My second visit this month and I'm so glad I've finally gotten the chance to visit. Chef Kelly has an amazing menu, it's my understanding the menu rotates, but one dish remains . The Redfish Clemenceau is one dish that is sure to please. Redfish with panko breading, peas, potatoes, and mushroom in a light sauce, I really enjoyed. I am not a fan of all things fish, but I did venture out and I'm glad I did. I have also had the bread pudding and cheesecake, with the bread pudding being my favorite. Oysters are half price on Tuesday and I enjoyed the raw oysters better than the chargrilled. The chargrilled didn't taste chargrilled, because I could only taste the Parmesan, no garlic butter flavor at all. Oh as for appetizers, the bone marrow and crab au gratin, were great as well. I have tried so much in those two visits I can't remember everything! Fried oyster salad is full of oysters and less salad with blue cheese dressing that does not overpower the dish. Bbq shrimp was just ok, unfortunately the dining area I was in had blue lights so all those pictures came out...blue lol! Ladies bathroom was cleaned both visits and the atmosphere is very inviting. read more

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We enjoyed the bone marrow appetizer which was served with olive infused foccocia bread. This was a first experience which was fun to enjoy! We did agree that the olive flavor overpowered the experience of the bone marrow flavor. It was difficult to differentiate the flavors. For entrees, we ordered the red fish and the fillet au gratin. The red fish was perfected, the mixture of texture and flavors was delicious. The fillet ordered medium, was slightly overcooked to medium well. It was still tender and enjoyable. As this was our anniversary, the menus were specially tailored to congratulate our special day. Having the menu rolled and tied to go was also a special touch. Our waiter was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. As for drinks, we had the fire (something) which was an extremely Smokey flavor which sounded good at the time but I did not enjoy. We also ordered the Bearded Iris IPA which was fantastic. Cold, crisp, and flavorful. Before our departure we were comped a small bite of chocolate flourless cake for our anniversary which was tasty! This was a special night and we enjoyed it. The restrooms even had lint rollers and feminine products! There was intimate seating and lighting for the tables, which was much appreciated. read more

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Came here with a party of six last minute on a Friday night. They were so accommodating and seated us with no problems. Marcus was our waiter. He was very attentive and explained the menu very well. The crab au gratin was my favorite. I could eat a gallon of it. I got the sweet potato soup and salmon, both were ok. The bone marrow was pretty good. I'm super picky about oysters and tend to steer clear of gulf oysters. I prefer PEI oysters, however these murder points from Alabama were great. The ambiance was nice, fine dining, but I wore a t-shirt and nice pants. We came here on a last minute decision, so I didnt have a chance to dress up. read more

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Classy-sh, low-lit spot with upscale Creole-French food that mostly hits the mark--ambiance's spot on and the vibe leans refined without feeling stiff. The foodwas solid, but overall the dishes were just a touch above average--not blowing your mind, but respectable. Service was okay, although they actually forgot one of our dishes (not ideal). Still, the nicesetting and thoughtful flavors made for a weekday-night worth remembering. read more

Food, service, ambiance are all curated to perfection at Chef Kelly English's Iris. The vibe is romantic without being stuffy and the menu is exceptional. Service is pristine, as one would expect, and it's a go-to stable for us! read more

Some of the best seafood in Memphis. Service was great. Atmosphere was intimate and relaxed. We came here on the recommendation of a friend. We will definitely be coming back. We were a little skeptical walking in. The windows appear to be dirty and grimy, which is not a good first impression. But the inside was clean and well-maintained. read more

Always a pleasant experience. Staff professional, friendly and helpful. Dinning room always for conversation along with several private rooms. Food is always well prepared and lovely presentation. read more

Long overdue review of this wonderful establishment. We have been coming to Iris since way back when Kelly turned down NBA stars for dinner. I always loved that story, I don't care how embellished it may be. It's great that he even beat him in a one on one game later, who knew Kelly English could even dunk????!!!!! The new location is much larger, has many more seats, and a beautifully decorated interior. It's whimsical and just lovely. The bar is amazing, and even boasts its own menu. They have a Cruvinet machine that holds fine/expensive bottles of wine for sale by the glass. It's great for when you want to try something but don't want to buy the whole bottle. Brilliant! They even have an oyster shucking station right there at the bar. When this location first opened, they had another Chef behind the menu. It was good, but it wasn't Kelly English good.... If you had been to the old Iris, you knew immediately that it was different. Kelly has since taken over the kitchen and implemented his recipes and style back into the heart of the house. I even got the old Surf and Turf "Iris Style" on my last visit. Holy shit! It was so damn good!!! If you've never had it, you are missing out man. Yum. I'm drooling thinking about it. Iris is as good as ever, and now you can actually get a table within a reasonable timeframe because it can now seat so many. There are private rooms available and they even have an exhibition kitchen where KE will cook right there in front of you. What more could you ask for?? Get your ass here now! Did I even mention the seafood hoecakes??? Geez '24 - 30/100 read more

