Ample portions of classic Italian food and a friendly wait staff are what you'll find at this eatery, tucked away in an unassuming little shopping center. Try the toasted ravioli, seafood lasagna, or Around the World Pizza, all highly recommended. The richly flavored, spicy and slightly sweet meat sauce, a house specialty, goes equally well with the various pasta offerings. Beers are available. If you want a hearty red or white wine with your meal, feel free to bring your own bottle. The atmosphere is quite casual.

Come here for a taste of real pit barbecue, made from the same recipe for more than 50 years. This is a classic, down-home restaurant with a cozy dining room. In addition to the pork or beef plates, which come with ample helpings, you might want to try an appetizer cheese plate with peppers and barbecued bologna to whet your appetite. If you like the original Dancing Pigs barbecue sauce served here, take home a bottle in either the mild or hot variety. You can also pick up the famous sauce at Kroger or Piggly Wiggly grocery stores.

Best-known for its hearty breakfasts, this is also a good bet for a sandwich, catfish plate, or a meat-and-three plate lunch served with cornbread. It's the kind of place that when it says steak, it's chopped sirloin smothered with onions or plain. And don't pass up the homemade desserts here. Choose from Chocolate Meringue, Vanilla Chess, or Southern Pecan. If you do come for breakfast, you'll find yourself eating country ham and some of the best biscuits in town with a group of regulars - some of who eat breakfast here every day.

The eggplant casserole alone is reason enough to come here for lunch. Also on offer, though, are a number of plate lunch specials, with an emphasis on vegetable choices. There's a popular selection of desserts, as well, all served efficiently by the long-tenured wait staff. There's always a wait during lunch time at this down-home eatery, but the "community" table makes this a good dining spot for parties of one. Also try out the downtown location, known as "The Cupboard II," which can be found at 149 Madison Avenue.

If you are alone in town and would like to kick back in comfort with a cocktail, Le Chardonnay in the Overton Square Entertainment District, with its leather couches, is just the place. If you are not alone, the candlelit ambience might be just the ticket, too. After your cocktail, choose a seafood, steak, or chicken entree from the menu, or try one of the delicious gourmet pizzas. Every Wednesday a wine tasting features selections from its own collection one of the best cellars in town!

The eclectic menu at this casual local favorite near the Overton Square Entertainment District includes seafood specialties such as the Super Grouper and the Amberjack Louise. Other offerings include Steak Saigon and Chicken Newport. For dessert, try the Mickey Mouse Cake. New items are frequently added to what owners describe as a "funky" menu. The small interior expands out onto a deck for dining in nice weather. The location makes this spot a good place in which to watch the world go by.

An American-style deli, this spot is popular locally for its hearty and spicy Memphis-style potato salad, a perfect accompaniment to any of the overstuffed sandwiches on the menu. The Bogie's in Overton Square is located in a quaint old house, with antique tables and chairs around the original fireplace. The front porch offers the opportunity for al fresco dining in nice weather. Bogie's has two additional locations: one in downtown on 80 Monroe Avenue (+1 901 525 6764) and another in East Memphis on 7155 Mendenhall Road (+1 901 761 5846).

Tortilla chips and salsa start every meal. The most popular appetizer is Mexican chicken wings, coated in a dry, spicy sauce and served with blue cheese dressing. Entrees include quesadillas, tortillas, which can be filled with spinach, mushrooms, cheese, tomatoes or a variety of other toppings; tacos and chile rellenos (peppers stuffed with meat and rice). A full service bar offers margaritas and Mexican beers. The walls are painted to look like clay with Mexican and desert designs. The tables are wooden and a little worn adding to the traditional feeling. The atmosphere is casual and fun.

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.