The Lobbyist was fantastic. Our server explained everything to us. Even though I don’t like beer, the beer-based weight of love drink was very good. I also enjoyed the Brussels sprouts and Orecchiette with braised beef.
Debisree Ray
We stumbled into this spot on a Saturday evening—no reservations, no plan—just a spontaneous dinner idea. Despite it being the weekend, we were seated right away. The place was buzzing but not overflowing, which was a pleasant surprise.
Now, parking was a bit of a pain. It’s in the downtown area, and between the street closures and a few events going on, we ended up paying a ridiculous amount for a nearby lot. Something to keep in mind if you’re planning a visit.
The menu had a fun, modern fusion vibe. We kicked things off with the focaccia shareable platter. The bread itself was great—light, fluffy, topped with flaky sea salt—but the rest of the platter felt a little underwhelming for the price. Think a few veggies and dips, nothing too exciting.
We also tried a non-alcoholic cocktail with mint and watermelon—super refreshing and surprisingly well-balanced. Definitely a highlight.
For mains, my friend went with the chopped steak and mashed potatoes—cooked perfectly medium rare with a beautiful char. Solid choice. I ordered a pasta dish with braised beef that had a curry-style seasoning twist. The beef was melt-in-your-mouth tender, and the dish had an interesting concept, but it didn’t completely land for me. It felt like it was almost great—just missing that final spark.
We skipped dessert (too full!), but the vibe of the place was relaxed and lively, kind of laid-back chic. Service was friendly but on the slower side.
All in all, a decent experience with a few standout moments—but probably not one I’d rave about. Still, if you’re in the area and in the mood for something a bit different, it might be worth a try, but overpriced IMO.
Hannah Kiihnl
I had my graduation party here. The atmosphere was fantastic. The service was great and everyone was very attentive. They made it so easy to plan and help choose food and drinks. The food was incredible. I have nothing but great things to say about the whole experience.
Laurel Burgess
My children treated me to a Chef's Table experience at The Lobbyist as a birthday gift. The food, prepared and presented by Chef Jimmy Gentry, was delicious and each course was a wonderful surprise. The wines served with each dish were exquisite. The staff was exceptional - professional yet friendly and very helpful. The atmosphere was wonderful. What more can I say? It was amazing on all counts - an experience I highly recommend and will never forget.
Andrew Harris
Keona was an excellent server and made sure the experience was great. The food was excellent, paired by her and the drinks were delicious. She recommended the house tonic for my G&T and it was superb.
Nick Williams
We did the chefs table experience and it was a wonderful experience. Everyone was nice and knowledgeable about things. The dishes I had, I didn’t know existed. I’m more of a meat eater, so if that’s what you’re looking for in a chefs table this isn’t for you. Mostly vegetable dishes with one main course of beef cheek that was delicious.
We were still full when we left after having 6 small courses. It was delicious. If you aren’t adventurous as far as taste goes, I wouldn’t recommend, but if you want to have a unique experience and have an exploratory palate then this is for you.
Also, the actual chef of the restaurant did not conduct the chefs table. I’m not sure if some may expect that, but the chef that was on duty did a great job, he was a little quiet, but overall knowledgeable about the dishes and prepared them to look exactly like the photos.
We would definitely do it again. Lobbyist is a win! Another great restaurant in Memphis!
Hunter Demster
Everything was amazing. The decor was exceptional as was the food. Mary and I both can't wait to go back. This corn mash was a featured dish in the new york times and rightfully so.
Corn mash/ roasted squash/ bacon jus
Orecchiette/ Beef cheeks/ kobosa/ miso/ tarka
Beets/ chaat/ yogurt/ Agua chile/ papadam
Rachel Steele
We reserved the chefs table experience, remotely, for our mother’s 80th birthday. Arranging this with Lily, the GM was very smooth and I have never had such a pleasant experience communicating with a restaurant.
Our parents raved about the experience and Chef Jimmy, describing it as a once in a lifetime experience, with amazing dishes and wine (and service), but I will let them review their own experience.
Ludmila Santos
This restaurant was awesome! We went for happy hour and set at the bar. The bartenders were great and friendly. The food and drinks were fantastic. The ambiance is really nice, beautiful place.
JD Murphy
I stopped in for a quick cocktail on the patio and wound up spending an enjoyable evening conversing with Austin at the outdoor bar! Patrons who ordered food nearby had dishes delivered that smelled amazing. The conversation and service made my visit. Thanks to everyone for such a memorable experience!
