We went here to celebrate our first year together and it was phenomenal! We did the 5 courses with wine pairing (yes, you get a different wine paired with each course and champagne at the end!) and told our waitress to bring it on with whatever they felt like. We loved the BBQ shrimp, lobster knuckle sandwich, and basil & mint cheesecake. Surprisingly our least favorite was the surf and turf, even though it's supposed to be their signature - it was a little cold and there was quite a bit of hollandaise that took from the overall taste. Would like to try the diver scallops next time. Not enough to take away a star, though! read more

Restaurant Iris - Surf and Turf - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

I feel as though there is a common arc to my experience at fine dining venues like Iris: starts well, meh in the mains, followed by disappointing desserts. This is not to say all fine dining experiences go this way, but often, and Iris is no exception. Perhaps I come in with unfair expectations, but at $100+ per head I am hoping that every part of the experience has received careful attention. The ambiance is good, noise levels good, furniture attractive and comfortable. So far so good. The bar is attractive and clearly stocked by someone that really cares about their craft. Our server, Hillary, was an absolute star from start to finish and, if we ever return, I will certainly be requesting her. The starters were of a nice size, attractively presented, well balanced, and everyone in the party would eat them again. While we were not expecting a middle-eastern flavor palette at a restaurant often described as French-creole, the boreks, in particular were excellent, closely followed by the curried sweet potato fries and lovely bread. From there we moved on to salads that had fresh ingredients, were fully edible, but unremarkable. Then came the mains. All of them felt unrealized. Not bad, just, incomplete. The scallops were dominated by the fish sauce and the veal bucatini was practically without flavor. Finally, dessert. Perhaps there was a mismatch between expectations and reality. For example, the chocolate ganache pecan pie that turned out to be the chewiest brownie imaginable, enjoyable but not the dish we expected. The panna cotta was well prepared and presented, but the floral flavors felt like a mismatch with the described dessert. However, the almond cake and pistachio gelato was as described and a delicious and well balanced end to the meal. In the end I guess my real feeling is that I wanted more from the meal than I think we got. If they started offering tasting menus again, I might return, but for now I think there is some growth needed. read more

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Overall slightly above average dining experience. Knuckle Lobster Sandwich - contrary to reviews I thought it was pretty average. Had a lot of potential but let me down. Lobster meat seemed dry and missed the mark Raviolo - pretty solid. Sauce was very tasty and I found myself moping up the extra with my bread (which is always a good sign). Short rib filling was very moist and flavorful. Service could have been better, but overall didn't help or hurt the meal. read more

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Tonight I was delighted to eat the best meal I have had in at least a decade. The server made great recommendations. Every course had surprising flavor combinations that were a joy to experience. I will be returning very soon! read more

I wanted to love it, I have heard such good things about it. I have waited so long to go and my husband finally surprised me on my birthday last month. It was the middle of the week and not many people there at all. Only two tables in the room we were in and another table of people in an adjacent room. Our server was very pleasant and knowledgeable about the menu. We told her we weren't in a hurry and would start with a cocktail and then move to a bottle of wine. She asked us about what kind of cocktails we liked and recommended something based on that. The cocktails were excellent. She advised us since it was our first time that maybe we would like to do something a lot of other couples do, and that is get several appetizers and then split a meal, she recommended splitting the surf and turf. We ended up going with all her suggestions, after all the cocktails were so good. The first up was the lobster roll. I thought it had a nice flavor but the lobster was a little dry, over cooked. Next up was the BBQ shrimp. I have had BBQ shrimp in several places, including New Orleans. What we got was a few shrimp absolutely covered in a thick very dark sauce. My husband said he immediately smelled what he thought was Worcestershire. It was very overpowering and you didn't get any shrimp in the taste. So we were disappointed in that too. Our last appetizer was the short rib ravioli swimming in a brothy sauce. Now the short rib was very flavorful, the sauce was very good.....but somehow I just didn't see this as a ravioli. I would love to have seen this short rib and sauce over a bowl polenta. But hey, just my preference, this app was better than the other two. Finally we are to the main dish, our surf and turf which consisted of a strip steak that cooked perfectly at medium rare as we requested. But the surf part of our meal was two fried oysters. Now don't get me wrong, I love fried oysters and my husbands cousin makes the best I have ever had at his restaurant so I was looking forward to them, however they put a sauce over the steak and oysters that made our oysters soggy....and did I say there was just two? I suggest putting the sauce in the plate, carefully putting the steak on top of it and then setting the oysters on top of that, keeping them crispy. read more

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For starters I have never had a decent or just "ok" meal here. Everything is stellar or better. The eggs in purgatory would be my last meal if I was ever convicted of all the things I've done. This review comes during the stay at home Spring '20 and the home delivered meals are easy to prep and full on delicious. Highly recommend the chicken and gravy. If Kelly is cooking, I'm eating. Period. read more

