Well this place did not impress my husband and I. But it could have been because we were Hungry!!! The food was ok. I ordered the catfish po boy. It was hot but lacked in seasoning. The fries were homemade fries. Hmmm let's just say they were fries. My husband had the pancakes, bacon and eggs. The pancakes were thick (a good thing) but they gave you sorghum syrup to eat with it. For those not familiar with Sorghum syrup, it's Delta syrup or the thick syrup most of us eat with biscuits. So that was a personal turnoff. The bacon. Hmmm it was AWFUL. It had an aftertaste that we couldn't figure out what and why? We didn't hate the place but it didn't leave us with wanting to add to our must visit list! read more

I had wanted to go to Second Line since my son started college in Memphis. Finally tonight we went. What a disappointment. Our server Jim was below average. The four of us were constantly waiting for him to come to the table-for menus, water, to take our order and finally check. The food was OK. We started with the pimento cheese, crawfish and andouille sausage fries. It was extremely greasy and not enough crawfish with Just a quick one night trip sausage. Sandwiches were good and onion rings were nice and crunchy. The oyster platter may have been good but was room temperature when served, seemed to have sat in window too long. I was looking forward to ordering the bread pudding but service took so long I had to get my son back to campus. I mentioned I may come back to pick some up as we were staying just down the block. The waiter stated it takes 5 minutes to get it ready. When we were on our way back I called to order my dessert. The girl who answered the phone said they don't do take out on weekends. We explained out situation still No bread pudding for me! Jeez it was 10pm, who knew the kitchen was still backed up. read more

There's an important question you should ask yourself, to temper your expectations here: have you ever been to New Orleans? If not, you're in for a treat! The place certainly has a New Orleans-y look and feel to it. Everything from the art, the furniture, the menus, makes you feel like you're not in Memphis. The BBQ shrimp and gumbo taste like what you imagine good Cajun food must be. They even have Crystal and Louisiana hot sauces. If you've never been to New Orleans, this is a nice little bite. If you HAVE been to New Orleans, then you'll realize this little 'bite' is not the same as a taste. Those BBQ shrimp were half the size as you'd find in any respectable New Orleans restaurant. While tasty, the flavor was a bit off (too heavy on the Worcestershire sauce?). The bread, which should have been soft and sponge-like for sopping up the sauce, was far too crispy. And when the waitress read off the dessert menu and mentioned a root beer float with IBC instead of Abita (Louisiana's very own), that's when Second Line's credibility really tanked. Seriously, if you like root beer even a little, find some Abita. They know their bread pudding, though, I'll give them that. Top notch all the way, with candied pecans, caramel sauce, and a scoop of ice cream on top. For a few minutes, all was forgiven. So, yes, Second Line has the atmosphere and the trappings of a traditional New Orleans restaurant but lacks some of the authenticity. I could see myself coming here with friends to enjoy a few cocktails from their impressive drink list, maybe enjoying a snack. Not sure I would see myself coming back just to eat. I would like to sample a few more offerings from the menu, though, so I'll give them another chance. read more

We had been wanting to try The Second Line and decided to go last night. For a Friday at 6:15, it was busy but we were seated right away. We missed Happy Hour by about 15 minutes but the Happy Hour drink prices looked pretty great. The service was excellent. Our water glasses were ALWAYS full and when our other drinks were low we were always asked if we wanted more. The Fried Gulf Shrimp Poboy was excellent. The side of fries was more than enough. The food was better than expected. The prices were right in line with what I would have expected for what I got. Excellent date night place, will definitely be back! read more

