Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Memphis / West Tennessee

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in Memphis / West Tennessee? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Tsunami

5.0

5 (844)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Memphis

About the restaurant

Located in the heart of Cooper Young, a historic Midtown restaurant and retail destination, Tsunami is a Pacific Rim-inspired restaurant where guests can feel like globetrotters from the comfort of their own table.

Award-winning owner and Chef Ben Smith fuses various ethnic cuisines—from Asia and the South Pacific to France and the American South—to create unique and flavorful small plates and seafood specialties.

The cozy restaurant, adorned with local art and handmade accents, offers a unique bar centerpiece with fine wines and liquors, local draft beers, and daily-rotating specialty cocktails.

Consistently named “Best Seafood Restaurant” in the Memphis Magazine and Memphis Flyer, coveted Tsunami entrées including a spice-crusted tuna with wasabi vinaigrette, beef tenderloin with smoked chile butter, and roasted seabass with black Thai rice and soy beurre blanc.

Top review

Dined on Jun 18, 2025

Good selection and better food and service. Perfect date-nite spot!

Flight Restaurant & Wine Bar

4.9

4.9 (10076)

$31 to $50

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Flight Restaurant and Wine Bar is a full service restaurant with multiple dining selections for a guest to enjoy in a single dining experience. Flight offers the finest service featuring a knowledgeable wait staff from which guests can gain valuable insight to enhance their dining experience.

Flight offers several distinct dining options: On the main floor, there is the hustle and bustle of friends and business people gathering together. The bar is a welcoming place for those dining alone to meet friends yet unmet, or for those who want a quick bite. On the balcony level, the booths and small tables, some overlooking Main Street, offer more privacy for business or a romantic date night.

Please check The Wine Cellar at Flight Restaurant for additional dining options.

Top review

Nita

Dined 3 days ago

Such a lovely dinner celebrating our anniversary. We had wonderful customer service from the time we walked in the front door to the time we left. Each flight we chose was delectable! We did the seafood flight for appetizer, soup flight, chef’s choice for the summer, and the old-fashioned dessert flight. Does she crab soup that was the soup for the day was tantalizing such a wonderful evening.

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The Wine Cellar at Flight Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (527)

$31 to $50

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Coming Soon!

Top review

Katherine

Dined on Jun 25, 2025

This was a great way to spend our 8th anniversary! The staff was friendly and food was wonderful.

Seasons 52 - Memphis

4.8

4.8 (4211)

$31 to $50

American

Memphis

About the restaurant

Seasons 52 is a Fresh Grill and Wine Bar offering a seasonal menu that is naturally lighter and always flavorful. Our seasonal menus feature ingredients at their peak of freshness, oak-fire grilled or brick oven roasted (without a fryer in sight) to be naturally lighter and more flavorful. We also offer an extensive list of wines by the glass and bottle. Here, you'll always feel free to enjoy every bite, every sip, every moment. Lunch and dinner daily with happy hour Monday-Friday from 3-6PM.

Top review

Michelle

Dined 6 days ago

Always pleasurable! Great dining experience during to quality of food and server

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Popular dish

Caramelized Grilled Sea Scallops

Popular dish

Wood-Grilled Shrimp And Grits

Amelia Gene's

4.8

4.8 (632)

$31 to $50

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Amelia Gene’s, Downtown’s finest dining experience, welcomes a contemporary, globally inspired palate artfully designed to impress. Fine wines, classic cocktails, proper bites, and a can’t-miss cheese cart transport diners through a culinary journey with distinct hospitality that can only be found in this state-of-the-art, reclaimed space in Downtown Memphis.

Our menu emphasizes seasonality and a dedication to ingredient-driven preparations. Our Chef's culinary philosophy is characterized by restraint, allowing the innate qualities of the ingredients to eloquently express themselves. Our establishment is located adjacent to the Caption by Hyatt Hotel.

We are proud to offer an extensive wine list thoughtfully curated by our team. Should you wish to bring in a bottle not currently featured on our list, a corkage fee of $25 per bottle will apply, with a maximum of two bottles per party. In support of our culinary program, outside food is not permitted.

Top review

Laura

Dined 6 days ago

Excellent service and great food. We went to celebrate our anniversary and the chef sent us a personal note and complementary champagne to celebrate. It felt very personalized.

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Experience

Chef Nate's Tasting Menu

Fawn

4.8

4.8 (39)

$31 to $50

Tapas / Small Plates

Memphis

About the restaurant

Welcome to Fawn. Rooted in seasonality and comfort, Fawn serves a thoughtful menu of tapas style dishes crafted with local ingredients, house infusions, and delicate details that invite pause. Our dining room evokes a quiet woodland elegance with earth tones and curated textures designed for meaningful connection. Whether you're joining us for an intimate dinner, a celebratory gathering, or simply a glass of wine at golden hour, we invite you to settle in and stay awhile.

