Liquor Store MEM 27…read moreJuly 2026 Synopsis: Breakfast worth crossing state lines. There are restaurants that feed you. Then there are restaurants that grab you by the collar, slap the stupid out of your face, pour you a generous vodka, and remind you why civilization bothered inventing fire. Liquor Store is the latter. You'll find it at the corner of Poplar and Mendenhall, where Memphis traffic oozes through the intersection like molasses contemplating life. Parking isn't abundant, so prepare to circle a bit. We somehow snagged the very last space, which immediately felt like the culinary gods whispering, "Yeah... today's your day." The second you walk inside, the heat dies. Not "bank lobby in Memphis where your sweat flash-freezes into an ice sculpture" cold. Just perfectly air-conditioned. The kind of temperature where your body finally stops negotiating with humidity and starts believing in happiness again. The room breathes. High ceilings--but not cathedral or airplane-hangar ridiculous. Just enough space to make the place feel alive without feeling like you're eating breakfast in a Costco. Then comes the staff. Fast. Friendly. Professional. Zero wasted motion. These people move with the confidence of mechanics during a Formula One pit stop. Nobody is pretending to be busy. They actually are busy, and somehow they're smiling while doing it. Tyler had our backs from beginning to end. Now let's talk about whoever was commanding the kitchen. That beautiful lunatic has BTUs at his fingertips and clearly understands that cooking is not merely chemistry--it is controlled violence against hunger. I ordered the Sweet Potato Hash. Normally it comes with vegan sausage. No. Absolutely not. Life is too short. I asked if they could substitute chicken instead. They didn't blink. No sigh. No "let me ask." No drama. Just an effortless, "Sure." About four minutes later--and I was the kind of hungry where I'd have considered eating the menu--that masterpiece landed in front of me. Friends... I've eaten breakfast from San Francisco to New York, from roadside diners to hotel brunches where they charge you because they know you'll pay. This was the best breakfast hash I've ever eaten. The chicken was juicy. The sweet potatoes had actual personality instead of being sugary mush. The sautéed spinach deserved its own fan club. Then there was the sunny-side-up egg. Listen carefully. A proper sunny-side egg is one of the great disappearing arts. This one had crisp edges worthy of applause while the yolk remained gloriously molten, ready to flood every bite with liquid gold. Not greasy. Not overloaded with salt. Not trying to impress Instagram. Just perfect. Then there was the vodka. And bless these people... When they say "well vodka," they apparently interpret that as, "Let's not insult the customer." They pour a genuinely respectable shot instead of the microscopic chemistry experiment too many places call a cocktail. It arrived with our chasers in what felt like under a minute. That's confidence. That's hospitality. That's Memphis. The music stayed exactly where good restaurant music belongs--in the background. Cool enough to create atmosphere but never loud enough to hijack conversation. Whoever curates that playlist deserves a raise. I intended to carefully analyze every flavor. Instead, I inhaled the contents of that little cast-iron skillet with the elegance of a starving wolf wearing a necktie. By the time I thought, "I should really study the seasoning..." there was nothing left but an empty cast-iron skillet, one lonely hash brown that had escaped onto the plate like the last survivor of a glorious battle, and absolutely zero regrets. Here's the dangerous thing about Liquor Store: Nothing feels forced. Nothing screams for attention. Nobody acts like they're doing you a favor. The entire experience is so effortlessly dialed in that excellence feels completely ordinary--which is probably the highest compliment I can give a restaurant. We had a long drive ahead of us toward Bristol, and I genuinely didn't want to leave Memphis because it meant leaving this place behind. If I were on death row and the warden slid the final meal request across the table? I'd hand it back with two words. "Liquor Store." Then I'd ask Tyler to bring one more of those gloriously generous well-vodka pours while the kitchen wizard cracked one last sunny-side egg--the kind with crisp, lacey edges and a yolk so perfectly runny it ought to be protected by federal law. Needless to say, we'll be back.

The Liquor Store never disappoints. I ordered the Cuban Queso Burrito, and it was outstanding. The…read morechicken was incredibly flavorful, the queso tied everything together, and every bite was delicious. I also tried the Blueberry Pie Latte, which tasted just like blueberry pie in a cup. It was the perfect pairing with brunch. Great food, great atmosphere, and friendly service. I'll definitely be back.

Our girls group of 8 went here for our monthly lunch. I have learned a hard way pleasing eight…read morewomen at different lunch place. Every time is a quest and I scored on all counts with Magnolia and May! Typically, we eat at a different place every month to "test the market." But it was unanimous that we come back here next month. We all want to try something different as everyone thought their entrée was the best. Everyone was a bit concerned about the location and parking, but it was easy to locate and easy to park. Service with impeccable and food was fabulous. There were many varied choices for lunch so we all got something different with no complaints!! That's a win for the home team The entrees were savory, cooked to perfection and spot on. The decor was very comfortable, the lighting was perfect as were the fixtures . And now that I'm writing this, my mouth is actually watering so to treat this I'm going tonight with my husband for wine and dinner. It's a win-win!

