Memphis Restaurant Association

Welcome!

Your MRA Recipe of The Day

Memphis, while known as the home of the Blues and the Birthplace of Rock & Roll, is also steeped in a rich culinary tradition like nowhere else. Whether it is our world famous barbecue, our down-home soul food, or our eclectic collection of signature chefs, Memphis brings its residents and visitors alike a variety of dining experiences few other cities can. We would like to take this opportunity to invite everyone to experience our cultural heritage and get to know the members of the Memphis Restaurant Association.

Mike Miller, MRA President

Are you a burgeoning at-home Chef? A Food Network junkie? Let us help you with a new a different recipe for you to try at home every day of the year.

View your Daily Recipe now. Enjoy!

Purchase Gift Certificates online now from participating
MRA member restaurants. They make great gifts for that special occasion.

Well Done! Memphis Magazine Readers Poll Winners

Readers Poll Cont ...

It’s not exactly the Oscars, but for the Memphis restaurant community it is quite a distinguished honor. Earlier this year Memphis Magazine announced the winners of its annual Readers Restaurant Poll. Restaurants are ranked by readers using an on-line ballot and the winners published in Memphis Magazine. Once again MRA member restaurants reign supreme. Congratulations to all the winners and to all our members for the level of integrity they bring to the Memphis dining scene. Without all of you, there would be no poll.

MRA member restaurants shown in italics.

BEST PIZZA
Gold: Memphis Pizza Café
Silver: Old Venice Pizza Company
Bronze: Garibaldi’s Pizza

BEST VIETNAMESE
Gold: Saigon Le
Silver: Pho Saigon
Bronze: Lotus

BEST HOME COOKING
Gold: The Cupboard
Silver: (tie) Blue Plate Cafe, Patrick’s
Bronze: Soul Fish

BEST BRUNCH
Gold: Owen Brennan’s
Silver: The Peabody
Bronze: Restaurant Iris

BEST DESSERTS
Gold: Muddy’s Bake Shop
Silver: Napa Cafe
Bronze: Paulette’s

BEST DELI
Gold: Bogie’s
Silver: Jason’s
Bronze: Fino’s from the Hill

BEST BREAKFAST
Gold: Brother Juniper’s
Silver: Blue Plate Cafe
Bronze: Bryant’s

BEST FRIES
Gold: Huey’s
Silver: Young Avenue Deli
Bronze: Houston’s

BEST ITALIAN
Gold: Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen
Silver: Pete & Sam’s
Bronze: Bari

BEST HIBACHI
Gold: Benihana
Silver: A-Tan
Bronze: Sekisui

BEST MEXICAN
Gold: Happy Mexican
Silver: El Porton
Bronze: El Mezcal

BEST RIBS
Gold: Rendezvous
Silver: Corky’s BBQ
Bronze: Central BBQ

BEST ATMOSPHERE
Awards of Excellence to: Restaurant Iris, Napa Cafe, Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen, Folk’s Folly Original Prime Steak House, Circa

BEST WINE SELECTION
Gold: Napa Cafe
Silver: (tie) Circa, Folk’s Folly Original Prime Steak House Bronze: Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse

BEST BEER SELECTION
Gold: The Flying Saucer
Silver: Boscos
Bronze: Young Avenue Deli

BEST DIVE BAR
Gold: Ernestine & Hazel’s
Silver: Alex’s
Bronze: The Cove

HIPPEST BAR
Gold: Mollie Fontaine Lounge
Silver: Bardog Tavern
Bronze: Spindini

BEST HAPPY HOUR
Merit Awards to: The Flying Saucer, Chili’s, Bardog Tavern

BEST MARGARITAS
Gold: The Happy Mexican
Silver: Molly’s La Casita
Bronze: El Porton

BEST MARTINIS
Awards of Excellence to: The Silly Goose, The Peabody Lobby Bar, Molly Fontaine Lounge, Side Street Bar & Grill

BEST BLOODY MARYS
Gold: Bayou Bar & Grill
Silver: Owen Brennan’s
Bronze: The Majestic Grille

BEST LATE-NIGHT
Gold: Huey’s
Sliver: Earnestine & Hazel’s
Bronze: (tie) Bardog, Belmont Grill

BEST OYSTERS
Gold: The Half Shell
Silver: Pearl’s Oyster House
Bronze: The Flying Fish

BEST PEOPLE-WATCHING
Gold: The Flying Saucer
Silver: The Peabody Lobby Bar
Bronze: Spindini

BEST BBQ SANDWICH
Gold: Central BBQ
Silver: Corky’s BBQ
Bronze: Germantown Commissary

BEST SERVICE
Gold: Restaurant Iris
Silver: Napa Cafe
Bronze: Houston’s

BEST JAPANESE
Gold: Sekisui
Silver: Blue Fin
Bronze: Sakura

BEST STEAK
Gold:Folk’s Folly Original Prime Steak House
Silver: Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Bronze: Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse

BEST SEAFOOD
Gold: Tsunami
Silver: The Half Shell
Bronze: Blue Fish

BEST FRENCH
Gold: Chez Philippe
Silver: Paulette’s
Bronze: Restaurant Iris

BEST THAI
Gold: Bhan Thai
Silver: Bangkok Alley
Bronze: Jasmine Thai

WORTH THE DRIVE
Gold: City Grocery (Oxford, MS)
Silver: Bozo’s Hot Pit BBQ (Mason, TN)
Bronze: Como Steakhouse, Como, MS

RESTAURANT WE MISS MOST
Gold: Encore
Silver: Justine’s
Bronze: Anderton’s

BEST CHINESE
Gold: Wang’s Mandarin House
Silver: A-Tan
Bronze: P.F. Chang’s

BEST INDIAN
Gold: India Palace
Silver: Golden India
Bronze: Mayuri

BEST BURGERS
Gold: Huey’s
Silver: Belmont Grill
Bronze: Kooky Canuck

BEST OUTDOOR DINING
Gold: Boscos
Silver: Café Ole
Bronze: The Majestic Grille

BEST FRIED CHICKEN
Gold: Gus’s Fried Chicken (no other finalists in the category)

BEST PLACE TO WATCH THE GAME
Gold: The Fox & Hound
Silver: Buffalo Wild Wings
Bronze: Brookhaven Pub

BEST LOCAL COFFEE SHOP
Gold: Republic Coffee
Silver: Otherlands
Bronze: Cafe Eclectic

BEST WINGS
Gold: D’Bos Wings-n-More
Silver: Buffalo Wild Wings
Bronze: Hooters

BEST BUSINESS DINNER LOCALE
Gold:Folk’s Folly Original Prime Steak House
Silver: Currents
Bronze: The Grove Grill

BEST NEW RESTAURANT
Gold: Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen
Silver: Flight (no bronze finalist in the category)

BEST RESTAURANT
Gold: Restaurant Iris
Silver: Napa Cafe
Bronze: Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen

BEST MEMPHIS CHEF
Gold: Kelly English of Restaurant Iris
Silver: David Schrier of Currents
Bronze: John Bragg of Circa

To view entire article and voting criteria, log on to memphismagazine.com