Alcenia's

Southern restaurant (US) · Pinch District

Alcenia's

Southern restaurant (US) · Pinch District

3

317 N Main St, Memphis, TN 38103

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Highlights

This colorful soul-food gem in Memphis serves up fresh, comforting dishes with a side of southern hospitality that feels just like home.  

Featured in Eater
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317 N Main St, Memphis, TN 38103 Get directions

alcenias.com

$10–20 · Menu

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317 N Main St, Memphis, TN 38103 Get directions

+1 901 523 0200
alcenias.com
𝕏
@Alcenias

$10–20 · Menu

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outdoor seating

Last updated

Jul 11, 2025

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@eater

"Alcenia’s is the only eatery in Memphis where you and everyone in your party can expect a hug from the owner. But the warm hospitality isn’t the only reason this soul-food destination — in downtown Memphis’s Pinch District, just around the corner from the giant pyramid-shaped Bass Pro Shops — ought to be on your must-visit list. Alcenia’s is a textbook example of a simple, meat-and-three diner done well. The specialties include fried chicken and catfish, pork chops, waffles, fried green tomatoes, and hot-water cornbread, along with trusty sides like cabbage, mac and cheese, and green beans." - Andy Meek, Jackie Gutierrez-Jones

The 20 Essential Memphis Restaurants
View Postcard for Alcenia's
@eater

"Alcenia’s is the only eatery in Memphis where you and everyone in your party can expect a hug from the owner. But the warm hospitality isn’t the only reason this soul-food destination — in downtown Memphis’s Pinch District, just around the corner from the giant pyramid-shaped Bass Pro Shops — ought to be on your must-visit list. Alcenia’s is a textbook example of a simple, meat-and-three diner done well. The specialties include fried chicken and catfish, pork chops, waffles, fried green tomatoes, and hot-water cornbread, along with trusty sides like cabbage, mac and cheese, and green beans." - Andy Meek

The 19 Essential Memphis Restaurants
View Postcard for Alcenia's
@travelleisure

"The only spot in Memphis I would have claimed to know was a modest restaurant called Alcenia's, which is practically within earshot of I-40. I found it when I pulled off the highway hungry and googled 'Memphis soul food.' (The proprietor is Alcenia's daughter, BJ Chester-Tamayo, who hugs everyone who comes through the door, elevating Southern hospitality with gospel love.)" - Travel + Leisure Editors

Discover Appalachian Cuisine, Craft Distilleries, and Music History on a Tennessee Road Trip
View Postcard for Alcenia's

Kimberly H

Google
Our food was good (pork chip, catfish, mac and cheese, green beans, cornbread). The building is very cute with the eclectic seating. The owner is sweet and gave her an infamous hug after ordering. I was worried about parking but they have signs with dedicated parking for their patrons.

roeshell robinson

Google
The service was great and the food was good. The owner came over and greeted us at our table and was very courteous. Our server did a great job and she went out of her way to accommodate us. I had the fried catfish with the macaroni cheese and the yams, and it was good. My coworker had the fried chicken and he said that it was good.All of the entrées are cooked fresh to order. The dining room area is kind of small, but it is a nice intimate environment with nice music. There is plenty of free parking on the street in this area and there’s also a parking lot across from the restaurant.I will be back to support this restaurant.

chris hopkins

Google
Wish I could give this place 10 stars! The food was absolutely delicious and the staff incredibly friendly. I could seriously eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner here every day without getting tired of it!

Cayla Madaris

Google
Mmmm. Alcenia’s is the perfect spot if you're in the mood for some delicious soul food cooked by skilled hands. Of course it's in the downtown Memphis area but its also just a short drive from Harbortown, West Memphis, and Marion. Chill vibe, very clean and bright, and super friendly service. I loved the tomato gravy and biscuits. I think anything would be good on those biscuits! I want to go back for weekday lunch soon. They are open Tuesday-Sunday and have a weekend brunch. Highly recommend Alcenia's if you're passing through or local. Enjoy!

Daphne S

Google
LOVE THIS PLACE. Excellent home cooking. Small and quaint family business. The best hot water cornbread and Smothered chicken I had in over 20 years. The owner, grandmother, visited our table. My pics don't do the food justice.

Susy Chapstick

Google
I ordered the fried pork chop with Mac & cheese and sweet potatoes. The pork chop was large and crispy but tender and juicy inside, both sides were delicious. The restaurant is very clean and has this cool vibe, staff and owners are very friendly. This is definitely a great spot for southern, comfort food.

Dave N.

Google
My daughter and I took a chance on Alcenia’s while we were vacationing on a road trip through the South - and we’re glad we did! I had the catfish, and it was flaky and moist, with a breading I could easily cut with a fork (unlike the dry and flat catfish I had on Beale the day before). The sides were incredibly flavorful as well. I told the cook that I never understood what good food could taste like until now. I would go back in a heartbeat and not eat anywhere else in Memphis! Highly recommended!

