Great ambiance, food, and service! Every time we are in Memphis we do dinner here, always a must. A few of our favorites are the fried green tomatoes, crab stuffed avocado, filet, shrimp and grits, and the bread pudding for dessert. Chris, the General Manager is a great guy. He walks around greeting the tables and ensures everyone is having a great evening. read more

I walked into the restaurant the long way, after motorcycling 7,246 miles from NYC and having my cocktail waitress at the Peabody, "Lindsey (va va voom!)" recommending it. Yeah that's right, I was bunking where the ducks swim and where Elvis first bought his blue suede shoes. THE DOPE: ATMOSPHERE: A fun "private" entrance, cool, hip, low light vibe inside. Some real moody blue light bathing the windows from the outside, and eye catching classic b&w pics of local music Gods hanging on the wall - Tina, Al, BB,etc. When you walk in, you're like yeah, looks good..and your date will be like, "So far...I'm not not sleeping with him." SERVICE: Concisely - Overall, the customers seem to get in the way of - HANGING OUT! Now our server, Ashley - yeah I call out the names, cause if you don't service doesn't improve, nor does their performance, and eventually our taxes go up to pay their unemployment! Any way she's a sweetie, but kind of dreamy - as in she's in another dimension. She's at your table, but she's never REALLY at your table, if you get what I mean. And if you don't - take more acid! She brought the wrong dressing over for a salad app, no table maintenance, entree elements left to clutter the table for desert, and dropped the check a WITHOUT A THANK YOU. A CARDINAL RULE of etiquette - thanking the customer - went down the bowl, but if perhaps, you're working not for tips, but to be admired or to party after the shift I guess good decent service doesn't matter! Give me a fat pimply attentive waitress any day! When we got up to leave - not one goodbye. We walked out unnoticed like fat girls at a Miami Dolphins Cheerleader try out. Our waitress wasn't around, so no fault there, but maybe one staff could say, "Good evening Folks, thanks." T The entire, "not too long out of college, but our minds are still in grammar school" staff NEED TO BE MANAGED by an adult - or focused like the Hubble Telescope. They were all occupied with their DRONE DEVICES, or chitin and chattin among themselves. A beautiful joint staffed by crappy self involved adolescents is not the way to turn a profit Pappy! FOOD: Apps: MAC & CHEESE - SUCKS! - It's a "pasta water soup" if anything. M&C should be hot goo under a top of burnt cheese, mac, and/or maybe bread crumbs too. Wrong consistency and little if any cheese taste, probably because IT'S TOO WATERY! M&C should stick 2 a wall if thrown, this runs right down the sewer - HOPEFULLY! BB King would turn over in his grave over this crap if he wasn't - alive, kicking and singing the blues. The app of FRIED AVOCADO STUFFED w/ SHRIMP was nice, not great, but visually and conceptually interesting. My mother's Red Snapper was good, not great. It a was moist, nicely spiced, moderately and balanced, and the fish itself of decent portion. They're famous for their SHRIMP AND GRITS - and should be, like the movie, ALMOST FAMOUS for them. Being a goomba from Brooklyn I'm not a grits man, but these were great - buttermilk creamy, tight, dryish - liked them alot. Not the usual goop you get down south. They made a tasty bed for the large char-grilled shrimp. The shrimp need a little more spice and taste, cause all I really got was the char-grillness of it all, but these babies were big, and meaty. Went nice with the red I was drinking DESERT: CARROT CAKE - SUCKS! Good icing, not enough cream cheese, and the cake was too dense - no air in that baby. It was more like a Carrot VERY Pound Cake. However, the vanilla bean BRULEE was tastey! OVERALL: I'd skip it. You get hit with NYC prices for NEWARK NJ service and food that didn't rise above good that night. Actually, you're better off, saving a ton of cash, by having a beer & hamburger at EARNESTINE & HAZELS bar - a REAL joint that once was a bordello to Memphis' music stars! But in hindsight, the only thing one should ever go to Memphis for is BBQ, BLUES, ELVIS and the righteous REVEREND AL GREEN - but never go to Itta's for the service....at least not right at this moment, in this dimension, where most of that staff most definitely wasn't, read more

Great evening with my brother and his fiancée! Recommendations- lamb chops, shrimp and grits, white chocolate bread pudding (it was a celebration!)!! Superb service, terrific martinis and a stop at BB Kings to top it off!! read more

Itta Bena - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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Fantastic food, fantastic service, and a really cool ambiance. This place is really a gem.

