Eighty3 Food & Drink

This was an okay experience. The staff was friendly but my entrée wasn’t that tasty. I had the chicken and waffles with the macaroni inside. There was simply too much starch from the fried chicken to the waffles to the macaroni to the cream on top. It didn’t harmonize well. My total was $ 20 for this and a water which was very high for the quantity. as well as the taste.

I’ve been curious about this place, so when it was suggested for a birthday lunch for someone in my office, I was willing to try it out. It was totally empty during lunch. The décor is very nice and our server was attentive. I ordered the gumbo — it was served lukewarm and wasn’t the best I’ve ever had. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their $ 14 sandwiches. It would be fine for entertaining clients for a business lunch, but I won’t be back unless someone else is paying.

We had an excellent breakfast! We each had a different entrée and all four were wonderful! The coffee was delicious!!! Great brunch!

Service Slow. So bad the host waited on us (she was really sweet) bartender was also really nice. But thE food is so not worth what you pay for. Pasta tasted rubbery and cheap. Everything was mediocre at best. And the Vallet!!! He Vallet the car and when we asked for it back he point and said it was there (on the corner). It was raining and he parked it in front of a construction cone and a puddle! It was Valentine’s Day none the less!!! Don’t come here unless to sit at the bar. Ambiance is great.

Breakfast of shrimp and grits was disappointing, grits «cake» was dry and boring, sauce flat one note, and my poached eggs were hard boiled. Staff was excellent, kitchen slow, but I’d try it again.

The brunch here is really good! The staff was decently friendly and the service was good. Go into the restaurant from the side street and not Main St.

Chef Max Hussey is creating pure magic in this kitchen! I’ve been absolutely blown away the last two times I’ve dined here. For starters, the presentation is phenomenal… check out my photos from here because they are A+ food porn pics (if you’re into that sort of thing… and let’s face it, who isn’t?).
And if you’re an appetizer sort of person, really hungry, or just want delicious food, order the shrimp beignets ($ 13) and matchstick okra ($ 9) as soon as you sit down. The shrimp comes with a pepper jelly and the okra has a creole remoulade. You’re welcome.
For your entrée, the short rib pot roast ($ 21) will blow your $%^& mind and is almost too pretty to eat. I literally took five photos of it because I wanted to be sure and capture its true essence. It comes with horseradish whipped potatoes (SWOON) and deep fried brussel sprouts… comfort food and its finest.
The crab meat lasagna ($ 17) is also another winner (house made ricotta with grana padano cream). I was sharing with a friend and contemplated stabbing him with a fork before he could take another scoop.
Finish the meal off with deep fried Oreos. Yep. You read that right! Deep. Fried. Oreos. Complete with a side of whipped cream.
Go home and embrace the inevitable by falling deeply into your food coma.
Side note: their bar is really cool and one of my favorite places to grab a drink with friends or on a date. I think sometimes this place gets overlooked because it is the restaurant attached to the Madison Hotel… but locals should pop by there! You will be pleasantly surprised.

I enjoyed the gumbo and the pasta seafood and both tasted great. The atmosphere was dark going for romantic but it seemed crowded almost cramped. Very small space. We wanted more of a selection but this is more bar than restaurant.

I visited this restaurant for Downtown Dining Week and I believe this was the best one. I liked the calamari, it was good but I had better. However, the Chicken and Mac & Cheese waffles was everything I needed in life. My friend didn’t like it but I loved it. I believe the sauce is what makes it so good. The blueberry bread pudding was one of the best bread puddings I have ever had. I will be back to check out more of their food. I am definitely a fan.

I have eyed this place for a while and downtown dining week was the best opportunity to try it out without busting the budget. My appetizer was the calamari with pickled veggies and a remoulade. It was a delicious! The crispy calamari went perfectly with the pickled vegetables and the remoulade and there was a ton of calamari – enough for two to share. The entrée was the fried chicken and macaroni and cheese waffle with a pecan bourbon sauce. This totally missed the mark for me. The sauce had sweet and savory notes and was more like a gravy instead of a syrup, but it just wasn’t very good. And the macaroni and cheese waffle was strange, because it wasn’t crispy but kind of soggy and lacked flavor. I think the idea of the dish is good, but just isn’t well executed. The macaroni and cheese they use could probably take a sharper cheese and some jalapeño or red pepper to liven up the waffle. I kept thinking that it needed something to liven the dish. The chicken was actually really good on its own. The service was great and the atmosphere was sophisticated. I wouldn’t mind going back to try other dishes.