This has been on of the single best meal of my entire life. I am a big foodie and have eaten cuisine in 10 different countries and this is by far the most enjoyable meal that I have been fortunate enough to consume. We had the crab remick and knuckle sandwich as an appetizer and short ribs and the NY strip for the entree. All I can say is excellent. read more

Restaurant Iris - Mint Brulee was great with those chocolate - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

From the decor to the service to the food, everything was excellent!!!! According to our server, the menu right now only contains 10 of the best dishes before they close to remodel. I ordered the redfish with creole toppings and it was delicious! Our server was witty, knowledgeable and attentive. When you walk to the bathroom it feels like you're a guest in someone's house, that's how intimate this place is; built in 1912. Chef Kelly English place is a must do while in Memphis! read more

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

I was impressed with the ambience. The little touches were nice. Valentine's day weekend so there were flowers at each table. Feng shui was nice. Really eclectic and modern. The waitress was awesome, thanks Mary Catherine!! Presentation was great. With that being said I would have rather went to Waffle House. We ordered bone marrow for starters. It was gloopy and cold. Mary Catherine did wrap the bones up for our little pups, super sweet!!! I ordered the strip the most polite thing I can say about it is it was proper color for medium rare but might as well have been beef jerkey. My wife ordered the duck breast, it was mushy. The greens seemed to have food coloring because they were bright green but they were very flavorful. Bartender was spot on, old fashioned was wonderful. I see all these accolades for Chef Kelly English but the only thing I would praise about this restaraunt is the interior decorator and wait staff. read more

First time there. Was looking forward to it. Live around the corner. Sunday evening. Not busy. Sat at table in bar. Bar half full, tables half occupied, so not busy. Was hoping it would be great. Area needs a great neighborhood restaurant. Hoping this would be it. Biggest negative: Service was extremely lax and slow. Staff acted like doing you a favor to take an order or bring a dish to table. Can't explain but basically bar staff seemed just damn lazy. Almost like trying to be "cool". Watching them operate was frustrating. Took 10-15 minutes to get any one to even acknowledge us sitting at a table. And another 10-15 min to just get credit card back after paying. Had to go remind the guy to bring it back to me. Positive: Food was surprisingly or as expected very good. Flat breads very very good. Rest of dinner as expected and good. But service will need to greatly improve or this place will be gone in a year or two like so many before at this location. Hope they can get their act together. No manager on site to even say something to. That is or will be a real problem. Never even saw one. No one pushing the wait staff. Hate it for Kelly English, but doubt we will be excited to be going back. Only get one chance to make a fist impression. Our impression was a 4/5 out of 10. Too bad but hopefully it improves and becomes a can't miss go to neighborhood restaurant. We certainly need it. read more

Holy sweet baby deity man child, Iris has to be on your list of places to eat in Memphis. The lady and I called mid-week for a Saturday night reservation, and whomever answered the phone explained he would seat us at his favorite table, a somewhat secluded, lone table by the bar. Excellent choice, phone man, excellent choice. We started off with brussels sprouts (awesome), bone marrow (amazing), and lobster knuckle sandwich (a-tantalizing? I ran out of adjectives that start with a). The brussels sprouts are sauteed with Benton Farms bacon and sherry, and don't taste like feet! Imagine that! They were delicious and I ended up wanting more. Bone marrow was everything marrow should be - buttery, with that incredible beefy, slight mineral tasting goodness, served with delicious brioche and salsa fresca. I could eat that for every meal. The lobster knuckle sandwich needs no review - it's delicious, fresh lobster, and a lot of it. You can't go wrong with that. For entrees, I ordered the redfish st. charles, and I almost died and went to gastronomy heaven; the only thing stopping me was I hadn't finished the meal yet. The fish was cooked perfectly, and the sauce combined with the crawfish, sweet potato, and asparagus was a killer combination that really elevated the dish. My incredibly better half ordered the "surf and turf", a strip stuffed with fried oysters and bleu cheese. Easily enough for two people on one plate, it's a monster, yet tender and delicious. I don't even care for bleu cheese and I would have bathed in that dish if it were possible. We asked our server to surprise us for dessert - she came back with a bread pudding with a bourbon and vanilla glaze that makes all other bread puddings taste like Pop-Tarts. And not even decent Pop-Tarts, but those crappy flavors that no one ever buys except for that kid down the street who enjoys eating rocks. It was an excellent way to end the meal. Service was excellent - we asked for the staff to match wines with our appetizers and entrees, and they did a superb job. Tell them your likes and dislikes, and they'll tweak any menu item to your liking, and it still shines better than most restaurants. The atmosphere is incredible and romantic. Make a reservation with someone you love - this isn't the kind of place to waste a meal with someone you like. read more

