Memphis restaurants Here’s what opened in August, September
It’s been a busy summer for the Memphis restaurant industry. From Germantown to Downtown, several restaurants debuted in August and September, while a few popular eateries closed its doors.
Here’s a look at what opened and closed.
OPENINGS Kublai Khan Mongolian Stir Fry
The second Kublai Khan in the Memphis area opened on July 30 at 7733 Winchester Road. The other location is in Southaven.
The menu focuses on Mongolian stir fry dishes and sushi.
According to the manager, the restaurant is owned by the Chen family, who also own three area Red Fish Sushi Asian Bistro locations and the Kublia Khan in Southaven.
The new restaurant is located in a free-standing building — once formerly a TGI Fridays.
7733 Winchester Road.; 901-746-8182; facebook.com/kublaikhanmemphis/
Bell’s Catfish & Soul Food Restaurant by Exquisite Catering
On Aug. 19, chef Bevis Bell’s company Exquisite Catering took over ownership of Catfish Cabin at 2846 Airways Blvd. The new restaurant, which celebrated its grand opening on Sept. 8, is called Bell’s Catfish and Soul Food Restaurant with Exquisite Catering.
“This area of town needed good customer service, good food and a place for live music,” Bell said of his decision to buy the restaurant.
Bell said he kept the items Catfish Cabin was built on — fried catfish, their famous hush puppies and homemade coleslaw.
He also has added the Southern soul food dishes his catering company is known for. Look for new additions like creamy macaroni and cheese, “fall off the bone” turkey necks, mashed potatoes and gravy with meatloaf, fried pork chops, collard greens and old-fashioned cornbread. Plans for the restaurant also include a full-service bar, happy hour and rental rooms.
2846 Airways Blvd.; 901-345-1485; facebook.com/ Bellscatfishcabin/
The Juicy Crab
The first The Juicy Crab restaurant in Memphis opened Aug. 26 at 7684 Winchester.
The Juicy Crab is a chain from Duluth, Georgia, that was founded in 2015. The company has over a dozen restaurants across the Southeast.
The menu features New Orleans seafood dishes such as boiled snow crab claws, shrimp, crawfish and lobster tails. Boiled seafood is served with your choice of seasoning. Choose from Cajun, Garlic Butter, Lemon Pepper or their signature Juicy Special blend. Fried seafood is also available.
A second location is set to open in the Wolfchase area later this year. A third location will open in 2020 in Eastgate Shopping Center in a stand-alone building to be built in part of the parking lot.
7684 Winchester Road; 901-800-1694; thejuicycrab.com
Fox Ridge Pizza & Grill
Fox Ridge Pizza Bar & Grill opened Sept. 11 in its new home on Brookhaven Circle.
The 40-year-old pizza parlor still serves pizza with
toppings all the way to the crust just like they have for four decades; the only difference is the location.
Longtime customers can still find their favorite pizzas and dishes at the new Fox Ridge Pizza.
“The menu hasn’t changed at all,” owner Lisa Seeling Gibbs said.
Customers can choose from 9-inch, 12-inch or 16-inch pizzas, as well as a “crustless” gluten-free pizza. At lunch, customers can opt for an individualsized 7-inch pizza.
In addition to pizzas, Fox Ridge Pizza offers a wide variety of salads, sandwiches, burgers and plate lunches.
Seating for 99 guests is available in the main dining room as well as on a spacious outdoor patio. The new restaurant also features a full bar and a small private dining room.
“We have all the games for children like we did in Cordova,” Gibbs said. The restaurant’s “arcade style” game room for kids of all ages has made this restaurant popular with families.
711 W. Brookhaven Circle; 901-7586500; foxridgepizza.com
Moondance Grill
Moondance Grill is the kind of restaurant Tommy and Liz Peters wanted in their Germantown neighborhood. A spot that Tommy describes as “both nice and casual at the same time.” A restaurant with great food, a menu that appeals to a wide variety of guests and a great wine list.
On Sept. 12, their dream came to life when Moondance Grill opened in the Thornwood development in Germantown.
Moondance Grill is the 12th restaurant for the couple that own and operate restaurants such as B.B. King’s Blues Club, Itta Bena and Lafayette’s Music Room in Memphis, as well as spots in Orlando, Nashville and Montgomery, Alabama.
The menu is an eclectic, yet inviting, mix of Southern-inspired dishes. A spacious bar offers craft cocktails, beers on tap and an extensive wine selection.