Best chicken fried steak in town!
For breakfast, I had the chicken fried steak and grits. Had them put some cheese in the grits. Phenomenal. Best breakfast since I moved to Memphis 8 years ago! The chicken fried steak was homemade, hot, and delicious. Fantastic grits as well. Want to try some of the other breakfast options as well.

Oh my gosh! I loved this restaurant! We ate here by accident really because we couldn’t get into the place we wanted down the street. I started with a spiced peach mojito and it was so refreshing after walking around downtown Memphis on a warm afternoon. For my entrée I chose the chicken and waffles. OMG! Mac & Cheese in the middle of the Waffles with a bourbon syrup drizzled over the chicken and waffles. WAY too much food, two chicken breasts on two waffles. My husband didn’t mind as he finished it off. He had the salmon and a side of brussels sprouts and he loved his as well. I’ll definitely be back to this place when I return to Memphis!

Closes at 11 Walked in at 10 and was not greeted. Remind you the bartender and waiter are having the best convo ever!!! Finally, 5 min in we are acknowledged, Seated and given a menu. OK service from that point. had grilled oysters and they were blah. also had buttered snapper with crawfish grits and it was also blah. Needless to say I want be back. I guess they (cooks and wait staff) were ready to go home!!!

Came on a cold day and it was dead. They had brunch menu but asked us if we wanted anything off lunch menu. Waitress was friendly and prompt ensuring water glasses were full and checked with us regularly. We had bowl of gumbo which was delicious. Also had a chopped salad with chicken and one with shrimp. Fresh, tasty food done very well. Cute design/​layout. Would absolutely recommend it and come back.
Revising review. Gave 5 stars and came back today to eat here again. Ordered chop salads and burger. Busy when we came in but several empty tables. We ordered 35 min ago and still no food. Not one refill on water glasses. 25 min after we ordered another waitress stopped by to see if we had ordered yet. So parents food came out. 4 min later my chopped salad came out but without the grilled chicken. Still waiting. Only one other table in restaurant now. Ordered 40 min ago. Expect parents will be done before mine comes.
So, food is good but don’t come unless you have an hour to spend.

Five stars signifies perfection and this visit was not perfect, but ended on a perfect note. The last time I had lunch here, I was introduced to «pigs wings» a totally new, to me, cut of delectable, slow cooked pork shank. I specifically went back today for another helping.
I started with a cup of their deservedly award winning gumbo — as good as I remembered it, but could have been served at a higher temperature, IMHO.
The wings arrived on their customary bed of perfectly fried onion tangles. Unfortunately, the wings themselves looked suspiciously dried out and overcooked. Once separated from the bone, the first wing was very flavorful, but extra chewy.
About that time, our server stopped by to ask how everything tasted. I mentioned my disappointment with the wings and without hesitation offered to get me a fresh order; I declined in the interest of time.
When she brought our check, she apologized for the wings, noted that they had been taken off my bill and included a complimentary coupon for another appetizer. I call that service above and beyond and is a primary reason I’ll be looking forward to my next visit!

I recently went to Eighty3 for drinks and dessert, and the evening had some high and low points. First off, very cool décor. I think Eighty3 is a very distinct restaurant with unique artwork on the wall. Adds to the cool vibe. I have eaten here several times in the past, but this time I sat at the bar this past Saturday night. It’s nice that you can watch TV, look in the restaurant and look out the window all at the same time.
The dessert was ok. I had a cheesecake that tasted like it was made yesterday and put in the fridge overnight, because it was a pretty solid cheesecake. The wine selection was also ok at best. Not a ton to choose from, but the glass of Pinot I chose was enjoyable.
I could have gone without the whole attitude of the place though. The bartender was clearly working very hard, but it was almost ten minutes until he was able to even say hello. Why? Well, he was clearly overworked and I’m sure it didn’t help his moral to have other employees just standing around at the end of the bar. I could have also done without the drunken frat guys strolling into the bar and bothering me. I was so happy when the manager came over and asked them to leave me alone… oh wait, that DIDN’T happen because the manager was not even in the restaurant for almost an hour.
So I would certainly recommend this place if you’re looking to just sit at the bar and have a good drink and a small app to eat. Perfect for dates, business meet-​ups or cougar watching. Bartender was great, but don’t expect any other level of service. That bartender alone earned every bit of the 25% tip I gave him. Oh bonus… they have free valet parking!!!

