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Here again is another example on why I love the Michelin guide it never steers you wrong to a bougie restaurant and The Lobbyist is no exception. I haven't been to a crazy ton of restaurants in Memphis but I would feel fairly confident in saying this place is the top of what the town has to offer. Eventhough it was a rainy day we sat outside on their patio that was covered. The waitress was awesome- kind, considerate, and attentive. The food was displayed exceptionally! It looked high quality and for the most part it tasted it. Why not 5 stars then? Unfortunately my steak was a bit of a disappointment. It was flavorful and it looked medium rare which is what I wanted but it was the toughest chewiest steak I probably have ever had. I don't know if it was a bad cut or what but yeah it wasn't great. I didn't say anything to the waitress because everything else was fabulous including our amazing dessert. All and all this is a great place to visit especially for a special occasion, maybe just skip the steak. Or hey hopefully they were having an off night and the steak hits.
My wife has been wanting to try this since we went to Cathrine and Mary's next door. Her birthday was a great opportunity to go so I made a reservation. We unfortunately went on Saturday during the St. Patrick's Day parade so the parking was rough. On the reservation I said it was for a birthday and instead of seating us in a separate dining room we were seated right behind the hostess stand by the bar. There is an open kitchen concept which also is right next to where we were sitting and when they burn something the area fills with smoke and all you smell is burning food. So between the hostess stand, the bar, and the loud kitchen it was not a pleasant experience and made it very hard to hear the waitress explain the menu. Speaking of that the waitress, she was very nice but couldn't explain the menu very well which it needed as it is not well outlined. The food itself was ok. The best item we got was the corn ribs which were hot, flavorful with a little kick and a hit for all of us. The meat and cheese board shown was pretty good but not big enough for five. The pickled beets and pears were so hard you couldn't cut them. Could have done with less pickled vegetables and added more crostini's. My youngest got the linguine with prawns (it's a trick as you only get one prawn even thought the menu clearly says multiple) which he loved but a very small portion (ate a whole pizza when we got home). The rest of us got the teres major steak which was more rare and chewy. The potatoes and Demi glaze were delicious but the squash rings were not cooked and inedible. The blackberry cornbread for dessert was "meh" but the marshmallow apple crumble was GREAT!! The do let you know in several places about the auto 18% gratuity which I appreciate however the credit card transaction fee of 3% added to the bill was a little annoying. Another small thing they don't tell you, especially if you bring your teenage kids is they charge for soda refills which stings when I got the bill and saw $21 for six sodas. I will say we went, have no intention of ever going back and not worth the $400 we spent.
So we are old and like a 5 pm seating. Love it when the staff treat you like you are prime time guest. Service was top notch. They did an excellent job of explaining the menu items (many that I needed to google) and catering to our every request. Food was excellent- as soon as I tasted the magnificent pork chop I knew I was from Home Place Pastures- off the chart. Brussels were amazing but the date dessert cake was the star -OMG
The ambiance was lovely, the wait staff exceptional, the drinks delicious, but the food was not our taste (but the presentation was amazing). I usually prefer a place like this - creative and eclectic and non traditional. However, almost everything we tried was way too spicy. While they tried to change the dishes to our taste, it just didn't work. The only truly vegan dish on the menu (that wasn't spicy) was the marinated tomatoes on the humus and it was great.
A true review of my dining experience at this restaurant. Full transparency, the food was not that appetizing, but the customer service made up for it. Our cocktails were amazing! Our waiter noticed that we barely touched the mussels so he asked us how did they taste and we were honest and told him they lacked flavor. He then took them away and notified a manager who came over to our table. She then asked us what were our suggestions on how they could improve the quality of their food and stated that they were trying out new options on their menu. I wasn't crazy about my pasta either. After receiving our feedback, she then insisted on giving us complementary desserts, which were amazing. I'm sure they have menu items that were better dishes and I would definitely recommend you still try them for cocktails and desserts at least. The decor was the draw so definitely check them out!