Bryan and I went to Restaurant Iris this past Thursday. I found it on Yelp, but ultimately decided to go there after we learned Restaurant Iris Chef Kelly English is a semi-finalist for a 2010 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southeast and was named one of Food & Wine Magazine's Best New Chefs of 2009. The 5/5 star average rating on Yelp and reasonable prices for such a restaurant ($29 average entrees) didn't hurt, either. THE DÉCOR AND VIBE: We were surprised to find that Restaurant Iris is actually in an old house. Once you walk in the front doors, you quickly realize you're in a very small restaurant. The waiting area is very small (actually - non-existent). There is a small bar with 2 seats. All of the tables are separated into the various rooms of the house. The décor is beautiful - very elegant. The fleur-de-lys (irises, in this case) theme appears throughout the property, from the refined sign at the entrance to the chairs. The menu designs were simple but memorable (appetizers were under "to begin", entrees under "to continue", and desserts under "to finish"). The music was a nice mix of modern indie rock to classic NOLA jazz. THE MEAL: Blue Cheese Mouse with Benton's Bacon and Onion Chutney on Crostini Amuse-Bouche Rod Bailey's Raviolo "Neola" with Brown Butter and Mushrooms Amandine of Grand Isle Speckled Trout with Cauliflower Trio of Sorbets and Ice Creams with Cassis Sorbet, Banana's Foster Ice Cream, and Butterfinger Ice Cream 2006 Valle Reale Montepulciano D'abruzzo French 75 The amuse-bouche was a perfect start to the meal - a couple of bites of creamy blue cheese mousse topped with a Benton's bacon and onion chutney set on top of a crispy crostini. The Benton's bacon, as strong as it is, did not overpower the dish, but rather complemented it, as it was used sparingly. We chose the raviolo as our appetizer because it was stuffed with pulled beef shortrib and neither of us was going to order the beef shortrib entrée (the 2nd priority for both of us). It was a single large stuffed pasta (I was previously unfamiliar with the term "raviolo", which is simply the singular version of "ravioli") surrounded by a dark, flavorful broth with mushrooms. The sauce was great for dipping bread in. (Thanks to our server for recommending that.) Next came out the entrees. (Bryan ordered the lamb entrée.) The trout was fantastic. It was two pieces of speckled trout, breaded and pan fried, on top of a cauliflower puree and covered with brown butter and tons of thinly sliced toasted almonds. It was almost too much food after the first two courses, but I managed to find room to get most of it down. It was hard to leave anything on the plate - that's for sure. It was a "heavy" entree - don't be fooled by the fact that it is fish. We had to have dessert. We ended up going with ice creams and sorbets because those seemed the least heavy. The banana's foster was the highlight, followed by the Butterfinger ice cream. The cassis sorbet was a fresh and healthy palate cleanser. The wine our server suggested, the 2006 Valle Reale Montepulciano D'abruzzo, was reasonably priced ($38, I think) and was right up my alley. It paired well with all of the dishes of the meal and already has me trying to find it in my hometown. I also started the meal with a French 75, a cocktail made with gin and Champagne. At Restaurant Iris, they use Hendrick's Gin, my favorite, so I couldn't pass it up. It was a surprisingly large cocktail (lasted the whole meal alongside the wine) and was only $8.00. THE SERVICE: I cannot effectively communicate just how perfect the service was. I believe our server's name was Jeff. Everything was perfect - from the wine he suggested, to the timing of each order, to the delivery of our food, to the re-filling of drinks, etc. And he made you feel great about being there. He also gave us some excellent suggestions about other places to eat at in town (totally unprovoked), a couple of which we hit up. Again, amazing service. Oh, and I can't forget, Chef Kelly came out to the table to greet us and ask if we were enjoying everything - awesome! Make sure to call for a reservation - we were lucky to get a last minute table. MY OVERALL OPINION: The bottom line - Restaurant Iris is unbelievable. The food is amazing and the service is absolutely out-of-this-world. Possibly the best service I've ever had.... read more