I ordered the double cheeseburger with all the fixings. And it was simply delicious and the fries…read more with cheese awesome. Everything was fulfilling and more than enough.

All of it!!! The place has a great vibe. Drinks. Top notch. I had a salad with crispy tofu (not…read morevegan, just sometimes like a good tofu) and it was excellent. Julie was phenomenal. I am so glad I went in! *bread pudding, yumm!

SOB is always a really good time. We dined in on Valentine's day, and I selected a few items from…read morethe special menu. Creamy crawfish brushetta: these were soooo good. Perfectly seasoned Queen of hearts: gin, elderflower, creme de violette, lemon and Prosecco. Had a nice little kick to it. Tried and trusted: chicken and waffles. The chicken was a little underseasoned today but the waffle was fine.

Wow, we got here by accident, we were supposed to go to a place across the street but it was closed…read moreand ended up here, so glad the other place was closed because the food was amazing, I had the boss hog bowl with gravy, best I've ever had, the service was quick and really friendly, ambiance ok, makes you feel like family. Give this place a shot and hope your experience here is just as good as ours.

Coffee was excellent, breakfast was outstanding and the crispy bacon was perfection!…read more We found this little gem while on vacation and it was truly amazing! Service was prompt and efficient and the staff was so kind and helpful.

You enter the establishment which is a bit small, could use a bit better order/process…read more 1. People order to go and sit where folks who desire to dine-in would. 2. You order at the counter and given a number. They shout out numbers which, makes things feel chaotic. Maybe get a little ticket holder flag or something that can sit on the table, especially if to-go orderers are going to sit in dining. Or send a text! I ordered and it took forever to get my food. They are a busy place. It was good, but definitely overpriced for a piece of catfish, grits and 4 shrimp. I added the shrimp to determine which I'd like more. It's the fish... do the fish and grits! Don't be hardheaded! ;) Hmmm... food is good, but very overpriced for the portion and experience.

If you're tired of the same trendy faux grass wall brunch spots, Bartlett Breakfast Factory is a…read morebreath of fresh air. This place has a charming old-timey diner feel--homey, cozy, and full of personality. It's clear the locals love it, and for good reason. I had the fried catfish and shrimp & grits with a pancake on the side--everything was seasoned to perfection and felt like true Southern comfort food. My folks ordered the Bartlett Breakfast with a side of fish and grits and the rest got shrimp and grits. We also tried the sunset lemonade, which was delicious and refreshing. The service was warm and friendly, just like you'd expect from a neighborhood gem. My only critique is that the space is on the smaller side. They're clearly well-loved and could definitely use a bigger location to accommodate their growing fan base. Highly recommend for anyone wanting a real, down-to-earth breakfast spot with amazing food and welcoming vibes.

I see many mixed reviews for this location, but my family and I had a very smooth experience! I've…read morebeen to several First Watch's across the country and this one was run with efficiency! We were seated immediately upon entry, party of 4, and ordered quickly. The staff were kind and enthusiastic. Our waitress and hostess were knowledgeable and accommodating. Our food came out quickly and was fresh and delicious! We were in and out quickly and have a lovely time!

This place is always busy and the waitlist doesn't seem to have helped. Arrived early and was told…read morethat our table wasn't ready and that there's 6 ppl ahead. We did see that there's plenty of tables available and figured it might be due to understaff. Overall service was very slow. From being seated to taking orders and food being served. Unfortunately my egg Benedict came with the eggs being soft boiled rather than runny. Other than that, it's decent compared to the other outlet.

Deliciously healthy! The juices were fresh. The turmeric iced coffee perfectly hit the spot. It was…read moreEXTREMELY crowded that day during lunch, our orders took a long time and arrived in pieces (we only had a sandwich, a rice bowl, and the two drinks). Ambiance-- it's beautifully decorated, but the vibes just did not feel calm because of the long lines waiting for their orders to be taken. It definitely depends on the time that you go. Make sure you get there early to avoid the crowds if you're the type that likes to have the restaurant to themselves. They have a nice patio that is covered with extra seating.

Looking for a healthy reprieve? City Silo has you covered. In traveling to Memphis and after…read moreindulging in the food scene, a healthy break is what you need. A fast casual establishment, they have every health area covered. From juices, smoothies, bowls, breakfast, salads, sandwiches and the list goes one! What I appreciate about the food is that it is plant forward and health focused. You don't have to feel bad about eating there multiple meals as there is something highly nutritious in every area of the menu. Service is always fast, so it is also a great for a quick stop.

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.