Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    SOB Downtown

    4.0 (704 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    SOB Downtown Photos

    Business Info

    SOB DOWNTOWN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - SOB Downtown

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    View of bar and the HVAC duct and vents!
    Mark G.

    Friday night no reservation needed. After looking at MANY menus was the most GF friendly place we could find in downtown Memphis. Bowls bowls bowls. Great vibe and bar. Live Music in "sitting area" up front. Booths and tables and a loooooong bar. Tip there is a line of tables right under the AC vents. Could be a good thing/bad thing depending on weather and how you are dressed.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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!

    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

    See all

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tim S.
    19
    113
    37

    2 years ago

    Great staff and solid cocktails. The chicken curry was banging. Highly recommend this spot for people who appreciate a proper cocktail.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Karen P.
    5
    161
    149

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ed C.

    Ed C.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ed C.

    Ed C.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Maisha R.
    1984
    1603
    9500

    8 years ago

    Helpful 17
    Thanks 1
    Love this 13
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ed C.

    Ed C.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Melissa P.
    509
    95
    288

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of LaTasha A.
    211
    462
    706

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jodi U.
    52
    54
    1

    3 years ago

    Fabulous food. Fairly loud. I had good service. Walkable from most downtown hotels. Definitely give it a try.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ashley A.
    439
    24
    10

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Courtland M.
    161
    155
    273

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Edward C.

    Edward C.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cory P.
    21
    29
    0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cindy P.
    17
    53
    111

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 3 of 18

    Ask the Community - SOB Downtown

    You might also consider

    McEwen's Memphis

    McEwen's Memphis

    4.4
    (665 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    I really like this restaurant. We just happened to be hungry while shopping and found this place…read moreand it was great! The food, atmosphere, service, easy parking and friendly staff were all 5 out of 5.

    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

    See all

    Complimentary biscuit
    Beauty Shop Restaurant

    Beauty Shop Restaurant

    4.0
    (764 reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$

    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 ‍.

    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.

    Photos
    Beauty Shop Restaurant
    Sesame Pecan Chicken & Waffle
    Sesame Pecan Chicken & Waffle
    Sipper, New Orleans Special, house drink

    See all

    Sipper, New Orleans Special, house drink

    SOB Downtown - gastropubs - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...