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    SOB Downtown

    4.0 (702 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    SOB Downtown Photos

    Business Info

    SOB DOWNTOWN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - SOB Downtown

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    Licid dream
    Tommie W.

    The food was hot and fresh. I ordered the SOB burger medium well but they overcooked it so it didn't taste as good as I wanted to. The cocktail was ok. I think the Sanderson location has better food and drinks. That's my normal location but I was downtown so I decided to give this location a try.

    Camille F.

    Great weather for PATIO vibes! I've been to SOB more than I can count and I can't believe this is my first review. BUT. The food is good, the happy hour is great and I often get pretty good service, however, I do think they have an opportunity to boost their attention of the patio. There was a bit of a wait today but once we brought it to the hostess attention, it was quickly resolved. Overall, a nice experience every time!

    Spicy chicken sandwich.
    Kontji A.

    Good old reliable! They have a new menu as of 11/21/25 and it's still hitting! This place never misses. I've been coming here since they put S.O.B. on the door and it's always consistent -- great food, good vibe, and super consistent. My favorites are the General Tso's cauliflower (seriously addictive), the adobo short rib (melts in your mouth), and the grilled salmon with maple bacon brussels sprouts. The menu has a ton of variety -- bowls, flatbreads, tacos, pastas, even solid vegetarian options -- and it's all done well. I've brought out-of-town friends here and everyone finds something they love. They've grown a lot over time, expanding into two dining spaces in the same building, and even opened a second location in East Memphis. Says a lot about how well they're doing. Service is always solid, and the atmosphere always feels upbeat. Great for lunch, dinner, weeknights, date nights, or group dinners. Just an all-around dependable spot with food, service and ambiance that keep me coming back.

    Shawarma Bowl
    Rich A.

    Located in the up-and-coming South Main neighborhood, South of Beale (or, SoB) is an upscale casual restaurant in a newly-renovated historic building that was once the Ambassador Hotel. SoB offers reasonably-priced internationally-inspired fusion cuisine and tasty and innovative cocktails served by efficient and friendly staff. SoB features a menu with something for everyone, including those with various dietary restrictions, with burgers, bowls, salads and entrees at prices that range from $15 for a veggie or turkey burger and fries to $36 for a New York Strip steak or drunken lamb chops. I ordered the Shawarma Bowl ($17), a Middle Eastern-inspired dish comprised of broiled chopped chicken thigh served over yellow rice, lettuce, tomato, cucumber and topped with shawarma sauce and sriracha with a few pieces of pita bread. YUM! The bold flavors came together well to make a very tasty dish. My dining companion ordered the Zaka Bowl ($16), a Korean-inspired dish with marinated mushrooms, carrots, green beans, sunny-side egg, white rice, and sesame, drizzled with kimchi vinaigrette and topped with fried tofu (+$9), which she really enjoyed. As for the cocktails, I tried the Bittersweet Symphony ($13), made with juke joint bourbon, lazzaroni maraschino liquour, orange juice, lemon juice, simple syrup, and angostura bitters, which was an very tasty and refreshing take on a traditional Old Fashioned cocktail. The portion sizes were very filling and the prices are very reasonable for the quality of the food. We will definitely be back next time we're in Memphis! PRO TIP #1: Flavortown Mayor Guy Fieri visited South of Beale in the 2012 Diners, Drive-ins and Dives episode "Flavortown Medley". He, owner Ed Cabigao, and executive chef Bryan McDaniel made the Duck Fried Rice and Jack Daniels-infused bread pudding.

    Steak flatbread
    Alyssa H.

    Love the vibe here! We came on a Sunday, no reservations and had no problem sitting at the bar. The service was great. We had the apple salad which was so good and flavorful. The drinks were also fantastic. The flatbreads were good but I will say, while they were flavorful it was a pita with toppings. Let's just call it what it was, it was good. Was it $16 good? I wouldn't say so. And while it all had good flavor, the pita wasn't toasted or grilled so it was definitely "50 shades of soft" very one note texturally. I had hoped for more I must say. But overall, it was good.

    Shawarma bowl
    Ria B.

    No major complaints. I got the shawarma bowl which was better than I expected for downtown Memphis though it was pretty far off from an actual shawarma bowl. The Chicken was cubed and not shredded, the rice was weirdly sticky too, but the flavor was actually pretty good. The pita was standard too but did not taste made in house. The ambiance inside is modern and clean. If you want a nice place to sit and enjoy a dinner with friends or a date. No complaints on service everything was out in time and they were attentive.

    Mae D.

    Excellent service & food! A modern American Asian cuisine. A wide variety of different options to choose from! Can't go wrong with any!

    Naked salmon w/ very good mac and cheese.
    Mark M.

    My service with Trey was very good, no complaints! I have been to SOB before for drinks but this was my first time for dinner. I originally ordered the steak but come to find out they were out of filets of steak (on a saturday night, they stated they just had a bigger party all order some) so I had to order something instead. I got the salmon with mac and cheese and while good, the salmon just came as a seared filet with nothing on it, just a naked piece of fish. Pretty boring. I ended up adding the salmon into the mac and cheese and it was very good that way!