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We sat in the bar and had a wonderful time. The bartender and waiter were fantastic. As far as the food, it was average. The BBQ shrimp sauce was fantastic. The shrimp was over cooked. The messy ass fries were good but not great. The bone marrow appetizer was over powered by the topping on it. The first steak to come out was over cooked but the 2nd time was so much better but by that time everyone was finished with dinner. The chicken was very very delicious. It isn't that anything was terrible-it was all good but nothing was exceptional. A little disappointing. read more

Excellent experience! The Oysters & Crab Au Gratin were amazing. Scallops and the Redfish were perfectly cooked. The Rice Grits so good. The Coffee Cream Brule absolutely the best! Thank you Chef English, keep up the good work! read more

(Placeholder) What hasn't already been said about Kelly English's standard bearer? The food is the best in Memphis, the staff the best in Memphis, the environment and decor exceptional (hard to say the best in Memphis' when the canvas is shopping center architecture rather than, say an intimate 11 table house just off Overton Square...). There's nothing below 'remarkable' on the menu. It's also fantastic to see the chef make the rounds during service- I don't know if this is 5-star practice, a Kelly English thing, or New Orleans practice, but it speaks to the regard that staff has for its clientele (what commenting to our waitress about the booming septuagenarian gas bag that seemed to be the marshal of a party of 6 at a table across the way, our server apologized for the vociferousness of one of their 'usual patrons'. At first, I wished that she would have lambasted human Foghorn Leghorn; upon reflection, it's kind of remarkable she'd stick up for the guy, so, props; but still, quiet down, Boomer). read more

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Perfect evening! We went to celebrate my daughters birthday. Our waitress, Jo, which we have had several times, was wonderful as usual. Everyone's food was cooked to perfection. The dining room is trendy and classic with just the right level of sound. read more

Restaurant Iris - Birthday dessert! - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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Great combination of Southern and Cajun cuisine. Totally enjoyed everything we had. The griddle cake and BBQ shrimp starters were delish. The grit in the shrimp and grit was buttery and creamy. The desserts were also scrumptious. I hope to be back to sample the dinner menu. A+ read more

The ambiance and food were excellent! We came for brunch on a Saturday morning and got good service. The crab cake was impressive and my favorite. read more

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I was served raw chicken with small portions as part of catering. This is ridiculous! read more

Restaurant Iris - Raw chicken - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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Received very small portions. More like a snack portion than a meal. The sauce (although there was barely any) was bland. There was almost no meat and was mostly just plain pasta. read more

Giving it 5 stars because that's what it deserves! My friends and I came for dinner a couple of weeks ago and I can honestly say we didn't have any complaints, no suggestions, no "they should do this"...nothing! (And this is a group of food bloggers so that should tell you something lol) The service from the bar and the table seating was great. My food was awesome! We all tried different this so what was fun. Everything was reasonably priced so it's an easy spot to come back to. Did I mention the decor is beautiful?! read more

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FIVE STARS! FIVE STARS! FIVE STARS! That's the post! FIVE STARS! I had the blessed opportunity to take my wife to brunch at Restaurant Iris and I am sooo glad that I did! I highly recommend the Corn & Crab Griddle Cakes, Redfish Clemenceau, and definitely have yourself a Mint Julip while you're there! By the way, did I mention FIVE STARS! read more

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First time visit for a business lunch on a Friday. At 12:20pm ALL conversation and business came to a loud booming halt as a (great sounding) three piece trio (sax, bass, and snare drum) comes from the back of the restaurant. They were performing at the right volume if outside and trying to draw attention, but dang! Fortunately they ceased about 20 minutes later and we were able to return to our business and conversations. Colleagues had red fish plate and I tried the chicken sandwich. All was very good but they've certainly stayed ahead of inflation (thank you Joe B. & team). Service was fine and I saw evidence of training. read more

