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    SOB Downtown

    4.0 (700 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    SOB Downtown Photos

    Business Info

    SOB DOWNTOWN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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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!

    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!

    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.

    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!!

    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
    Simone P.

    I love the ambiance here! It is very vibey both inside and out. The food was good. I had the duck fried rice, truffle pasta with salmon and cheesesteak egg rolls. The pop corn they give as a starter is yum and a different appeal. Would recommend going here

    Jack N Coke Bread Pudding

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    Ask the Community - SOB Downtown

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    McEwen's Memphis - new signage

    McEwen's Memphis

    (658 reviews)

    $$

    Downtown

    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!!

    Magnolia & May - Shrimp & Grits  @phidingthefam

    Magnolia & May

    (124 reviews)

    Eastgate

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

    I have been to Monkeygrass Mayhem coffee truck twice and have loved the coffee! The first visit was…read moreat the old truck near Sea Isle Park. I went in December. My coffee was yumminess with white chocolate and espresso. I ordered it half sweet and it was well balanced. My second visit was at The Poplar Plaza shopping center. Another awesome latte! Colin and Sammy were the baristas for both visits. They were super kind and helpful. Loved the new truck decked out in pink. Will find them again in the city since their lattes are balanced between the espresso and variety of offered flavors. Great new coffee truck to return to each week!

    Beauty Shop Restaurant - Sesame Pecan Chicken & Waffle

    Beauty Shop Restaurant

    (759 reviews)

    $$

    Cooper-Young

    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.

    Posted: 17Apr26 I've had several really enjoyable dining…read moreexperiences at The Beauty Shop over the years, which is why it was especially disappointing to have one evening in January 8, 2025 fall short--particularly with a large party of 12 celebrating together. Let me start by saying this: I truly enjoy this restaurant. The atmosphere is unique, the concept is fun, and historically the food and service have been reliable. That's exactly why this experience stood out so much. For a party of our size, we would have preferred seating toward the back of the restaurant where it was noticeably warmer and more comfortable. Instead, we were seated in an area that felt a bit chilly, which set the tone for the evening. The bigger issue, however, was with the food and service execution. Four dishes out of our party of twelve were essentially untouched. Two scallop entrées and the Steak Frites were overcooked, tough, and unfortunately inedible. The special ribeye of the night--the most expensive entrée--was also not finished. What concerned me most was that no one from the service team paused to read the table or ask why multiple plates remained full. Only one dish was removed, and there was no follow-up conversation about the others. We spent over $800 that evening, including drinks, appetizers, sides, and desserts, so expectations for attentiveness and quality were understandably higher. When a table leaves several entrées uneaten, that's usually a signal worth acknowledging. After the visit, on January 9, 2025, I took the time to provide feedback privately through OpenTable in the hope that management would review it and respond. Unfortunately, I never received any acknowledgment. Even a brief reply would have gone a long way. Silence, in this case, was disappointing and felt like a missed opportunity to demonstrate care and accountability. I'm sharing this feedback because I believe in the restaurant and want to see it succeed. I work in a customer-facing industry myself, and I know firsthand how small service touches--checking in, asking questions, and following up--can make the difference between a good experience and one that keeps guests coming back. I genuinely hope this was just an off night. I would still consider returning, but I do hope the level of attentiveness and follow-through improves.

    Kooky Canuck - Provincial Pear Salad

    Kooky Canuck

    (850 reviews)

    $$

    Downtown

    Awesome food and service! Came for a quick lunch while on break from a meeting at the Peabody. Got…read morePoutine and the Chop Salad wanting to be sure to get my fill. My concerns of not having enough food were definitely misplaced. Either item would have been enough on its own. Portions are extremely generous. Bar service was quick and attentive as well. I requested the Cardinals game on the TV while I ate and the bartender was quick to attempt to put it on. Unfortunately, bar Kooky Canuck (as of 4/22/26) does not have the Cardinals mlb add on subscription for MLB.tv. In every other way, my experience was awesome! Just bummed I couldn't catch the day game during lunch.

    Awesome. Simply awesome. I have nothing but the best things to say about Kooky Canuck! First, the…read moreambiance of the restaurant is great- akin to the inside a cozy lodge. The food is extremely tasty (and high quality) and the staff are so friendly and helpful. The owner, Shawn, is nothing short of a gem. He's friendly, has intelligence, wit, and integrity. I really messed up by not taking pictures on this one. I've had the burgers (phenomenal, regular and smash burger style) before. This time I tried the brunch menu and had, to name a few: *Poutine *French Canadian Toast *Maple Sunrise Sandwhich *Boozy Fried Bread Pudding *Eggs Benedict All of these were delicious. Small detail, but the crispy breakfast potatoes are perfect- soft on the inside and with this immaculate crisp on the outside. Next time I will certainly be getting the Waffle Monte Cristo. I love waffles.. I love Monte Cristo sandwiches.. seems like an ideal combo. A few friends and I have been in a few times now and this past trip he took us around the city. Again, I cannot say enough incredible things about he and his restaurant. Kooky even has food challenges: a 7 lb burger, a two-person 15 lb burger, and a four-person massive 25 lb burger! I've done the 25 lber and they were able to cook that burger so perfectly! Most places would undoubtedly have had the middle undercooked. Side note: Shawn has also won the "Tennessee Restaurateur of the Year" award. Yeah, he's legit. Go here. Do it. Do not deprive yourself from greatness.

    Moondance Grill - Nice desert.

    Moondance Grill

    (446 reviews)

    $$$

    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

    SOB Downtown - gastropubs - Updated May 2026

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