Evrett R White

Google
Simply the best southern cooking that you’ll ever wrap your face around! There’s not a bad item on the menu and the most difficult part is deciding what to get without ordering the entire menu!😋 We had lunch during the work week and were surprised that it wasn’t overflowing with people. But it was a Tuesday. Great relaxing atmosphere and great food and service.

Emma A.

Yelp
Some of the best food I've had in the most comforting environment. You are declared family when you eat here! Will definitely be coming back. Left with a big smile on my face.

Brooke W.

Yelp
I'm so disappointed to be writing this review. I went to Alcenia's today to give it a try and review. I'd heard good things about it. When I was walking in there were two groups of people leaving. They did not know each other. One person stopped me from going in and told me the food wasn't good. The other group agreed and said the wait was also incredibly long. I'd already looked at the menu online so I was surprised to see different menu prices on the menu. Now I understand inflation and changing the prices but $8.50 for HALF a waffle is so crazy. You could get 1 biscuit (the size of half a biscuit), 3 pieces of sausage, eggs, and hashbrowns all just shy of $20. Based on the price and what I was getting for the high cost I was already turned off. After other guests showed me their food and told me how long their wait was I decided to get up and leave. I drove 6 mins to Arcade restaurant and had the exact same meal for $14 AND that included more food that Alcenia wasn't offering.

Kessle H.

Yelp
Food is good, parking is minimal....cute little place....had a traditional breakfast n bacon was a lil crisp but overall good experience

Ellie F.

Yelp
Coming here feels like going to your grandma's house! Alcenia will greet you with a hug, and then you'll order by filling out a paper menu. The menu changes daily but always has southern classics like fried chicken, Mac and cheese, and yams. I recommend the fried chicken or fried catfish as your entree, and definitely get the green beans as a side! The beans were so flavorful, they blew my mind. Alcenia's is clean, cozy and cute. Come get some comfort food!

Caroline D.

Yelp
The server:Boss Lady Pat was soooo nice, warm, and welcoming. The menu is super simple and the staff are happy to give recommendations and advice The food comes out fresh hot and with a smile I loved everything about coming here. The restaurant is clean, bright and a great place for groups.

Vickie M.

Yelp
A must have experience when in Memphis. Upon sitting at your table, you're greeted with a hug or kiss by the owner. Make sure you get the kool-aid. The food is excellent. I had fried chicken, green beans and rice & gravy. The husband had pork chops. He said they were good too. I'll definitely go back on my next trip to Memphis.

Kathryn J.

Yelp
Wow! My northeastern taste buds were not ready! Alcenia's has really southern cooking. The fried chicken was delicious, and the Mac and cheese and mashed potatoes were gone before I could even think about it. The best part is the warm restaurant and the waitress greeting everyone with a smile. I got a kiss on the head when I sat down, and when I left I was told "you're part of the family". This is the best meal I had in Memphis!

Lynn H.

Yelp
Alcenia's is everything they promise to be. The staff is very personable and friendly. You re greeted like family. The food is definitely cooked with love. A must try is the fried catfish. And my favorite sides are mac and cheese and yams. (Don't judge. We don't go here to eat healthy. LOL!). This is a MUST GO every time I am in Memphis!

Trenika M.

Yelp
Happy Black History Month! Black American soulfood is one of the foundations of black survival. It was created at a time when our ancestors were given scraps and expected to make due. And in true African American fashion, they did just that!! It wasn't the ideal cuts and pieces, but eventually, the style, the creativity, the love poured into those dishes would make them desired by many, and now soulfood is a worldwide request! Sometimes being revamped but often taking its true form of being cooking made from the soul.. with love! So, with soulfood getting its start and being a huge staple in the south, I'd be remissed if I excluded @alcenias right here in Memphis TN. A place where your meal comes with not only soulful flavor but a kiss on the forehead while you dine! If you haven't been to this food network gem, I don't really think you've had soul food in Memphis. Everything is cooked fresh daily from fried chicken, baked tilapia, fried fish, greenbeans, corn, cabbage, hot water cornbread that reminds me of my grandmother's house and more! It's especially a good idea for those moments when you need some extra love accompanied with a home-cooked meal! If you haven't, take a trip soon! I'm sure Ms. BJ would be pleased to meet you and see you!

Scott C.

Yelp
A quaint, fun little southern soul food restaurant on Main Street near the Sheraton. The waitress was fun and made the experience very family like and fun. I was there for lunch and had the fried chicken, green beans, and rice and gravy. All the food is cooked when you order, so expect to wait a bit, but it is worth it. Chicken is very crispy and tasty! The water roles are special - have not had these many places. This place has been on the food network and it is easy to see why. Check it out when in Memphis.