So my husband and I finally made it to Restaurant Iris, and all I can say is what took us so long? For as long as Restaurant Iris has been open, it has been considered one of the best restaurants in Memphis, and it was a perfect location for a fabulous celebration dinner. We decided on the five-course degustation which gave us seven courses total (with one shared appetizer and a shared entree.) I started with their version of soup and sandwich - butternut squash bisque and and grilled cheese piled high with duck confit. I can't say I've ever had duck on a grilled cheese sandwich before, but I definitely will again. My husband, Tom, started off with the seared foie gras. He said it was simple, clean and very well-balanced. For the salad course, I opted for the Brussels sprout salad with Benton's bacon. Now, bacon makes everything better. Benton's bacon is some serious stuff, way more robust than the regular stuff from the grocery store. I love it, and I really enjoyed it in this salad. Tom went with the tempura fried okra salad. This course featured whole okra pods, stuffed with pimento cheese, tempura battered and fried to a golden brown. Tom is an okra addict, and he was not disappointed in this unusual take on a Southern classic. Then we split the Rod Bailey's raviolo. Raviolo is the singular form of ravioli, and this one is stuffed with braised Black Angus short rib meat and sits in a pool of the most delicious sauce. Big thanks to our waiter who suggested that we use the complimentary French bread to sop up the leftover sauce. That might have been my favorite bite of the night. For our entree, we split the surf and turf - New York strip stuffed with fried oysters and topped with a blue cheese sauce. Tom said this was the best steak he's ever eaten in his entire life. For dessert, Tom had the trio of ice creams (I cannot, for the life of me, remember the flavors) And I had the praline bread pudding. This was the only course I didn't finish, and only because I simply ran out of room. I ate until I couldn't eat anymore. Final Impressions: This was a true five-star experience from beginning to end. Every single bite was thoughtfully prepared and absolutely delicious. The service was stellar, the atmosphere was charming without being stuffy, and we had an absolutely amazing time. It will be extremely difficult to pick another restaurant for our next special occasion outing. read more

This restaurant has restored my faith in Memphis dining. Having been in business for over a year, it is quite refreshing to see that the high quality of service and food has been maintained since opening (sadly, something that is rarely accomplished in the Memphis dining scene). So about my experience: I brought my boyfriend here for his birthday this past Saturday night and could not have been more pleased. The service, food, presentation and ambiance were all top notch. The chef was a class act-- on a Saturday night, with every table in his restaurant filled, he stopped by each one to introduce himself and thank the diners for coming in. The food was absolutely AMAZING. My boyfriend and I admittedly gorged ourselves, but our favorites were the terrific raviolo, veal schnitzel and short rib. Don't even get me started on dessert-- in a word, phenomenal. I'm still dreaming about the bread pudding and malt. Also, there is a terrific wine list. I recommend the Belle Glos pinot, YUM. And, when we couldn't finish everything on our plates and decided to take our leftovers to go, they came wrapped up with adorable ribbons. So cute in fact, that I plan to reuse for future gifts... shhh, don't tell. Be sure to book a reservation... you will definitely be happy you did! read more

Memphis sits at the crossroads of several cultural and culinary traditions, making it a hotbed of innovative restaurants and creative cookery. With only one night in town, I chose to dine at the much-ballyhooed hotspot Iris, a gem from highly-heralded chef Kelly English. The hype and the attendant reservation challenge (I took an early bird 5pm) made sense after an evening in a cozy room at the large, turn-of-the (last)-century house, each wall decorated with lovely local art. My girlfriend and I leap for lobster for any occasion, and the rendition here is particularly special and cleverly named. You get a "knuckle sandwich," an allusion to the hefty chunks of bright red claw meat sitting atop and spilling over grilled bread that has been generously spread with tarragon aioli. The huge portion of lobster was slightly on the dry side but delivered great taste after being sauteed with a lemon-butter sauce, some of which soaked into the bread for added pizazz. We followed the lobster with a couple of seasonal produce treats, starting with grilled peaches crowned with warm, house-made ricotta, surrounded by a very peppery portion of arugula. The fruit and cheese balanced one another well, and the grill does wonders to the natural sugars in the peach flesh and skin. Our second vegetable was a tasty Brussels sprouts "salad" (actually a dish of sauteed baby sprouts with a heavy ladle of sherry vinaigrette and a heavier dose of bacon chunks). Our main course was a large, meaty filet of jack (fish) rubbed generously with a piquant creole seasoning (in the fashion of Chef English's native Louisiana. The fish was then topped with large shrimp getting the same ample spice treatment. Next to the fish were gorgeous, skinned and blanched wedges of tomato. As if that wasn't enough, the highlight of the dish was the "harissa au lait," a savory broth created table-side using a small coffee press and poured into the channels between each distinct ingredient. Our pleasant, engaging, and knowledgeable server convinced us we shouldn't leave Memphis without the brown butter and pecan bread pudding with brown butter caramel ice cream, and I'm delighted to report that we took the time to enjoy its decadence completely. read more

I've eaten at this restaurant four times now and each time and each item we've ordered has been fantastic. I believe this is probably one of the best restaurants in Memphis. The atmosphere is romantic and it's not too loud even though its usually fully booked. The wait staff is professional and extremely knowledgable. We just were there for their New Years Eve celebration and it was an outstanding value. A five course meal to die for. Everything was great but the Sea Bass I had was probably the best I have ever had and trust me when I tell you Memphis isn't known for it's seafood. I travel a lot and love San Francisco most but the way this Sea Bass was prepared was right up there with anything I've eaten on the west coast. My wife had a perfectly cooked steak for her main course and it too was just outstanding. We also went there for our 25th anniversary and I didn't ask for anything special except some flowers. When we got there, the table was wrapped in a bow with flowers and custom menu's with our names on the menu's. Chief English came out and congratulated us and the wait staff once again was just fantastic. Before we left they wrapped the menu's up in a bow along with our flowers...just a nice touch. Dishes I would highly recommend...Lobster Knuckle sandwich, his version of shrimp and grits...any of their seafood options. Oysters done three ways and the bread pudding...Just kill me. Probably the best I've had. Food, presentation, atmosphere, wine selection and wait staff professionalism...5 stars. read more