It’s beautiful in here. Large canvases highlighting art from around Memphis, beautiful lighting and lovely details in the chairs, glasses, and silverware.
I had the chicken waffles and macaroni– a must try at eighty3. It was excellent. Unexpected flavors that work so well together! We could have just shared my dish because it was huge. ⁵⁄₅ stars
Matthew had the crab asparagus scramble and fried potatoes. The scramble was somewhat bland but I could see where they were going. The potatoes were great. ³⁄₅ stars.
Marci was our server and she was great. She made us a special coffee that was also excellent! She called it a «coffeecino»

Brunch was awesome! The chicken waffles and macaroni were one of the most unique and awesome breakfast dishes I’ve had it was very mature, great textures, surprising combination of sweet and a chicken that was juicy and had a great crust!!! Everything about this dish was awesome, and it wasn’t even my dish!!!
I had the crab and asparagus scramble it was well prepared, great fresh crab, eggs nice and fluffy and the side of potatoes was unique with a great batter, the flavor was a little bland which is the only reason I took one star away
The server Marci did a great job, she has some secret coffee that was really awesome, she went above and beyond to help us out since we wanted brunch after hours, she has a great knowledge of thee I and made our experience great!!! This one I highly recommend for adults on a getaway to Memphis
PS the art is comtporary and dope!!!

I swear they have the trashiest service here. I will never come here again. My friend made reservations for her birthday at 8. She called and confirmed as well as her husband. That makes it 2 people who called to confirm 8 pm reservation. The original reservation was at 8 and no other time. We get there at 8 and our tables is not ready. By 830 they tell us they don’t have the table ready because the reservation was at 7. I’m sorry I think all 10 of us know the reservation was at 8 because we are all here at 8. No one apologized but they let us know they had to turn people away at 7 because of our non showing party. Oh I’m sorry that was your incompetent staff’s fault not ours.
Then I hand the girl the cake I brought and she tells me there’s a $ 20 cutting fee. What!!! NO I brought a cake here last year for her birthday and there was no fee and I can cut the cake myself thank you very much. She says oh they didn’t tell you? I tell her no (because this isn’t the ritz and I doubt they would charge 20 $ if you brought your own birthday cake).
Next comes the best part. The checks. The server comes and says it’s one check and we say no it’s not, he says it’s one check, again we say no. I mean seriously for 10 people you can’t split the damn check? AND I’ve never been to a dinner where one person is so nice that they pay for everyone’s dinner unless it’s a rehearsal dinner. So my friend threatens the server that we are all going to leave so he said he will split the check. AFTER about 40 minutes!!! Yes I said 40 minutes. We get the 6 split checks. SIX, not 20, not 15, or 10 but 6. I could have split those checks myself that’s how easy it was. My friend even offered to help him. I can spit out the orders this morning too that’s how easy it is. AND they were not busy, there were 7 tables or less.
Oh did I mention they forgot one of our orders? Yes they did.
Ask me if a manager came by to apologize for missing up the reservation, the food order, or to explain the splitting the checks ordeal?
Nope!
Trashiest place ever, Madison needs to revamp the whole staff.
RUDE, TRASHY, NOT WORTH YOUR TIME!
The food is definitely not good enough for me to return. There are way too many better restaurants with good food and Service for me to ever step foot in this trash hole.
Awful, awful, awful!!!

This place is all about the Chicken & Waffles.
Chicken&Waffles…all smothered with mac’n’cheese & syrup & candied walnuts. I literally felt my arteries clogging with each delicious bite. My friend and I shared an order and we still had a waffle left over. We also ordered a salad, and I guess in the south, even salads have to have something fried on them!
I may have lost 5 years off my life from this meal, but OMG, I am going to die a happy happy death…