Folk's Folly Prime Steak House

Very nice restaurant. Dark and elegant with white table cloths. Very friendly staff. Seemed to be a very popular place. Food was great! We had steak and lobster, She Crab soup and stuffed Mushrooms.

Our waitress was amazing! She was super attentive and made sure our birthday celebration was great!

We had an excellent meal as always. The redfish was a new dish for me, and it was delicious. Sarah took good care of us.

I recently dined at Folks & Folly, and it was, unfortunately, one of the most disappointing fine dining experiences I’ve had in Memphis.

From the moment we walked in, there was a strong, unpleasant odor something between a dirty fish tank and a bathroom smell that lingered the entire time. It immediately ruined what was supposed to be an elevated dining atmosphere.

The interior looked neglected. The small fish tanks near the bar were cloudy and unkept, and when I glanced upward, I noticed vents that appeared to have mildew or buildup. The artwork on the walls didn’t help either one of the pictures of a tree looked disturbingly like a lynching tree, which was not only inappropriate but unsettling.

We were seated in a cramped corner against the curtains, with barely any space to move. The service was careless our waitress repeatedly reached over our food to pour wine instead of walking around or asking permission. It felt rushed and inconsiderate, not the attentive service you expect at a restaurant advertising itself as “fine dining.”

Then came the food. We started with Folly’s Tidbits, an appetizer that looked more like something from a fair food stand than an upscale kitchen. The presentation was sloppy, the batter was gummy and undercooked, and the steak filling was bland and rubbery. We sent it back immediately.

For entrées, we ordered the rosemary lamb chops and the sea bass. The lamb arrived on a tiny plate with no garnish, no color, just four small chops and a strange metal cup filled with something green and gelatinous. The meat was undercooked, chewy, and tasted only of salt no trace of rosemary or balance of flavor. The sides were equally disappointing: oily spinach and mushrooms with no seasoning, and overly sweet mashed potatoes that tasted like someone’s failed attempt at candied yams.

The sea bass was the only dish that was even remotely edible after we requested additional garlic butter. Otherwise, it was dry and lacked any real seasoning.

We sent most of the food back, paid for the wine and the sea bass, and left hungry. The only thing worth mentioning positively was the bread and butter and honestly, that says it all.

For a restaurant that markets itself as “refined” and “modern Southern,” Folks & Folly completely missed the mark. Between the smell, the decor, the service, and the food, the entire experience felt careless and overpriced. I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone looking for an actual fine dining experience in Memphis.

Rating: ⭐ 1 out of 5
If you’re looking for quality food and service, I’d suggest going elsewhere.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 2

I was displeased with the Ribeye Steak that ordered.
I ordered medium well and it come out raw.
Sent it back the first time, it still was raw.
The second time, the steak was better but the plate was so hot and the outside of the steak was burnt on the outside.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 1

Service: 5

Not worth it

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

What can I say. Best steak in Memphis. The bar staff are amazing.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We arrived early for our reservation. So, we opted to enjoy a drink in their Cellar Piano Bar until seating was available. The bar staff was friendly, professional, and they worked as a TEAM! Plus, the Wine List had Saldo Zinfandel, a wine we discovered at the Hamilton Hotel in Alpharetta, GA.

Every aspect of our Folks Folly dining experience was exceptional! The food (Calamari, Caesar Salad, Medallion Sampler, Desert) were a treat for the eyes (presentation) and palate (flavor profile). That Medallion Sampler is a trio of four ounce tenderloin medallions grilled to order and individually crowned with rich béarnaise, Maker's Mark peppercorn sauce, and bleu cheese crumbles. They were all delicious, but that Maker's Mark peppercorn sauce was AWESOME!!!!!!

Greg (our Server) was outstanding! He was personally/professionally engaging and his light-hearted humor definitely enhanced our dining experience!!!

My wife is an exceptional cook. So, it takes a lot for a restaurant to impress her. So, I was shocked when she said she wanted to return next week to sample their burgers in the Cellar Piano Bar.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The lobster soup is very rich and delicious. The aged KC strip with bone was good but you should get it med done not med-well.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: She-Crab Soup, Salmon Fillet, Southern Cooked Green Beans with Ham Hock, French Onion Soup

It was over the top in every way! We were treated like royalty. The service with Sarah was on point! We were able to be in a private room for our anniversary so the ambiance was perfect. The food was delicious and prepared exactly as we ordered. They exceeded our expectations!

Folk's Folly was a great place to celebrate our Anniversary. The ambience was Romantic. The Cuisine was exceptional. We had Salmon and The petit filet. The generational Wedge salad sent the ratings to the moon with everything else. Desert with a celebratory cupcake with a candle that had a sparkler for the wick. Folks Folly never disappoints. Thank you for being consistent and intentional. Chris out Waiter did an outstanding job!

Nice dinner experience/Private Room was great!/Kevin the server was terrific!/Appreciate the opportunity to have dinner at this restaurant!

Good awesome people awesome service was amazing.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Folks Folly has to do better to maintain a higher status! My husband's fork was seriously stuck to the table, the server was clueless, the food was not worth the price and the candy at the front is old/bad/wet or something! Please, for the love of all that is pure, don't expect more from the customer if you aren't providing a standard of excellence!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

The service was good, the food was good but pretty pricey. We went for a birthday and they out the balloons on a chair that was in front of the exit door. So didn’t make for good pictures

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5