First time finally dining at Iris. It is a New Orleans style cuisine. My fave food in the world! So, I had high expectations. They did not disappoint. My hubby ordered the duck gumbo and I, half dozen raw oysters. Both were delicious. For supper we had the short ribs and the red fish. Hubby loved the meat. I enjoyed my fish. Very flavorful!! The place itself is really cool, vibrant but not busy. Very aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Wish I remember my waiter's name. She was friendly and well verse on the menu and drinks. Highly recommend!!! read more

Restaurant Iris - Res fish - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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Pretty bummed. I hadn't been to Restaurant Iris since it was in Midtown, but tonight I met up with four of my friends as a going away party. It's now not 'special' in my opinion. Just your typical grossly overpriced restaurant. The atmosphere is fine, but it's just your standard basic upscale restaurant, nothing special. I opted for the Beef Cheek Pot at Feu for my meal. As someone that looooves salt, this was WAY too salty, even for me! I ate it though. The Brussels Sprouts were good in the Pot, but I only got three. Two drinks, a meal, and 1/2 dessert amounted to $80+. So not worth it now which is a bummer because I love Kelly English. (I didn't take pics because my meal wasn't attractive). No one was blown away with what we got. I doubt I'll be back anytime soon unless the menu changes or prices drop. Not worth $$$. read more

Sunday Brunch on a busy Sunday for Moms Day. Crab Griddle Cakes Wedge Salad I had Quiche Lorraine He had Steak and Eggson both!! Sunday Bruch Excellence read more

Excellent lunch spot. Lunch menu offered a variety of well-priced selections. The quiche had a perfect crust and tasted delicious. Others at my table ordered fish / seafood dishes that I plan to try at future visits. read more

Went at 7:30p on a Wednesday with a reservation for two - seemed as though it would have been possible to go without a reservation. Space was clean and well-designed; we were seated in a booth that felt private but not cut off. Waitress was friendly and came by often. The cocktails were well-made but not worth a trip by themselves. The Iris Sour was a fairly standard whiskey sour. The Cat in the Rain was also tasty but not a must-have. The food was almost all phenomenal. The appetizers stole the show - both the barbecue shrimp and the fried green tomatoes were exceptionally well done. The charred bread with the shrimp really made the dish and our waitress was nice enough to offer more of it to mop up the barbecue sauce. The scallops were also excellent, though (as is often the case with scallops) I was glad to have ordered other dishes to complete the meal. I'd have gone home still hungry otherwise. The honey roasted carrots were good but not the best I've had. Overall a very pleasant dining experience. read more

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Well I tried having dinner here. Let me start by saying that I have lost a lot of weight over the last 2 years. I don't drink alcohol and only drink flavored water. I carry it with me as most places do not carry it. My wife and I walked in and were seated at our reservation time no problem. We ordered our starter and then entree's and then out of the blue a lady who I thought would have been bringing us food because we had been sitting there for close to 15 minutes told me that we had to take our water back to the car. She was not nice about it either. So we opted to walk and eat elsewhere. We had ordered over $100 worth of food so it still wasn't a small check. We have been to multiple 4-5 star restaurants in Memphis and this is the first who had told us that for "legal" reasons we couldn't drink our water in their restaurant. read more

The food was incredible. The BBQ Shrimp appetizer was unlike any I've ever had and possibly the best appetizer ever. Redfish and Salmon for our main course and both were exceptional. The crab and corn cake appetizer was delish. But couldn't hold a candle to the BBQ Shrimp. read more

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Nothing here that would take a 5 Star rating away. Quality food, great service, and cool "ambiance". Who knew this gem was tucked in the middle of a retail shopping center. Highly recommended. read more

I'd like to try one of their other menus. The drink was disgustingly strong. I had to nurse it for 2 hours. The food was okay but not worth the price. read more

Restaurant Iris - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Service was poor and the food was cold!!! We were sat at the worst table and the server purposely overcharged on tips charging my mom the same amount and her order was less. The server couldn't do basic math and also cheated me on my percentage off for not using a credit card and paying with cash. The server kept being lazy and leaning over in my plate and the table wasn't that large. She should have walked around or asked for the glass from the other person. It's unsanitary and poor service. For the price it was terrible and definitely not worth it. read more

