Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
of the head as soon as you sit down. The lunch menu at this funky little gold- and purple-
painted cafe rotates daily - look for killer fried chicken and catfish, melt-in-your-mouth
spiced cabbage and an exquisite eggy custard pie.
Arcade
DINER$
(
www.arcaderestaurant.com
; 540 S Main St; mains $8-10; 7am-3pm, plus dinner Fri)
Elvis used
to eat at this ultra-retro diner, Memphis' oldest. Crowds still pack in for sublime sweet-
potato pancakes - as fluffy, buttery and addictive as advertised. The rest of the dishes are
standard greasy-spoon fare.
Dyer's
FAST FOOD$
(
www.dyersonbeale.com
; 205 Beale St; burgers $4-7; 11am-midnight Sun-Thu, to late Fri & Sat)
Purportedly one of America's best burgers - annointed so by both
Esquire
and
Playboy
-
the meat is smacked flat with a spatula at least 4in wide then submerged in bubbling
grease, which is continuously filtered like it is a life-giving elixir when, well, it's prob-
ably the opposite.
Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous
BARBECUE$$$
( 901-523-2746;
www.hogsfly.com
;
52 S 2nd St; mains $10-20; 4:30-10:30pm Tue-Thu,
11am-11pm Fri, from 11:30am Sat)
Tucked in an alleyway off Union Ave, this subterranean
institution sells an astonishing 5 tons of its exquisite dry-rubbed ribs weekly. The ribs
don't come with any sauce, but the pork shoulder does, so try a combo and you'll have
plenty of sauce to enjoy. The beef brisket is also tremendous. With a superb, no-nonsense
wait staff, and walls plastered with historic memorabilia, eating here is an event. Expect
a wait.
Majestic Grille
CONTINENTAL$$$
$$$
( 901-522-8555;
www.majesticgrille.com
;
145 S Main St; mains $17-36; 11am-10pm Mon-Thu,
to 11pm Fri & Sat, to 9pm Sun)
Set in an old silent-movie theater, with pre-talkie black and
whites strobing in the handsome dark-wood dining room, here is classic continental fare,
from roasted half chickens, to seared tuna and grilled pork tenderloin, and four varieties
of hand-cut filet mignon. Just a stone's throw from Beale St.