    Cross section of the Cheesesteak Egg Rolls
    Ali D.

    Atmosphere of this place gets a 10/10! I felt like it had personality, was big and open, and still felt intimate! The location is great too especially if you're enjoying the sights and sounds of downtown Memphis before or after your meal. I dined in a party of 4 and we shared three appetizers and tried four different meals -- all of it was a damn knockout! My meal: Buffalo chicken sandwich with french fries. Fries were crunchy on the outside and so soft on the inside with so much flavor. I love a good French fry!!! The sandwich stole the show. The sauce was sooooo wonderful and the blue cheese on top was subtle for most of the sandwich and then you'd get a sharp bite and it was just delicious! My husband loved the steak & Mac and cheese. I tried a bite of both and it was wonderful! My sister and brother in law split the duck patty melt and the short ribs and they enjoyed both so much as well. For appetizers we got the cheesesteak egg rolls and the chicken bao buns and they were delicious but the buns stole the show! (So much so that I neglected to get a photo of them!) Our server was kind and there when we needed anything. Food runners (possibly the chefs as well?) who brought the food out were so genuinely nice as well. SOB left a great first impression. It's worth your visit and attention and offers tons of unique menu options! We are lucky to have them in Memphis!!

    Shawarma Bowl
    Tommie B.

    I had the Zaka Bowl and added tuna. It was pretty good and had a nice mix of flavors. We also shared the cauliflower wings, which were tasty, and everyone loved them. My friends had the burger, which they really enjoyed, and the Shawarma Bowl, which I heard was really good. The chicken in the bowl was very flavorful, and the shawarma sauce complemented the dish well. They serve complimentary popcorn with their special seasoning instead of bread, which is a cool touch. I'm not a fan of the buffalo chicken dip; it's way too chunky and not very spicy. The staff is friendly, and the restaurant is very beautifully decorated.

    Uhhh Dessert
    Sharon W.

    First- the waitress was sooooo rude. She was impatient, said I'll be back and walked around like we were invisible. The bread pudding- nothing Jack or Coke about it. The worst big piece of bread pudding, that plated syrup was supposed to be the jack and Coke reduction syrup but not. Then a dollop of vanilla ice cream. Tragic. Other than that- this place is nice.

    General Tso's Cauliflower
    Maya T.

    First time here and everything was great! We always eat at Flying Fish when we come to Memphis, but we were truly impressed with SoB haha We started off with the General Tso's cauliflower bites, delicious. I got the Zaka Bowl and me and my sister got the Espresso Marrini's. The Zaka Bowl was different, I liked it and the martini's were great. The service was great! We were seated at the bar and the tender, Joe was awesome! I personally feel there should've been someone else behind the counter helping him out but that's just my take on that. The atmosphere was comfortable and inviting. I would definitely come to SoB again!

    Tuna
    Katrena H.

    Nice modern decor. Casual ambiance. Food 4/5. There needs to be more seasoning. The best thing on the menu was the cauliflower. The service was ok. We had one waiter for a party of 25. ‍She did her best.

    Duck Fried Rice

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    McEwen's Memphis

    McEwen's Memphis

    4.4
    (663 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    Service was excellent, food was fantastic. I had a cup of loaded potato soup, and I could not…read moreshovel it into my mouth fast enough. Also had the Tuna and jungle of greens, friend had the Salmon, and both were great. It is placed in a cool older building, with a nice selection at the bar.

    This place was very interesting to me. The look and vibe of it was very nice. It is a more upscale…read morerestaurant which is always nice for a special evening out. The food however was honestly meh (in my opinion). I got a creole dish and to be fair my dish looked beautiful. The plating was 10/10 but the taste for me left something to be desired. After eating this dish I questioned if I even like creole sauce because it really just wasn't that good. If this is a preference issue, I honestly don't know. I also thought the charcuterie appetizer had a weird mix of items on it from club crackers, to meat and cheese, and random veggies. Not bad but just kind of a weird mix. My husband ordered the salmon and he said it was good, not the best he's had but it was good. Other friends of ours got the white fish among the many other dishes. I did have a salad with these apples on it which was incredibly yummy. I will say though my dish looked amazing some of the other dishes were not plated well. Not to nitpick but to want to be considered a more upscale restaurant which means charging guest more money than say a local Applebee's then knowing how to appropriately garnish or drizzle sauce to elevate at plate is important (see my picture of the chicken dish). All and all not my favorite restaurant but definitely not the worst!!

    Photos
    McEwen's Memphis
    Long week in Memphis, dining at one of my favorites!
    Long week in Memphis, dining at one of my favorites!
    Complimentary biscuit

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    Beauty Shop Restaurant

    Beauty Shop Restaurant

    4.0
    (762 reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$

    5 out of 5 every time! We've been many times (however I've still not had brunch). We love it. The…read moremushroom app is so good. Everything. Can't go wrong! And the history and environment is excellent.

