Restaurant Iris
Kelly English, owner and chef, opened Restaurant Iris in Memphis in 2008. Located in an old home in the Midtown section of Memphis, Restaurant Iris uses all the separate rooms to create intimate dining experiences. The restaurant is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday and brunch on Sundays. Originally from Louisiana, English creates a constantly changing menu of French-Creole cuisine. The menu changes constantly because the dishes are prepared using only local and seasonal ingredients. Sample menu items are Gulf oysters, sweet corn griddle cakes with crab ravigote, rack of Montana lamb, veal sweetbread and seared Tennessee foie gras.
Restaurant Iris
2146 Monroe Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104
901-590-2828
restaurantiris.com
Jarrett's
Jarrett's, open for dinner Monday through Saturday, is an elegant bistro. Although it is located in a Memphis shopping center, the comfortable yet fine dining-styled interior exceeds initial expectations. The chef, Rick Farmer, uses local ingredients to create his dishes. Examples of the cuisine served at Jarrett's include the Coq au Vin--a braised organic chicken--phyllo beggar's purses stuffed with duck confit, spiced shrimp, garlic crab claws and ravioli stuffed with trout. There is also a wine list at Jarrett's that includes reasonably priced bottles and wine served by the glass.
Jarrett's
5689 Quince Road
Memphis, TN 38119
901-763-2264
jarretts.com
Chez Philippe
Located in Memphis's famous Peabody Hotel, Chef Philippe offers patrons a fusion of French and Asian cuisine. Open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday, the chef--Reinaldo Alfonso--serves up signature dishes. These include a fresh hearts of palm, bleu cheese and black truffle casserole as well as the souffle of the day. For dessert, there are sorbets made fresh daily. Flavors have included mango-mum, blood orange and pear Williams. Chef Philippe has earned an Award of Excellence from the Distinguished Restaurants of North America and also from Wine Spectator.
Chez Philippe
149 Union Ave.
Memphis, TN 38103
901-529-4188
peabodymemphis.com
Article Written By Kimberly Porter
Kimberly Porter is a writer based in Miami Beach, Fla., first published in high school when she was an intern with "The Miami Herald." Since then she has interned with "Ocean Drive Magazine," graduated from Florida International University and written articles for "Social Affairs Magazine." Currently she writes articles mainly Trails Travel, GolfLink and eHow.
