I was clearing off some shelves at The CA yesterday, going through loads of books that have been sitting there for years, and I came upon a large-format paperback volume called “Memphis Menus,” second edition, published by Sunbelt Inc. of Memphis in 1983. Think about that: What were the important or popular restaurants in the Bluff City 25 years ago? The page or pages devoted to each restaurant include a menu, and looking at the dishes available then and the prices charged for them is a hoot.
Here’s are the restaurants listed in the second edition of “Memphis Menus.” Are you ready to drop a tear for some of these names? Others, truly, we’ve been happy to live without.
Alfred’s.
Anthony’s.
The Baron.
The Blue Goose Cafe.
Bradford House.
Captain Bilbo’s.
The Carriage House.
The Country Squire.
Dearmont’s Banquet Resort.
Ducks & Company.
East End Grill.
Four Flames.
Gaslight Dinner Theatre.
Giovanni’s.
Grisanti’s.
Guale’s.
Hastings Place.
Huey’s.
Hungry Fisherman.
Jefferson Square.
Jimmy Tin’s Port Shanghai.
Jim’s Place East.
J.P. Seafield’s.
Justine’s.
La Tourelle.
The Loft.
Midway Cafe.
Molly’s La Casita.
Number One Beale Street.
Bombay Bicycle Club.
TGI Friday’s.
Public Eye.
Paulette’s.
Palm Court.
Wink Martindale’s.
Red Apple Restaurant.
River Terrace.
Spike & Rail.
Steak & Ale.
The Steakyard.
Swiss Manor.
Traditions.
Vieux Chalet.
Willie Moffatt’s.
Windows on the River.
Yesterday’s.
The signature barbecue oyster appetizer at Four Flames cost $2.50. At Bradford House, a truly fine and lamentably short-lived restaurant, the scallops mousseline cost $5, while “Sole Veronique” was $11. The “Pompano en papillote” at Justine’s was $12.95. “Oysters 2+2+2″ at Bombay Bicycle Club — the best bar in the history of Memphis, yes, but way past time to get over that — cost $4.75. “Osso Buco” at Palm Court: $11.75. Grisanti’s veal cutlets Bolognese: $12. And Vieux Chalet! What a great, crazy little bistro that was! And in a weird location in an old house off Summer Avenue.
So, anyway, perhaps this roster of old names — very few of these restaurants are still open — will tug at a heart-string or conjure memories of long-ago meals in what seems like a more innocent, and certainly less expensive, time.
Eating adventures
Responses to “A Trip Down Memory Lane with Memphis Menus”
February 8th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
While working at Chez Philippe a few years ago I found a copy of the 1982 addition in a used book store. I picked it up to show my co-workers Chez Philippe’s menu from that year and to remember some of the other places we had enjoyed growing up. The 1982 Memphis Menus also includes The Butcher Shop, Doebler’s Dock,The Cockeyed Camel, Fantasia, Monday’s, Dux, Folk’s Folly,Gaffer’s and some others.
February 8th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
What was the bbq restaurant in place where Corkys is now on Poplar? I just remember it had great reviews and was gone in six months.
February 8th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
In 1983 I was six years old, which means that I have some actual memories of these places, not just the place names:
Four Flames - Went there for a wedding rehearsal dinner. Mom and Dad coached us for a month leading up to this. Every meal was treated as an opportunity to refine proper table manners, and I thank them for such upbringing.
Gaslight Dinner Theatre - My fifth grade teacher took our whole class there once. I don’t even remember what play we saw, but I enjoyed the overall experience. Years later I sought it out as an interesting date place, and was sad to see it gone.
Hungry Fisherman - For a kid, the best part was getting to feed the fish and turtles in the pond behind the restaurant.
Yesterday’s - It’s weird what you remember, but the first time I had a “swiss and mushroom” burger was at Yesterday’s. It seemed exotic at the time.
February 9th, 2008 at 6:52 am
Guale’s, had a SUPER south of the border fahita! In 1983 they were in the Southbrook Mall and had not moved to Kirby Woods (CarreFour).
Justines, Four Flames, and the Loft…The best places in Memphis. I loved the 3 lobster tails at the Loft. btw, Someone bought the one in Chattanooga and kept the name, but it closed 3 years ago.
No Sawmill, Bombers Group, or Fred Gangs listed in the book???????? No Britlings Lobster feast or Boston Seafood listed???