Unfortunately, I have to give my first visit to The Second Line two stars. My girlfriends and I sat on the patio this past Saturday night, and waited quite a while for our two appetizers. Once they arrived we devoured the pimento cheese fries and bbq shrimp, only because we were starving. We asked for more bread to finish off the gravy in the shrimp dish - which is 1.00 for extra bread. I'm shocked that you charge your guests for extra bread. We then ordered our second course - I ordered the fried oyster poboy. which I didn't get to enjoy because the bottom fell out of the skies when an unexpected thunderstorm decided to rain on our parade. We moved under the bar outside. Yes, the rain was totally out of their control, but the server decided to walk our food through the rain to box it... Yeah, that happened. The first half of the poboy wasn't even that great. Finally, we were moved inside and basically ignored at that point. Our server really just wanted us to leave. We all have kids and we were trying to have a good time out; our food was bland and expensive. Oh, and valet parking is $8. Better luck next time, maybe? Meh. read more

First time here. I had the Mississippi catfish and grits. It was absolutely delish!!!!! The cocktail, the Professor Plum and it was very tasty! read more

The Second Line - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Despite overall "meh" and "it's alright" descriptions from friends, I was excited to try this place as Iris is generally the most solid bet in town (if you plan ahead and can get in). I wend in with an open mind, but in the end walked away feeling disappointed with Second Line. New Orleans food means different things to different people. The menu at Second Line seems like it is trying to kick up standard NOLA po-boy shop and festival foods into casual fine-dining flare. The menu, in this regard, is not well balanced. Food items are very heavy throughout -- think starches, starches, starches and fried, fried, fried. Fine in moderation, but not well balanced with options of lighter menu choices. For example, of the two salads one has fried oysters and the other was smothered in feta and vinaigrette that was essentially all oil. Overall, execution was okay, not great. Seasoning and attention to detail off in over half of our menu items. Didn't love the presentation (metal trays, metal bowls -- nothing breakable in that place save the glassware) and the fact that there is no place to really stand/wait inside when the tables are full and bar seats occupied. Kind of wish this was a lounge/expansion of Iris rather than a separate concept. Bottom line, if you want classic casual NOLA food - take a weekend trip and dine out in New Orleans. read more

All i can think about is the greens i had here!!! Dare i say that they were the best ive ever had in a restaurant! I seriously thought they had my momma held up in the kitchen! I also had the oyster po boy which was unbelievable! the server did suggest that i have them put their sauce on it and wow she was on point with that! I will definitely be going back!!! read more

It was perfect. You can tell that everyone working there is really devoted to making the place a success. The cocktail prices look more reasonable than I think is usual. I stuck with beer, almost all local brews on tap. I had the meat pie, roasted beat shwarma, green onion and oyster rangoons to start. And for dinner I had the besh, barbecue shrimp poboy. I know you're all "WOW, he most definitely over ordered!" Or "I bet he's significantly over weight." Well, it was my birthday....so screw you. For dessert, I had Restaurant Iris's bread pudding.....dead. So great. If you can't afford/can't get into Iris, this will definitely do. read more

Ate on a date w/my daughter. Nothing for kids so skip it if you have little ones with you. She ordered the burger upon suggestion by our server. It was good but being on a po boy bun made it huge for her. I had gumbo, I think, it wasn't memorable, not a full body of flavors like I expected it to be from all the hype about the restaurant. Our (pregnant) server seemed annoyed that we were there and it showed in our empty drinks. It was good we were sitting so close to the host so she refilled our drinks. I had to stop the server to ask for our food to be boxed and the check.....then again for the check. Overall just a very OK experience not great or particularly memorable as I had hoped. I left out that we were in a standard height table with a pub height at an uncomfortable distance. We had dinner with the gentleman's butt crack. read more

Excellent food. Love the roast beef po'boy, the chicken livers, and the Bloody Marys are the best I've ever had.

