This down-to-earth breakfast/lunch hangout looks like the kind of place where Stella got her groove back. The decor is shabby chic, where orange walls and purple beaded curtains blend right in with the potted plants, African artwork and tulle draped from the ceiling. Best known for its homemade preserves, Alcenia's serves up salmon croquettes, pancakes, and biscuits for breakfast. Sandwiches and Southern-style munchies are available at other hours. Call ahead to see if Alcenia's famous bread pudding is on the menu that day.
Hours
Tues-Fri 11am-5pm; Sat 8am-1pm
Address
317 N. Main St,
Phone
901/523-0200
Credit Cards
Asian Palace
Arguably the best Chinese restaurant in the Memphis area, this large, bring-the-family eatery serves an astonishing array of authentic Chinese dishes. Yes, you can get fried rice, egg rolls, and all the expected basics. But be bold: Go for the squid with shrimp paste, or try the jellyfish. Personal favorites include the potstickers, savory won-ton dumplings fried to a delicate golden crispness; and the ginger beef with Chinese greens.
Hours
Daily 11am-9:30pm
Address
4978 Park,
Phone
901/761-7888
Credit Cards
Automatic Slim's Tonga Club
For relaxed artiness and creative food in downtown Memphis, try Automatic Slim's. The name "Automatic Slim" comes from an old blues song, and the Tonga Club was a local teen hangout popular in the early 1960s. Artists from New York and Memphis created the decor (they're credited on the menu), including zebra-print upholstered banquettes, slag-glass wall sconces, and colorfully upholstered bar stools. Be sure to try a cocktail with some of the fruit-soaked vodka. The food here is as creative as the atmosphere. The coconut-mango shrimp with citrus pico de gallo is a piquant starter. Salads are adventurous plates of fresh field greens, lightly vinegared and tossed with sun-dried cherries, goat cheese, and sunflower seeds. The tasty quesadillas are cheesy tortillas topped with cilantro and onions. If you can stand the heat, try the succulent Jamaican jerk chicken, served with black beans and rice. In summer, ask for the creamy tomato basil soup. It goes great with Slim's coyote chips, crisps of potato with horseradish dipping sauce.
The first and most important thing you need to know is not that this hip eatery sits inside an old 1940s-style beauty shop, but that it's the latest brainchild of Karen Blockman Carrier, the creative force behind two of Memphis' coolest restaurants (Automatic Slim's and Cielo). Yes, the atmosphere is kitschy and fun. You can, indeed, dine in refurbished hair-dryer chairs. But what keeps the place packed with all the beautiful people is the fantastic food: globally inspired salads (I loved the Thai Cobb), entrees such as the whole striped bass, or the best BLTA (bacon, lettuce, tomato, and avocado sandwich) you've ever tasted.
Reservations: Reservations highly recommended
Hours
Mon-Fri 11am-2pm; Sat 10am-2pm; Sun 10am-3pm; Mon-Thurs 5-10pm; Fri-Sat 5-11pm