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Hands down the best restaurant in Memphis. Having spent four years in Memphis for school, I choose to have my graduation dinner here at the recommendation of one of my professors. The entire staff was so attentive from the time we made the reservation. They really went out of their way to make the meal really special. The atmosphere is extremely cosy which is only aided by being in a house. The food is absolutely amazing! We were a party of ten and not one person was dissatisfied. Even my 15 year old brother who doesn't eat anything but pizza, chicken fingers, and french fries was in love with his meal. Now living in New York City, this meal still remains one of the best meals I can remember, absolutely the best meal I ever had in Memphis. If and when I return to Memphis I will definitely go back. read more

Made reservations here for my boyfriends 30th birthday dinner & we were not disappointed. We started by splitting a salad of shrimp remoulade, deviled egg vinaigrette, with a crostini. It was delicious, light, & very tasty! For our main course we ordered the Redfish Amandine with Mirliton Casserole. The fish was perfectly cooked & the flavor was buttery yet seasoned to perfection. The toasted almond sauce was amazing! And I was quite sure what Mirliton was, but that little delicious casserole was the texture of a potato cake. My boyfriend was very pleased! We finished with a slice of Mexican Chocolate Cheesecake that included two perfectly cooked churros on top. The texture was silky & the flavor was amazing. They even added a birthday candle for him. Our waitress was very attentive & kind. She even gave us two beautiful macaroons as our parting dessert. Overall we were very pleased with the food & service. We will definitely be back to celebrate other special occasions! read more

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Restaurant Iris is a nice enough place, but I'm afraid that for me, it didn't live up to the hype. So many friends had raved about the place by the time I tried it that I was a bit underwhelmed. The main issue that I had was that all of the dishes we tried were just a bit too much. It struck me as if the chef was trying too hard. I tried a soft-shelled crab dish that was covered in a very rich sauce, and also had andouille sausage and a few other things going on at the same time. I don't have an issue with rich sauces, but when they overpower the dish they're supposed to complement, it makes it seem as though you don't trust the underlying main course. My wife's dish (I forget what it was) was a bit better, but it also didn't wow me. Don't get me wrong: the food was good to above average. And the service, I must say, was impeccable. But again, the dishes seemed overdone, and a bit overpriced for what it was. I'd certainly be willing to try it again, but it wasn't the rave review that others had led me to expect. read more

Had dinner there tonight. First time because friends raved about it. We were somewhat disappointed. The restaurant is in a house and the tables are very close together, so that you can overhear or be overheard. Did not like that. The food was mediocre. One of us had the halibut, which was the best dish of the evening, but the side dishes were rather on the small side. The veal, (Schnitzel) was not properly prepared, it was overdone, dried out and sautéed way too dark. The Knoepfle, which are a smaller version of Spaetzle, were just ok, but very few of them, and the capers overpowered the little sauce the dish had, no other veggies offered, and I could not find the boysenberry sauce? The soft shell crab, was ok, but this dish was very unbalanced. It was overpowered by tomatoes and the risotto was just ok and had a funky aftertaste. The baguette was - well - not good. I know it comes from La Baguette, but it just doesn't taste right, Fresh Market offers a better baguette. Maybe the chef can try that one. I feel that the dishes were not of ample portion and unbalanced. Certain items just did not match with one another. I feel that it is overpriced and not a good value for the dollar. The service was good. I would not recommend this restaurant. read more

The reviews for Restaurant Iris has us very excited to try it out during our visit to Memphis. The parking was atrocious so be prepared to pay for valet. The decor was lovely and the service was outstanding. Unfortunately the food was very disappointing. I started with fois gras perogies that were tough and flavorless. My sons had the octopus small plate that made up for my fish - rich and tasty. My main meal of beef with chimmichurri was ok. My mom's quail was outstanding. Both of my sons ordered the shrimp with 5-spice and I have never tasted a dish whose flavors fought with each other so much. My boys could not eat it and I agreed with them. The wine selection was deep and our server was knowledgeable so she could assist me in making an excellent choice. read more