This is my second time here and i must say i haven't been disappointed. The staff (Will and Chris especially) are really friendly and helpful. I'll be back. I recommend the happy enchiladas! read more

Rather disappointed. I am a big fan of Iris however this endeavor was not worth the drive, time, or money. We started with the crab/corn hushpupies and were surprised at the greasy, heavy flavor. It was as if the grease needed to be changed. I asked the bartender for a dark and stormy and he asked, "rum and ginger beer?". If a bar stocks ginger: beer I think the barkeeper should know. I switched to goose and tonic and it was a very honest drink. The shrimp poboy was good. Not great; but good. The fries came out the exact same as the hushpuppies leading me to believe it is a Grease problem. Nice atmosphere but I expected more from Chef English. read more

First time here and wow! The catfish and the poboys are excellent. Hard to find this type cuisine here in Memphis that actually has flavor. Cheese grits and red beans and rice are great also. Highly recommend if you are in midtown. Chef English knocks it out of the park. read more

The Second Line - The jalapeño rose is a nice change of pace. Try it - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

The atmosphere was good, it is really tiny inside so get there early or be prepared to wait- we had about a 30 minute wait which wasn't bad as we got beers from the bar. On draft they have all local high cotton beers, I like that. Now the food...started with the crab hush puppies, oh.my.gosh...the most delicious hush puppies I have ever ate. Seriously amazing. We both got subs, I had the catfish poboy and my boyfriend had the beef and Swiss poboy. His was better than mine. I would pass on the catfish poboy next time...too thin of a piece of fish for the baguette they use on the poboy. Bread was way too thick and crunchy. Fries I wasn't a fan of either. Looked like they had been dropped in the grease and deep fried about 3 times...really dark brown color and soggy. Overall I don't think our meal was worth $65(after tip)...but I would be back-only for drinks and appetizers though. Def wouldn't make this a new dinner spot. Patio should be nice when it's warmer outside too read more

I've been to Second Line several times although this is my first review. It's turning out to be my favorite place in Overton Square for a mature crowd and a good "grown up" drink! Dinner here is heavy, don't come if you're on a diet. Most items on both the appetizer and the dinner menu are either fried or dipped in heavy butter or sauce. I usually opt for a po-boy, the shrimp one being my favorite. The shrimp are always well portioned and well seasoned and the dish comes with fries. The drinks are likewise good, but they don't have a large variety of vodka based cocktails. Ultimately I go with the "Kudzu" or a glass of red wine and I'm happy. The thing that I like most about this spot is that the crowd isn't loud and swamped in beer and there aren't many kids running around like you find at some other spots in the square. read more

Went last Saturday night with my girlfriend. She had the shrimp po-boy. I had the roast beef. Both with the crispy fries. Service was great as ever. We have been a few times before Covid and either eat at the bar or at a table. This was the first time on the outside patio. Did not see Chef English this time but in the passed he was there and he always made a point to speak to all guests. Memphis is lucky to have someone who promotes our city and local eateries as Chef Kelly English does. He is just a great guy who serves great food. read more

I went with a large party (6) on a Wednesday. It was crowed and we squeezed in 4 at the bar seats. Many couples and parties of 4 where seated, all who came after us. We waited over an hour and were seated only after complaining. The wait was mitigated by some tasty food, with a creole + southern fried flavor. Bbq shrimp, fried oysters, french fries and gravy (poutine), hush puppies, rice and beans. The crab fritters where difficult to differentiate from hush puppies. The Wine list was ok and moderately priced. Draft beer selection was limited. As noted in other reviews, I concur that the bar tender was condescending. The Po boy, roast beef, was good but could have had more beef. In summary, the service limited the experience, the food was very good, but lacked the creativity of the best restaurants that I have been to. Will I go again? Yes, but never with a large group. Hog and hominy, another small plate restaurant, is better. read more

Sorry was lacking heart and soul. Noble attempt and decor was nice as was the atmosphere. When I hear creole I expect spicy and life! Can say its good pub food at best. Neat concept and presentation just didn't get the heart and soul of the food. Flavors weren't there for me. Where was the rich butter and onion and peppers? Cheese fries (oily) Red beans and cheese grits (Bland) Beet greens (watery) Beet Shwarma (nice earthy) Hot potato salad (different) Oyster plate (saving grace) If your able to wait to eat and socialize this is it, just ashame the flavor is lost. Wish them the best of luck with the new outdoor dinning. P.R. is everything in the food industry but the proof is in the taste and it just wasn't there for me! read more

