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    The Second Line

    3.8 (434 reviews)

    The Second Line Photos

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    THE SECOND LINE ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - The Second Line

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    Fried Gulf Shrimp Po'Boy
    Amber B.

    Had a good time here for happy hour. The po boys were ok, but the fries and liver were the highlight of the meals. The vibes were good and so were the margaritas. Second line is always a solid place to go to

    Julie G.

    Food was good and the service was excellent and they were busy on a Friday night ... sat in the swamp bar out back and it was awesome

    Half po boy
    Ally H.

    We came at an odd time so the place was dead for lunch. Roe was killing it serving because she was the only person in the place. Food was good, prices are definitely high for what you get. I wouldn't choose to come back but I would definitely come back if someone else picked.

    Semaria S.

    I wanted to try and new spot for our monthly bookclub meeting. I've been meaning to check out this spot for happy hour and decided to see what the brunch Menu had to offer. Parking wasn't too bad as it was Sunday. I opted to park in the nearby garage as it was free. The colorful entry is welcoming. Upon entry I was promptly seated.. Reservation: simple to do via Resy Service: amazing Food: Buttermilk pancakes with blueberry and bacon; this person was huge. I was not expecting the size. Delicious! Cheese grits: first serving was super salty. Immediately corrected issue and the next bowl was so much better. Biscuits and gravy was fantastic. Cocktail: When Life Gives You Lemons: vodka, fresh lemonade and lavender pea flower syrup. I was expecting a sweet flavor however it has just the right amount of tartness. Rating: 5/5

    Spinach Madeleine
    Ajay G.

    The bartenders here are awesome and were very welcoming to me last Sunday! The catfish was tasty! Even though I wish it wasn't farm-raised, the flavor was comforting. The spinach madeleine was good, but had a lot of cream. This place can be casual, but also a nice spot for a special occasion!

    Steak Night!
    Tippi E.

    The hubby and I were looking for someplace different. We ended up here. We loved the New Orleans vibe. The service was super friendly. The food was delicious. We came on Sunday Steak Night. Surprise! Salad, steak, and a loaded potato. It was all perfect. We finished it off with bread pudding, so yummy. Now all we need is a nap.

    This is a great meal for lunch. Come hungry
    Jason D.

    Always a great day at the second line. I love this place. Have been several times. I wish the weather was like this 4 days a a week! Come out and check it out. Drinks are good and food is wonderful

    Muffuletta (close up, and half upside down)
    Mathew S.

    Late lunch/ 2pm or so. We ate on the patio out back. The staff, hospitable as ever (and as expected at a Kelly English joint- dude must really love his employees, given how they treat their customers- it shows!), pulled a couple of tables apart so we could enjoy the weather. Row was our server- she was remarkable. Promptly and warmly greeted, we set down for our quarry. I narrowed it down to oysters, the Zimmern, or the muffuletta. The Scientist got the turkey poor boy (I abhor the phrase 'Po' Boy') sandwich. We also got an order of the Louisiana poutine (fries, pimento cheese, andouille, crawfish tails) (which didn't come out, but were quickly brought once mentioned, so no real concern or issue here). Hers was great- it's not that you can refine a Poor Boy; it is what it is. The excellence of execution in Second Line's offering is the ingredients: savory turkey, damned good (maybe Benton's?) bacon, lettuce and other rabbit fodder fresh and crisp. Creole mayo added a nice bite. The French bread was phenomenal: wonderfully flaky and warm, its bread, sure, but the texture was world class (for bread). Now, ring the bell- because this is about the muffuletta. This was the best muffuletta I've had outside the 504. The olive mix was great- the added texture, a nice crunch/ density to offset the meltiness of the cheese and the doughiness of the bread. Ham had a tinge of smokiness to it(?). All in all, it's a wave of flavor and texture. With only half the muffuletta eaten, half the healthy portion of fries now taunting me, resigned to my fate and gut loaded, I zigged when I should have zagged and got the bread pudding, ya' know, just to see where it stacked up to every other bread pudding I've ever had. This was both a mistake and the best decision I've made this calendar month (this includes at work, where I'm basically paid for judiciousness and circumspection in decision making). In the, um, words (?) or vocalizations of Justin Wilson (if anyone gets that reference, I'll be amazed): "Aaahhhhhyyyeeee! Now dats somme mighty fine bred puddin', nawh." Buttery, loose, the former crust dense, sweet in different variations from the ice cream (you can see the bits of vanilla bean in there) and candied pecans, but not sweet for icky sweet's sake. So you're still reading. Let me get to the point: last time Second Line got a 3 spot from me. Now it's a solid 4, which means this is the best New Orleans themed bar food 1) in Memphis, 2) within a days drive of Memphis without crossing into the state of Louisiana, and 3) the best New Orleans sandwiches (I can't say sandwiches proper, because Reubens and meatball subs also fall just to that category, and I'm not ready to contemplate if Second Line's muffuletta gets the nod over a certain Reuben in St. Louis or a certain meatball sub in Cosby, TN). As always, 5s are unicorns and a 4.5 does not a 5 make because 5s don't get the round up in my book; Second Line is a solid 4.5 after this experience. So why all 4.5 star talk on a former 3? Because the 3 was to go, the 4.5 was eating there. Food wise top notch, but the people who work there (looking at you, lady named Row) make it transcendent of the typical 4 star archetype. Meaning? Eat there. Dine well. Support local. Tip generously. This is exactly the place to do that.

