What better time to launch a massive new Downtown Memphis dining destination than on 901 Day. That is the plan for the much-anticipated Walt & Ricky’s Seafood Kitchen, which officially opens Tuesday, September 1.
This is the new restaurant from married duo - and Memphis natives - Mowbray and Cherina Rowand. And it’s a first for them. Though they have many popular spots around town, Walt & Ricky's is their first original restaurant concept.
They brought Fat Tuesday, the New Orleans-based franchise daiquiri bar to South Main in 2023. And in the same year, the husband and wife team also brought the popular Atlanta tapas restaurant ESCO Restaurant & Tapasto 156 Lt. George W. Lee Ave, near Beale
Street and behind the Westin Memphis Beale Street hotel.
This is where Walt & Ricky’s General Manager Ragan Tarletsky started working with the couple. She transferred to the new riverfront seafood restaurant about four months ago to get things prepped and ready for their much buzzed about September debut.
On a recent visit to Walt & Ricky’s, Tarletsky gave us an exclusive sneak peek of the gorgeous new space before they officially open their doors to the public. And it was clear from the start that this was an especially personal project for the Rowands.
“Where does the restaurant get its name?” was the first question to Tarletsky.
“Walt and Ricky are the names of their two fathers,” she informed us. “Cherina’s dad is named Walt and Mowbray’s dad is named Richard.”
Tarletsky further explained, as native Memphians, this was a real passion project for the Rowands.
“Mowbray is a proud University of Memphis graduate and played football for the Tigers. And the Rowands created this restaurant in hopes of revitalizing the downtown area, especially this part, right by the river. They really want to bring revenue to their hometown city they love so much, hoping to help change the perception of the city, particularly the downtown area.”
The location of Walt & Ricky’s could not be more desirable. It’s a pretty high-profile piece of downtown real estate. Located at the riverfront ground floor of The Landing Residences at One Beale, at 1 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, right by Tom Lee Park and the Mississippi River. The space previously housed Fancy's Fish House, which opened in 2022 but closed soon after in 2023.
“As you can see it looks quite different from the old Fancy’s Fish House,” Tarletsky said. “We did quite a bit of new improvements, including electrical work, lighting, patio renovations, a massive décor change and different color palette.”
There’s a lot riding on the impending opening of Walt & Ricky’s. It’s the return of a significant 6,500-square-foot riverfront dining space; one that will be open for lunch and dinner, serving the Tom Lee Park crowd, downtown business employees and local residents, all with a unique focus on upscale dining, seafood and southern hospitality.
Before the tour we met with Chef Memphis Matlock, who described the menu in great detail and with much enthusiasm. There’s a substantial raw bar, gulf seafood, Chilean sea bass, whole branzino, pastas, steaks, lobster rolls, just to name a few premier items.
“It’s the finest of seafood, all meticulously sourced and served at its freshest,” he told us.
When asked what Chef Matlock’s favorite entrée on the menu is?
“It’s a tossup,” he answered proudly. “I love the Redfish Pontchartrain which is very classic Louisiana Creole seafood dish with redfish fillet in a creamy seafood sauce. And the Peabody Pork Chop which is 24 oz bone-in pork chop glazed with a bourbon pearl honey glaze."
According to Chef Matlock, only four to five restaurants in the country prepare a pork chop this way.Matlock and Tarletsky explained they’ve been in soft opening mode since last Monday, August 17, getting into the restaurant at 1pm every day with limited openings for a select group of diners starting at 4pm.
“When we open our hours will be 11am – 10pm Mondays through Thursdays, plus on Sundays. And then on Friday and Saturdays we’ll be open from 11am to 11pm.”
The September 1 (901) grand opening will have a special ribbon cutting ceremony on that Tuesday late afternoon, followed by dinner service.
While leading us on our tour of the space, Tarletsky explained the concept had been in the works for about two years and that the restaurant has a 240-person capacity.
We began at the front entrance, which is parallel to Linden Ave and opens up to a well-appointed and polished host area with comfy seating and an electronic fireplace.
Just past it is the raw oyster bar, which features the daily oysters and fresh catch oyster collections like Gulf Shores oysters and Blue Point Boston ones.
“These specials will change every three days,” Tarletsky informed us. “And our bar will also store higher end whole fish, fillets and salmon.”
We then moved onto the main dining room, which is called the Sunset Strip. Covered in windows and bathed in natural sunlight, the high point of this section – and possibly the entire space - is the absolutely stunning, unobstructed views of the nearby Mississippi River.
“And you should see it at night when the bridge is lit up,” Tarletsky remarked.
I immediately thought about the night the bridge sparkled in pink for the tragic passing of Tennessee’s very own Dolly Parton. How special a visual spectacle that would make while enjoying an intimate dinner.“To the right is a large sun room, which they call the ‘Tea Room,’” Tarletsky said, continuing to lead the way. “This is the perfect place to have brunch.”
Brunch at Walt & Ricky’s will be served on Fridays and Saturdays and will have a specialized menu. With windows everywhere and views of blooming hydrangeas, this area is also bathed in light. I can imagine this the perfect locale for a bridal shower or a boozy Sunday Funday.
Just outside this room is an exterior space they call the “outdoor cigar bar.” Here they will sell custom cigars which Tarletsky explains will go perfectly with “an Old Fashioned or a two finger bourbon.”
There’s also another patio area on the other side of the restaurant that has full service to the kitchen and the bar.
“This area is all about the ambience,” Tarletsky commented. “Plus more views of the mighty Mississippi!”
The patio area has three firepits and a soothing water fountain. Tarletsky explained the area will eventually be covered and especially popular in the fall and spring seasons when the Memphis temps are more moderate.
Next up, we travelled to where Chef Matlock creates his culinary magic: the kitchen. The restaurant bills it as “one of the biggest working restaurant kitchens in Memphis.”
It was large, the size of a pickleball court. No kitchen staff elbowing each other in these quarters. Cramped is not the word that comes to mind.
And lastly our generous tour guide took us into a private dining room that seats 65 people. With a separate outdoor entrance but also a direct one to the restaurant, this is designed for private parties, wedding receptions and corporate events. On the day of our visit though, they were holding a wine tasting.
Oh, and one final note on the restaurant, which is a great one. Walt & Ricky’s will have complimentary valet beginning on September 1st as well, which for the area is extremely convenient.
As we wrap up our tour and I marvel at how beautiful and well-appointed the space is, Tarletsky shares that if business goes well, the plan is to expand in a few years to 10 or so cities, “from Little Rock to Nashville,” she said.
For now, though, the Rowands and its staff are focused on getting Walt & Ricky's off to a strong start in the city they call home. With its sweeping river views, expansive menu, spacious dining areas and distinctly Memphis connection, the new restaurant certainly has plenty going for it. And if Tarletsky's prediction comes true, this September 1 opening could be just the beginning of a much bigger story - one that starts on the Memphis riverfront and eventually stretches well beyond it.
Brian Strickland is the Food & Dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal. Contact him at brian.strickland@commercialappeal.com.
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This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Sneak peak of new Downtown riverfront restaurant Walt & Ricky's