1730 S. Germantown Road, Suite 117, Germantown; 901-755-1471; moondancegrill.com
Aces Deli
Aces Deli opened on Sept. 13 in the Raymond James Tower at 50 N. Front St.
The new deli, owned by Daniel Tourtillott, is located on the second floor of the building and has about 40 seats.
Open for lunch only, Aces Deli serves a menu of deli sandwiches, salads and soups. Sandwich offerings include a French Dip, Chicken Bacon Avocado and Grilled Cheese with Tomato Soup.
“Our sandwiches are made on freshly baked bread and are really big,” said Tourtillott.
Customers can order online for pickup orders. Catering is also available.
50 N. Front St.; 901-229-8510; acesdeli.com
Momma’s Roadhouse
Momma’s Roadhouse has set a goal of being the best dive bar in Downtown Memphis.
On Sept. 16, The Dirty Crow got a makeover, becoming Momma’s Roadhouse.
The rebranding has been six months in the making.
The restaurant group Packed House Productions, which also owns restaurants such as Aldo’s Pizza Pies and Slider Inn, purchased the building and the business this past spring.
According to marketing director Eric Bourgeois, the restaurant is still a “work-in-progress.” Customers should expect changes to the space and menu over the next several months.
“We are still a dive bar,” Bourgeois said. “But now we are more focused on burgers.”
Momma’s Roadhouse will host trivia nights, bike nights and have live entertainment on the weekends.
855 Kentucky St.; 901-207-5111; facebook.com/mommasroadhouse/
Down South Wings & Grill
Down South Wings & Grill opened on Sept. 21 at 936 Florida St., in the space that was formerly Krewe of Dejavu. Ray Allen is the chef and owner. “I grew up in this neighborhood,” Allen said. “I wanted to do something for the neighborhood.”
Allen said a portion of his menu is a tribute to the late chef Gary Williams. Expect dishes like Mardi Gras Pasta, Shrimp Creole and Seafood Gumbo that were popular items at Krewe of Dejavu.
The menu also features a variety of wings, gourmet burgers, turkey burgers and po-boys.
“Party wings,” as they are called on the menu, are available in over a dozen different flavors. Order options are numerous. They can be ordered as a single-serving combo with a side dish up to a 100-piece party platter.
936 Florida St.; 901-275-8831
CLOSINGS Catfish Cabin
On Aug.19, Bevis Bell and his company Exquisite Catering took over the ownership of Catfish Cabin at 2846 Airways Blvd.
The 48-year-old Catfish Cabin was founded in 1971 by Charles Ezell. For years, it was “the” destination for fried catfish in Memphis. Folks raved about their hush puppies and homemade slaw.
In 2008, Charles Ezell leased the building and business to a couple that ran Catfish Cabin for about 10 years. Over that decade, Catfish Cabin fell in popularity. In 2016, the Ezells took the business back over, with Ezell’s daughter Rachael Ezell taking over the reins. The family worked hard to bring back the neglected business and building to its past stature, including going on Gordon Ramsay’s “24 Hours to Hell and Back” reality TV show.
“We thought the renovations might help, but the show may have ruined us,” said Rachael Ezell in March. “It’s so upsetting because I love this place.”
Bell is leasing the building from Charles Ezell.
Maciel’s Highland
On Aug. 10, Maciel’s Highland at 525 S. Highland St. closed. The restaurant opened in February 2018 as a partnership that included Manuel Martinez, the founder of Maciel’s Taco Shop, with the ITS Fine Restaurant Group, an entity that includes restaurateur Taylor Berger. Shortly after opening, Martinez stopped being involved with that location. Highland Axe & Rec opened in its place on Sept 4. Berger is the managing partner.
P.O. Press Public House & Provisions
On Sept. 13, P.O. Press Public House & Provisions closed its Collierville location.
The owners, chef Jimmy Gentry and sommelier Chris Thorn, decided to immediately close the restaurant and relocate due to the discovery of black mold after a maintenance dispute with the owner of the building at 148 N. Main St. in Collierville.
Plans for relocation are in the works.
Crosstown Arts Cafe
On Sept. 15, the cafe at Crosstown Arts in Crosstown Concourse stopped serving lunch and dinner. The cafe at Crosstown Arts now only serves coffee, drinks and pastries. New cafe hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-friday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. It is closed Sunday and Monday.
The Atomic Tiki
The Atomic Tiki closed on Sept. 28 after last call. Owners of the midtown bar felt it was to for a change. Parish Grocery, a neighborhood po-boy shop, is set to open at 1545 Overton Park Ave. in late October or early November.
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.