We recently hosted 40 people from NYC and Memphis at The Lobbyist and had a remarkable dinner! Lily NIcholson organized our meal and was terrific to work with! A big applause to owner/chef Jimmy Gentry and pastry chef Jessica Lambert! Our friends are still talking about the fabulous dinner that we had at The Lobbyist!
Nyco Bolton
Omg!! I danced in my seat for the whole experience! My big sis and I enjoyed EVERY bit of food. It was all absolutely delicious!! The dranks were absolutely right!!🤤❤️🥰 Thank you!! Major shout outs to: Kacie - Most Bestest Server and Asst Manager Amazing Chef - Jess Lambert Amazing Pastry - Amber Amazing Pantry - John Amazing Saute - TC(Oxtail) Amazing Grill - Parker (Pork Belly, Fish) Amazing Exec Chef - Jimmy Gentry
Melissa Pope
This was by far one of the most incredible meals I’ve had in Memphis in a very long time. The imaginative flavors of each dish blew me away. If you haven’t tried this place yet you were really missing out.
Liv Green
I recently had the pleasure of celebrating my birthday at The Lobbyist, and the experience was incredible. Lilly, my point of contact, was attentive, helpful, and extremely accommodating throughout the entire planning process. The family-style dining made everything flow smoothly, and I was able to curate a set menu for my guests to enjoy. Everyone left not only full from the delicious food and drinks but also impressed by the exceptional service. Highly recommend!
Recommended dishes: -Everything! lol -corn mash I roasted squash -kimchi braised chicken -belly I hot ginger souce | lime | creme froiche -corn ribs | block bean I cilantro | sesame -redfish I greens | couscous I pol liquor -brussels | sesame | shallol | hoisin -coppa | palak | lemon conserve
Sam Darsinos
The Lobbyist is a very well run restaurant. They take the time to do the little things the right way. Adam was our sever & he took the time to walk us through the menu, give suggestions & answer our questions. As a “shared plate” kind of restaurant, the portions were bigger than I expected, thus my wife and I over ordered, but in doing so we got to enjoy & appreciative a good portion of their menu. We just did not leave room for dessert.
The Lobbyist was fantastic. Our server explained everything to us. Even though I don’t like beer, the beer-based weight of love drink was very good. I also enjoyed the Brussels sprouts and Orecchiette with braised beef.
We stumbled into this spot on a Saturday evening—no reservations, no plan—just a spontaneous dinner idea. Despite it being the weekend, we were seated right away. The place was buzzing but not overflowing, which was a pleasant surprise.
Now, parking was a bit of a pain. It’s in the downtown area, and between the street closures and a few events going on, we ended up paying a ridiculous amount for a nearby lot. Something to keep in mind if you’re planning a visit.
The menu had a fun, modern fusion vibe. We kicked things off with the focaccia shareable platter. The bread itself was great—light, fluffy, topped with flaky sea salt—but the rest of the platter felt a little underwhelming for the price. Think a few veggies and dips, nothing too exciting.
We also tried a non-alcoholic cocktail with mint and watermelon—super refreshing and surprisingly well-balanced. Definitely a highlight.
For mains, my friend went with the chopped steak and mashed potatoes—cooked perfectly medium rare with a beautiful char. Solid choice. I ordered a pasta dish with braised beef that had a curry-style seasoning twist. The beef was melt-in-your-mouth tender, and the dish had an interesting concept, but it didn’t completely land for me. It felt like it was almost great—just missing that final spark.
We skipped dessert (too full!), but the vibe of the place was relaxed and lively, kind of laid-back chic. Service was friendly but on the slower side.
All in all, a decent experience with a few standout moments—but probably not one I’d rave about. Still, if you’re in the area and in the mood for something a bit different, it might be worth a try, but overpriced IMO.
I had my graduation party here. The atmosphere was fantastic. The service was great and everyone was very attentive. They made it so easy to plan and help choose food and drinks. The food was incredible. I have nothing but great things to say about the whole experience.
My children treated me to a Chef's Table experience at The Lobbyist as a birthday gift. The food, prepared and presented by Chef Jimmy Gentry, was delicious and each course was a wonderful surprise. The wines served with each dish were exquisite. The staff was exceptional - professional yet friendly and very helpful. The atmosphere was wonderful. What more can I say? It was amazing on all counts - an experience I highly recommend and will never forget.