    A friend was visiting (5/9) and we decided to dine in the Cooper - Young area for dinner. When we…read moregot to the area, we decided on The Beauty Shop. My friend owns a larger catering/events establishment in Georgia and was excited about the menu at the establishment. We walked in (on a whim) and asked if tables were available (clearly we saw some on the patio and inside once we entered). The greeting from the hostess was - let's just say less than inviting. . It was around 7:40p and she said "well since you don't have a reservation, the soonest I can get you in is 8p" ...no problem we will walk around until then. My initial thought, screw this reservation - if the hostess has this type of demeanor, what could we expect in terms of service? As my friend was still excited about the menu and to taste some of the pairings, we decided to wait. At 7:59 (like clockwork), the notice of our table being ready was sent. The hostess seated us and again, I wasn't optimistic of what would occur during the visit. The server that greeted us was GREAT!!! We ordered SEVERAL appetizers and drinks and all were AMAZING - (the grilled avocado with the shrimp was worth the trip alone). For dinner we ordered Peking Duck and Ribeye Steak Salads (and more drinks). Both were amazing. And while the desserts looked divine, there was absolutely no room. We were impressed with the old Beauty Shop decor - it really was a conversation piece. It's small and quaint and we had a lovely chat with the patrons alongside us. The food and service EXCELLENT! I'm glad that I didn't follow my first inclination to leave (because of the hostess and the "curt" demeanor). On a high note, I did notice the hostess being very gracious to the others that she encountered. Maybe it was my cologne - not everyone likes to smell YSL ‍.

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    Beauty Shop Restaurant
    Steak & Eggs
    Steak & Eggs
    Chilequiles with Carnitas

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    Moondance Grill

    Moondance Grill

    4.1
    (454 reviews)
    14.5 mi
    $$$

    Had a chance to have a cocktail at the bar before the members in our party arrived for our…read morereservation time. Great, friendly service and very quick. I had a perfect dirty martini and my husband had an excellent old fashioned ( chose not to do the smoked version. ) We were seated at the time of our reservation with courteous and prompt attention from our waiter. He informed us of all the specials and gave us the right amount of time to relax before ordering. The food was excellent and beautifully presented. I like the atmosphere, not too large of a dining area, I like the separate room of tables, with a fireplace, along with the area of booths for a more intimate setting. The bar itself is large and has seating on the outskirts of it as well.

    I've been here a handful of times. Most of them have been quite lovely. Out of the times I have…read moredined here, almost all have been with people from work. I do believe C and I have only been here once as a couple. It did not go well at all, so we have not been back together, as she is holding a bit of a grudge. It's a long story but it all ties back to service. That night we had the worst table in the building and service was spotty at best. Food was still pretty good, just whole ass annoyed by the entirety of the rest of the experience. I am lucky enough to be able to be taken to/host dinner with clients and manufacturers a good bit. They like places like this so I get by ever so often. Gotta love expensed meals!!! Tehehe I like the open kitchen concept they have and the bar is really cool. The metal shelves at the bar that store the booze are bad ass. It's warm and cozy and has a great vibe overall. The last time we sat on the enclosed patio. I had not sat out there before. I think the larger tables all go out there. We had seven and there was another group of about twenty in the same room with us. Food ranges from fairly good to fucking great. I've never had anything bad here, but a few sighs have been had, mostly by misunderstood expectations of what I was getting I would say. So, quite possibly I am the problem. As with most of my problems, actually... The oysters Rockefeller are very different from the norm. Fried oysters on a side of spinach. That's what it seems like. I ate it up, don't get me wrong. I did just switch to only fried oysters after the first one. No need wasting stomach space on spinach. Charbroiled oysters is always a good move and the preparation remains traditional on that one. I do find the oysters to be quite massive and hard to chew the whole thing at once. Cutting them just seems silly though. Steaks are prepared very well and to your liking each time. I have never had a bad one. Good flavor too. I am going to spring on the Hawaiian Ribeye the next time I go on my dime. It's a classic that I remember from Steak and Ale as well as Houston's. Both now gone from Memphis. I like the she crab soup an awful lot, and just about every entree I have had here is killer. You really cannot go wrong with the food. Just order something you normally like and boom. I will also say this. The short ribs I had last time were some of the best I have ever had. Bravo on that! Additionally, I had two giant pieces for like $40! I could only eat one of them after all of the appetizers. Oh.... Yea. They have a hot lobster roll that is good! You don't see that in Memphis very often!! Get you some. Wait.... Lamb Lollipops. They have evolved some of the years but they have really good lamb chops. They used to be the exact same dish as their sister concepts of Itta Bena, BB Kings, and Lafayette's. I am not sure if the whole family still has the old version or not. Here it has changed a good bit. As I write this, I crave it.... Ugh. Damn your foods and your seductive prowess food skills! Lastly, Tommy Peters did great things for this city's food scene. I am sad that he is gone but I know he was proud of this one! Ok. That's enough, Adam.... No one reads this crap anyway. '26 - 48

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    Old fashioned
    Old fashioned
    Lamb chops loaded baked potato and asparagus.
    Lamb chops loaded baked potato and asparagus.
    The Empress of Germantown

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