Reservations are encouraged. Walk-ins are always welcome when available.

Top review

LoisVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Everything was lovely and tasty. I went with a friend for our monthly evening out. I'm vegan, but she's not. There were several vegan choices, but other options as well. I recommend the beet schwarma, which was absolutely divine! As a finishing touch, the vegan panna cotta was beyond yummy. Our server was attentive and helpful with our several questions. The prices are competitive. You should give this place a try if your looking for a unique farm to table experience.

Tiger and Peacock

4.7

4.7 (529)

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

Midtown / Cooper

About the restaurant

For parties of six or more please call 901-538-7313 to make your reservation.

You won’t want to miss the commanding views at our rooftop bar, situated right in the midst of all of the action. Like Overton Square below, this is a destination dedicated to celebrating the best of the Memphis way of life – the art, music, culture and soul. Showcasing ingredient-forward cocktails and approachable bar fare ideal for sharing, this is the place to take in all that Midtown has to offer.

Dress Code-Smart casual. Dress to impress. Baseball caps and beanies are not allowed and men must have on a collared shirt, sweater or blazer. All genders no athletic apparel (tank tops, spandex, or sweatpants). Undergarments should not be exposed.

Our parking lot is for overnight hotel guests only. Parking is located at the Overton Square Garage. Please bring a valid ID.

This is a smoke free and weapon free environment. We encourage synergy between all of our guests. We look forward to your visit.

Top review

Don

Dined on Jun 22, 2025

It was a wonderful vibe.My wife loved it.We would definitely go again.

Cache 42 Downtown Express

4.2

4.2 (20)

$30 and under

Caribbean

Downtown

About the restaurant

Step into a world of culinary artistry and vibrant energy at Cache 42 Downtown Express Lounge. This urban upscale restaurant offers a unique dining experience that tantalizes your taste buds and invigorates your senses.

Cache 42's menu is a symphony of innovative dishes crafted with the freshest, locally sourced ingredients. From the succulent Jamaican Oxtails over Rice to the decadent Lobster Menage, each bite is a testament to the restaurant's commitment to culinary excellence.

Complement your meal with a handcrafted cocktail from Cache 42's extensive bar. Their mixologists are masters of their craft, creating unique concoctions that burst with flavor and creativity. Whether you prefer a classic martini or a daring new creation, Cache 42 has a drink to suit every palate.

The restaurant's sleek and modern design creates a sophisticated yet inviting ambience. The warm lighting, comfortable seating, and stylish décor set the stage for an unforgettable dining experience.

Top review

Deidre

Dined on Jun 14, 2025

The food is fire. My fiancé loved it for Father’s Day we will be back

Reservations Bar & Bistro

3.7

3.7 (159)

$30 and under

American

Cordova

About the restaurant

Reservations Bar & Bistro will offer a relaxed lunch, dinner, and late night menu, all provided by our executive chef D’mitri Wright . There will be a host of specialty cocktails, wine and beer to choose from at our premium bar. If none of that sound inviting, we can't wait until you see our main dining area that shows pure Memphis elegance. Whether you have a special occasion or a business meeting, we offer a private dinning room just for you and your guest(s). Let's not forget about the cigar lounge that is well ventilated in a room of its own! We can't wait to provide you with the ultimate Reservations experience.

Top review

Liz

Dined on May 18, 2025

The service and the food was great. Didn’t really care for the smoke smell but everything with the waiter was Good

Curfew - Memphis

3.6

3.6 (686)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Where luxury meets soul, Curfew is an American tavern with craft cocktails, bold flavors, and a warm, inviting atmosphere. Located on the main floor of Canopy Memphis Downtown, Curfew offers an elevated dining experience that seamlessly blends indulgence with connection. Whether you're on your way to AutoZone Park for a baseball game, heading to FedEx Forum to cheer on the Grizzlies, or simply looking for a place to unwind, Curfew delivers unforgettable flavors, impeccable hospitality, and a carefully curated selection of handcrafted cocktails and locally sourced brews. Join us for a meal that’s soulful, satisfying, and always worth savoring.

Top review

Carmen

Dined on May 26, 2025

This is such a quaint and cozy hideout across from the Redbirds stadium. Our server Benny and bartender Yana took really great care of us. They truly added to our enjoyable experience. The food and drinks were superb as well. I will definitely be back.

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