A culinary ‘experience’
New restaurant Penny’s Nitty Gritty opens in Downtown Memphis
How do you like your grits? Cheesy or plain? Topped with chicken or shrimp? Maybe with a little garlic or truffle butter?
At Penny’s Nitty Gritty restaurant in the Westin Memphis in Downtown Memphis, guests can create their own grits dish.
The “Gritty Experience” includes your choice of four different flavors of grits, a choice five different meats and fish, and several garnishes. And you can’t forget the “butta!” Choose from Garlic, Brown, Truffle or Salted Butter to top off the dish.
University of Memphis basketball star and now coach Penny Hardaway’s new signature restaurant officially opened Wednesday.
“It’s always been a dream to share my passion for fine Southern cuisine,” Hardaway said. “I wanted a concept that would serve the best food to my family, friends and visitors to Memphis. I wanted people who come to the restaurant to have a first-class experience.”
Hardaway has been actively involved in the development of the concept and the menu.
“When I tasted food from the menu, I was blown away, and I know others will be too,” he said.
The Nitty Gritty on the menu
Upscale Southern fare is what diners can expect at the restaurant that is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.
Chef Elizabeth Rogers has created unique spins on traditional Southern ingredients.
Collard greens are folded into a cheesy fondue for a unique spin on a classic spinach dip. The flash-fried pita wedges, which are crispy on the outside and still soft inside, are the perfect complement to this cheesy appetizer.
The Southern Roll is stuffed with all the Southern sides — mac-n-cheese, yams and collard greens. It’s a party in each bite.
A standout on the salad section is the Southern Caesar. It comes topped with catfish croutons. Yes, you read that correctly. Small pieces of cornmeal-battered catfish are fried to perfection and scattered across the top of this salad.
Entrées include dishes like Bourbon Glazed Salmon, Filet Mignon Oscar and
a Cornish Game Hen with Sweet Potato Dressing.
And, of course, there is the aforementioned “Gritty Experience” where you can get a custom-made grits bowl topped with catfish, shrimp, chicken, salmon or pork chops. The lunch menu has a variety of dishes, including sandwiches like the Memphis Dip (a Southern twist of a French Dip sandwich with brisket).
The breakfast menu includes all the classics, as well as over-the-top dishes like peach or blueberry cobbler topped French Toast.
Grits and Penny
There is not a more quintessential
Southern dish than grits. Take into account that Memphis basketball is known worldwide for its “grit and grind” slogan. Fedexforum across the street from the restaurant even has the nickname the “Grind House.”
So when it came down to a concept for the new restaurant at the Westin Memphis Beale Street, it made sense that “grits” take center stage.
The concept was initially thought of by Gourmet Services Inc., an Atlantabased restaurant management group run by chairman of the board and CEO Valerie Goldston.
Memphian and real estate developer John Elkington provided the introduction between Hardaway and Gourmet Services.
“We were blessed to have everything come together,” said Danielle Kennedy of Gourmet Services. “We had someone who knew Memphis well — John Elkington.
Someone iconic to Memphis — Penny Hardaway. A person to create an elevated Southern menu — Elizabeth Rogers. And a person with the business background — Valerie Goldston.”
Gourmet Services COO Gil Jones said the group has tried to incorporate Memphis into the concept where it could. The menu features local ingredients like The Original Grit Girl grits from the Mississippi Delta, Old Dominick Distillery spirits, Disbelef Tequila and Blue Note bourbons, as well as local craft beers.
The restaurant will feature live music in the bar before and after games and special events at Fedexforum. A weekend brunch with live music is also in the works.
The restaurant has been renovated to create a light-filled elegant dining room and bar.
And just because it is in a hotel, do not think that Penny’s Nitty Gritty is a mere hotel amenity.
“This is not just a restaurant, it’s an experience,” Kennedy said. “Penny’s Nitty Gritty will provide Downtown Memphis with another upscale dining experience.”