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    Itta Bena

    4.4 (544 reviews)
    Open 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Services - Itta Bena

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    ITTA BENA ATMOSPHERE

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

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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.!!!!

    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.

    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!

    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.

    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.

    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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    3 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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    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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    Pick your poison.
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    Everybody knows your name.

    Itta Bena - southern - Updated June 2026

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