A nice restaurant for an inventive meal. Iris is housed in a cozy old house with lots of small rooms. It felt elegant, but not too formal, which was nice. We went on a Monday (it's open for dinner Mondays now!) and got the chef's tasting menu with wine pairings. In retrospect, I wonder if we would have done better going off menu, but the meal was good either way. We each started with a French 75, then moved onto the food. First course was asparagus soup with spicy Cajun-seasoned shrimp. It was flavorful and unique. Next up was seared fois gras, also delish. I'm more of a cold fois gras fan, but this was good. It really melted in my mouth. Next course was a scallop "latte" with veal sauce and some sort of foam, very unique and good. Main course was lamb, probably the least inventive, but very flavorful and well executed. The only letdown was dessert. Chocolae mousse? Kind of lame! I also got a brandy milk punch while we waited for our cab, which was fantastic! Service was attentive and friendly. We ended up being the last people there, and they didn't act annoyed at all, even when our taxi showed up on the late side. Would definitely return here on a future trip. read more

Great food and service! One of the best fine dining places in Memphis for a romantic dinner!

My charming boyfriend brought me to Restaurant Iris for Valentine 's Day. Like all the other reviews state; this place is extraordinary. They have ambience for an intimate affair pegged, the service was sophisticated and fun, the drink menu is vast and to-die-for, and the food-oh-the-food! The food is absolutely delectable. We started with the lobster knuckle sandwich and the salad of Brussels sprouts both were wonderful. My boyfriend had the surf and turf which he enjoyed and I had the gnocchi that was a special for Valentine's day. Everything we had we truly enjoyed. I look forward to trying this place again in the future. read more

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

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Let me begin by stating, I really, really, really wanted to give this establishment a "rave" review for a couple reasons - #1. We visited on my birthday which is the day after Valentine's Day so double whammy and - #2. I had never been there and heard such remarkable things about the service and food. We started with a champagne cocktail as we were you know "celebrating" and it was delicious! Things kind of went down hill from there. I ordered the bass and it was very strong tasting as in "not fresh" so I swapped with my husband who had ordered the duck breast which is usually my "go to" on any menu (note to self: stick with what you know you love). In this case love is a strong word, let's go with like, as in "within acceptable parameters", again not what I was looking for at such a highly rated restaurant on a special occasion. I also ordered the warm brussels salad with lima beans and bacon (which was charred, meaning burnt). Okay, I know this is sounding truly bitchy but I was promised excellent not okay! The service was professional and friendly without being overly familiar. The setting was very lovely and romantic (***** on that). The wine list was also very good and well priced. Overall, Kelly English you let me down Man! I will give you another try though when the stakes aren't so high... read more

I came here with coworkers, twice in the same month! Because it was that good! It's a beautiful victorian house, wonderfully decorated. And, their food is upscale but with a home feeling. They have (or used to have) a several course pre-fix meal that shows the quality and variety of their dishes. I recommend this place to everyone that's in Memphis, locals and tourists alike! I soon hope to come back to Memphis and visit Iris again! read more

We have been to IRIS twice now, and both times the experience and the food has been fantastic. Upon arrival we were met by Jeff, and he walked us through the menu and provided great wine pairing with our meals. As for the food, it showed such great creativity and use of wonderful ingredients. We sampled several appetizer, and our two favorites by far were the "Knuckle Sandwich" and the "Midnight Snack" - the flavors so were perfect. For dinner both times I have had the "Surf and Turf", I know I should branch out, but why get away from such perfection? I my book what can be better than a mid-rare steak stuffed with fired oysters and a divine bleu cheese sauce all on a bed of hash cooked in Benton Bacon. An added touch was when Chef English came by the table and had a nice chat with us. The word my wife and I had as we lift IRIS was FLAWLESS. Without a doubt one of my best dining experiences. read more

This is the best restaurant in Memphis by a mile! Every dish is inventive and inspired without being too precious. The "Surf and Turf" that was featured on the Food Network is a dish that eveyone must try before they die. The service is great and the ambiance is perfect. There is really no room for improvement. read more

My boyfriend and I showed up at Restaurant Iris on a Saturday around 9:30 with no reservation. The host graciously explained that he had two tables who were paying and that we were welcome to sit down at the bar while we waited. The host explained to us that Restaurant Iris have won many awards and titles and that their tables fill up two to three weeks in advance. Once we were seated our waiter suggested that we have an appetizer dinner because it was late. He suggested the raviolo, a brie sandwich, and a salad. We opted for the raviolo, the foie gras, and boudin. Our waiter asked if he could serve all of these dishes at once because he thought the flavors would work well as a group. He recommend a riesling from Oregon called Elk Cove. He explained that he thought that the sweetness in the wine would go well with our dishes. For dessert, we ordered the lemon creme brulee. Our waiter recommend we pair this with coconut martinis. As everyone else has explained, the food was great. My boyfriend said he had never enjoyed seared foie gras until Restaurant Iris. The wine was perfect and paired well with each of the dishes. Our martinis were excellent and went wonderfully with our incredibly smooth creme brulee. For me, the reason this restaurant was a five and not a four was because of the service. My boyfriend and I rolled in towards the end of the dinner crowd and judging from the way they treated us, you would have thought we were the Obamas. Our waiter was incredible. He gave excellent suggestions and was very engaged with us and our meal. The dinner was expensive but the food was incredible and the service was some of the best I have received. So run over to your phone NOW and make a reservation. You might have to schedule a week out, but that's okay. It will give you time to save your pennies. read more

