Choose best, Choose tasty
As the old saying goes, persistence is the key to success.
It took years, but campaigns to bring Whataburger back to the Memphis area worked. Now the Memphis-area has three locations of the Texas-based burger chain, with one more on the way.
Since Whataburger is now here, we asked Memphians which other chains they would like to see come to town.
The responses to our polls included chains like Cava, Portillo’s, SweetGreen and Jack in the Box — but there were five restaurants that stood out above the rest, each receiving numerous mentions.
From chicken tenders to burgers to Tex-Mex, here are five restaurant chains that Memphians want to see expand to the Mid-South.
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It’s all about the chicken fingers at Raising Cane’s. Hand-battered marinated chicken fingers are fried to order and served with crinkle-cut fries and Cane’s signature dipping sauce. Other than coleslaw and Texas toast, that’s about it on the menu of this restaurant that calls its loyal fans “Caniacs.”
This restaurant chain started as a campus restaurant by LSU in 1996 and has become one of the fastest-growing large restaurant brands in the US
There are currently two Raising Cane’s in Tennessee — but both are on the East side of the state. The closest to Memphis are Mississippi locations in Oxford and Tupelo.
Julia Doyle, Raising Cane’s director of public relations, said there may be good news in store for Memphis fans of the chicken finger chain.
“We are absolutely planning to open in Memphis and are currently in the early stages of planning,” he said, adding it is too early to share details.
California-based chain In-N-Out Burger is renowned for its burgers, fries and milkshakes, along with a “not-so-secret menu” for customizing burgers. Known for its freshness, each burger is cooked to order.
Orders like “The Double-Double” (two all-beef patties and two slices of American cheese) and a burger “Animal-style” (served with grilled onions) have become cult-like classics.
The chain currently only has restaurants in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Texas, Oregon and Colorado.
In-N-Out Marketing Coordinator Patty Peña said the company currently does not have any plans to open locations in Memphis. “However, we’re delighted to hear that we have loyal customers there who’d like us to be close by,” she said.
Did you know Shake Shack started as a hot dog cart in New York City’s Madison Square Park?
Founded by renowned New York City restaurateur Danny Meyer, the company now has more than 400 locations, including over 260 in the US across 32 states. It also has more than 140 international locations in cities such as London, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Mexico City, Istanbul, Dubai, Tokyo and Seoul.
The popular burger chain touts itself as “a modern day roadside burger stand serving a classic American menu of premium burgers, hot dogs, crinkle-cut fries, shakes, frozen custard, beer and wine.”
The most popular order is the ShackBurger. Available in single or double, it features a 100% Angus beef patty topped with American cheese, lettuce, tomato and Shack Sauce. We recommend ordering it with crinkle fries and a hand-spunshake.
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Nashville has four Shake Shacks.
Shake Shack did not respond to requests about any future plans to come to Memphis. (Fingers are crossed they decide to open one here.)
Founded in Austin, Texas, in 1982, Chuy’s owns and operates close to 100 full-service restaurants across 17 states.
Known for its flavorful and freshly prepared Tex-Mex fare served in a fun, eclectic and irreverent atmosphere, each location offers a unique, “unchained” look and feel, as expressed by the concept’s motto: “If you’ve seen one Chuy’s, you’ve seen one Chuy’s!”
The menu features recipes from across New Mexico, Mexican border towns, the Rio Grande Valley, South Texas and, of course, Austin. With an emphasis on freshness, the tortillas are made fresh in-house. There are 10 signature sauces ranging from the mild Tomatillo to the spicy Hatch Green Chile Sauce, and margaritas are made with freshly squeezed lime juice.
The first Chuy’s outside Texas opened in the Nashville suburb of Franklin in November 2009. Today there are six locations in the Nashville area. We think the next one needs to be in Memphis, don’t you?
Chuy’s did not respond to requests about any future plans to come to the area.
ButterBurgers, Fresh Frozen Custard and Wisconsin Cheese Curds have made Culver’s a
AND THEN ALL THE OFFICERS ALSO LOOKING FOR A ROBBER. THEY SAY MACED MCDONALD’S EMPLOYEE. THIS HAPPENED AT 108TH IN KEW LAST NIGHT AROUND 9 PM POLICE SAY THE MAN WALKED UP TO A DRIVE THRU WINDOW AND TOOK THE CASH DRAWER. HE RAN AWAY TO THE SOUTH. IF YOU KNOW
OPD: Robber maces fast-food worker at drive-through window
Police are asking anyone with information on the robbery to call Crime Stoppers.
Updated: 11:08 PM CST Dec 4, 2022
Omaha Police say a robber maced an employee at a McDonald’s Saturday night. It happened around 9 pm at the restaurant on 108th and Q streets. Officers said the man walked up to the drive-through window, maced the worker and took the cash drawer from the register. The suspect ran away to the south. Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to submit a tip to Crime Stoppers by calling 402-444-STOP or on the P3 Tips mobile app.
