The 19 Essential Memphis Restaurants

"Upscale Irish pub Bog & Barley is a relative newcomer to the city’s dining scene, opening its doors in 2023 in East Memphis’s Regalia Shopping Center. Even at this early stage, though, it’s clear the bar is a labor of love for husband-and-wife team DJ and Jamie Naylor. DJ, an Irish native, insisted on sourcing much of the decorations for the cavernous, 7,000-square-foot space from the Emerald Isle — the bar is made of almost 450 separate pieces of wood shipped from Ireland, while the space was designed by Dublin firm O’Donnell O’Neill. The lunch and dinner menus include traditional Irish dishes like bangers and mash, shepherd’s pie, and beer-battered fish and chips, while the extensive whiskey list wanders beyond Ireland to include North America, Scotland, and Japan. End your meal with a helping of warm Irish bread pudding or Irish tea creme brulee." - Andy Meek