Restaurants in Memphis

The Movie & Pizza Company lets you dine in with friends or take your meal and a movie (the flick is not included in your Groupon) home for you, your family, and the feral squirrel you've befriended. Top your pies with anything from Cajun chicken to pesto to veggie heaven (roasted red peppers, feta, parmesan, artichoke, spinach, and garlic), or opt for the traditional mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, or sausage (12-inch pies range from $11 to $15, and 16-inch pies run $13 to $20). If the regular selection doesn't perk your palate, start with a blank slate and add your own toppings ($1 each for a 12-inch pie, $1.50 each for a 16-inch). The Company's menu also features an array of specialty salads ($6.50), sandwiches ($7), and pastas ($9–$10).

The cheerful family that birthed Guacamaya's prides itself on flavorful south-of-the-border fare that comes cooked to order. A favorite is the gargantuan El Zarape platter ($9.95), which sports a savory heap of broiled fajita meat, onions, and bell peppers draped with melted white cheese, rice, charro beans, and corn or flour tortillas. The tilapia fish tacos ($9.95) please the sea-slanted, and patrons harried by rigid taco and burrito algorithms may wish to try the pupusas ($7.99 for three), plump pancakes stuffed with a tasty cheese or pork center and served with smoky charro beans and any of the warm, zesty homemade salsas. Guacamaya’s gastronomic engineers prepare each item with tender care, and if they have the ingredients, they’ll whip up any plate your customizable heart desires. Thanks to a BYOB policy, you’re spared both the expense of drinks and the worry about a menu lacking bottled armadillo tears.

Amerigo's dark, wood-paneled interior and orange-hued walls paint a picture of the quintessential Italian restaurant, a hunger-inducing setting ideal for business meetings and poorly timed breakups. When evening stomach grumbles need snuffing, Amerigo's menu answers with decadent Prince Edward Island mussels ($12) swimming in garlic wine broth, diced tomatoes, and capers, and paired with grilled bruschetta. A wood-fired grill and wood-fired oven infuse Amerigo's smoky foodstuffs with a flavorful variety of tree flesh. From a pasta selection that stretches to Rapunzel-like lengths, diners may choose a savory smoked chicken ravioli in parmesan cream sauce ($13) or a breaded eggplant parmesan ($15) atop angel hair. Post-dinner sugar seekers can crown an evening of romance with an indulgent tiramisu ($6.50).

The pizza chefs at Johnny Brusco’s pack a menu full of saucy dough disks, which can be customized with a lineup of fresh veggies and meats. Warm up appetites with an order of garlic knots, which come tinged with a crisp golden brown color and carefully tied by an accomplished Eagle Scout. The restaurant's skilled pie personnel sling large New York–style pizzas in a full regulation size of 16 inches. Add personality to your pizza without the hassle of assigning it a Social Security number by decking the crust out in any of 15 regular toppings, which include minced garlic, pineapple, or zesty italian sausage.

Offering diners a varying selection of Southern classics and 14 protein-and fruit-packed smoothies, the chefs at Scales Café whip up healthy snacks and filling dishes anchored around farm-raised catfish. A dusting of seasoned cornmeal prepares their signature catfish fillets to swim laps in the deep fryer before emerging triumphantly with either a crispy golden coat or a gold medal. Cajun or ranch spice blends can flavor the fresh fish, or diners can forgo the crispy crust in favor of a grilled or skillet-blackened fillet. Although house-made hush puppies, french fries, and coleslaw accompany most entrees to the table, eight other side options, including velvety mac 'n' cheese and sweet-potato fries, can smother hunger like a mother who cleans her son’s dorm room. Straws plumb the creamy depths of Scales Café's smoothies, which are made from fresh fruits, crushed fruit concentrates, and protein boosts. Each sippable meal is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, but steers clear of fat, lactose, and artificial flavors.

Chef David Johnson and his culinary team create southern comfort fare with a Cajun zing. The menu rotates daily, offering special items such as beef tips with garlic mashed potatoes on Tuesdays and bourbon-glazed peach pork loin paired with mississippi grits on Thursdays. Along with preparing food for dine in, take out, or delivery, the staff also caters corporate events such as employee-appreciation lunches and executive-level food fights.