We went to Cafe Iris for the first time for my birthday. The ambiance of the dining room is not what I expected. It has a very classy look to it, and the banquettes look like a place where Hollywood starlets would meet high powered directors. The menu is on the small side, but varied. We tried the crab hoecakes, the peach panzanella salad, the Redfish, and the Cobia with a side of cheesy rice grits. The crab hoecakes were positively loaded with crab, and quite tasty. The peach panzanella had the right flavors, but simply poured over a single small corn cake. I think it would have been better and make more sense had the cornbread been cut into croutons. The one really outstanding dish was the redfish. It was perfectly seasoned, and the mushroom and peas it was served with were out of this world. It paired so perfectly with the grits. The Cobia & Shrimp was disappointing. Though both the seafood components were cooked properly, the very large segments of brined tomatoes and the brown sauce poured over made the dish look and taste unappetizing to me. The service was really good, but no less than I would expect in a nearly empty restaurant. I felt the prices were reasonable, but somehow, I can't see myself returning. read more

served us raw meat, like some of us don't rely on the food. very disappointed in the portion size and the lack of respect when serving food to a large group. when I say raw meat, it was completely raw. read more

Lovely atmosphere with a Cajun creole vibe. Attentive service and wonderful food. Recomendations were spot on and we thouroughly enjoyed our evening. Make sure to try the oysters. I had them fried in the salad. And don't sleep on the chocolate terrine. read more

My experience at Restaurant Iris was definitely one to remember! The food was amazing! So flavorful and well prepared! The service was impeccable with multiple people checking on us and food/drinks coming out in a timely manner! I was also in awe of the design of this restaurant! The colors, table settings, and furniture seemed to be well thought out and added to the fine dining experience! There is a skylight in the dining area that creates this beautiful natural lighting, not letting you miss a moment of the sunset! I will definitely be back again for the food and ambiance! My only critique would be for the braised collard greens. They came with pickled peaches, and I could taste the peaches. They made the greens sweet too and I don't personally care for sweet greens. Even with that it was a great experience, and I recommend it! read more

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The ambiance is top tier ! I was sold before I even took a bite of the food . We dined here for lunch . There are daily specials for lunch . Lunch specials are approximately $20 per entree . Seating fills up fast for lunch , so we sat at the bar . The food came out extremely fast and the service was excellent. The bar tender shared his favorite dishes . We had the lunch special for the day -the shrimp creole. It was flavorful and the portion was perfect for lunch . Parking was plentiful -the restaurant is embedded in a shopping center . I had no issues parking or leaving . The restrooms were clean and decorated beautifully. read more

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We had a wonder dinner at Iris! We are a family of chefs, and loved the creative touches both in the main courses and starters. Would have loved to try the desserts but we were too satisfied. We'll definitely be back! Our server Jo was attentive and did a great job taking care of us. Nice job all! read more

Stop here for a late lunch/ early dinner. Great little place! Wait staff was awesome, great wine selection and even though the menu was very limited this time of day, my crab cakes were amazing and the largest serving I have ever had! I highly recommend this hidden gem! read more

Great service! Our waiter was kind, informative, helpful and never rushed us. Three of us in our party & we especially enjoyed the Seared Brussel Sprouts from the a la carte sides. Parmesan risotto was fine but not much flavor. All of us enjoyed our main entree fish. We also each enjoyed our cocktails. read more

Second visit in a row that was very disappointing. It's Kelly English and fine dining, so expectations should be high. The service and ambiance were great. It was the food that was mediocre at best and took an extraordinary long time to be served. read more

C'mon Kelly, this place is a disgrace to your name. First, arriving early for our reservation, we were escorted by open tables in the dining room only to be placed in your "teaching studio" for dinner? It was my wife's birthday and we were seated here? We asked to be seated elsewhere, and the hostess looked at us like with disgust. The food was very, very below average! The flounder was bland and was drenched in sauce. The rest of the meal was disappointing as well! The only saving grace to our special evening was our waitress! There are so many better places in Memphis. Save your money and go elsewhere. read more

Went here with my wife for dinner last weekend. Personally we like the old location in Midtown better, but this is more convenient to our house. Drinks were good. I had a martini and my wife had a specialty tequila cocktail that was pretty good. We got the seafood tower appetizer. Again, good not great. Entrees and dessert were the same. Service was excellent; our waitress was great. Again, while I like the atmosphere it's not as unique and special as the original Midtown spot. However, I definitely recommend for a date night, and they have private rooms available for large groups. read more