Great service and ambience but food is less than average ! Halibut was dry flaky and shrimp and grits was not tasty at all ! Very unfortunate as we chose them over other restaurants as it looked a little more polished and elegant! Disappointed needless to say. read more

We went on a friday night without reservations and yet they still somehow managed to seat us in about 30 minutes. We didn't even notice because we were too busy enjoying the live piano playing and beautiful singing as well as the rustic yet sophisticated atmosphere. I really like the whole secret passage thing. Additionally, we could still faintly hear the BB King house band below... Good times. As for the food, the She Crab soup was pretty much the bomb. Truly a must have when venturing to this restaurant. Though my steak was spectacular, I found myself wishing I had ordered my dad's choice of the pork dinner. In the end, everyone left happy, full, and little tipsy from the full bar. We also learned that there are several weekly coupon specials available on the website. Go check it out.... NOW! read more

Came here for dinner for the first time, with friends. This place is always super classy, very intimate atmosphere. There is a piano player. Most of the time you need reservations. First of all the service was exceptional from the time we sat down. Our waiter explained the menu to us fully and made awesome suggestions as to what he thought were the best dishes and drinks and how we can twerk them to our taste. We were all highly impressed by him. Most definitely the best service we have had ever. Each of our meals were extremely delicious. We enjoyed every bite! Portobello fries and Fried Avocado with crab was delicious for appetizers. For entrees we had the Jambalaya, Shrimp and Grits, Duck and Waffles and Lamb chops. Those were all recommended by the waiter and they awesome. The desserts were also great, creme brûlée, brownie and coffee! At the end, I believe the manager came up to use to ask how our evening was, we expressed how awesome the service was and to our surprise he gave us the desserts and coffee on the house!!!! Once again we were totally impressed! So we had an extremely pleasant experience here. Will come back whenever possible!! read more

Land of the delta blues takes a new meaning once I saw the blue tinted windows that dressed the walls of the restaurant. This place is one of the best kept secrets in Memphis. It offers great southern food with elegant exciting twists. There is a great romance to the decor which would make this a wonderful place for anything from a first date to a rehearsal dinner. read more

Itta Bena - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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Itta Bena does what they do well! The ambiance, food, drinks, music and service are superb! Being from out of town, I found this restaurant on a blog and made a reservation. This place is upstairs from outside of B.B. King's blues club, and unmarked, kind of a "hidden" gem. While I loved the food (we got a salad, app, and jambalaya), the Abita Bbq shrimp were the highlight of the meal and had just the right amount of kick! The atmosphere was great. A woman played live music on the piano while my hubby and I sipped cocktails underneath the blue lighting. If we lived in Memphis, we would come back again! read more

What a hidden gem! Difficult to find right behind BB Kings. Nice quiet atmosphere with live piano music playing in the background. Excellent service and friendly waitstaff. We took a chance on a Wed. Night in early Nov and were seated right away. The restaurant was full. Excellent wine selection reasonably priced with a variety of price ranges. The barbecued shrimp appetizer was awesome. My husband had the rotisserie chicken and said it was juicy and cooked just right. I had the field greens salad with chicken. Perfect and delicious. We would definitely go again if we are ever in Memphis. read more

Climbing those stairs makes you wonder where you are going :) But, once you enter you are immediately glad you did. Food presentation and flavor profiles were EXCELLENT and Stevin, our Server, was the ultimate professional. We plan on becoming regulars!!! read more

If you are going to visit Beal Street in Memphis and want to find a place to get out of the tourist traps and have a decent experience; this is it. A nice menu of regional cuisine, ala New Orleans (no BBQ) atop BB King's (where you can get BBQ). Nice bar and ambiance/decor. You do get the band playing below you but not loud enough to interrupt conversation. Not a lot of tables so the service is pretty good. Of course, you will spend a few more $$ than you would downstairs, but again worth it. Had a nice mini-wine tasting with the manager one night - very hospitable to the lone diner at the bar (which is generally how I roll). When you finish dinner, all of the sites and sounds of Memphis are right at your feet. Literally. read more

My sister's mashed potatoes was like an angel, But my Cajun pasta was like God himself It was the holy grail of meals 'Tis true love. Compliments to chef and keep up the good work!!!!! read more

