Part of establishing yourself as a trusted public relations guru is having a deep understanding of what makes the city you serve special. Here in Memphis, that something special is food. We Obsidian girls know food – from the hidden dives to the prominent local establishments, we’ve got your back when it comes to navigating the dining scene in the 901.

Addison

Our newest Obsidianite hails from Mississippi, but she knows what’s up when it comes to Memphis’ tried and true. Her restaurant of choice? Central BBQ. Her go-to menu item? Barbecue nachos, of course. Protip: Word on the street is you can substitute chips for fries.

Carlee

Carlee loves to check out all the new hot spots in Memphis, especially those within walking distance of our South Main office. More often that not, you can catch her grabbing a to-go order that features the lamb gyro, red pepper hummus and pita chips from Grecian Gourmet.

Christina

As part of a recent Obsidian office retreat, we had to give each co-worker a “most likely to…” superlative. I pegged Christina as the person most likely to know what the difficult words on a menu mean. She knows her stuff, y’all! Her favorite go-to Memphis restaurant for brunch, a savory dinner or a stiff cocktail is Andrew and Michael’s Hog & Hominy.

Courtney

As someone who loves to dine out anytime she can, Obsidian’s leader has a lot of Memphis-area favorites. One of her go-to locales for a business lunch is Amerigo in East Memphis. While the menu offers an amazing array of options, she’s partial to the pasta Pomodoro with blackened chicken and tiramisu.  

Gracie

Asking Obsidian’s socialite, Gracie, to choose one Memphis favorite was impossible. She gave me her choices in categories, y’all. Grab a pen! Her favorite hole in the wall? Taqueria La Guadalupana on Summer Avenue. Brunch? Carolina Watershed. Lunch? Grecian Gourmet. Dinner? The Gray Canary.

Kelli

Kelli works remotely from Lake Charles, Louisiana, but she did live in the Bluff City for a few years so she knows Memphis food, too! Voted one of the most romantic restaurants in Tennessee in recent years, Flight is Kelli’s top choice. Menu items and even wine are served as small-portion flights, making the lives of every indecisive person out there a little easier.

Lauren

When Chicken Salad Chick announced it was opening locations in the Mid-South, Lauren was over the moon. She loves this spot because of its consistency in quality and service, as well as its support of local communities. Makes good chicken salad and gives back? You can’t go wrong.

Taylor

If you’re looking for an easy, no-fuss meal out, Taylor recommends Hopdoddy. Her family has a diverse mix of food preferences, and Hopdoddy delivers for them all. She goes for the La Bandita black bean, corn and beet patty with avocado and all of the usual fixings, topped off with a big bowl of fries.

Whitney

Whitney’s Memphis favorite is South Main Sushi. Lucky for Whitney, the restaurant is right across the street from Obsidian, making her favorite item, the teriyaki chicken bowl, a shoo-in when it comes to lunch takeout. Can’t beat convenience!

Me, Murray

As Obsidian’s restaurant PR gal, picking just one local favorite is truly impossible. I often give my friends several choices for dinner and let them decide where we go. If I didn’t, we would all starve while waiting on me to pick. My starting five, in no particular order, are The Gray Canary, South of Beale, City Silo Table + Pantry, Majestic Grille and Elemento.

Whether you’re in East Memphis, Midtown or Downtown, you now have a hefty list of homegrown eateries to test out. Be sure to let us know how they stack up with your personal favorites!