Keona was an excellent server and made sure the experience was great. The food was excellent, paired by her and the drinks were delicious. She recommended the house tonic for my G&T and it was superb.
We did the chefs table experience and it was a wonderful experience. Everyone was nice and knowledgeable about things. The dishes I had, I didn’t know existed. I’m more of a meat eater, so if that’s what you’re looking for in a chefs table this isn’t for you. Mostly vegetable dishes with one main course of beef cheek that was delicious.
We were still full when we left after having 6 small courses. It was delicious. If you aren’t adventurous as far as taste goes, I wouldn’t recommend, but if you want to have a unique experience and have an exploratory palate then this is for you.
Also, the actual chef of the restaurant did not conduct the chefs table. I’m not sure if some may expect that, but the chef that was on duty did a great job, he was a little quiet, but overall knowledgeable about the dishes and prepared them to look exactly like the photos.
We would definitely do it again. Lobbyist is a win! Another great restaurant in Memphis!
Everything was amazing. The decor was exceptional as was the food. Mary and I both can't wait to go back. This corn mash was a featured dish in the new york times and rightfully so.
Corn mash/ roasted squash/ bacon jus
Orecchiette/ Beef cheeks/ kobosa/ miso/ tarka
Beets/ chaat/ yogurt/ Agua chile/ papadam
We reserved the chefs table experience, remotely, for our mother’s 80th birthday. Arranging this with Lily, the GM was very smooth and I have never had such a pleasant experience communicating with a restaurant.
Our parents raved about the experience and Chef Jimmy, describing it as a once in a lifetime experience, with amazing dishes and wine (and service), but I will let them review their own experience.
This restaurant was awesome! We went for happy hour and set at the bar. The bartenders were great and friendly. The food and drinks were fantastic. The ambiance is really nice, beautiful place.
I stopped in for a quick cocktail on the patio and wound up spending an enjoyable evening conversing with Austin at the outdoor bar! Patrons who ordered food nearby had dishes delivered that smelled amazing. The conversation and service made my visit. Thanks to everyone for such a memorable experience!
Restaurantji Recommends
We recently hosted 40 people from NYC and Memphis at The Lobbyist and had a remarkable dinner! Lily NIcholson organized our meal and was terrific to work with! A big applause to owner/chef Jimmy Gentry and pastry chef Jessica Lambert! Our friends are still talking about the fabulous dinner that we had at The Lobbyist!
Omg!! I danced in my seat for the whole experience! My big sis and I enjoyed EVERY bit of food. It was all absolutely delicious!! The dranks were absolutely right!!🤤❤️🥰 Thank you!!
Major shout outs to:
Kacie - Most Bestest Server and Asst Manager
Amazing Chef - Jess Lambert
Amazing Pastry - Amber
Amazing Pantry - John
Amazing Saute - TC(Oxtail)
Amazing Grill - Parker (Pork Belly, Fish)
Amazing Exec Chef - Jimmy Gentry
This was by far one of the most incredible meals I’ve had in Memphis in a very long time. The imaginative flavors of each dish blew me away. If you haven’t tried this place yet you were really missing out.
I recently had the pleasure of celebrating my birthday at The Lobbyist, and the experience was incredible. Lilly, my point of contact, was attentive, helpful, and extremely accommodating throughout the entire planning process. The family-style dining made everything flow smoothly, and I was able to curate a set menu for my guests to enjoy. Everyone left not only full from the delicious food and drinks but also impressed by the exceptional service. Highly recommend!
Recommended dishes:
-Everything! lol
-corn mash I roasted squash
-kimchi braised chicken
-belly I hot ginger souce | lime | creme froiche
-corn ribs | block bean I cilantro | sesame
-redfish I greens | couscous I pol liquor
-brussels | sesame | shallol | hoisin
-coppa | palak | lemon conserve
The Lobbyist is a very well run restaurant. They take the time to do the little things the right way.
Adam was our sever & he took the time to walk us through the menu, give suggestions & answer our questions.
As a “shared plate” kind of restaurant, the portions were bigger than I expected, thus my wife and I over ordered, but in doing so we got to enjoy & appreciative a good portion of their menu.
We just did not leave room for dessert.
Well done to the entire team!
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