    Megan W.

    The food was very flavorful & our server was attentive. I suggest getting the fried catfish fried hard. It's much better that way. The honey pepper fried chicken was 2 boneless chicken breast, and they were incredibly tender. The sauce was decent too, but a bit sweeter than I would've liked. It tasted like it was prepared to go on a homemade biscuit. It would've made a phenomenal breakfast sandwich. The regular Mac & cheese w/ no crawfish was good. The one with was tasty too, but the crawfish was NOT. It definitely tasted out of season so I suggest getting it without so you don't go waste time picking it out. Normally the catfish po'boy is my favorite and always a hit! Their po'boy bread is soft & just right! The dining room is on the smaller side, but there is plenty of outdoor seating in the front + a nice sized patio out back.

    Cheese Grits, greens, chicken and waffles
    john t.

    Why should you visit second line? Our waitress was very nice. The bartender is great and again very willing to please. The food was excellent. If you are in Memphis go and give it a try. It's totally worth it. Who knew you could put whip cream on chicken and waffles? I sure didn't but it works. Greens, grits, bbq shrimp and gumbo. Get them all!

    Cup of Gumbo
    Morgan C.

    We sat at the bar. It wasn't happy hour at 6:15 :( We ordered a margarita (very fresh tasting but sour fyi) for food, we ordered the grandmas chicken po boy and cheese grits, a side of gumbo, and fried oyster appetizer. Everything was absolutely delish, this restaurant is very consistent. The gumbo was forgotten about on our first order, we had to ask for it to come out to us after our food. That's the only reason we didn't give 5 stars. We have no complaints on food temperature or flavor. The bar is always a fun place to sit!

    Crawfish etoufee
    Juliana G.

    Amazing food and one of the most amazing service. The crispy honey chicken and the PO Boy chicken were to die for.

    Chicken and pancakes
    Maurisha T.

    This was my second visit to The Second Line, but first time dining for brunch. The restaurant is small, but has an outdoor seating area on the front of the restaurant and a really nice patio area in the back. Due to the size of the restaurant, it was pretty loud at times. Restrooms are singles for men and women, so when standing and waiting you are easily in the path of the servers. Our server was super friendly and very prompt with requests. I ordered an old fashioned and the bartender was pretty generous. The server confirmed that they were out of quiche and their waffle maker was down, so instead of chicken and waffles, I went with chicken and pancakes (as a substitute). It did not take long for the food to come out, and let me say I was stunned when I saw my plate. The pancakes were huge! My husband would have been in heaven. Those massive pancakes were indeed excellent and love the hint of sweetness. The chicken was friend hard, which is my preference, but unfortunately, lacked flavor. It was literally a piece of friend meat with no seasoning. Everyone at the table was pleased with their selections. Portion sizes were great, bacon was crispy and grits were creamy. Overall, we really enjoyed it!

    IG: @foodsnoblegacy Mississippi Catfish Amandine

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    If you love creole food and New Orleans culture The Second restaurant In midtown Memphis is perfect

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    Ask the Community - The Second Line

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    McEwen's Memphis

    McEwen's Memphis

    4.4
    (663 reviews)
    3.6 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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    Complimentary biscuit
    Mahogany River Terrace

    Mahogany River Terrace

    3.5
    (71 reviews)
    4.0 mi

    This place is absolutely beautiful! The food was delicious, and the service was great. I think host…read morecould use a bit more training, though--the table and floors were a bit sticky. I also didn't like that they only had cans for drinks. I usually order tea, but it was a bit tricky to get a refill. Still, I'm definitely coming back to try more!