Omaha Police say a robber maced an employee at a McDonald’s Saturday night. It happened around 9 pm at the restaurant on 108th and Q streets.
The officers said the man walked up to the drive-through window, maced the worker and took the cash drawer from the register.
The suspect ran away to the south.
Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to submit a tip to Crime Stoppers by calling 402-444-STOP or on the P3 Tips mobile app.
Pebble Bar | Photo by Cole Saladino for Thrillist
Pebble Bar | Photo by Cole Saladino for Thrillist
Rockefeller Center is waving goodbye to its reputation as a tourist-only attraction thanks to a million-dollar revitalization project currently underway at the iconic Midtown destination. A new wave of head-turning and big-name–backed eateries and bars is turning The Rock into the city’s latest culinary and nightlife destination.
From highly acclaimed debuts like NARO, by the founders of trailblazing eateries Atoboy and Atomix, and the swanky Pebble Bar to this week’s opening of chef Greg Baxtrom’s latest venture called Five Acres, there are plenty of spots that have New Yorkers reconsidering their stance on these Manhattan blocks.
So if you’re among the crowds who will be dropping by this season to catch a glimpse of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree or ice skate at The Rink at Rockefeller Center, we’ve got you covered with some of the coolest spots to eat and drink at Rockefeller Center in NYC right now.
Chef Greg Baxtrom showcases his knowledge of fine dining and hyper-seasonal fare with his first Manhattan venture. Named for his family’s five-acre farm outside of Chicago, Five Acres highlights recipes and techniques Baxtrom learned while working at famous restaurants across the country, such as Paragraph in Chicago and Per Se in NYC. At the 65-seat, greenery-covered eatery, locally sourced ingredients are at the center of the all-day menu; Highlights include Delicata Squash Vase (whipped ricotta, prosciutto chips) and Crab Cake (bruleed bone marrow aioli), as well as larger plates like Grilled Guinea Hen (saltify hazelnut tart, juniper). On the beverage program, globally sourced wines are joined by house cocktails like the Vale of Cashmere (reposado, pear brandy, egg white).
Imaginative takes on American comfort classics are the specialty for NYC-native and chef Homer Murray. For his latest project, Murray launches a Manhattan counterpart to his popular Brooklyn-based 21 Greenpoint. Alongside guest favorites like the Cheeseburger, location exclusive plates include the Crunchy Broccoli Salad (apple, cajun pecans) and Open Faced Crab Toast (mayo, lemon, parsley). Drinks-wise there’s specialty cocktails like Homer’s Day Off (tequila, hibiscus), as well as a selection of beer and wine.
The team behind the popular downtown Italian restaurant King, recently debuted a spacious, 140-seat sibling dubbed Jupiter. Helmed by partners Clare de Boer, Jess Shadbolt, and Annie Shi, as well as executive chef Gaz Herbert (River Cafe in London), the food program features a large all-day menu of regional Italian classics like Beef Sott’olio (chargrilled beef filet, horseradish) and Risotto Di Mare (saffron, whole langoustine, squid), as well as pasta signatures such as Tagliarini al Pomodoro (tomato, marjoram, ricotta). Pair them with an extensive list of predominantly Italian wines as well as house cocktails like the Jupiter Vesper (gin, vodka, fig leaf). Guests can sit within the dining room or opt for a more casual experience at the 12-seater, red-marble bar.
This elegant new French brasserie is from the team behind Tribeca’s highly-lauded Frenchette. At Le Rock, the culinary program is helmed by chef Walker Stern’s (Dover) and offers guests a selection of weekly specials along with permanent Touts Le Temps menu items in a spacious 130-seat eatery. Among the highlights are Steak Haché and Escargots plus elaborate desserts like the Plateau de Dessert (confection stand filled with seasonal treats).
Creative takes on traditional Korean cuisine reign supreme at NARO. Led by the trailblazing team behind eateries Atoboy and Atomix and named after Korea’s first space launch, NARO sheds a contemporary spotlight on hansik (customary Korean food), made using hyper-seasonal ingredients. Led by chef Nate Kuester (Cafe Boulud, BAPBAP), the current multi-course tasting menu features plates like Pyeonyuk (beef shank, tomato, caviar) and King Crab Bibimbap (rice, soybean paste stew, pickled bamboo), alongside desserts like Pear Pavlova (blood orange coulis, pear hibiscus sorbet). For plant-forward diners, a vegetarian tasting menu is also available. Currently, the dining room is reservation only, but the bar is open for walk-ins with an a la carte program.
Since opening last year, this elevated restaurant/bar has commanded a steady fan base for its classic Italian plates and expert cocktails. Led by chef Ignacio Mattos (Estela, Altro Paradiso), the all-day menu offers from in-house baked breads and croissants to paninis and pastas. Standout dishes include house made Ricotta, Crostini di Fegato (liver pâté), and Salsiccia (pork sausage, turnips). Pair plates with a selection of spritzes, the house Rockefeller Martini, or wine.
