Vibes- very cool, artsy location with dim lighting and an eclectic crowd…read moreDrinks- pretty & strong, but probably 8/10 on flavor Pasta- 10/10 probably hands down the best pasta I've had in a long while. Rich, well seasoned, and fresh Service was also awesome and there's a secret dessert menu our group really enjoyed!

It pains me to have to leave this review. I came here once before several months ago and was very…read moreimpressed. I had a fantastic espresso martini and the best brussel sprouts I've ever tasted! So I was excited to come try something else. On the plus side, the bathroom was so nicely decorated. It was also very clean. I sat at the end of the bar, beside the little section of books. The bartender was nice. I ordered the Ember&Passion cocktail. Although it was pretty good, it was quite mild. Unexpected with the ingredients in it. I was surprised that the level of expected heat was not very detectable. I give it 7/10. When I came here before in the winter, the temperature was perfect and I don't remember being too bothered that they don't have cocktail napkins. But yesterday it was quite warm in the restaurant and not having these napkins wasn't good. Nobody in the restaurant had any type of napkin under any drink! I noticed that just like mine, every glass of water from every patron had a puddle of condensation under the glass. Each time I picked up my glass of water, it would drip onto my food and clothes. My two menus got so wet. I suppose they made this decision to save themselves a lot of money. As for the food: My parmesan truffle fries were excellent!! Hot, crispy on the outside and perfectly cooked in the middle. Best I've had in a long time. The Alabama white sauce on the side was just your typical sauce. It tasted just like every other Alabama white sauce that I've had so was not disappointing. But I actually ended up not using it because it was too thin and it didn't add anything to the fries. The fries were excellent enough on their own. I ordered my burger "pink" but there wasn't any pink to it, but I wasn't that bothered about it. Burger and the toppings were tasty, except for the fried green tomato. Looking closely at the picture, you can see that it was SO SMALL compared to the size of the burger. When a restaurant does that, don't they realize that it makes for a glaring disappointment?! It apparently came from near the end of the tomato, and not the middle. If you are going to offer a fried green tomato on a burger, then I feel as if you should only use the larger slices of the tomato, and save the smaller ends for maybe putting in salads. I've always been obsessed with fried green tomatoes. After having my first two bites of burger and still not reaching the tomato, I took it off to eat by itself. Sadly, it tasted terrible! I was surprised. Obviously, they didn't season the tomato or the batter. (Salt and pepper go a long way.) The burger toppings apparently made the tomato batter not only soggy, but also this strange thick texture. Like mushy and chewy at the same time. 1/10 Worst problem: FLIES!!! So many flies! When I just had my drink but no food yet, I noticed them but was not bombarded by them at that point. It wasn't until my food came. All of a sudden I was literally surrounded by them. They were everywhere! No exaggeration. I actually had to use only one hand to eat and the other hand to constantly move back and forth over my food. I eventually gave up and set the plate of some of my fries about 4 inches in front of my burger in order to hopefully draw the flies to the fries so that I could eat my burger. Unfortunately, after only four bites of my burger, when I set it down to take a drink of water, a fly landed on it within one second. Obviously, that was my last bite, and even when I was moving the plate closer to the end of the counter, two more flies landed on it. The glass of straws was inches from me. That, and the book closest to me seemed to be where they gathered to wait for their opportunity to dive bomb me. So many of them! It turned my stomach when I realized that I had been drinking from a straw with my water and I'm sure there had been flies on it before I got there. Every person that gets a straw in their drink at this restaurant has had a fly sitting on top of it. When the bartender told me about the desserts, it turned my stomach to think of just how many flies were in the kitchen. Had I known the fly situation was that bad when I first got my drink, I would have never stayed there, and I certainly would have never ordered food. I do think it is a real shame because the winter months are a totally different experience in that restaurant. But because of how horrible it was this time, I just can't ever come back.

Had a a recent solo date here? I'm a big fan of this restaurant. The food and the service is always…read moregreat! Trust me....get the Miso Deviled Eggs. It's like a ramen bowl in a single bite! The seasonal dish really surprised me! Pan seared Black Cod with Green coconut curry, roasted squash, shiitake mushrooms, rice balls, cilantro and guajillo oil.

Miso Deviled eggs Dubu Jorim (lentil cake )…read more Charred radicchio Caesar salad Halibut French onion tartine We had an excellent experience. Three came for dinner and shared a number of plates. If you get several plates, the sharing quantity is fine. We were actually too full to eat dessert. It was an excellent meal. Very energetic and excited waitress helped us select, guided us and revelled with us when we celebrated the delicious food. A very calming and nicely done, ambience. Highly recommend

Amazing cocktails and bites. The line can get long at the bar so plan out your drinks accordingly…read more Salmon bites and burger are top 5 meals after drinking. Delicious sausage and cheese platter too. BONUS they have Gotta Get up to Get down on tap.