Our first visit was on a Sunday at 2:30pm. The place is inviting and has great appeal when you walk in. We were quickly greeted and requested the patio, which was not available/had a LONG wait, so we requested one of the front tables by the window, which the person was going to clean. While waiting for the table to be cleaned, another couple came in (actually 3rd couple to come in behind us) and a different staffer took the couple directly to the table we were waiting on. Well, yes, we were a little put off and did say something to the staff before the couple got seated. It didn't matter, by golly! They now had dibs on our table and that was that! Obviously, I'm now, not in a pleasant mood (okay, I pouted, because I didn't get what I wanted). Anyway, our new waitress was very pleasant (didn't offer to make amends, but was very attentive and pleasant) and she and my wife slowly worked me out of my funk! :-) Well, on to the food. We ordered the fried oyster plate and the roast beef with gravy poboy, based on the waitress's recommendation and actually, the recommendation of a great couple we had struck up a conversation with, sitting at the bar by the front door. They were both absolutely spot-on! The food was really prepared well and had a great taste. The poboy was so good that I decided then and there that I could and indeed would forgive the earlier oversight and will go back again for the food. I want to give the place a 3-star for the airhead who seated a couple, arriving 3rd behind us at a table we had been waiting 10 minutes for, but our waitress and the food keeps it up higher. I do think I could even give a 5-star rating with an overall great experience and consistent great food on follow-up visits. Overall, the food was outstanding and our waitress was great! read more

Couple things worth mentioning: - the place has very few tables and it is cramped. - because of above, be ready to wait a long time. - there is bar section, but those also small and cramped. - neighborhood behind is not parking spot. Use parking buildings. There is also valet. Now, for food wise. They are good and enjoyable. There is one side item that is worth all the wait in the world, and it is red bean and rice. It is so good that I had that, and ordered and extra to go. It is super good, and feels home made. read more

OMG can I just say, this place never disappoints. You absolutely cannot go wrong with the cheeseburger (I know that can be said for most places but it's one of the best I've ever had, seriously!) Made my husband split it with me tonight and he raved about it. It's that good! BBQ shrimp is delicious and a pretty good portion. You'll need the whole loaf of bread to sop up the juices and you're welcome. Lastly the bartender seemed to be very good and could whip up anything you'd like. Tasty Moscow mule and I'm picky about those! Run don't walk because they are usually crowded and it's no surprise why. Love this place. read more

Great food and awesome service! Not too many places have Blanton's bourbon so that was a pleasant surprise. The cheese fries were amazing too. Nice job everyone!! read more

I had such a wonderful time at Playhouse on the Square. The best ending to my day came by taking a short walk to The Second Line for my first meal there. I am jealous of the ease for those who live close by to walk to entertainment and dining. Being it was Valentines weekend we were a bit wary of a crowd, but since we went directly after the Playhouse matinee we were very early in the dinner hour. We liked the casual exposed brick atmosphere (although I do not care for the terra cotta/ turquoise wall colors.) Our server was very descriptive of the specials. The spouse decided on a Po boy and I got a pick 3 of "groceries". The Po Boy was tasty and the onion rings were crispy and large. I loved my grocery items of fancy (Asian flavors) cole slaw, cheese grits (swoon) and spinach Madeleine. There is a full bar and local beers on tap. We would love to live closer to a place like this. read more

Me and a friend decided to try this out for the first time. We both got the Mississippi fried catfish plate except she substituted red beans and rice for the fries that usually come with the entree. I wish I had done the same because the fries were BLEH. I tried her red beans and rice and it was BOMB, so I definitely recommend if you like red beans and rice. I didn't care for the slaw that was served with the entree. I felt the fish could have been more seasoned as this is a cajun/creole restaurant, so I wasn't impressed with it at all. It tasted plain. The hush puppies that come with the entree had a unique taste, not in a good or bad way, just different. Overall, for a $16 entree of fish and fries, I could've gotten better elsewhere for less. Other observations, the server was nice, didn't have any problems with service. The place also seems small, like it could get crowded quickly, luckily we only had a party of 2 and were seated quickly. I get the feeling that may not always be the case though especially if you have a bigger party of people. It was a nice comfortable setting. They have a beautiful bar setup, and they have tv's in case you like to dine solo or something. I give it a 3 because even though I wasn't crazy about my entree and the price of it, the place has potential, definitely would order something different if I were to go back. read more

