotto and asparagus

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    4 months ago

    Food and service were wonderful and ambience is spectacular. We had a group awards dinner (50 people) here and everyone loved it!

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    Page 1 of 14

    Ask the Community - Itta Bena

    Is Itta Bena wheelchair accessible?

    I believe there is an elevator in the back of the first floor to take you to the top floor

    Are walk ins accepted?

    Maybe if you plan on sitting at the bar. I would call them first. JIC!

    Can men wear shorts?

    Yes

    View All 5 Questions

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    This smash burger was killer ... thanks for the recommendation Brad ... drinks were also amazing …read more. the patio is awesome

    I LOVE breweries so visiting this place on Beale was a no brainer…read more Like most breweries, they have a selection to choose from. The options are displayed on a large screen above the bar. I believe the place was empty when we took a seat at the bar but another party of 2 followed shortly behind and sat a little bit further down the bar. I tried something that sounded better than it tasted but ultimately this is a matter of personal preference and I have a high maintenance palate. The people next to us got wings, which looked good until they were dangerously close to a leak that had sprung from one of the exposed pipes above. They had to move to a table behind us and then some of the staff got a bucket to place on the bar to catch the dripping water but that made a very loud noise so then they put a towel inside of the bucket. I will admit that I have never experienced such a thing before. It looked like the pipe that was dripping had tape wrapped over that area so they had tried a "bandaid" fix in the past but it didn't work. Obviously, this does negatively impact the "ambiance" portion of the overall experience and getting the impression that this is an issue that could have been fully addressed previously but the decision was made not to. It wouldn't stop me from going back but it certainly isn't ideal.

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    Hen House

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    Vibes- very cool, artsy location with dim lighting and an eclectic crowd…read moreDrinks- pretty & strong, but probably 8/10 on flavor Pasta- 10/10 probably hands down the best pasta I've had in a long while. Rich, well seasoned, and fresh Service was also awesome and there's a secret dessert menu our group really enjoyed!

    It pains me to have to leave this review. I came here once before several months ago and was very…read moreimpressed. I had a fantastic espresso martini and the best brussel sprouts I've ever tasted! So I was excited to come try something else. On the plus side, the bathroom was so nicely decorated. It was also very clean. I sat at the end of the bar, beside the little section of books. The bartender was nice. I ordered the Ember&Passion cocktail. Although it was pretty good, it was quite mild. Unexpected with the ingredients in it. I was surprised that the level of expected heat was not very detectable. I give it 7/10. When I came here before in the winter, the temperature was perfect and I don't remember being too bothered that they don't have cocktail napkins. But yesterday it was quite warm in the restaurant and not having these napkins wasn't good. Nobody in the restaurant had any type of napkin under any drink! I noticed that just like mine, every glass of water from every patron had a puddle of condensation under the glass. Each time I picked up my glass of water, it would drip onto my food and clothes. My two menus got so wet. I suppose they made this decision to save themselves a lot of money. As for the food: My parmesan truffle fries were excellent!! Hot, crispy on the outside and perfectly cooked in the middle. Best I've had in a long time. The Alabama white sauce on the side was just your typical sauce. It tasted just like every other Alabama white sauce that I've had so was not disappointing. But I actually ended up not using it because it was too thin and it didn't add anything to the fries. The fries were excellent enough on their own. I ordered my burger "pink" but there wasn't any pink to it, but I wasn't that bothered about it. Burger and the toppings were tasty, except for the fried green tomato. Looking closely at the picture, you can see that it was SO SMALL compared to the size of the burger. When a restaurant does that, don't they realize that it makes for a glaring disappointment?! It apparently came from near the end of the tomato, and not the middle. If you are going to offer a fried green tomato on a burger, then I feel as if you should only use the larger slices of the tomato, and save the smaller ends for maybe putting in salads. I've always been obsessed with fried green tomatoes. After having my first two bites of burger and still not reaching the tomato, I took it off to eat by itself. Sadly, it tasted terrible! I was surprised. Obviously, they didn't season the tomato or the batter. (Salt and pepper go a long way.) The burger toppings apparently made the tomato batter not only soggy, but also this strange thick texture. Like mushy and chewy at the same time. 1/10 Worst problem: FLIES!!! So many flies! When I just had my drink but no food yet, I noticed them but was not bombarded by them at that point. It wasn't until my food came. All of a sudden I was literally surrounded by them. They were everywhere! No exaggeration. I actually had to use only one hand to eat and the other hand to constantly move back and forth over my food. I eventually gave up and set the plate of some of my fries about 4 inches in front of my burger in order to hopefully draw the flies to the fries so that I could eat my burger. Unfortunately, after only four bites of my burger, when I set it down to take a drink of water, a fly landed on it within one second. Obviously, that was my last bite, and even when I was moving the plate closer to the end of the counter, two more flies landed on it. The glass of straws was inches from me. That, and the book closest to me seemed to be where they gathered to wait for their opportunity to dive bomb me. So many of them! It turned my stomach when I realized that I had been drinking from a straw with my water and I'm sure there had been flies on it before I got there. Every person that gets a straw in their drink at this restaurant has had a fly sitting on top of it. When the bartender told me about the desserts, it turned my stomach to think of just how many flies were in the kitchen. Had I known the fly situation was that bad when I first got my drink, I would have never stayed there, and I certainly would have never ordered food. I do think it is a real shame because the winter months are a totally different experience in that restaurant. But because of how horrible it was this time, I just can't ever come back.

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    Entrance
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    If the food is "next level," let's at least spell it like it deserves --but the vibe you're going…read morefor is solid. Here's a clean, strong review that keeps your energy: Hands down one of the best spots in town. The beer selection is top-tier--something for everyone, whether you're into classics or trying something new. The food is next level, especially the fries... easily top 3 I've ever had. Crispy, flavorful, and addictive. The atmosphere seals the deal: great music, high energy, and the fact that they're open until 3am is a game changer. Best part? The service is always on point. Staff is friendly, fast, and actually cares about the experience.

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    Everybody knows your name.

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    Everybody knows your name.

    Itta Bena - southern - Updated August 2026

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