Royal Inn and Suites

Scarlet-red banquettes, a long marble bar and checkered tile cut a striking, seductive figure in downtown Memphis. This is a restaurant whose identity is never in question thanks to veteran Chef Felicia Suzanne, now situated in a swanky new dining room where she sources quality ingredients and honors Southern traditions with class and elegance. Plucky Gulf shrimp set with tasso ham sauce and jalapeño cornbread is a superb signature and a reflection of this kitchen at its very best. Other hits on this finely curated menu include buttermilk fried quail with greens and spiced honey as well as fri

Sunlight streams in through tall windows that look out on quaint South Main. Globe lights, handsome wood tables, and gold accents lend a mid-century vibe to this vintage space. Such a look doesn’t at all tell the story of what this kitchen is putting together. Indian, Mexican, Thai, Italian—there are seemingly no culinary borders that cannot be crossed, mixed, and matched on this menu. Corn mash with acorn squash set in a rich bacon jus speaks to this restaurant’s big, bold, and satisfying style. Roast potatoes tossed in a finely spiced masala gravy is another successful mash-up. Portion sizes

Opened in 2008, the flagship restaurant from Chefs Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman remains one the city’s most enticing efforts. Divided into several small rooms, the cozy house in Brookhaven Circle celebrates Italian cooking with Southern influences. Appetizers and pastas are the strongest features, starting with the signature house breakfast of pork belly, pork rinds, polenta, and a runny egg. For a lighter beginning, swing for the tuna tartare with sundried tomatoes or tender squid stuffed with Barese sausage and set in a sharp puttanesca sauce. Mafaldi coated in a rich bianco veal ragu is as

Opened in 2013, this Chinese restaurant has taken the city by storm—and rightly so. Although there are a number of offshoots around town, the original location in an unsuspecting Cordova strip center is the place to be. For those who love heat and savor spice, this is ground zero for fiery, tongue-numbing, chili-laden Sichuan cuisine. Focus on classics like the umami-packed mapo tofu, stir-fried cumin lamb, crispy chicken tossed in a mound of dried chilis and properly charred green beans. Portions are generous so bring friends and order with abandon.

Don’t let the name trick you. Dressed head to toe in wood, this lively restaurant has been an Oxford favorite since opening in 2009. The dining room comes fit with an oyster bar, a cocktail bar, cozy booths and even a communal table. The menu is full of personality, hewing closely to the seasons and delivering Southern comfort with flashes of Indian flair threaded throughout. Think masala pot pie or lamb shank vindaloo paired with a green chili corn cake. French onion soup is a longtime staple. There is always room for dessert, and anything involving pie is worth an order.

In a region where fried catfish is practically a religion, Taylor Grocery stands tall as one of the great stewards of this culinary tradition. Since 1977, crowds have lingered on the front porch waiting for a seat in a rudimentary dining room where scratched walls are covered in scribble and old class photos. There’s no reason to look at a menu. You could dabble in gumbo or poke at a salad, but nothing should distract or deter from ordering a righteous mountain of cornmeal-dusted, golden-fried catfish flanked by an avalanche of hushpuppies. Tartare sauce and ketchup on the table complete the p

This quirky, colorful diner made of Christmas lights, neon signs, and red vinyl booths has been a constant way of life for this college town since 1997. Down home and heartfelt, the restaurant offers a comforting taste of Southern cooking in its most classic form. Skip any apps or salads and jump straight to the plates featuring the likes of cornmeal-dusted and fried catfish or chicken and dumplings. A vegetable platter is another good way to go: Think butter beans, turnip greens, and black-eyed peas. Chocolate chess pie and blueberry cobbler for dessert conclude this lovely salute to the regi