The customer service here is so amazing. Very pleased. They were kind me to last night when I…read morearrived after hours, and still hooked me up with a glass of wine. Today I needed a catfish fix- it's been like 10 years. So I got the catfish sandwich, which was huge. And OMG THE MOST AMAZING FRIES Glad it's raining, otherwise I might have gone elsewhere. I loved it Next time I'll try the chicken club, everyone else ordered that and absolutely loved it, glad I got the catfish but I have to try that club next time

Babalu continues to be one of my favorite spots in Memphis. Every visit reminds me why I keep…read morecoming back. Great food, creative cocktails, and a staff that goes the extra mile. The lamb sliders remain my go-to. They're consistently juicy, flavorful, and cooked perfectly every time. Paired with the crispy fries, it's a meal that never disappoints. This visit, I ordered a Sidecar, but the bartender didn't have every ingredient needed for the traditional recipe. Instead of saying no, they created their own twist--and it was absolutely delicious. Sometimes improvisation pays off, and this cocktail was proof. The salmon was also excellent. I ordered it prepared the original way instead of the new menu version that includes Brussels sprouts, and it was exactly what I was craving. One of the highlights of the visit was an unexpected surprise from our waiter, who brought us a sample of their avocado ice cream. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was creamy, smooth, and surprisingly delicious. It was a thoughtful gesture that added to an already great dining experience. The only disappointment? They no longer offer the flight sampler. I was genuinely sad to see it gone because it was one of my favorite ways to experience several menu items in one visit. Overall, Babalu continues to deliver excellent food, attentive service, and outstanding drinks. Even with the flight no longer available, it's still one of my top recommendations in Memphis. 5/5 Stars - Consistent quality, excellent hospitality, and a place I'll gladly keep returning to.

It's been a few years since I last stepped foot into Babalu, so I decided to swing by this weekend…read moreto see if it still held up. The vibe is just as cool and energetic as I remembered, and having that parking garage right in the back makes hitting this part of town completely painless. I sat down with one thing on my mind: their tuna club. It used to be my absolute go-to. I opened up the menu, flipped through it twice, and my heart sank when I realized it was completely gone--looks like they updated the menu and cut it loose. When our server came by, I must have looked visibly defeated because he asked what was wrong. I told him I'd been craving that tuna club for years. He told me to hang tight, walked back to the kitchen, and somehow convinced the chef to whip one up for me anyway since they had the ingredients on hand. Talk about elite, next-level customer service. While they were working on that, we started with the table-side guacamole. It's still spectacular--super fresh, completely customizable, and served with those thick, hearty chips that actually don't break when you scoop. When the tuna club came out, it was exactly how I remembered it. Perfect sear, bursting with flavor, and paired with those roasted potatoes. My buddy got the burger and said it was cooked perfectly, though the cheese on his potatoes made them a little on the salty side. Huge shoutout to the kitchen staff and our killer server for going above and beyond for a returning guest. Babalu still has it. I won't wait years to come back next time.

Tsunami is a staple in this neighborhood of Memphis, Tennessee and sadly, they announced they are…read moreclosing. I shall miss Tsunami. It was a cool place e where the service was friendly, the food was good and the ambiance was pleasant. I shall miss here and wish all involved the best of luck in their future endeavors.

Beautiful interior, attentive staff, GREAT bartender and nice food quality…read more We sat at the bar, watching the amazing bartender do his thing and wait on us. Reservations are needed for busy days, but the bar is first come first serve.

Ah... this was just so freakin' good. And done so well. I don't know why there's not like a hundred…read morepeople waiting in line to eat at this place. Sure, I'd like to keep it a secret, so I can get my food fast. But being the great Yelper that I am, here's my gift to you... This food truck in this little food truck area in Cordova has the best grilled beef and pork I've had this year... and is now the newest member of my top 10 list... There I've said it. I don't know what's going on with Memphis and why we have such great food across so many different cultures. But I'm loving it... You won't find better Venezuelan food in any city in the U.S... The meat is roasting outside on a rotating spit, putting off such aromas... there's a bit of a wait, but that's what happens when you're maming wonderful things. The music is blasting, folks are happy, the service is friendly... They may only be open on the weekend for now... but trust me, this is a food truck that's ready for prime time... You're welcome.

From the owner: At Vaquero’s Grill, we don’t just serve Venezuelan food ,we deliver an authentic experience full of…read moreflavor, tradition, and culture. What sets us apart is the fire: we cook with real wood fire, giving every dish a rich smoky aroma and unforgettable taste that no other food truck can match. We use premium-quality meats, 100% natural fresh corn for our cachapas, and homemade recipes that honor the true roots of the Venezuelan plains. Every meal is prepared with passion, authenticity, and attention to detail. More than great food, we offer a warm and welcoming atmosphere where every customer feels like family. At Vaquero’s Grill, you don’t just eat, you experience the true taste of Venezuela in its most authentic form.