Following our mixed opinions on the food the first time, we decided to come back and try the chef's table experience, which seems to be a custom tasting menu using seasonal, local ingredients almost exclusively. While expensive, the experience was perhaps the most memorable dining experience I've had so far (and my girlfriend would praise them even more highly). It was the highlight of our second anniversary. The turnips and the yams (I.e., sweet potatoes slow cooked in beef fat for hours) were to die for. The service was top notch as always, and the special off-menu treats were great (such as the surprise homemade bread course and a mocktail from the bar manager). Watching chef Gentry personally plate and serve each dish fostered an intimate atmosphere- while the restaurant was busy that night, we had the sense they were focused on serving us. A truly special experience.
The Lobbyist is my new favorite downtown Memphis, Tn restaurant because of the Potatoes and Brussels sprouts. The ambiance gives date night because the lights are so low when you get there ( but I did go at night) it's has a classy dark aesthetic. It was 3 of us and we did make a reservation before we went. Parking wasn't bad, I found a parking lot on Main Street that was near the restaurant and walked right over. We were greeted and went to our table. Our waiter was extremely knowledgeable about the menu, he even explained that the pasta is made in-house. We ordered the Brussels, potatoes and rigatoni pasta so we all could share. I had the Jet radio mocktail and it was good. I don't eat watermelon at all but I will drink it and the mocktail was 10/10. It tasted like a watermelon jolly rancher. Now for the food, the Brussels was everything I imagine it would be. It did have a kick to it because of the sauce, but they were cooked to perfection. The potatoes were amazing and I never had feta cheese with potatoes so it was a fun taste. The rigatoni pasta was spicy but it needed a little more seasoning to it. The service alone was great. Multiple people came to our table to check on us and box our food up when we were done. We were full and didn't have any room for dessert. I will be going back to try the dessert menu.
Decided to visit on Halloween! They had the patio decorated and it was truly a vibe! It wasn't too cold but they had the heaters going! We got fried pickles and samosas that were soooo good! We actually got two orders of the samosas. We also made it for happy hour and got French 75s and sidecars for $9! Service was great and many pic opportunities with friends! Def a vibe and will be back to dine inside
What an awesome experience with friendly staff! I was seated right away. The restaurant was dimly lit and perfect for a date night but I also a relaxing drink night with the girls and might I add - the drinks were amazing and consistent. The food was also good. I wouldn't say great- but definitely good. What I loved was the "farm to table " freshness in taste and menu items. I also liked how everything was cooked perfectly. I did feel that the flavors could have been a little more elevated. Some more flavor or extra roasting of the pepitas ... idk but I also felt there was a little smidgen of flavor missing that salt and pepper wasn't supposed to fix. What I was ecstatic about was price which was more than comparable for the quality of food I was eating. I'd definitely come back again !
My coworker and I had a lovely dinner here. All the food was amazing. I just wish I had more appetite to try all of it. Very cool ambiance and the service was very good. The cabbage was my favorite. I would definitely go back to try some more things.
What a wonderful meal with excellent service and a lot of options. It was clear that the chef and all who designed the experience knew what they were doing and were laser focused on the customer experience. Kacie was more than our server - she was our tour guide and travel partner. We will be back!
What an awesome night! Every bite was well executed and tasty! Especially loved the variety on the charcuterie! The service was thoughtful and our server was extremely accommodating with suggestions! Spot on! Will definitely return!
