There’s something nice about discovering a restaurant where you weren’t expecting one.
You came to browse for some winter reading material, admire an Expressionist painting, shop for a vintage end table, wander through the fall botanic gardens or catch the latest “Spider-Man” movie — and suddenly, lunch becomes an unexpected highlight of the day.
Around Memphis and its suburbs, some of the most interesting dining experiences are hiding in plain sight, tucked inside places better known for their greeneries, galleries, antiques, big screens and best-selling books.
These aren’t just places to grab a bite between activities. They’re destinations in their own right, with great food and a sense of place that makes lingering part of the fun.
Here are five
surprising — and underrated — Memphis-area spots worth adding to your dining rotation.
Fratelli's Cafe at the Memphis Botanic Garden
Memphis Botanic Garden: 750 Cherry Road
There are lunch spots where the view is a parking lot overlooking another parking lot, and then there are lunch spots where the view is a beautiful, zen garden full of fresh tulips and blooming hydrangeas.
Fratelli’s Café at the Memphis Botanic Garden belongs firmly in the second category.
Tucked between the Water Garden and Sculpture Garden, Fratelli’s is a lunchtime destination for fresh soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts — open 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
Outdoor terrace seating adds to the appeal, making it an especially inviting stop after a morning spent admiring nature in all its beautiful forms — complete with flowers, trees, koi ponds and sculptures.
What makes this place such a find is its unhurried atmosphere. A meal here can feel like a small vacation from the ordinary workday.
There’s no elaborate itinerary required — just a table, a delicious, reasonably priced lunch, much peace and quiet and lots of beautiful nature in every direction.
The plan: Start with a light meal (the Chicken Cordon Bleu Panini with a side of fresh fruit is top notch); then walk it off with a leisurely stroll through 96 acres boasting more than 30 themed display gardens.
Park + Cherry at the Dixon
Dixon Gallery & Gardens: 4339 Park Ave.
A visit to Dixon Gallery & Gardens has always offered an appealing escape from the everyday hustle bustle of life. But it doesn't have to stop with the art-filled galleries and beautiful gardens.
Park + Cherry, led by Chef Phillip Dewayne, gives visitors reason to stay after that last exhibition.
The café's seasonal menu takes a more thoughtful approach than the phrase “museum lunch” might suggest.
Depending on the season, diners might find a warm farro salad with roasted squash and goat cheese, a short-rib grilled cheese and caramelized onions, or a comforting bowl of fall minestrone soup.
On a recent stop, we enjoyed a light and freshly made roasted turkey, beef bacon and Brie sandwich on toasted sourdough. A generous offering of pomme frites was served on the side.
Then there’s the setting. Dining indoors keeps you close to the museum’s curated atmosphere, while outdoor seating lets you take in the lush decorative grounds.
It's the sort of place where lunch can stretch a little longer, especially when the unpredictable Memphis weather cooperates.
The plan: Spend the morning in the 17 acres of gorgeous floral landscapes, enjoy a leisurely lunch, then spend the afternoon viewing a spectacular collection of French and American Impressionist paintings by the likes of Monet and Gauguin.
Libro at Novel
Novel: 387 Perkins Extd.
Some of us can lose an entire afternoon in a bookstore.
At Novel in Memphis, there’s even more reason to stay put, even if you've reached the last page of your John Grisham thriller.
Located inside the independent bookstore, Libro brings a refined dining experience to a setting that already invites you to slow down.
With its European influences and a menu shaped by Sabine Bachman and her sons, chefs and restaurateurs Armando and John-Paul Gagliano, whose family has deep roots in European culinary traditions, Libro offers something a little more polished than the usual café stop.
The menu includes great pastas like Spaghetti Carbonara and (my favorite) Pesto Genovese and entrees like its hearty, satisfying Meatloaf and Delta Catfish.
The magic is in the mix: a perfect outing for your inner bookworm and a proper sit-down meal, whether it’s a leisurely lunch with a friend, or a solo afternoon spent alternating between good food and your latest book club selection.
The plan: Browse the non-fiction shelves, settle in for lunch, and leave with a new read, preferably one you can begin over your fried calamari.
Ridgeway Cinema Grill at Malco Ridgeway Theater
Malco Ridgeway Cinema: 5853 Ridgeway Center Parkway
Dinner and a movie is a classic combination. Ridgeway Cinema Grillmakes the pairing even easier by bringing the food into the moviegoing experience.
This longtime East Memphis theater — often viewed as a Memphis institution by natives — offers something beyond the standard large popcorn-Cherry Coke-and-Reese’s Pieces routine, with a grill-and-bar concept that makes it possible to turn a simple movie-going experience into a more complete night out.
Its smaller, neighborhood-theater atmosphere also offers a different feel from a sprawling, boisterous multiplex.
We’ve pretty much tried everything on the menu — from the sausage, cheese and pickles plate and the burger and fries to the toasted ravioli and personal-sized fresh baked meat lovers pizza.
The charm here is in the convenience, but also in the nostalgia. Settling in for a summer blockbuster or an Oscar hopeful without having to coordinate separate dinner plans is a dream.
And bonus points for the very popular wine bar. Pinot may not be my personal pour of choice — I prefer a large Diet Coke — but it seems to be a crowd favorite, judging by the number of patrons seen in line on a Saturday evening. Bottoms up!
The plan: Choose your movie first, enter the theater doors very hungry and there you have it: dinner and a movie.
Nostalgic Tea Rooms at Sheffield Antiques Mall
Sheffield Antiques Mall: 684 W. Poplar Ave., Collierville
For a meal that feels like stepping into another time, Nostalgic Tea Rooms offers a charming change of pace.
Located inside Sheffield Antiques Mall in Collierville, this intimate tearoom combines the pleasure of browsing vintage treasures while also sitting down for a spot of Earl Grey tea.
Think chai or matcha tea, delightful finger sandwiches, baked scones with strawberry jam and mini Victorian cakes — the kind of fare that invites conversation rather than a quick, hurried exit.
It's an appealing choice for a catch-up with an old chum, a mother-daughter outing or an afternoon when coffee on the go simply won't do.
Its location adds another layer to the experience. A visit can begin with a trek through the antiques mall full of vintage finds, ornate artwork and mid-century credenzas.
In a world that often seems determined to hurry us along, there’s something refreshing and refreshingly old-fashioned about a place built around the idea of sitting, sipping and staying awhile.
The plan: Browse the Art Deco chandeliers and accent tables, then settle in for a pot of green tea and some hearty tomato basil soup. It's the perfect Saturday.
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: Where to eat in Memphis? 5 surprising dining spots you may have missed