I don't know if Iris needs another glowing review, but I'm going to write one anyway. We were a party of six, to celebrate a friend's graduation. We were seated as we arrived, at a table already set with a personalized menu and water poured. The waiter went through the entire menu with us and answered questions, and when as a table we urged the graduate to get the 5-course tasting menu while the rest of us stuck with the standard 3 courses, he was happy to oblige. The food: as Gordon Ramsey would say, wow wow wow. I had the lobster starter, the red snapper main, and the apple fritter dessert. It was perfection, from beginning to end. Beautifully prepared and presented, fantastically seasoned and balanced, just...amazing. Words cannot describe how insanely good the food was. The service was outstanding as well, the waiter discreetly filling water, removing empty glasses, and delivering dishes, all with perfect timing. I didn't finish my red snapper (I wanted to save room for dessert), so the server whisked my plate away and returned before the final course was served with a little box wrapped with a brightly colored ribbon with my leftovers securely wrapped in foil inside (and they were just as fantastic the next day, let me tell you). The waiter also had no problem separating the checks 5 ways for a 6-top, which was refreshing. Gratuity included, the total for the two of us was $175. Well, well worth it for a meal this memorable, I say. read more

While I don't mean to wax too cliche with this review, I must admit that I had the feeling that I had been there before. The setting is nostalgic, the Victorian hasn't been gutted and, in fact, it carries much of the charm as you might imagine it would have in its heyday. I wish I had brought my cane and pocket watch. Upon sitting the noise level was almost too much to bear, a loud drunken table of sots sat to our left and a competing threesome as well. Being seated in a room that only held 3 tables the noise changed the charming coziness into a bit of an annoyance until we simply let go and let the night take us; rather order drinks. The service was fast, gracious, and charming -- not vapid and pretentious as one sometimes gets at restaurants where your average check might be greater than $200. Drinks ordered arrived miraculously fast and were imbibed almost as quickly. The menu is short and sweet, I do not know how often it changes but it only partially matched the one on the web site. This isn't a bad thing. In fact, were I to go again (oh I shall!), then I would love a variety. To the food: It was a nice surprise to taste rustic dishes that were cooked with such care and love. The farmer's market salad, the Brussels sprout salad, two amazing starters... even if the edge went to the Brussels sprouts! (The bacon did it!) The Surf&Turf was a gluttony of meat, cooked almost to perfection with beautifully fried oysters. The golden potato hash with bacon propping the delicious slab of meat up. When I say almost cooked to perfection, give leeway -- the portion is so large in depth, width, and height, that I am almost in disbelief they cooked it within range. Ordered Rare+ and received Med. Rare+. Lastly, that bread pudding -- a love affair for your tongue, brilliantly fusing simple ingredients into a bowl-licking delight. This place is a treasure map for the taste-buds. Thoroughly enjoyed. read more

Iris is, by far, my favorite restaurant in Memphis. From the lobster knuckle sandwich to the absolutely incredible brussel sprouts (yes, I know, many people do not like this friendly vegetable, but just trust me and give theirs a try) to the amazing entrees ranging from fresh fish to an oyster and blue cheese stuffed sirloin that my fiance cannot seem to get enough of Iris is top notch. They will even make your special occasion that much more special with a personalized menu and table decorations if you let them know what you are celebrating in advance. Make your reservations in advance as they book up quickly and ask for Jamie. I promise, you will not regret it. read more

Who could ask for more?!?! The service is more than outstanding! My husband and I have become regulars. We make reservations at least once a month. The food is amazing and breathtaking. This restaurant is perfect to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, just because, or even a first date outing. Every time I make reservations I ask for the same waitress (Ricki). I love her to pieces! She goes out of her way to make sure you have a wonderful experience! The Chef Kelly English is also one of my favorites. If he is there he will come out to introduce himself and make sure the food is good. I love love this place. read more

