What to expect at Dining Week this year
Downtown Dining Week is back.
The annual dining week runs Nov. 1 - 7, with more than 60 restaurants participating this year.
Memphis’ Downtown is a vibrant landscape of eateries offering up delicious dishes. From Memphis’ worldfamous dry ribs to Southern-inspired fine dining to casual eateries offering both locally and globally inspired eats, there is a restaurant in Downtown Memphis for just about every craving. And the best part is, most are locally owned and show off the grit and grind character that makes Memphis a oneof-a-kind dining destination.
Checking out Downtown Dining Week also is a great way to help support the area’s restaurants that have been especially hard hit by the side effects of COVID-19.
What is Downtown Dining Week?
For one week each November, dozens of Downtown restaurants offer special menus for both dinner and lunch. Many of the offerings are at a discount, designed to show new diners the best of what they have.
The wildly popular dining week was founded by restaurateurs Deni Reilly of The Majestic Grille and Cocozza, Felicia Willett of Felicia Suzanne’s and Bert
Smythe of Mcewen’s.
“Downtown is a wonderful destination with so much to offer,” said Lisa Hall, who owns the newest outpost of the popular Memphis Italian eatery Little Italy. “Downtown Dining Week reminds Memphians and visitors that Downtown does not have to be just an occasional destination, but a great place to visit all year long.”
What to expect
Usually the week’s specials are tied to the date — with many offered at $20.20, for example. But due to COVID-19, the guidelines are a little more flexible. Some restaurants are offering specials at the $20.20 price, but many are choosing to create specials that make the most sense for their menu and clientele. Take-home meals are a new addition to the dining week menu at many establishments.
Some menus feature the most popular dishes from an establishment. Others are specials created just for the week.
It’s hard to choose where to make a reservation when you have more than 60 great options from which to choose. To solve the dilemma, many people opt to dine out every night that week. Reservations are recommended every year; but especially in 2020 when dining room capacities are limited.
In addition to dining in or taking meals home, consider enjoying a patio or picnic in a Downtown park. The Downtown Memphis Commission is introducing a beautiful holiday lights installation this weekend that washes over the entire facade of every building along South Main — talk about a beautiful backdrop for a patio meal!
Tamra Patterson of Chef Tam’s Underground Café is participating in Downtown Dining Week for the first time as her restaurant moved Downtown this past January. “The restaurant industry was sucker punched by COVID and pulling customers back to us is the only way we can remain viable,” Patterson said. “We’ve got to rally around this industry with the hopes of saving it.”
Grecian Gourmet Taverna on South Main Street is using $20.21 as its special price. “Jobeth and I decided that, based on the year we have all had, we prefer to look forward to brighter days ahead in the new year,” said Jeff Watkins, who co-owns the restaurant with his wife.
A sampling of menus
Little Italy Downtown, which opened in February, is offering three specials for the week. Dinner for One is $14 for a small pizza plus dessert; Dinner for Two is a three-course meal with salad, spaghetti and dessert for $30; Dinner for Family and Friends includes your choice of an appetizer and a large Grandma’s pizza for $25.
Grecian Gourmet Taverna is offering dine-in specials that include an entrée, side and a slice of its Baklava cheesecake. New this year will be the restaurant’s “DDW at Home” offering. For $20.21, choose from three options that include Meze Snack Boxes for Two, a half Rack of Lamb meal and a classic Greek Salad with your choice of Pita Chip Bowl and Dip.
Chef Tam’s Underground Café is offering a two for $20.20 lunch special and a two-course dinner with a drink for $20.20. Included in the offerings are Chicken & Waffles, Fried Ribs and Chef Tam’s famous Peach Cobbler Nachos.
A 16-ounce Pork Porterhouse with roasted parsnips and a little gem salad for $20.20 is on the menu at 117 Prime.
Restaurants such as Bishop will continue the weekly specials they started this summer. Bishop’s Monday night Burgers and Burgundy for $25 is one of our favorite deals.
For the full list of participating restaurants, visit downtownmemphis.com.
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.