Came here for my bday. The staff was amazing! This restaurant is located above BBKings. I love the ambiance here. In order to gain entrance one must go to the second landing and take a separate door to gain access to the third level, which is the entrance to the restaurant. When I inquired of the staff they explained that it used to be used as speak easy during the prohibition era. The restaurant had rich hues and wood tones. The lighting gave off a pretty blue hue. The staff was very knowledgeable about the menu and provided in depth commentary about what ever dish we inquired about. My girlfriend Robyn appeared to be equally impressed. The food was delicious. 1st we were given a basket of bread. I am a huge bread lover! The basket had a great variety of warm bread served with whipped sweet butter! I think I fell in love at that point with their food. The appetizer was so good, we had to refrain from licking the plate. Lol. We had the cornmeal green tomatoes and the fried avocado stuffed with crabmeat. The green tomatoes were accompanied with an awesome sauce. The avocado was soft and the crabmeat was tender. I had the salmon filet. The salmon was fresh, tasty, and good. The salmon was accompanied with green beans and a delicious caper sauce. For dessert, I tried something different and had the blueberry cobbler. This was definitely a classy place. While the food was good and the company was good, I missed my boyfriend's company. I enjoy sharing my birthday dinner with him and since he didn't want to come to Memphis, we celebrated before I left. I know he would have enjoyed this place. Maybe oneday we can return together :). read more

Amazing food and service. Lots of gluten free options clearly marked on the menu. The She-crab soup is fantastic! Grits and scallop also wonderful! read more

I have been here several times, and each time I have been well taken care of. The speakeasy aspect of this lovely restaurant makes it even cooler. IF you don't know the secret entrance, I won't tell... but, if you know where you are going, you know you are in for a treat! The drinks are always great, there is usually live music, and the food is always tasty. I would recommend starting with the Abita BBQ Shrimp or the She-Crab Soup (or both!), but you can't really go wrong. read more

Hidden away above B.B. Kings, you'd never find it if you didn't know it was there. You have to enter through the side and go up a back staircase with no signage whatsoever. It's all so "secretive". The atmosphere is dark, sultry and ultra hip. In fact, you can feel your cool factor going up as soon as you walk in the door. And I simply cannot brag enough about the food. It's southern. It's gourmet. It's delicious. I had the She Crab Soup (heaven in a bowl, folks), and The Shrimp and Scallops, which was served over cheese grits with lemon caper sauce. I enjoyed absolutely every mouthful and can't wait to go back for more. Check it out. But make sure you get a reservation in advance. They book up quickly on the weekends. read more

I'm a fan, INDEED. This is a really cool place that has Memphis written all over it. Everything from the location, hidden entrance, and the blue tinted windows that overlook Beale. The waitress we had was super helpful and was even more polite (not usually found on Beale). As a starter, we had the grits and scallops. Could be in the top 3 scallops that I have ever laid taste buds on. Oh and I cant forget to mention the delicious biscuits they bring out to your table. For my entree I had the fillet oscar with garlic mashed potatoes (AWESOME). The fact that this place is local makes it that much more attractive. I will definitely be back to Itta bena soon. read more

nice experience. felt like the $$$ pricetag was more for the ambiance than the food. Food was good but not amazing. venue was really nice and somewhat secluded in such a busy area. read more

As mentioned by many other reviewers, the location is easy yet hard to find. You know it's located above BBK but to know exactly how to get there can be the mystery. Another hint: Stairs are located on the West side of the buidling. My visit was with a large work group (40 or so on a week night). The staff was very accommodating to our group and service was attentive and quick. We took up nearly a quarter of the restaurant. Keep in mind they really don't have an area for large groups so we were a little dispersed throughout the establishment. I opted for the wedge salad as my meal (I know, not very exciting). Read my tagline and you will understand why. As far as wedge salads go, it was amazing! The hunk of lettuce was garnished with Applewood smoked bacon and Maytag blue cheese dressing. Got you craving a wedge now, huh? DiAnne Price is a wonderfu local lounge pianist and was performing on the night we were there. DiAnne is more of your typical jazz and blues. However, on the weekends you will often see Susan Marshall. She is an absolutely amazing Memphis performer. read more

We got a tip from a local about the third floor of BB King's, and it was a very good tip. Itta Bena is cool and classy. The manager, Matt, made us feel at home and Ellen, the bartender, made some rockin' drinks. Everyone here is so nice. If you are looking for something different from loud music and syrup drinks, Itta Bena is the place to be! read more

Loud. Fun. Food was good. The mystery of finding this place was fun! Good times here.

