Beyond Barbecue

It’s hard to think of Memphis and not hunger for a slab of Rendezvous ribs or one of Cozy Corner’s Cornish game hens. But the city’s palate is evolving. In recent years, a number of young up-and-coming chefs have been bringing their talents to Memphis in the form of intimate and authentic establishments. We’re talking about the gastropub.

A perfect fit for Memphis, the gastropub trend introduces local, seasonal and still very Southern cuisine to a city that’s always appreciated a more affordable plate and good drinks to go with it. Two new restaurants epitomize that experience, South of Beale and Bar None. Located on South Main, South of Beale was the first to bring the gastropub to Memphis. You’ll find chef-driven items on their menu like seared duck, roasted mushroom salad and Guinness elk chili, as well as a large selection of beers, including choices from Memphis’ own Ghost River Brewery. Just a few blocks north on Main, Bar None takes an intelligent and cool approach to classic comfort foods like chicken pot pie, crab cake sliders, blue cheese potato skins and ice cream sandwiches with bourbon vanilla ice cream.

Local as a concept is also taking root in Memphis. With Arkansas just over the river and Mississippi just south of the city, Memphis’ location is ideal for restaurants that want to feature local and regional food sources. Iris, one of the best new restaurants in the city, takes that concept pretty seriously by making sure that all patrons read the following disclaimer before making a reservation: “In order to provide you with the freshest ingredients, menus are subject to change frequently, depending on the season and products available at the farmers’ market.” In addition to Iris, Cooper-Young’s Au Fond Farmtable, Downtown’s Trolley Stop Market and Café Eclectic’s two locations (Midtown and Harbor Town) are all reason to feel good about Memphis food.