This bar with an interesting name is in a great location for a night out-a block west of Overton Square and close to many restaurants. You can stop in for a beer and listen to live music after an evening at the theater or a dinner out. The Blue Monkey offers 35 different brands of beer and several wines. You can snack on one of their pizzas, calzones or sandwiches and have the time of your life.

The Lilly's Dim Sum & Then Some menu includes Japanese gyoza, steamed dumplings, plus Sesame noodles and Won Tons stuffed with shrimp, crab and vegetables. You can also find soups and salads or dishes from Vietnam, China and Japan. Try an Asian beer or some Thai Iced Coffee. The desserts are not particularly Asian, but interesting and delicious. This small, homey restaurant fits right in the Cooper-Young district. The decorations are sparse but tasteful with a few Chinese paintings and statues hung on the wall. The service is friendly and the wait staff is happy to answer questions about their food.

Relax, listen to music and have a cup of coffee. This funky little gift shop/coffee bar is a fun place to have a snack, browse for gifts and enjoy yourself. In the coffee bar you will find java, organic teas and homemade soups. The gift shop specializes in the works of local artists making it a great place to find an original gift. Local musicians perform here on Saturday evenings. The shop is easy to spot with its blue exterior and huge white-lettered name on the front.

Yosemite Sam's is a great casual place to grab a beer and some food or just have some fun. This rustic tavern with wood floors serves salads, burgers and munchies, and it also has a full bar. You can also show off your talents on Karaoke Friday and Saturday nights. If that is not your idea of fun, you can try your hand at darts, dancing and air hockey. This place has something for everyone, whether you want to sing, dance or just sit and chat.

Light eaters might want to have soup and salad and go straight to dessert at Café Society. Don't skip the outstanding composed salads and the rich, heady French onion soup served in a hollowed out bread boule. The favorite dessert is the deliciously smooth Cremé Brulee. Entrées include braised lamb shank with pear brandy and walnut glaze, salmon with sesame and poppy seed crust, or the grilled duck breast. All are prepared with a light hand and a sure touch. There is a small wine list. This is an intimate restaurant with a comfortable bar. In good weather, try the tiny patio.

This restaurant has developed a reputation for quality food in a slightly eccentric atmosphere.Menu choices change often, as the chef develops variations on the Asian and Pacific Rim themes. The standouts are the seafood dishes, including mussels steamed in sake with a red curry sauce and fresh tuna with wasabi.Salads are interesting, but the seasonal soups, like roasted-corn chowder and butternut squash, are often more exciting. Tsunami occupies one fairly small room and an attached bar. The décor is fun and colorful, filled with offbeat works of art. Dress is casual.

This pleasant Indian restaurant occupies a convenient midtown location. Everything here works together to create a happy dining experience. The walls are in neutral gray and cream, highlighted with a few wall hangings. Although Golden India has a lunch buffet, the real draw at Golden India is a la carte dinner menu. Everything is carefully prepared so that the spices don't overpower, and the tandoori dishes are never overdone or dry. Golden India is especially popular with vegetarians, who enjoy the Bhindi Masala with its sauce of onions, tomatoes and spices.

Housed in a duplex bungalow in the Midtown residential area, Buns on the Run serves the kind of breakfast you want to linger over. Breakfast is the highlight, whether you prefer the huge, fluffy omelets, the French toast made with homemade bread, crepes with lingonberry butter, or just eggs and bacon. Lunch items include sandwiches on bread that is baked daily on the premises, as well as meat-and-three specials.

Occupying a lovely Victorian house built around 1900, the Restaurant Iris has romantic atmosphere where you can enjoy fine dining. The French-Creole cuisine is delicious and the service is very friendly. Restaurant Iris is also known for their seafood, such as Gulf Oysters, Scallop and truffle and much more. The restaurant also has an extensive wine list. 

Do not let the unlikely location put you off-the specialties here are worth it. This place is a Memphis tradition, and you may have to fight the regulars for a table or a seat at the counter. The barbecued Cornish game hens are the specialty here, perfectly cooked and succulent. Other choices include ribs and pork sandwiches. Cozy Corner is indeed cozy, but also casual. Everything is served on paper plates-the plastic cutlery can make eating a bit of a struggle, but fingers are allowed. No smoking is allowed in the restaurant, and no alcoholic beverages are served.