    Went here for my birthday brunch on 6/14/26. The service was terrible. The food was either over…read moreseasoned or under seasoned. The ambiance and decor of the restaurant was impeccably impressive. Definitely a great spot for pictures. The vegan Salisbury steak and vegan eggrolls were great! Our table had: "Johnnie Cat" which was blackened catfish over dirty rice with crawfish. The fish was salty and wet. Fried chicken and crab Mac and cheese. The chicken was not cooked completely. It was pink on the inside and still had feathers on it. The crab Mac and cheese was just crab meat placed on top of the dry white macaroni. The chicken was sent back and took another 30 minutes to come back out. This time is was cooked a little better with less pink but there were still feathers on it. I guess the cooks expected the grease to fry the feathers off. Idk. Crab and spinach dip- uncooked warm crab meat on top of spinach dip. Just not good at all. Collard greens with pot likka and hoe cakes. Super salty. From the greens to the thin cornbread was super salty. Cabbage and hoe cakes. Unseasoned cabbage, salty, thin cornbread. Hawaiian Ribeye cooked medium well with mashed potatoes. Ribeye full of fat , like 80% of fat and rubbery. Potatoes were good. Let's not forget the beignets. Baby fried Hawaiian rolls! Absolutely terrible and hard! Find another option because these are NOT IT! And our server , Daleecia..... let's not start but I can honestly say that I think she was the only server on the lower level. Our water wasn't refilled until we asked 20 minutes later because obviously nobody thought we needed more and when the 4th person, the drink wasn't brought until maybe 10 minutes later. Dishes were left empty on the table as we sat and asked for them to be removed due to the clutter. Overall for a $280 ticket that included gratuity, I was highly disappointed with the experience and service. I was so excited to go experience Mahogany which was why I chose this location for brunch. I had heard so many great reviews. Now I feel robbed. I should have took pictures but the experience had us doing more talking than anything looking for something to like.

    Photos
    Dining room - 3 levels
    Dining room - 3 levels
    Seafood Platter
    Seafood Platter
    Chicken and Waffles

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    Chicken and Waffles
    Swamp Bar

    Swamp Bar

    4.2
    (49 reviews)
    0.0 mi

    We came on a Saturday right at opening (5 PM) and people were already posted up at the bar--which…read moretells you everything you need to know. The bar itself is intimate with about 8 seats, so get there early if you want one. From the outside, the place looks like a literal house, but once you step inside it's a whole vibe: low lighting, great music, and nonstop food and drinks flowing. The bartenders were amazing--friendly, attentive, and clearly know what they're doing. We ordered wings, fries, Brussels sprouts, and spring rolls, plus a spicy margarita and French 75s. Every single thing hit. The food came out quick, fresh, and piping hot, and the drinks were perfectly balanced. By the time we left around 7 PM, the place was completely packed. This spot fills up fast for a reason. Can't wait to come back and work our way through more of the menu. Highly recommend--this is a must-visit.

    Swamp Bar has the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to stay awhile. The vibe is great, there…read moreis plenty of seating, and the inside DJ keeps the energy going. One suggestion: the front patio could really benefit from some music. Even a low-volume speaker tied into the DJ's system would help create the same experience outside without disturbing the neighborhood. The biggest challenge is parking. Street parking is risky, and several visitors have learned the hard way that tickets are easy to get. Save yourself the headache and use the parking garage across the street for about $4. It's worth it compared to a $25 parking ticket. Unfortunately, service was the weakest part of the experience. The staff appeared overworked, overwhelmed, and likely short-staffed. While that is understandable, the customer experience suffered. There was very little interaction from greeters, servers, or bartenders. Guests are instructed to wait to be seated, but there was little guidance, communication, or assistance. Long waits and a lack of acknowledgment made the visit frustrating. Food was mixed. The wings and fries were excellent--so good they disappeared before there was time to take a picture. The spring rolls, however, were under-seasoned, slightly overcooked, and only two come with an order, which felt disappointing for the price. The dipping sauces helped, but the filling could have used more flavor. The standout of the night was the Smash It cocktail. Made with Suntory Toki whiskey, basil, lemon, simple syrup, and an absinthe rinse, it was refreshing, balanced, and absolutely delicious. Easily the highlight of the visit. Would I return? Yes. But next time I'll go with adjusted expectations: eat beforehand, enjoy the atmosphere, grab a cocktail, and consider anything else a bonus. Pro Tips: Order the Smash It cocktail. The wings and fries are worth trying. Park in the garage across the street. Don't expect fast service during busy times. If you're hungry, have a snack before you arrive. Great atmosphere and cocktails, but service and parking keep it from reaching its full potential. With better staffing and a little more attention to guests, this place could easily be a 5-star experience.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Spicy margs and fries
    Spicy margs and fries
    Bar

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    Bar

    The Second Line - cajun - Updated June 2026

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