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    Restaurant Iris

    4.1 (359 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 8:30 pm

    Restaurant Iris Photos

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    RESTAURANT IRIS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Romantic
    Classy
    Quiet

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    Recommended Reviews - Restaurant Iris

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    She's back!!!
    Adam H.

    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

    Braised short ribs (an homage to the raviolo)
    Mathew S.

    (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).

    Birthday dessert!
    Karen P.

    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.

    Dessert
    Yaxin D.

    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.

    Raw chicken

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

    Makhani Veal Parmesan
    Camille F.

    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?!

    Res fish

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    3 years ago

    Lovely ambiance. Great service. Great cocktails and even better food. Highly recommend it.

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    3 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Had brunch Sunday, the food was delicious and Savannah was great! Will definitely be back!

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    3 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Great Cajun food and service was fantastic. We went for lunch based on recommendations from a friend of mine who lived in New Orleans.

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Love this place. Could eat here every day. Everything is well done. The staff, the dishes, the wine.... All top notch every time

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Great food, impeccable service and a spectacular atmosphere! Another winner for Kelly!

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Food was not good at all, beautiful place but for the price you pay it's too blend and plain

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    2 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Great oysters and seafood dishes in addition to steaks. Nice bar and wines by the glass. Service and ambiance were great.

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    9 years ago

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    Page 2 of 9

    Restaurant Iris Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Restaurant Iris

    Can someone post the new menu with the new prices?

    I saw that the author of "The Chubby Vegetarian" and "The Southern Vegetarian" had a pop-up here, but are there any actual vegetarian dishes on the menu?

    Yes, there are a couple of salads, a soup & one entree: wild much room cannelloni. Not much else though 🤷🏻‍♀️

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    Chez Philippe

    Chez Philippe

    4.4
    (114 reviews)
    8.1 mi
    $$$$

    The service by our wonderful server Riley was wonderful and she was very cheerful, prompt, and did…read morea wonderful job with our kids. The ambiance of the restaurant and entire hotel is amazing. The Peabody does it right full of elegance and refinement. The ducks are an amazing and cheerful touch as well. The food was good and the tea delicious. The experience is where it is at though. Definitely something I would do again. Memphis you charmed me and I will be back.

    So let me first start off by saying I do afternoon tea every year for my birthday, and the service…read moreis always stellar. The ambience is always beautiful, with light jazzed and quiet conversations. But I would love to recognize Riley, who was my server. She was just the sweetest, kindest and the most thoughtful host. Every year that I've come and they ask what are you celebrating, and I mention my birthday was in a few days. She took the time to bring out the birthday duck with a candle, and it was just beautiful. She also helped me out with a solution to self parking. So kudos to Reilly please someone give her a raise. So onto the food, stellar as always there was only two things that I noticed, I missed the butter that goes with the scone, which I'm sure if I asked I would've received, but honestly, it was tasty without it. The only other thing is with a tea it gets weaker every time it gets refilled. Given that tea service price has increased to $65 plus the 9.25% sales tax and the 20% included gratuity came to about $90 (which was a little more than I was expecting, but inflation right). It would've been great to get the leaves changed out after the third pour, but other than that it was a 10 out of 10.

    Photos
    Chez Philippe
    Seven Course Dinner
    Seven Course Dinner
    Tea Time!

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    Tea Time!
    Erling Jensen The Restaurant

    Erling Jensen The Restaurant

    4.3
    (217 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$$$

    Hands down, THE best fine dining restaurant in Memphis. (Maybe the world...maybe the UNIVERSE! LOL)…read more Every single thing I've ever eaten has been so incredibly delicious, but I do have a few favorites: Lobster scallion pancakes Bisque Dover sole Buffalo tenderloin w/lobster bearnaise Lamb The staff is polished, professional, and every time I come here, I leave with the biggest smile and the fullest tummy. Worth every penny to just KNOW you're going to have one of the best nights of your life.

    While each meat was very distinct none of the dishes were enjoyable. Maybe we chose wrong with…read moregamey options. All cooked perfectly and tender though. Ordered the elk chop, bison filet, and the lamb rack. Lamb was better of the 3. Sides were ok. I did enjoy the blue cheese mash surprisingly since not a big blue cheese fan. Service was also just ok. Further explanations of ingredients used would have been preferred. Demeanor was just indifferent which is off putting. Also never even mentioned my parents anniversary. Two standouts though so not a total loss. The foie gras was excellent with the apricot. They give you a decent amount for ratio to bread. Delicious. The raspberry soufflé was extraordinary. Beautiful and tasty. The best soufflé I've had for sure. Not had many but this one is memorable. Don't skip that.

