More than just a place to see Elvis, Memphis, Tennessee offers parks, golfing, shopping and excellent nightlife. Tee off at Overton Park Golf Course, or, if you feel like sightseeing, check out Graceland. The long day is sure to have you famished, and it's a good thing---you wouldn't want to miss out on some of the Memphis area's best formal dining restaurants.
The Butcher Shop
Opened in 1981, The Butcher Shop serves hickory charcoal steaks from high-quality grain-fed beef, which is aged for four weeks before being hand-cut by the restaurant's personal butcher. Steaks are displayed in full view of customers, so they'll always know what they're going to be eating. The restaurant also serves fresh fish, pork chops and grilled marinated chicken. Ideal for private parties, business meetings and rehearsal dinners, The Butcher Shop boasts a comfortable but upscale atmosphere and private rooms for up to 175 people. Steaks include gorgonzola and portabello mushroom-stuffed filet, as well as porterhouse, New York strip and several other cuts. Au poivre peppercorn sauce is house-made daily. If you're not in the mood for beef, be sure to check out the fresh Atlantic salmon or sauteed Cajun shrimp. Homemade cakes are on the dessert menu, so be sure to save room.
The Butcher Shop
101 South Front St.
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 521-0856
thebutchershop.com
Felicia Suzanne's
Housed in the historic Lowenstein's Department Store, Felicia Suzanne's has a sophisticated atmosphere with 26-foot ceilings and a contemporary-meets-Southern-charm style. The restaurant features three different rooms that seat anywhere from 35 to 300 people, offering plenty of room for small parties or a large party. A table is set up in the kitchen, which chef Felicia says is kept calm and quiet, for ultra-private dining. Felicia will interact with private diners as little or as much as they like. Each year, the restaurant hosts Dishes for Wishes, an event that benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The Shake & Stir menu offers cocktails and martinis, while the dinner menu features pecan-encrusted redfish from the Gulf and Duck Two Ways, a dish that includes a maple leaf duck breast and confit of duck, served with homemade potato dumpling rague. Save room for dessert, featuring Felicia's special Peppermint Patty, an old-fashioned baked fudge served with warm chocolate sauce and peppermint ice cream. If you love what you eat, Felicia offers personalized cooking classes for six to 12 people.
Felicia Suzanne's
80 Monroe Ave. Suite L-1
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 523-0877
feliciasuzanne.com
Paulette's
A popular restaurant for special-occasion dining, Paulette's has often been voted Most Romantic Restaurant. Open for more than 30 years, the restaurant has an old European ambiance with live piano on the weekends and a Sunday brunch, in addition to being open daily for lunch and dinner. Paulette's menu includes items such as baked sole with crab meat stuffing, a dish of fresh fillet of sole filled with stuffing made of lump crab meat and baked and topped with cream sauce of fresh tarragon. If you're in the mood for a vegetable lunch, try the spinach and feta quiche, made with fresh spinach, feta cheese, roasted red peppers, onions and garlic and baked with egg and milk in an individual quiche shell. Sunday brunch offers an opportunity to create your own omelet, which is served with fresh popovers and strawberry butter.
Paulette's
2110 Madison Ave.
Memphis, TN 38104
(901) 726-5128
paulettes.net
About The Author
Having started at a young age, Michelle McRoberts has been writing since 1989. While mostly ghostwriting, she has been published on eHow. McRoberts is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and mass communication at Ashford University.