What a great spot! I love the "hidden" aspect and you have to know where it is; makes it elegant to me. The food - I had the snapper and andouille hash. I was skeptical about the hash, I love andouille so I am not sure why the skepticism. The portion was huge, I only ate half of it. The fish was cooked perfect and the hash was very tasty! I could have only had the hash and been happy. I also had dessert - creme brulee. It was a touch warmer than I prefer but it was still creamy with a nice sugar crust. The service - this is why they are getting five stars. My waiter was Stefan and he was wonderful. I was dining alone, which in my experience can be tricky for waiters. Either they feel sorry for you and want to talk or avoid thinking you want to be alone. Stefan gave me the perfect amount of attention. My drink was never empty without him asking if I wanted another and he engaged me without being either of the scenarios above. He talked to me about the menu, what was popular and what kind of food I like to eat. It was a great experience and I will go back when I am in town for work. Lastly, the ambiance is awesome. I love the small, cozy feel, blues music in the background, and the blue tinted windows. read more

Very good Southern classics as well as some newer stuff like the smoky cocktails. I have been here three times - 2 dinners and a rehearsal dinner. Each time has been a very special experience. Great Southern staples (shrimp and grits, bread pudding) and fun music if you can catch the live performances. The tables are also spread out which is great for COVID. The decor is also relatively modern and fun, especially the Tina Turner pics on the wall. So much history! read more

Salt and pepper is much needed. The duck and waffles is sweet. The duck grilled cheese is good. The rest. S. P. read more

Love love love this place. The pimento and onion dip was amazing. The Cajun pasta was the best I'd ever had but nothing was better than the atmosphere. It was a very cool and laid back place. A cigar lounge-speak easy type feel. read more

Had a reservation and got seated as soon as we came in. I started with the goat cheese salad and it was amazing! The perfect starter. My boyfriend started with the she crab soup and said it was fantastic. We both had great cocktails as well. He ordered the pork chop for dinner and loved it! I had the salmon (photo) however did it blackened and over the Gouda grits. IT WAS AMAZING! The grits were the best I've ever had and the salmon was cooked to perfection. It was a very large piece! I finished my meal with a key lime martini, which was amazing!! Great service, fun atmosphere, and even better food! read more

Itta Bena - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

We were tipped off by a local to dine at Itta Bena and since her favorite New Orleans restaurant and mine are the same (shout out to Cochon!), I trusted the advice. It wasn't bad. It just wasn't great, which is what I expected. Fried avocado app was good, but would have been much better with a bit of seasoning. DH got the BBQ shrimp - huge shrimp, very flavorful sauce - B+ for sure. Entrees: DH ordered steak (underseasoned) with the garlic mash (OK) and veggies (yawn) I had the shrimp and grits since they were so highly recommended. First plate had to be returned because those poor shrimp had been cooked so long they wouldn't even give up their tails. The second plate was better, but still not perfect. Grits were underseasoned and way too thick. I left more than half the pricey dish behind. Wine selection seems OK but overpriced. The best thing about it was the atmosphere, with a piano/singer and the feeling that you are experiencing something that only those "in the know" have done. Not enough to make me do it again, though. read more

To start... I had my rehearsal dinner at Itta Bena 4 years ago. It was wonderful, it was a buy out which was incredibly reasonable and the food and drink fantastic! Well four years later ( I don't live in Memphis) I dined with several friends and we ordered several apps to share and entrees to have on our own. Every single bite of each thing was more incredible than the presentation, the wonderful atmosphere, and the amazing staff. I didn't think it could get better than simply just walking into the room! Apps I suggest: spicy shrimp with Abita bread ( incredible) the stuffed avocados with crab meat and pico de gallo, my husband LOVED the duck confit grilled cheese!!!! What!!!?? it's amazing how original this food is!!! Entrees: jambalaya pasta is a must! Shrimp and grits also another must! And the Red snapper to die for!! Dessert: white chocolate bread pudding! Every member of the staff was very attentive, on point and friendly/ positive. The Manager Chris was amazing as well or shall I say the best he greeted the table he checked on us, all while taking great care of others. We all had great conversations and when it comes to food and wine that man knows his stuff!!! So overall great experience and ambiance and thanks to the chefs, staff and Chris!!! Ps have the mac and cheese as well read more

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Wow. Everything on the menu, down to the warm yeast rolls and whipped honey butter was to DIE for!!! If I ever had a reason to return to Memphis, I would return to Itta Bita!!! Worth finding the "secret stairs"!! The jambalaya was excellent!!! Mushroom soup and Field of greens salad very yummy!! Warm brownie dessert was sexual too!! Only issues: hostess took us to the table and hacked all over us (she apologized, but ewe); sever a little slow on water refills, GM was a delight, except, at the end of our meal, the live pianist was off for the night, and across the bar, hostess and GM were stuffing their crawl with food... Gross to eat on the floor, but whatever. The quality of our food was beyond excellent!! read more

Perhaps one of the best restaurant experiences I've ever had. Great food, and the staff was simply incredible.

