MEMPHIS RESTAURANTS
Summer openings
Even a pandemic could not keep eight new restaurants from opening this summer in the Memphis area.
Here's a look at the restaurants that opened during June and July, along with five we said goodbye to.
Pizzeria Trasimeno
Crosstown Concourse, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 181; (901) 308-1113; pizzeriatrasimeno.com
On June 2, Global Café restaurateur Sabine Langer opened Pizzeria Trasimeno in the space that was initially Elemento Pizza.
Pizzeria Trasimeno uses two 7,000-pound, wood-fired clay ovens imported from Italy to create authentic Neapolitan-style pizza.
The restaurant offers a menu of pizzas and salads for takeout, delivery and patio dining. Online ordering is available, and free delivery is offered for those within a 4-mile radius of Crosstown Concourse.
Open noon-8 p.m. Tuesday-thursday; noon-9 p.m. Friday and 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday.
Ladybugg Bakery
39 W. Commerce St., Hernando; (662) 4497000; ladybuggbakery.com
Megan Cole, a lawyer with a passion for baking, reopened Ladybugg Bakery on June 24.
Cole purchased the popular Hernando bakery that had closed in the spring from its founder, Heather Bugg Ries.
Expect to find the same delicious baked goods Ladybugg was known for. In the bakery cases are items like the “Not a Hostess” cupcake, lemon bars, Hello Dolly bars, macarons, mini quiches and loaves of fresh bread. “We are still using the same recipes,” Cole said.
Cole also kept the entire lunch menu and added several salads.
Open 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Tuesday-friday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.
Wiseacre Brewing Co.
398 S. B.B. King Blvd.; wiseacrebrew.com
Local craft brewery Wiseacre Brewing Co. opened a new 40,000-squarefoot brewery and taproom in the South Main District in Downtown this year. The brewery began production of beers in April, but did not open its taproom until June 26.
The new brewery is a game-changer for Wiseacre, significantly increasing production capability. The new brewhouse is currently producing 50,000 barrels per year, with the capacity to brew up to 80,000 barrels per year. The original Broad Avenue location for Wiseacre is only a 20,000-barrel brewhouse.
The taproom has 30 taps for draft beers and sells cans of beer for takeout. Food will be offered in the future. In NON-COVID-19 times, there will be seating for 330 guests indoors and up to another 800 outdoors on the various patios.
The taproom is currently closed due to a Shelby County Health Department COVID-19 directive. Wiseacre offers online ordering for curbside pickup or delivery from the Broad Avenue location from 1-6 p.m. daily. Beer to-go is available for walk-ups only at the Downtown location from 1-6 p.m. daily.
O.B. Donuts
2211 Ridgeway Road; (901) 421-5355; facebook.com/obdonutsmemphis
O.B. Donuts opened July 1. The East Memphis doughnut shop sells all the traditional doughnuts, plus fun varieties like doughnuts topped with gummy worms and Fruity Pebbles cereal.
The shop also sells coffee, breakfast sandwiches and kolaches.
Open 5 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday-sunday.
Muggin Coffeehouse
1139 Brownlee Road; (901) 529-7759; muggincoffehouse.com
Muggin Coffehouse owners Ken and Mary Olds thought the neighborhood in Whitehaven where they grew up needed a coffee shop, so the couple opened their own on July 6.
In addition to traditional coffee bar beverages like drip coffee, espressos and lattes, Muggin has several specialty coffees that should not be overlooked.
Two iced coffees to try include the Bourbon Macchiato, which is flavored with a Bourbon caramel; and the Muggin' Mane, an espresso flavored with cheesecake syrup and served in a cup lined with caramel.
Open 6:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-friday; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.
STIX
150 Peabody Place #115; (901) 2077638; stixonline.com
On July 7, a new STIX Restaurant opened in the 2,600-square-foot space at 150 Peabody Place that once housed Dan Mcguinness Irish Pub.
STIX'S Downtown location serves fast and delicious lunches that cater to busy professionals, tourists and Memphians looking to grab a quick meal. The menu includes daily specials and STIX favorites such as Asian steamed buns, made-to-order hibachi items, and sushi burritos and rolls with Memphis-centric names such as the Bluff City Burrito and Riverside Roll. Local and domestic beers will also be available.
The Downtown location offers
counter service only for now. Guests can order ahead online through STIX'S website, at the counter or at an in-house digital kiosk.
Open 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-saturday.
Jojo's Espresso
Jojosespresso.com
Jojo's Espresso, a new coffee food truck, made its grand opening stop at The Residences at Thornwood in Germantown on July 10.
Jojo's Espresso is the dream of Taylor and Hannah Whiddon. The couple started building the mobile coffeeshop in February. After a few months' hiatus due to COVID-19, the trailer was completed in late June.
The “café on wheels” serves drip coffee, espresso drinks and cold brew coffee, as well as an assortment of freshly baked pastries.
Jojo's Espresso spends most of its time in Germantown or Cordova, two neighborhoods without many specialty coffee shops. The truck will also be available for special event rentals such as weddings or office parties.
Orders can be placed online using the coffee shop app Cloosiv. The truck’s schedule will be posted on Jojo’s Espresso’s social media accounts.
Cocozza
145 S. Main St.; (901) 523-0523; cocozzamemphis.com
The Majestic Grille owners Deni and Patrick Reilly have launched a “ghost” restaurant out of the kitchen of their Downtown eatery. Cocozza, an idea simmering in the Reillys' minds for years, became the solution to how to reopen in the middle of a pandemic. It opened July 15.
The “ghost” dining concept operates as both a takeout service and a pop-up patio restaurant. The menu is available for takeout Tuesday through Saturday evenings, and if the weather is nice, patrons can choose to dine al fresco on the reinvented patio.
The American-italian “red sauce” eatery features dishes like chicken Parmesan, vodka rigatoni and spinach manicotti.
Orders can be placed online for contactless service. Curbside pickup is available at the corner of South Main Street and Peabody. Delivery to Downtown and Midtown will be offered in the coming weeks.
Open 4-9 p.m. Tuesday-saturday.
Closings Onix Restaurant
On June 1, Onix Restaurant at 1680 Madison announced on Facebook that it was closing "due to the pandemic and great need for social distancing associated with Covid-19."
City Block Salumeria, Venga, Doughjo and Wok'n in Memphis
Four restaurants in Puck Food Hall have permanently closed. City Block Salumeria, Venga, Doughjo and Wok'n in Memphis all closed the first week of July.
While chef Brad Mccarley's pizza concept, Doughjo, and his taco concept, Venga, are now officially closed, he does plan to keep the wholesale side of City Block Salumeria going, providing cured meats for its restaurant clients.
Spencer Coplan, owner of Wok'n in Memphis, will focus on selling his popular pickles, kimchi and oils on his new online store, Wok'n in Pickle Company.
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.