    Photos
    Aerated corn, orange, sunflower seeds
    Aerated corn, orange, sunflower seeds
    Scallops with sweet potatoes and coconut curry.
    Scallops with sweet potatoes and coconut curry.
    Intermezzo

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    Intermezzo
    Catherine and Mary's

    Catherine and Mary's

    4.3
    (380 reviews)
    8.3 mi
    $$$

    As soon as you walk in you feel transported to your happy place. Sure, the ambience and decor are…read moreinviting, easy on the eyes, and the aroma of delicious food draws you further in, but it's the people who work there that shine. Went with my mother and sister while we were staying nearby attending a wedding party in Bartlett. Read about Catherine and Mary's online and decided to give it a shot based on pics and reviews. As soon as we stepped inside we were warmly greeted and made to feel at home. I must say here that my sister has a small disorder such that it's hard for her to talk in complete sentences, and she has a notable stutter. This means she also experiences a great deal of social anxiety. She felt so welcomed that she hardly stuttered while we were there, and when we left she said, "This was such a good place for people like me." I loved that they made me and my mom welcome, but am doubly grateful that you went out of your way to make my sister so happy. She really felt like you treated her like an old friend. My sister has a speech problem, but she's not mentally disabled (in fact she's an electrical engineer). So the kindness was not lost on her, and I know this will be a place we'll look forward to when we visit family in the Memphis area. Thank you so much for the excellent food and the awesome vibes! Nicky Gina Connie

    We had an extended family celebration at Catherine and Mary's, and we truly enjoyed the entire…read moreexperience. We tried the fried mozzarella and corn bread appetizers. We shared two of the salad platters. Then we dug into multiple pasta dishes along with the chicken and fish entrees. There's a wide variety of mixed drinks, wine and beer to choose from. The coffee and gelato are excellent as well. James provided wonderful service. The place used to be an old hotel and the restaurant is located in what used to be the lobby. It's a big space, but you can still easily hold a conversation. There's complimentary valet parking just around the corner.

    Photos
    Beautiful atmosphere
    Beautiful atmosphere
    Focaccia (March 2023)
    Focaccia (March 2023)
    Espresso

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    Espresso
    Porch and Parlor

    Porch and Parlor

    4.6
    (365 reviews)
    4.7 mi
    $$$$

    The food (chef's kiss) The ambience ( robust and romantic)…read moreThe service (top notch) A lovely steak house that I can't wait to return to. Our server was amazing (unfortunately I can't remember her name.) Every recommendation was 10 out of 10!

    Porch and Parlor is the best steak experience in Memphis. The interior is warmly lit and rather…read moredark lending itself to a more intimate atmosphere, but they also have ample outdoor seating right on Overton Square. A prime location for a prime steakhouse. The service was strong as was the pacing. I found the server a bit too eager to explain the restaurant and the menu. I'm a ribeye eater so I had a pretty good idea I was getting a ribeye before I went in. I think the talking is used as a way to upsell and push guests towards opaquely priced off-menu "specials" which from my understanding are always on offer (such as their deviled eggs and bone marrow sauce). We started with the beef tartare and duck ravioli. I preferred the tartare, which had a nice spicy seasoning throughout. The duck ravioli had an excellent sauce on it, too. For our mains, I got the prime boneless ribeye ($68) and my brother got the prime strip ($56). We also shared the Yume A5 Wagyu experience ($225), letting us try three different cuts of Wagyu side by side. For sides (about $15/each), we did the fontina potatoes, truffle honey tots, and carrots. We also added the gulf prawns ($21), foie gras ($14), and bone marrow sauce (~$20) which was prepared table side and was plenty to share. It was very rich and peppery, though a bit of a salt bomb. For dessert, we shared the French toast bread pudding with maple butter ($14) which is one of my favorite bread puddings I've tried. They also brought my brother a dessert since it was his birthday, it was something like a raspberry mousse with coconut foam and a sharp raspberry sauce. Excellent. The Yume experience was a big motivation in coming here, as getting to try cuts of A5 Wagyu next to cuts of regular (albeit prime) beef is unique in the Memphis area and really for hours around. It was priced as an experience rather than a food item. It did not disappoint, nor did the prime steaks. The A5 is so unbelievably tender by comparison. My favorite was the ribeye, but I'm biased. My brother, normally a strip guy, agreed with me there. The potato sides were underwhelming, particularly for the price. I don't know how I let my brother talk me into buying him $15 tater tots for his birthday. I could get the carrots again, though. My total was $800 for the two of us for the above food, six cocktails, and tax and tip. A big chunk of that was the Yume experience as well as the drinks (we were celebrating!). If we were to go back, it would be closer to $350 for the two of us, and I would go for the prime ribeye with foie gras again, no need for Wagyu or sauce. I enjoy the sister restaurants in this restaurant group (Coastal Fish, Flight, Southern Social) and frankly I'd bet Porch is the cash cow of the group due to the relatively poor value proposition. We had a great experience exploring the finest steak and accompaniments one could wish for. But, for my money, Coastal does a pretty good steak too.

    Photos
    Entrance
    Entrance
    Lobster thermidore mushrooms
    Lobster thermidore mushrooms
    IG: @foodsnoblegacy Potatoes Au Gratin

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    IG: @foodsnoblegacy Potatoes Au Gratin
    Hen House

    Hen House

    4.3
    (207 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    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.

    Photos
    Entrance
    Entrance
    Wedge Salad
    Wedge Salad
    Hen House

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    Restaurant Iris - cajun - Updated August 2026

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