My friend and I were here for trolly night. It was super busy so take my experience with a grain of salt. We sat on the back patio where the two servers were slammed with customers. The drinks were really good, but my food came out cold. The one bite I had was not impressive, but that could have been due to the temp. The servers were super nice and understanding so overall I would give this super nice spot another try! read more
4 months ago
What an exquisite Memphis find! Walkable from our Main Street hotel, we obtained an early evening reservation. Seating was comfortable. The dining area and bar space was beautiful. Chef's Kitchen seating also appeared to be available. Melissa D was our knowledgable, highly competent server. She graciously accommodated our seating change when the young hostess placed a party member in direct afternoon sunlight. Wines were by the bottle or the glass. The mocktail "Jetset Radio Future" was excellent! I ordered the Fish entree: a redfish with crunchy chickpeas, lentils and a tomato chermoula. It was so very flavorful and satisfying. Highly recommended. Finished with a French Press of coffee and house made lemon ice cream. Price point was imo, entirely reasonable, considering the quality. Do note: a surcharge is added for credit card use; as well as an 18% tip. read more
Service was lovely (but more on pacing later), ambiance very buzzy. We went here on a rec from a local couple who have lived in Memphis their whole life. The food was good but not the "Michelin hype" we were told to expect. The most interesting thing was the Bucatini - it was supposed to be a miso fennel verde and really tasted nothing of miso and mostly like a tomatillo salsa. It was still delicious but not what we'd expected. The corn mash was good - the bacon jus starts to solidify quickly so you can't be afraid you're eating a fatty, heavy dish. It needed a little acid or brightness to balance out IMO. There were micro greens but I would have liked more of them. The broccolini is exactly what you'd expect, also too al dente (even for me! I love a firm veg!!) and the Brussels sprouts were SO SALTY the dish was nearly inedible, which was too bad because the sauce / dressing was really good and adding little ruffle like potato sticks to it added nice texture but I could only have two bites. I will say the Foccaia bread service looked incredible (we did not order it). It seemed like a great group HH shareable. The focaccia looked fresh with crispy edges and fluffy; it was a big round boule about the size of a salad plate. I would go back to try that! I believe the menu changes frequently so that's a reason to return. We were just passing through though so would probably try somewhere else if we were to come back to Memphis. The worst part about it was actually probably the pacing of the meal. Dishes came out essentially all at once and given everything leaned kind of heavy and salty there was no reprieve or way to cleanse the palate between items. Granted, this is family style so ordering 4 dishes for 2 people is maybe not ideal, it still just felt rushed and overwhelming. read more
Business owner information
James G.
Hi there—thank you again for your thoughtful and detailed feedback,…
7 months ago
Here again is another example on why I love the Michelin guide it never steers you wrong to a bougie restaurant and The Lobbyist is no exception. I haven't been to a crazy ton of restaurants in Memphis but I would feel fairly confident in saying this place is the top of what the town has to offer. Eventhough it was a rainy day we sat outside on their patio that was covered. The waitress was awesome- kind, considerate, and attentive. The food was displayed exceptionally! It looked high quality and for the most part it tasted it. Why not 5 stars then? Unfortunately my steak was a bit of a disappointment. It was flavorful and it looked medium rare which is what I wanted but it was the toughest chewiest steak I probably have ever had. I don't know if it was a bad cut or what but yeah it wasn't great. I didn't say anything to the waitress because everything else was fabulous including our amazing dessert. All and all this is a great place to visit especially for a special occasion, maybe just skip the steak. Or hey hopefully they were having an off night and the steak hits. read more
7 months ago
My wife has been wanting to try this since we went to Cathrine and Mary's next door. Her birthday was a great opportunity to go so I made a reservation. We unfortunately went on Saturday during the St. Patrick's Day parade so the parking was rough. On the reservation I said it was for a birthday and instead of seating us in a separate dining room we were seated right behind the hostess stand by the bar. There is an open kitchen concept which also is right next to where we were sitting and when they burn something the area fills with smoke and all you smell is burning food. So between the hostess stand, the bar, and the loud kitchen it was not a pleasant experience and made it very hard to hear the waitress explain the menu. Speaking of that the waitress, she was very nice but couldn't explain the menu very well which it needed as it is not well outlined. The food itself was ok. The best item we got was the corn ribs which were hot, flavorful with a little kick and a hit for all of us. The meat and cheese board shown was pretty good but not big enough for five. The pickled beets and pears were so hard you couldn't cut them. Could have done with less pickled vegetables and added more crostini's. My youngest got the linguine with prawns (it's a trick as you only get one prawn even thought the menu clearly says multiple) which he loved but a very small portion (ate a whole pizza when we got home). The rest of us got the teres major steak which was more rare and chewy. The potatoes and Demi glaze were delicious but the squash rings were not cooked and inedible. The blackberry cornbread for dessert was "meh" but the marshmallow apple crumble was GREAT!! The do let you know in several places about the auto 18% gratuity which I appreciate however the credit card transaction fee of 3% added to the bill was a little annoying. Another small thing they don't tell you, especially if you bring your teenage kids is they charge for soda refills which stings when I got the bill and saw $21 for six sodas. I will say we went, have no intention of ever going back and not worth the $400 we spent. read more
Business owner information
James G.
