Memphis - Good Eating! Classic Memphis spots and Elvis' Favorites!

Leonard’s Pit Barbecue One of Elvis' Favorites!

5456 Fox Plaza Drive, Memphis • (901) 360-1963 Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; 
Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Leonard Heuberger opened Leonard’s Pit Barbecue at the corner of Bellevue and McLemore in 1922. Today, it’s owned by Dan Brown, who started working there in 1962. The restaurant is now located in Hickory Ridge, and there is still a steady stream of customers searching for the same barbecue sandwiches and fried chicken Elvis used to eat when Leonard’s was the town’s largest drive-in. The sandwiches are meaty, the sauce is rich and tangy, and the slaw is mustardy. Great big seasoned potato wedges stand in for fries, and I highly recommend you give them a try. There is also brisket and barbecue bologna on the menu. The daily lunch buffet is popular, serving up Southern favorites like catfish and country-fried steak, in addition to ribs and sandwiches.

http://leonardsbarbecue.com/

The Arcade - Request Elvis' booth! THE OLDEST Restaurant in Memphis!

540 S. Main, Memphis • (901) 526-5757 Hours: Sunday through Wednesday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The Arcade claims to be the oldest restaurant in Memphis, and it is still operating at the same location and is still owned by the Zepatos family that opened it in 1919. It has appeared in movies and TV shows, and yes, Elvis ate here. The Arcade is known for its breakfasts and pizzas, though there other choices on the menu. Breakfast is classic — eggs any style, pancakes, grits, ham or sausage, a short stack. But you can veer off the tradition with the fluffy and rich sweet potato pancakes or a good country-fried steak with gravy and biscuits. Try the pizzas with the family’s Greek flair, like Miss Polly’s Greek Lover with walnuts, pesto, feta and sun-dried tomatoes, or the Central Station, featuring eggplant, feta and tomatoes.

The Bon Ton Cafe - Much of Music history happened here! THE Second Oldest Restaurant in Memphis!
 
150 Monroe, Memphis • (901) 525-0883 Hours: Everyday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Bon Ton Cafe originally opened in 1890, and it has been at 150 Monroe since 1904. It closed for several years, then reopened in 2012, still sporting the fabulous neon sign. The Bon Ton serves breakfast and lunch daily, and brunch on the weekends. The breakfast menu is a good blend of old school, from biscuits and gravy, grits and pancakes, to new school burritos and chicken and waffles. The Big Sammy biscuit, with fried chicken doused in cream gravy, is a favorite, the gravy with lots of flavor and a little spice. The only secret ingredient the chef will reveal is “a whole lotta love.” You can also get your hash browns smothered and covered. The selection is large, so go prepared to eat. The lunch menu offers a wide selection of sandwiches and burgers, plus entrees like fried chicken and blackened catfish. Daily lunch specials are worth a look, as well.

http://bontoncafememphis.com/