The wait staff is very informative and helpful. Try the spinach it is so creamy and delicious! The coleslaw is made with sesame oil, which, I prefer a traditional slaw and this is definitely not that. Everything else was amazing, tinder and delicious. Also, use the Louisiana hot sauce on the shrimp appetizer. It made everything magical read more

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The atmosphere was grand, parked along the side of the restaurant. Food came out fast, there wasn't a huge choice of food to choose from. However, I ordered baked fish. The very tasty sauce that came with it was absolutely needed. Great first time experience, great for a bar experience. Mediocre overall. read more

Probably the best po-boys you can get in Memphis. There are many other things on the lunch menu that are great, and for the money, it's even better. You can get a great lunch for $12-15. Highly recommended. I wish they were open more often during the week! read more

Funky menu. I like the uniqueness of this place and enjoy myself everytime I go. The food is cooked properly and the quality is impressive. These areas deserve 5 stars. Reason for 4 stars, the menu seems small. Give me some more options, please. read more

Great place. I'm not one to hold back when I'm exploring during work trips. No exception here. The poboys were tempting, so I ordered 2! I went with the shrimp poboy and a side of the cheesy grits, then the roast beef poboy with a side of fries. Downside was the cheesy grits. Good corn flavor but otherwise extremely bland. Even the cheese didn't pop much. The fries were fresh and crispy, verging on crunchy. A little more over cooked then I prefer (I like some softer fries too), but that's my preference. Tasted great. The poboys, I'm not sure what to say. The shrimp was very fresh tasting, great shrimp and not too many additions/condiments. The roast beef was juicy, tender, and the roll just got that little bit of soft from the gravy that was perfect. Honestly, I couldn't pick which was my favorite. I staggered eating each half of each and they complimented so well. Crunch seafood and tender beef. I made room for dessert... bread pudding. Very tasty as well. A large portion, warm, and delicious. read more

I had no idea this place existed until a Louisiana native friend of mine insisted that we go a couple of months ago. She took me there as a treat for my birthday and it was so awesome I couldn't wait to go back. Both times that I have gone have been late evening...and, judging by the negative reviews for this place, I'm assuming day shift employees must not have their hospitality panties on like the evening shift staff. My friend and I ordered drinks off the cocktail menu...ridiculously expensive but sooo good. I don't remember what she got but it tasted like lemon merengue pie and was amazing. She ordered meat pies...unfortunately she didn't consider that they may use a mayo based sauce for them until after the order was put in and the staff were wonderful when she asked about it. She offered to scrape off the mayo sauce and they felt so bad they brought her a whole new batch! She loved them. I had the beef and gravy po boy and red beans and rice. I am a red beans and rice connoisseur, if I do say so myself...it is extremely hard to please me on that front, but these were delicious. Albeit, the second time I went, there was way too much sausage in it for my taste...but that's just my taste ;) The second time I went, my mother joined me and our server was a delight. She spent a fair amount of time explaining each item my mom asked about, and didn't seem even the slightest bit annoyed...EVEN AFTER HAVING TO RETURN THREE TIMES BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T DECIDE! Very positive attitude! Overall, I love the place. Kind of small, and the sidewalk outside is insanely dangerous. But the ambience is cozy and friendly. I'll have to swing by during the day once to see if the feel is the same! read more

I made my first trip here this week and I wish I hadn't of waited so long. We got there around 6 on a Tuesday night. There was no wait but it did fill up fast. They have local beer on draft which I like a lot. We started with the BBQ shrimp and happy enchiladas. Both of these starters were very good. We even got a second piece of bread to continue soaking up the bbq shrimp sauce. It was that good. For entrees I got to try the catfish piquant and the chicken and andouille gumbo. Each dish was superb. The restaurant was clean as I liked the ambiance they had goin. Service was quick and friendly as well. I will be back here for sure. read more