Restaurant Iris - Shrimp is banging - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Coveted as the best restaurant in Memphis by many a review, I think I may agree. I haven't been to that many restaurants in Memphis, but I was thoroughly impressed by Iris. When my friend and I walked in the door, we didn't really know what to expect. I had read a Best of Memphis list, and this restaurant swept a few categories, so we took a chance to see if we could see what the fuss was about. Set up in a remodeled house, the outside is quaint and homely. When we walked in, we were delighted by the posh indoor furnishing. We asked the hostess if we could possibly get a table for two, and lo and behold, a reservation had not shown up. The people behind us told us how lucky we were; people reserve weeks in advance. Inspired by the good luck, our spirits were lifted. To begin: the wine menu. Share a bottle with someone, and enjoy. I ordered the Lobster "Knuckle sandwich," and it was scrumptious. I didn't expect seafood in the middle of the country to be the safest bet, but I was pleasantly surprised. I also ordered the surf and turf, and I was in love. Po-boy style with the steak as the bun, filled with fried oysters. Covered with bleu cheese or smoked gouda (I recommend the gouda) with potatoes on the side. This dish is the star of the show. If you like trying unique dishes, this is for you. This was definitely my favorite dining experience in Memphis! Make sure to call ahead if you're thinking of dining here. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants on the planet. I was with a friend, and we kind of made our own meal, which I recommend as a way to sample a lot of Iris' flavors. We had two courses of appetizers, including sweet breads, marrow bone, fois grois, and the amazing raviolo. We split the "surf n turf" for an entree, which was still plenty of food, and enjoyed the bread pudding and coffee creme brule for final course. The amazing '06 Robert Turner cabernet complimented everything nicely. There just aren't enough nice things to say about Iris: inventive, delicious, elegant without being pretencious-- overall: phenominal. I had reserved "my favorite restaurant" spot for James Wong's on Oahu-- but this may take 1st in my book! Be sure to get a reservation days or weeks in advance. It's a small restaurant and the tables go fast (for a reason!). read more

One of the nicest places I have been to in Memphis! The food was exceptional, the place was cozy, and the waitstaff was knowledgeable and friendly. I was impressed by how fresh everything tasted. Perfect place for a date. Be sure to make a reservation because the place fills up fast! read more

Went last night with my wife and another couple. The building is a small old house. Small tables and small rooms. Very cozy. Extensive bar and wine list. Appetizers are small portions but the main dishes were good sized. I had the speckled trout at it was delicious. Service was 5 star. Our waiter, Jeff, was extremely attentive and knowledgeable regarding the menu. I liken the cuisine to Emeril's in NOLA. It's pricey but worth it. I may have found my new favorite place in Memphis. read more

WOW!! What a great place! I took my girlfriend here for a fancy dinner, and this was definitely my best possible choice! The best restaurant in the city! Best tasting, best atmosphere, best everything! The food was INCREDIBLE. Now, for the downside: money. I dropped about $120 includiing tip at the end of the night, but it is well worth it. That's coming from a 18-year-old freshman in college who pinches every penny till it bleeds. So, defeinitely not a dining experience for every hot date, but you've got to try it, at least once! read more

Nice toned down spot, exceptional service, new menu frequently, hostess & servers are very knowledgeable on current dishes & they were exactly as described. Lemon Verbena Créeme brûlée is amazing. We didn't have a reservation & they still made room & put a table together within minutes for my boyfriend's birthday. New favorite restaurant. read more

Restaurant Iris was my one REALLY nice meal while dining in the Southeast. I had to come here after reading so many different positive reviews, and I was glad that I made my way around. I was surprised to find Restaurant Iris in a house, smack dab in the middle of a neighborhood. It is definitely the epitome of a neighborhood restaurant. In such a BBQ and fried chicken sort of town, I thought it would be nice to try something local and upscale, and the menu caters to both the fancy crowd and the Southern folk alike. The offerings lean heavily toward New Orleans flare, as the chef was under John Besh. I will say that people that say this is the best meal in Memphis have to understand that this is probably the most expensive meal in Memphis; you can easily find tasty grub in this town for $10 pat. I do not like oysters, but I figured since the restaurant worked so hard to purvey oysters after all that gulf trouble, my mother and I might as well give them a shot. Also, they were prepared in 3 different ways. $13? Solid choice. The oysters polo was this super creamy bechamel covered oyster on the half shell. The fried oysters were served with a little blue cheese dressing. My favorite, the bread pudding, was a custardy, spicy preparation. The other offerings were slightly less awesome, but cool nonetheless. The sweetbreads and dumplings were a unique combination, but these sweetbreads were not the most tender that I have had. They were a little too fatty for my preference. The nice vegetable medley worked nicely with the big, dense gnocchi. The raviolo filled with beef shank had flavors that resembled a gamey beef stew. Nothing fancy, just gut-bustin', saucy goodness. The shrimp and grits was solid. Though the spicy tomato broth was a cool twist, I would have preferred more grits and less broth. The 6 large shrimp was a generous portion; however, the were a tad overcooked. A great dish overall, and I enjoyed the excess of chorizo! Restaurant Iris is a go-to restaurant for those looking for a great fine dining experience in the meat-heavy city of Memphis. Among all the fried chicken, ribs, and burgers, you can enjoy a more finely crafted sit-down meal in a nondescript Midtown neighborhood. read more