A gem of a spot above Beale street. The blue windows give the feel of looking out on Beale from inside a sapphire. The bar area has a cozy feel. The restaurant is clean and the staff is excellent. The drinks and dishes are delicious. read more

I ate here for downtown dining week. I really liked it. I had caesar salad, blackened tilapia, and a brownie. My mom had the same thing but with the bread pudding. The tilapia is not on the regular menu. The bread pudding was amazing. The other food was delicious too. As others have said, this is the only place on Beale St. I would eat. Some concerns though--the flashing blue police light outside the window was annoying (it wasn't just blue due to the tinted windows). Also, one of the light bulbs was flickering and the waiter didn't seem to care nor knew what to do with it. read more

This restaurant is located on Famous Beale Street. Walk up the fire escape and into a restaurant that is sure not to disappoint. On our visit our server was McKenna. She was very knowledgeable of the menu and quite engaging. We all ordered the wedge salad. The dressing for the fresh crisp salad was delicious. Two of our party had the salmon and substituted grits instead of rice. One ordered the boneless braised short ribs that was served on a bed of mashed potatoes. Everything came to the table promptly and did not disappoint. We shared a Creme Brûlée which had bits of vanilla bean through out and was very creamy. We will absolutely return to try the other items that are on the menu. read more

This was a great tip from Yelper Kerry C, who also runs @ilovememphis on Twitter. This bar/restaurant is a fun speakeasy hidden among the noise and craziness that is Beale Street in Memphis. To get there, enter BB Kings and when they ask you for a cover - just tell them you're headed to Itta Bena. Go up the stairs, and look to your left and there will be an exit door. Go through the door and up the back stairs and you will find yourself in a mini blues oasis above the crowds. My friends and I hit Itta Bena twice for drinks and apps and had a great time. The bartender Courtenay poured Lemon Blueberry Martinis for us (formerly a show with more sugar) that was amazing. For apps, we had the stuffed avocado with crab meat. I've never seen this before and it was sooo good! Whole avocado rolled in seasoned flour, then deep fried golden brown and served with warm remoulade sauce and topped with pico de gallo. We also got the Abita BBQ Shrimp, which is served Orleans style on a sizzling skillet, with homemade abita beer bread for soaking up the sauce. Again, amazing. In addition to the great food and ambiance, they had a live singer performing with a pianist. Super sultry atmosphere! Can't wait to go back and try more of their food! read more

Went with colleagues after a training session. Fantastic food and wait staff. We were a large party and they accommodated use easily when the size grew. I had fried green tomatoes as a starter and salmon for the entrée. Both tasted fresh. Great place to eat on Beale. read more

Fine dining at it's best! The ambience, the host, the décor,wait staff and especially the piano playing. We dined on New Zealand Lamb Chops that were soooo delicious!!! I found myself unconsciously sucking the bones! violating all the rules of proper etiquette. My wife loved her Jambalaya Pasta, it was very flavorful and spicy. We exited though a door that leads to the BB King Club balcony. It was an overall Fantastic!!! Experience. After our dining there, I got an email from the manager Katrina thanking us, Classy!!! read more

Best restaurant around! Be prepared to dig deep in that pocket book, but whenever the government isn't shut down and I can get someone to watch my kids I try and take my wife here. If I'm walking around downtown and chat with tourists this is the place I recommend to them! Roger read more

I had trouble finding the restaurant. I asked a local and was told to enter an adjacent restaurant and go upstairs - through a door - upstairs. It would either be a hidden gem or a dive with no escape. It was definitely a hidden gem. I ordered a glass of wine an the tomato soup. The soup was average. As an entree I had the spicy creole pasta. It wasn't very spicy. I prefer spicy cuisine. However, the taste was awesome. The penne pasta was cooked perfectly. The shrimp was also cooked perfectly. The staff did an excellent job. The hostess seated me immediately. My waiter excellent. The best service I discovered during my visit to Memphis. read more

Say hi to Kathy at the bar. Had the sea bass last night and the Balvenie 14 Caribbean cask. Both were excellent. Great food, in a great place, with great music, all while above Beale. Can't miss. Bring a date or your friends or your spouse. Just come and have a wonderful meal and a great time. read more