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The Second Line is a relatively new bar in Overton Square. It has the same owner as it's next door neighbor Restaurant Iris (This is one of my favorite restaurants in Memphis. I haven't been there recently, and I have never written a review.) The restaurant is in a redesigned house. It is always busy, especially the outside. I have only been once (to the inside), but I have tried to go several times, but didn't feel like the long wait. The type of food is New Orleans style. I love the vibe. It feels modern, nice, and kinda classy, but approachable. They have plenty of locally brewed beers on tap. They have a huge bar with tons of selections. We started at the bar, but eventually sat down. The best creation ever is the andouille, crawfish, and pimento cheese fries. Second Line takes loaded cheese fries to a new level and sets a new bar. One friend ordered a poboy. I can't remember which type. They have a lot. My friend chose the side of hot potato salad. It was good, with a kick. Another friend also ordered a poboy, with a side of fancy ass cole slaw. It was pretty good as well. Another friend ordered the fried shrimp and fries. That meal was also good. Now back to the best items IMHO. My friend and I ordered 4 things to share. I think we pretty much won on the best food chosen. We had the skillet cornbread. It came out piping hot in a mini skillet. I couldn't stop eating it; it was so good. We also got the red beans and rice. The portion was huge. Besides the wonderful loaded fries, we shared the cheese grits, which were covered in cheese. We also got a spinach casserole called the spinach madeline. It was also one of the best things of the night. They bring the checks in a cute metal cup. This is my favorite new bar of 2014. The food is awesome. The service is awesome. read more

Exactly what I hoped for! The loaded cheese fries are the best thing ever. The waiter was very helpful on our first visit and walked us through the menu. read more

I believe the first step to treating an addiction is publicly acknowledging it as an overriding obsession and The Second Line's barbecue shrimp about meets that criteria. The sauce is unforgettably complex and incredible to the point that we would not let the wait staff remove it until it transformed itself from shrimp sauce to a po boy dipping option! It has oyster juice, shrimp stock, Worcestershire sauce, butter and pepper making for a decadent option.. The environment is festive with a New Orleans vibe to it. Staff is attentive and quirky at times, but service is efficient. The Second Line's bread is shipped in from New Orleans and this small effort makes a huge and authentic impression. All of the sides we tried from the red beans and rice to spinach madeline were healthy portions and delicious. It was great to see Owner and Chef Kelly English a consistent presence in the restaurant checking on various tables and clients. We thoroughly enjoyed our fried catfish po boy and one made from chicken thighs. A second line band may follow the main band, but not in this case. At The Second Line, the food is the star! Overall fun atmosphere, excellent food and many reasons to keep going back! Sally read more

The pimento cheese fries alone give this place 5 stars in my mind. But everything that was placed in front of us was outstanding. The fried oyster poboy was awesome and a perfect balance of crispy, chewy, savory, and spicy. The service was also incredible. Great dinner. read more

An unexpectedly small treasure. This place has amazing food and a great atmosphere. Great customer service. We had so much fun!

My friends have raved about the patio here and about how good the food was. I was so excited that I arranged my birthday party here. First off, this place is NOT good for large groups and they are NOT afraid to tell you so. They don't take reservations, so planning for a large group really isn't feasible. My dinner was on a Monday, and I called a week ahead and then again on that day, and the hostess was trying to deter me from even coming it seemed. We all showed up and they made it happen, but damn, I felt like a bother up front. Food was excellent! Everyone seemed to be happy. The Pimento Cheese fries and the shrimp appetizers were especially delish! However, I can't bump up the stars because the portions are rather small and their prices rather high. Overall, it was a good experience, but it didn't leave a lasting impression.... read more

All around great spot! Great to hang with friends or take a date. Food is always solid. Tried most everything on the menu. Go enjoy it.

Sunday brunch was great! The atmosphere was very inviting and overall the service was outstanding.