The Little Tea Shop
Cuisine: American
Price Range: $
10Best Says
The Little Tea Shop is a family-owned downtown home-cooking restaurant. The Old Cotton Row eatery is like stepping back in time, with its vintage lunchroom atmosphere and old-fashioned menu. It's very... Read More
The Little Tea Shop is a family-owned downtown home-cooking restaurant. The Old Cotton Row eatery is like stepping back in time, with its vintage lunchroom atmosphere and old-fashioned menu. It's very common to see local business bigwigs chatting up the friendly waitresses, many of whom have worked here for decades; these gals know their regulars well and can even name their children.
The food is simple Southern fare, chosen via ballot-style menu – simply grab a pencil, pickup a menu, and start marking off your choices; turnip greens and other lushly prepared veggies are always on the menu, as is chicken salad, and daily specials include catfish or fried chicken.
No matter what day of the week, everything is served with corn sticks on the side.
EXPERT TIPS BY:
Sally Walker Davies
Memphis Local Expert
- Downtown, Homestyle, Lunch: "The homemade desserts are worth skipping dinner for, especially the tasty frozen pecan ball with hot fudge. And we don't even like pecans!"
- Best Value: "The homemade desserts are worth skipping dinner for, especially the tasty frozen pecan ball with hot fudge. And this from a girl who doesn't even like pecans!"
- Best for Downtown Because: This is where big business lunch deals still get done in Memphis.
- Recommended as Best Value Because: You can get a fresh, hot, grandma's-home-cooking kind of lunch, with a drink, for $9, and your tummy will be full.
- Best for Homestyle Because: Homemade corn sticks, served with every meal - that's enough in our book to make this list!
- Best for Lunch Because: Going to the Little Tea Shop for lunch is like going to your grandma's house - loads of comfort food served up by a sweet lady.