Hi there—thank you again for taking the time to share your experience…
29 days ago
So we are old and like a 5 pm seating. Love it when the staff treat you like you are prime time guest. Service was top notch. They did an excellent job of explaining the menu items (many that I needed to google) and catering to our every request. Food was excellent- as soon as I tasted the magnificent pork chop I knew I was from Home Place Pastures- off the chart. Brussels were amazing but the date dessert cake was the star -OMG read more
The ambiance was lovely, the wait staff exceptional, the drinks delicious, but the food was not our taste (but the presentation was amazing). I usually prefer a place like this - creative and eclectic and non traditional. However, almost everything we tried was way too spicy. While they tried to change the dishes to our taste, it just didn't work. The only truly vegan dish on the menu (that wasn't spicy) was the marinated tomatoes on the humus and it was great. read more
A true review of my dining experience at this restaurant. Full transparency, the food was not that appetizing, but the customer service made up for it. Our cocktails were amazing! Our waiter noticed that we barely touched the mussels so he asked us how did they taste and we were honest and told him they lacked flavor. He then took them away and notified a manager who came over to our table. She then asked us what were our suggestions on how they could improve the quality of their food and stated that they were trying out new options on their menu. I wasn't crazy about my pasta either. After receiving our feedback, she then insisted on giving us complementary desserts, which were amazing. I'm sure they have menu items that were better dishes and I would definitely recommend you still try them for cocktails and desserts at least. The decor was the draw so definitely check them out! read more
Following our mixed opinions on the food the first time, we decided to come back and try the chef's table experience, which seems to be a custom tasting menu using seasonal, local ingredients almost exclusively. While expensive, the experience was perhaps the most memorable dining experience I've had so far (and my girlfriend would praise them even more highly). It was the highlight of our second anniversary. The turnips and the yams (I.e., sweet potatoes slow cooked in beef fat for hours) were to die for. The service was top notch as always, and the special off-menu treats were great (such as the surprise homemade bread course and a mocktail from the bar manager). Watching chef Gentry personally plate and serve each dish fostered an intimate atmosphere- while the restaurant was busy that night, we had the sense they were focused on serving us. A truly special experience. read more
The Lobbyist is my new favorite downtown Memphis, Tn restaurant because of the Potatoes and Brussels sprouts. The ambiance gives date night because the lights are so low when you get there ( but I did go at night) it's has a classy dark aesthetic. It was 3 of us and we did make a reservation before we went. Parking wasn't bad, I found a parking lot on Main Street that was near the restaurant and walked right over. We were greeted and went to our table. Our waiter was extremely knowledgeable about the menu, he even explained that the pasta is made in-house. We ordered the Brussels, potatoes and rigatoni pasta so we all could share. I had the Jet radio mocktail and it was good. I don't eat watermelon at all but I will drink it and the mocktail was 10/10. It tasted like a watermelon jolly rancher. Now for the food, the Brussels was everything I imagine it would be. It did have a kick to it because of the sauce, but they were cooked to perfection. The potatoes were amazing and I never had feta cheese with potatoes so it was a fun taste. The rigatoni pasta was spicy but it needed a little more seasoning to it. The service alone was great. Multiple people came to our table to check on us and box our food up when we were done. We were full and didn't have any room for dessert. I will be going back to try the dessert menu. read more
Decided to visit on Halloween! They had the patio decorated and it was truly a vibe! It wasn't too cold but they had the heaters going! We got fried pickles and samosas that were soooo good! We actually got two orders of the samosas. We also made it for happy hour and got French 75s and sidecars for $9! Service was great and many pic opportunities with friends! Def a vibe and will be back to dine inside read more
What an awesome experience with friendly staff! I was seated right away. The restaurant was dimly lit and perfect for a date night but I also a relaxing drink night with the girls and might I add - the drinks were amazing and consistent. The food was also good. I wouldn't say great- but definitely good. What I loved was the "farm to table " freshness in taste and menu items. I also liked how everything was cooked perfectly. I did feel that the flavors could have been a little more elevated. Some more flavor or extra roasting of the pepitas ... idk but I also felt there was a little smidgen of flavor missing that salt and pepper wasn't supposed to fix. What I was ecstatic about was price which was more than comparable for the quality of food I was eating. I'd definitely come back again ! read more
My coworker and I had a lovely dinner here. All the food was amazing. I just wish I had more appetite to try all of it. Very cool ambiance and the service was very good. The cabbage was my favorite. I would definitely go back to try some more things. read more
What a wonderful meal with excellent service and a lot of options. It was clear that the chef and all who designed the experience knew what they were doing and were laser focused on the customer experience. Kacie was more than our server - she was our tour guide and travel partner. We will be back! read more
3 months ago
1 month ago
Business owner information
James G.
