The Orpheum Theatre is heading into a busy stretch of its 2026 schedule, with a lineup that includes comedy, country, Southern hip-hop and Broadway, and several of the upcoming shows promise to be major draws.
Comic Leanne Morgan, country musician Vince Gill and hip-hop stars 8Ball & MJG and Bun B (of UGK) all have shows that are sold out or close to selling out in the next month.
The momentum continues well into the fall, with Broadway productions including “Clue” in September and “Spamalot” in October.
This has us thinking — with several shows already generating strong interest and the upcoming Orpheum calendar looking poised to keep Downtown Memphis busy for the rest of the year — what are some of the best nearby dining options for a pre-show
bite?
Here are five to keep you well-fed ahead of those encore presentations and standing ovations. And a friendly heads-up: Reservations are suggested. All these restaurants are popular choices for a pre-show meal.
Amelia Gene's: 255 S. Front St.
Part of the One Beale development, this fine-dining restaurant led by Chef Nate Henssler has a modern American flair with deep French and European influences. This is seen, and tasted, in some of their trademark entrees, like the black seabass.
Served in a rich French butter sauce called beurre blanc and paired with a soft and sweet leek fondue and caviar, this is a top seller at Amelia Gene’s.
On a recent trip after an event I was reminded just how good — and beautiful — this restaurant truly is.
Upon recommendation, I ordered two starters for my meal.
The first to emerge was the golden potato fondue. Imagine an exceptionally creamy, elevated mashed potato enriched with melted cheese and finished with earthy black truffle.
The second dish to come was the Gulf prawns, which contain a fun and delicious contrast of creamy avocado, spicy/crunchy chili crisp and citrusy calamansi dressing.
It was so good I embarrassingly treated this fine dining experience like it was a fast-food meal — down in about 6 minutes flat. (Not great, but the truth!)
Amelia Gene’s has also been experimenting with special Thursday tastings that include a rotating five-course meal using seasonal ingredients that are locally sourced.
And a bonus for all you diners commuting to Downtown Memphis: Amelia Gene’s offers complimentary valet at the door.
Catherine & Mary's: 272 S. Main St., Suite 105-a
Recently namechecked inSouthern Living as a “Memphis Landmark Every Elvis Fan Should Visit At Least Once,” this Downtown favorite was opened by James Beard-nominated, Memphis-born chefs Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman in the restored Chisca building in 2016.
Not only is the name inspired by their grandmothers — Hudman’s was named Catherine Chiozza and Ticer’s was named Mary Spinosa — so is the menu. Entrees consist of the kinds of hearty meals Nana served an extended family of 24 for Sunday supper.
Start with the fried mozzarella with tomato bomba and basil salsa verde.
Just what dreams are made of, these golden and gooey delights are fresh, homemade, incredibly satisfying and provide the perfect cheesy pull for your most popular future Instagram post.
Then settle in for one of their excellent, hearty pastas. A personal favorite is their rigatoni, served with Hudman and Ticer’s signature Maw Maw’s gravy. This is a family secret concoction that includes multiple meats (pork, veal, chicken and local pork sausage), tomatoes and a whole lot of seasoning.
The gravy is so beloved that it’s also featured at their other local restaurants, Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen and Josephine Estelle.
The Lobbyist: 272 S. Main St., Suite 101
If you’re not in the mood for Italian but want to remain at the Chisca building, look no further than the nearby The Lobbyist. It’s got some serious credentials, including a 2026 James Beard semifinalist honor for Chef Jimmy Gentry, a 2025 Michelin mention and a 2024 New York Times “26 Best Dishes We Ate Across the U.S.”
The latter cited the corn mash, theonly dish from Tennessee to appear on the list.
It’s stone-ground grits with mascarpone cheese so expect lots of velvety texture. And then comes the really good stuff: layered on top you'll find roasted squash, bacon jus and pumpkin seeds.
The menu also features such Southern staples as corn ribs and charred okra. Gentry, the owner and executive chef, is known for using only the freshest ingredients, locally raised meats and the best seasonal produce in the area.
The Majestic Grille: 145 S. Main St.
What better place to celebrate a night of theater than at a restaurant that once was a theater?
The building at 145 S. Main was constructed in 1913 as the Majestic No. 1 Theatre, entertaining Memphis moviegoers for 30 years.
In 2006 it became The Majestic Grille, a culinary homage to the silver screen era of so long ago. Nods to the golden age of Hollywood include a large movie screen above the dining room and multiple photographs of silent film stars.
This has been a top stop for many Orpheum patrons because of its close proximity. After your meal you just have a short walk to the theater to burn all those calories.
The menu at The Majestic Grille offers American food with Southern influences. Shrimp & Grits with Creole butter, Cajun chicken eggrolls and barbecued oysters are examples of this.
But if you're in the mood for meat before your theater-going experience, you're in luck. Ribeyes, filets, New York strips and burgers are also available, flavor-packed and delicious.
SOB Downtown: 345 S. Main St.
SOB stands for South of Beale, a perfect name for this hotspot because it is located in a historic building on South Main Street.
Once inside SOB, you can't help but be entranced by the chic industrial design, energetic bar area and incredible views overlooking all of what Downtown Memphis has to offer. With locations also in East Memphis and Collierville, the menu features elegant twists on familiar bar favorites.
Chicken wings made with house-made Tso's sauce, fettucine pasta with Louisiana crawfish and andouille sausage and the fried grouper sandwich are just some of the unconventional offerings that you'll find here.
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: Best restaurants near the Orpheum in Memphis? 5 of our favorites