What a gem! I wanted to try a new place close to the Orpheum Memphis. I was pleasantly surprised…read morewhen they offered a season ticket holder special for $20-25. The portions were the perfect size too. I ordered the Caesar salad, Wild Mushroom pasta and blueberry gelato. My husband ordered the French dip sandwich. The salad was tasty and they didn't skimp in the Parmesan shavings. The pasta was light and flavorful. We shared the blueberry gelato and I regret that decision! I should have kept the gelato to myself. The five stars: not only was the service and food excellent but the bartender knew what he was doing. My Law Dog was an aromatic dream and so balanced. Definitely going back.

I Couldn't get a drink. Cause I'm gay. I felt like I had to leave cause I felt I uncomfortable , I…read morewas very uncomfortable.it felt targeted towards me... not sure if it was my ethnicity of something else. Definitely not a safe space. I was uncomfortable. Not sure who else was uncomfortable. Don't remember what happened.

Excellent meal all around! Be warned portions are huge so not a typical tapas restaurant. We had…read morethe calamari, the crab claws and scallops and they were excellent, particularly the crab and scallops. The blanco sangria was too sweet for my taste but that's a minor thing. Beautiful space and pleasant and efficient service.

Great food, but service was a bit off. Sat at a bar table and waited 20 min before drink order…read moretaken. We were the only table with no one at the bar, so it was very strange. Great paella, wings, cauli, and sangria!

I made reservations there and I got there and the doors was shut closed. Why would someone be able…read moreto reserve there if they are closed on that day? That doesn't make any sense to me. Cru please update this. I had invited several people and now we are headed to Esco.

This is the last place I would ever go back to so disappointed in this cru location. My friends…read morepurse was stolen and when asked to look at the cameras they did not let us come back in or look for It. The least they could have done was allow me to see the person that took it on the cameras for my police report. Awful place.

Wow...just wow! This is a beautiful restaurant that's only open for dinner. It's definitely a…read moredress-to-impress kind of place, with excellent service and very unique food. The idea of serving "flights" of entrees with three small plates equaling the size of one main entree...so cool! And you can mix and match, though I opted for the traditional Fish flight. This included haddock on a delicious rock shrimp risotto, Chilean sea bass (delicious) over black rice, and some salmon over a puree. Everything was amazing...and even the three small plates were more than enough food. I do wish we'd saved room for the dessert flight.

Alright, lets get into this…read more.. Walking in I was pleasantly surprised...Flight is in a tough location because parking isnt exactly ideal but as soon as you walk up, a hostess opens the door and welcomes you in. I didnt get photos of the restaurant but they have a really cool split floor design, we got to sit upstairs. I recommend you sit upstairs it possible because the first floor gets louder faster if that makes sense. Plenty of very attentive and friendly staff so you will need for nothing while you are there. Now for the food...we started off with the SNAKE RIVER FARMS WAGYU CARPACCIO. It was . My only critique if I had one; I wish it had a little more carpaccio. Now before I get into entree's let me explain how "Flight" works...You can order a single large entree for dinner, orrrrrrr, if you're like me and LOVE food, you can order a flight of three smaller portions of the entree's! Bring your appetite (and your platinum card). I ordered a three entree flight of Bison Ribeye, roasted duck breast and the chilean sea bass. I would rank them in that order although they were all delicious. That bison tho.... The wife ordered a three entree flight of the prime ribeye, sea scallops, and the twin lobster tails. She wasnt a huge fan of the prime ribeye, she said it was a little tough. She loved the scallops and lobster (although she will never forgive herself for dropping a huge piece of lobster on the floor). Oh and her scallops came with this gnocchi that was TO DIE FOR!!!! We finished the night off with a three dessert flight of pistachio mousse, lava cake and apple walnut cobbler. The pistachio mousse was light and refreshing on a hot summer day. She loved her apple cobbler. We werent huge fans of the lava cake. It just didnt have that nostalgic lava cake taste and texture. That and the peppermint gelato it came with was very strong on the peppermint. Im sure some would love it but it just wasnt for us. Last piece Ill mention is just the effort and attention to detail. It was our anniversary and they brought us complimentary glasses of champagne (thank you). They are very deliberate in how they move, their table settings and our server knew her restaurant like a pro. Even down to the way they stage your silverware knowing how their flight plates take up table space. Bravo, Great experience! Definitely a little too pricey to be a frequent spot, but great for special occasions!