There’s more to Old Whitten Tavern than what’s on the menu.
For years, the locally owned Memphis eatery has been a gathering place for good food, great drinks and familiar faces. It’s the kind of place where longtime staff members know their regulars and guests can settle in and feel at home.
On Sept. 30, that story took center stage when America’s Best Restaurants
(ABR) brought its Roadshow to 2465 Whitten Road.ABR, a national media and marketing company, travels the country highlighting independent, locally owned restaurants and the people behind them.
During its visit, the ABR Roadshow team, led by host Luis Rivera, filmed an episode at Old Whitten Tavern, sitting down
with owner and chef Ric Filka to talk about the restaurant’s history, its place in the community and the people who have helped make it what it is today.
“I always say our two biggest keys to success are our customers and our employees,” Filka said. “They really do take care of each other.”
And what did Filka think when America’s Best Restaurants wanted to focus an entire episode on Old Whitten Tavern?
“We were blown away by it. We had been approached by the TV show ‘Bar Rescue’ over the years but had turned them down. But the opportunity with America’s Best Restaurants felt different," he said. "We have always had a passion to feed and serve people. We have the best staff, both front and back of house, and we're glad that they are finally getting recognized for all their efforts.”
According to Rivera, it was an obvious choice. “There were a lot of people in the area that nominated this restaurant, and they absolutely love it. So we couldn't resist. We had to come here.”
The history of Old Whitten Tavern
For Filka, the story began well before Old Whitten Tavern opened its doors.
In 2007, his parents purchased Goodtime Charlie's, a neighborhood dive bar known for beer and pizza. As his mother’s health began to decline, the family eventually transitioned the business into what would become Old Whitten Tavern.
In August 2010, the restaurant relocated, with ownership passing to Ric, his wife, Angelia Beckham-Filka, and his family.
What started primarily as a bar with a reputation for serving excellent food evolved over the years.
The COVID-19 pandemic became another turning point, prompting the restaurant to rebrand as a full-service restaurant, becoming just as well known for its cocktails as its food.
Through every chapter, one thing has remained constant: the people.
Many members of the Old Whitten Tavern team have been part of the restaurant for years, helping create the welcoming atmosphere that keeps customers coming back.
“Every member of our staff has been here for at least two years or longer,” Filka said proudly.
That sense of familiarity is central to the Tavern’s identity. It’s a place where the staff feels like family and customers often do, too.
That connection extends beyond the restaurant’s walls.
Community involvement has long been an important part of Old Whitten Tavern’s mission. The restaurant supports local churches, schools and charitable organizations, including a partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital that has spanned nearly 15 years.
What's on the menu at Old Whitten Tavern?
That commitment to its customers and its community is part of what has helped make Old Whitten Tavern the kind of place that gets noticed, even on a national stage.
“We were flattered when America’s Best Restaurants reached out to us for a feature on their show,” Filka said.
Rivera also had plenty to say about the restaurant itself, particularly its very Memphis-inspired decor, which includes local pop culture artifacts such as the Skateland sign from the old Raleigh roller rink and the Pop Tunes sign from the once-popular music retail shop on Summer Avenue.
“Well, number one, the first thing I noticed was the incredible ambiance. It's really, really nice,” Rivera said. “I love the old school metal signs that they have, especially the Skateland sign. Really cool. It's just unique, right? The black ceiling tiles are awesome. The lighting is really, really beautiful. The bar is outstanding.
"So I think everything they've chosen here, to bring into this restaurant, to put it together… It's just really nice for the family to come, where everybody can spend time around each other and get great food, of course.”
Oh yes. The food.
The ABR episode will showcase several of Old Whitten Tavern’s customer favorites, including the Inside OWT Grilled Cheese, Country Breakfast and the Kick’n Chick’n Sliders.
For those who haven't been to Old Whitten Tavern yet, the viral Inside OWT Grilled Cheese takes the familiar comfort-food classic and turns it up several notches. As Filka explained, the sandwich “combines five cheeses, bacon and even pepperoni” before wrapping the exterior with a crispy cheese coating. It’s served alongside chunky basil marinara for dipping.
The Country Breakfast offers a hearty start to the day, featuring hand-battered chicken that is cut in-house, according to Filka. (All chicken, from what goes into the soups, sandwiches, sliders and the tenders, is cut in-house.)
The Kick’n Chick’n Sliders bring together sweet and savory flavors with a kick of heat, which Rivera later called impressive.
Together, the dishes tell much the same story as the restaurant itself: familiar favorites, made with personality and plenty of care.
The Commercial Appeal's readers are already familiar with one Old Whitten Tavern specialty: its famous chicken tenders, which made it to the Top 8 of our Best Chicken Tenders in Memphis bracket over the summer.
As Filka explained, the celebrated tenders came about almost by accident and are the creation of his wife and business partner, Angelia.
“Eleven years ago, Angelia decided we needed chicken tenders on the menu. So she went to Kroger herself, bought a bunch of fresh chicken and 10 to 12 seasonings. She used her own flour, trimmed the fat and removed the tendons. I told her they were incredible, but with one warning: once we start with these, we can’t stop.
"For the first four years of our business, we never went on vacation because of these chicken tenders. We sell eight to 10 cases a week. They are our biggest sellers. And just in the last two years has my wife trusted the kitchen staff to make them on their own.”
Stories like that — about the food, its origins, the people behind it and the passion that has gone into building Old Whitten Tavern — are exactly what America's Best Restaurants set out to capture during its visit.
The completed episode featuring Old Whitten Tavern will be released across America’s Best Restaurants’ social media channels in “about two months,” according to Rivera. The exact premiere date will be announced on the Old Whitten Tavern Facebook page and featured through America’s Best Restaurants’ website and YouTube channel.
For a restaurant that has spent nearly two decades evolving while staying rooted in its community, the spotlight offers a chance to celebrate not just what’s being served at Old Whitten Tavern, but the people and experiences behind it.
Brian Strickland is the Food & Dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal. Contact him at brian.strickland@commercialappeal.com.
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Old Whitten Tavern
Where: 2465 Whitten Road
Hours: 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday and 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday
Online: oldwhittentavern.com
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Old Whitten Tavern in Memphis ready for national spotlight | Exclusive