February 10th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
I sure don’t remember Dearmont’s Banquet Resort, but my co-workers & I used to enjoy lunch at Jefferson Square. They had such an extensive menu that it was hard to decide what to order. Bombay Bicycle Club was where I first learned to play backgammon. They had some tables near the bar & it was fun to go there for a few games & drinks.
February 11th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Baretta’s at the corner of Park & Highland. In the late 70’s I use to get a great burger there while my parents ate steaks. Another one of our favorites was Gridley’s on Summer where we did our “special” birthdays.
February 12th, 2008 at 9:19 am
You might want to consider donating that book to the Memphis Room at the public library at some point.
February 12th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Frederic, this really does bring back memories. I met my wife at the East End Grill, the original on Knight Arnold. I proposed to her at the Country Squire. She turned me down initially (we have been married now almost 23 years). And, we had our first date at Duck’s and Company.
How many people know that the Anthony’s location is now the original Blue Plate or that Wink Martindales’ gave us “Hudson & Saleeby”, who are now in residence at Pat O’Brian’s on Beale?
Fredic, as the late Bob Hope would have said “Thanks for the memories.”
February 12th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
I remember Anthony’s at the Blue Plate location when Gene Bjorkland and Tony Bombacci were the co-chef’s there. How bout after Wink Martindale’s when it was Lobster Louie’s?
February 13th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Thanks for bringing that back. I had a few significant work experiences in Memphis at that time. Two CIA buddies and I helped open Wink Martindale’s restaurant. We were recent graduates but full of ambition and perhaps a bit of arrogance. Things went surprisingly well, especially just after the opening. One paper, I can’t remember if it was the Scimitar or the Appeal, gave us a great review and the other a really bad one. Well, due to many things including inexperience front and back of the house, it didn’t last long and I went on to Chez Philippe. Jose Guetierrez had just started and changed the menu. Many customers were upset that he took the cornflake crusted lobster off the menu.
My boyfriend at the time, one of the chef’s at Wink’s, became the chef at Dux, where he also changed the menu, though the snail strudel thankfully, never made it on. We eventually broke up and the night before I was to go back to Connecticut, we had a big fight. I stormed out at midnight and took solace at the old Jefferson Square, sitting by myself, drinking beer and listening to music. It was such a comfortable, cool place.I heard that it burned down.
I had my birthday dinner at Justine’s with said boyfriend. It was a beautiful June evening and we had a lovely meal, even though we didn’t get the wonderful service the regulars received. I will never forget the after dinner stroll through that gorgeous rose garden in the back, full moon and everthing.
We regularly went to Huey’s for deep fried burgers and beer. I remember the huge buzz over the opening of Palm Court in Overton Square. It was impressive, the European market atmosphere, very sophisticated and overly ambitious. They slowly cut back the large inventory and just before they closed, they had a tag sale. I still have the enormous stoneware olive crock I bought for ten dollars.
February 13th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Wow, Marcia, thanks for that great story. Who was your boyfriend that became chef at Dux? And are you still in the restaurant business?
February 13th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
The said boyfriend was Ralph Bouton. Last I heard he was a chef a the Inn in Williamsburg, Va. I worked in NYC after Memphis, waiting for a friend to open a restaurtant on a deserted stretch of the east village. It never happened and I happened upon a freelance job at Food and Wine magazine, eventually becoming the Test Kitchen Supervisor. Been here now 22 years. I will always treasure my time in Memphis, one of the most fun and colorful places I have ever lived. Oh the stories!
February 13th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Overton square was hoppin around then, with Mississippi Riverboat Company prior to all other incarnations ( Wink’s etc..) Hotair Ballon up those steep stairs over Yosemite Sam’s (gad) Silky Sullivan’s ( where at least 3 or 4 sailors were arrested every Saturday) and least we forget Solomon Alfred’s, offering live entertainment for free back then and good cheap steaks. Leon Redbone live there was awesome as well as Richie Havens. yes, I am really old……
March 4th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
This was a great trip down memory lane, but what about Victoria’s Station and Burkle’s on the square?
March 5th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Anyone remember Flanagans in Memphis back in the early 80’s. That was such a fun place to go…
May 26th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Does anybody have the fried oyster recipe from Justine’s? I used to visit there during the 70’s and my mouth would water waiting to sink my teeth in those delicious morsels!
August 17th, 2008 at 9:41 am
I still have a 1980 menu from Bombay hanging in my Batimore kitchen- from when my dearest friend, Max was the GM. Oysters 2+2+2? $2.85
Sheesh, I miss that place. Best fireplace in Memphis.
17 comment.