Thank you for taking the time to share this, Shelia. We are very glad…
What an awesome night! Every bite was well executed and tasty! Especially loved the variety on the charcuterie! The service was thoughtful and our server was extremely accommodating with suggestions! Spot on! Will definitely return! read more
4 months ago
Explains options well, tastes delicious, and feels very special when dining there, people were friendly, environment gave the vibe of special and intimate. Very cool atmosphere. read more
5 months ago
beautiful, produce forward meal in a modern ambiance that refers to the 20s with art deco. great customer service. the focaccia board was phenomenal, some of the best black eyes pea hummus with chickpea i have ever tasted, kung pao carrots are perfectly cooked, delicious bucatini, corn ribs, would repeat the whole thing over again in a heartbeat. read more
5 months ago
Business owner information
James G.
Thank you so much—we truly appreciate the kind words! We’re thrilled…
5 months ago
We had an excellent dinner at the Lobbyist. Known for their amazing plant-based foods, my wife had an excellent linguine dish and we shared their fantastic crispy Brussel sprouts. Being a carnivore, I have to say their shoulder steak was cooked to perfection and served with mashed potatoes our server, Tabitha, couldn't have been more kind, thoughtfully and prompt in her service. They have a beautiful indoor dining room but we chose the cool outdoor patio since it was such a perfect night. Overall excellent! read more
6 months ago
2 years ago
Popped in after a great show at The Orpheum! We had a large party so we took over the bar area. We had great service from Austin, Jason and Mitchell! They took great care of us. Drinks and food were soooo good. We had lemon drops, champagne, an old fashioned, dirty martinis and tequila shots to drink. We tried the corn ribs (so good!), blooming mushroom and focaccia appetizer. Everything was delicious and the staff made sure we had an amazing visit. I will be back! read more
6 months ago
A wonderful experience! Be sure to get a board as an appetizer (or 2!) love that Memphis has this gem read more
7 months ago
1 year ago
The food was excellent! We had the Corn Mash, pork belly, and carrot dish. Sat at the bar. Staff were all very friendly and helpful. Lovely interior. Many features of the original hotel still there. If we lived in the area we'd be regulars. read more
1 year ago
The Lobbyist should be on your to-do list great menu choices, mouthwatering flavours, beautiful presentation and Barbara's service was excellent. read more
1 year ago
The vibe was cool. We really liked the Teres major steak, the corn mash and the beets. The read more
Ehh... this meal was going so well. There was a tiny little snafu with seating and the timing of the service was off. But otherwise our vegetable-based apps and our tasty drinks had us thinking that this would be a great night... But then the entrees came. I mean, I understand the beef is local, but no one has teeth and jaws strong enough to bite through that leather. Also, the taste of the rabbit was great, but you can't re-heat things or cook them that long and not expect for someone to say something... It's still 3-stars but really disappointing given the earlier dishes and the beautiful restaurant. Disappointing... read more
1 year ago
So so so good!!! Super friendly staff (shout-out to March, Chaz, and Shannon!), incredible food, and great drinks. The corn mash blew my mind, and both the daiquiri and the Grand Gold are phenomenal. I'll be back--probably several times! read more
5 months ago
Business owner information
James G.
Hi there—thank you for your feedback, and I’m really sorry to hear…
6 months ago
1 year ago
This restaurant was awesome! We went for happy hour and set at the bar. The bartenders were great and friendly. The food and drinks were fantastic. The ambiance is really nice, beautiful place. read more
2 years ago
The most amazing food I've ever had in Memphis, maybe even ever in my life. Every dish was delicious and full of flavor. The appetizers were big enough to share. Not really horrible prices either. Our service was great. It was a little dark in the restaurant but if you're into that you would love it here. Will definitely be back for the mussels and shishito peppers! read more
1 year ago
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More info about The Lobbyist
272 S Main St
Ste 101
Memphis, TN 38103
Downtown
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(901) 249-2170
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https://www.lobbyistatchisca.com
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