Memphis restaurants and food shops that opened in November
Looking to try something new to eat? Here are eight Memphis-area eateries that opened their doors in November.
Chicken Salad Chick
8361 U.S. 64; chickensaladchick.com Chicken Salad Chick opened its fourth Memphis-area restaurant on Nov. 4.
The new company-owned restaurant is located at 8361 U.S. 64 in the Wolfchase neighborhood. The Wolfchase location marks Chicken Salad Chick’s 16th restaurant in Tennessee.
Open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-saturday.
Fishbowl at the Pyramid
1 Bass Pro Drive; (901) 291-8000; big-cypress.com
On Nov. 5, new restaurant Fishbowl at the Pyramid opened inside Bass Pro Shops.
Located in the former Uncle Buck’s restaurant space on the ground level of the Pyramid, the new Fishbowl at the Pyramid restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Expect dishes like a spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich, Catfish & Chips, a Grilled Catfish Sandwich, Gator Bites and beignets.
Filled with nautical décor, the restaurant features an island-themed bar area and a saltwater aquarium.
Open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-saturday and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday.
Elfo’s Pizzeria
5627 Getwell Road, Southaven; (662) 470-4497; facebook.com/elfospizzeria
Elfo’s Pizzeria opened Nov. 13 in Southaven. The latest venture by chef Alex Grisanti, who also runs the 9Dough-1 food truck, will have both a fast-casual side featuring pizzas and prepared meals, as well as a fine dining room featuring Grisanti-family specialties.
Elfo’s is currently serving original Grisanti’s pizzas, salads and desserts out of the pizzeria part of the building. The fine dining side is set to open midDecember. Expect dishes that he served at his former restaurants Elfo’s in Germantown and the original Ronnie Gristanti’s, where he worked with his father Ronnie and brother Judd.
Open 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-saturday.
Bluff City Toffee
5160 Sanderlin, Suite 5; (901) 4868500; bluffcitytoffee.com
Made with Mississippi pecans, Bluff City Toffee‘s made-from-scratch treat is a Southern twist on English toffee. The buttery toffee is a true Memphis original that has quickly become a favorite locally made product.
Stephanie Upshaw launched her business with her tried-and-true milk chocolate pecan toffee. Over the years, she has added new flavors and products. Her biggest addition happened in November — a new retail shop.
On Nov. 17, Bluff City Toffee opened a retail shop at 5160 Sanderlin, Suite 5.
The 1,000-square-foot shop currently serves as a retail shop and a fulfill
ment site for all Bluff City Toffee’s retail, online and custom packaging. In 2021, it will also become the production facility.
Open 1-4 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday or by appointment.
Zen Japanese Fine Cuisine
1730 S. Germantown Road, Germantown; (901) 779-2796; zenjfc.com
Zen Japanese Fine Cuisine opened Nov. 16 at 1730 S. Germantown Road in Germantown. The restaurant is located in the northeast corner of the Thornwood shopping center.
The menu features Japanese specialties, as well as a full sushi bar.
Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef Binh Nguyen is in charge of the kitchen. Expect Asian dishes with French influences in preparation. Delicacies like Wagyu beef and Forbidden Rice (an exotic black rice) will be featured. Nguyen said the menu is a la carte, allowing customers to choose which sides and sauces to pair with their choice of protein.
Memphis sushi chef Minh Nguyen is in charge of the sushi offerings.
The new 4,500-square-foot restaurant will have seating for 80 when COVID-19 capacity restrictions are lifted.
A second location is under construction in the Lake District development in Lakeland.
Open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-thursday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and 4:30-10 p.m. Saturday.
Trap Fusion
670 N. Germantown Parkway, Suite 14; trapfusion901.com
Whitehaven restaurant Trap Fusion has expanded to Cordova.
The second Trap Fusion opened Nov. 19 at 670 N. Germantown Parkway, Suite 14.
The original Trap Fusion opened in May 2019 in Whitehaven. Jason Gardner and Monique Williams founded the business at 4637 Boeingshire Drive.
Markeith Mccoy joined the team shortly thereafter.
Both Gardner and Mccoy said they are excited about the new Trinity Commons location at what they call “the entrance to Cordova.” “It’s easy to get to from Walnut Grove and Shelby Farms,” said Gardner.
Trap Fusion is known for its fromscratch, healthier versions of soul food. Influences of Cajun and Caribbean fare are evident in many of the items.
Open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-saturday.
The Wing Guru
5224 Airline Road, Unit 107, Arlington; (901) 687-3115; thewingguru.com
The Wing Guru opened its fourth restaurant on Nov. 20.
The newest addition to the Memphis-based wings chain is located at 5224 Airline Road, Unit 107 in Arlington.
Former Memphis Tigers basketball player Billy Richmond founded the chain that is known for hot wings and burgers. Over 20 flavors of wings are offered. Many, like the Triple J (a Honey Gold-based flavor Richmond developed in partnership with Memphis Grizzlies player Jaren Jackson Jr. — hence the name, Triple J), are true originals.
In addition to party and whole wings, the menu includes boneless wings, fried chicken sandwiches, fried catfish and burgers.
Open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-thursday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-saturday; noon-6 p.m. Sunday.
Farm and Fig
800 S. Cooper St.; farmandfig catering.com
Farm and Fig Catering Company has been offering take-and-bake meals on its menu for awhile now, but now there is a more convenient way for customers to get these prepared dishes.
Farm and Fig opened a retail shop on Nov. 28 at 800 S. Cooper St. They took over the retail shop and commercial kitchen that had formerly been Cooper Street 20/20.
The 2-year-old catering company is owned by couples Dino and Carolyn Grisanti and Vanessa and Marc Henley.
“Having a retail shop makes our takeand-bake items more accessible,” said Dino Grisanti of their decision to add a retail component to their business.
Grisanti added that Farm and Fig will also operate the catering company out of the new space.
The menu includes an assortment of frozen entrees, soups, freshly baked breads and desserts.
Open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-friday; 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday; 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday.
Jennifer Chandler is the Food & Dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at jennifer.chandler@commercialappeal.com and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @cookwjennifer.