Terri C.

Yelp
Upon entering the restaurant, we were greeted by Alcenia (the granddaughter of whom the restaurant was named). We were given a piece of paper to make our selections. Food arrived within about 20 minutes and was very tasty and piping hot! Worth the wait for fresh food. Our only complaint was that there was a fan in the corner that was blowing directly on us. I guess we should have simply moved tables!

Art C.

Yelp
We did take-out from here. It's not bad at all. But we didn't find the food to be special here. I've had better versions of every dish we ordered. Much better in most cases... It's one of those things. If you're from out-of-town and didn't grow up eating this kind of food you'll probably love it. But that's not us- we're down by law and we know our way around. This was just average...

Tarshe C.

Yelp
The food here is very delicious but my only reason for 4 stars is that the service here is extremely slow. We understand and had patience because we seen it was a lot elderly women working her and also I believe they are short staffed. We waited about an 1hr and 15 min for our food. But once my food arrived I was as very happy again. It was definitely worth the wait. The ambiance is very welcoming and charming. It's a small cafe located in Downtown Memphis, Tennessee (My Convention Center with a lot of soul cooking. The Salmon Croquettes with Rice was my favorite, everything was hot and freshly prepared (which is hard to find since COVID) The owner even comes out and greets everyone with a hug and a kiss which was much appreciated. All in All, They have some great employees here and the food is very flavorful! I'll be back again...

Lacy W.

Yelp
This was the best meal we had while visiting Memphis over spring break! My husband and kids had the fried chicken, and I had the meatloaf. Everything was delicious! My husband said it was the best fried chicken he's had in a long time. It's a very casual restaurant where you mark your orders on a piece of paper that gets taken back into the kitchen. It took a bit to get the food, but it was worth the wait. The owner was as sweet as can be and gave us all kisses on the head when she greeted us! Like I said, best meal and experience in Memphis!

Harriette H.

Yelp
I was very disappointed it was my first time there and I've been wanting to try it.We both had the 2pc fried chicken and 2 sides, 1 sweet tea and 2 desserts. First my chicken was 30 seconds from being burnt it was very hard, my Mac and cheese was very cheesy and creamy but no flavor could have used salt and pepper, the candied yams were DELICIOUS!!. The iced tea was terrible, I'm not sure exactly what was going on but it tasted like chemical water. I thought it was very pricey for what we got $56, will I go back probably not. Try he service was great, just over priced for what we received

Ronda A.

Yelp
Alcenia's is a Memphis Must-do! On my recent visit with the family we had a late lunch on a Friday afternoon. The building and the decor are vibrant and stylish. The owner was there to greet us, seat us, and make sure we were taken care of. We ate fried catfish, green beans, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, fried green tomatoes, and washed it down with some sweet tea. Everything was delicious. We will be back for the Saturday brunch on our next visit! Thank you for your genuine food and hospitality.

Nic H.

Yelp
I'm almost ashamed to admit that I've never been to this Memphis staple!! Fresh out of a renovation and a grand reopening, Alcenia's is the place to be. A friend and I stopped by for lunch and were not disappointed. He had the smothered fried chicken (which he devoured in less than five minutes) and I had the catfish. We both had mac and cheese & green beans as a side, and absolutely nothing on our plates disappointed. The kool-aid will make your teeth fall out, which lets you know it's just right. You circle your order on paper menus, which also doubles as your ticket when you're ready to check out. Both Ms. BJ and our server were exactly the hugs and Memphis hospitality we needed, looking forward to returning this week.

stephanie s.

Yelp
Let like I was eating in someone's home! Met the owner, the chef and the granddaughter. I felt incredibly loved and welcome. That fried chicken, I've never had chicken like this. I want to know how they get it that crispy. It was crispy juicy salty and don't get me started on the tomato gravy. One tip if you on the weekends know it's brunch so there is no Mac and cheese or greens it's more chicken bacon sausage and grits but it's all wonderful and all delicious. This is a must do in Memphis. The closest thing that I've had to my southern co workers cooking outside her kitchen ever!

Nicole J.

Yelp
This restaurant is a hidden gem in Memphis. It was featured on Drive-ins, Diners, & Drives. We make sure to visit multiple times when we are in Memphis.

Dan P.

Yelp
I read that the wait after placing an order was long. So I waited until almost 2 PM to sit down for lunch. I was quickly seated on arrival as most of the lunch crowd had left. There was a convention, and so many were going about the time of my arrival. The décor is eclectic, unique, and tasteful. Kudos to the designer. I debated whether to order the two-piece fried chicken dinner or catfish. I chose the fried chicken dinner with greens and mac and cheese. As expected, the food preparation took about 35 minutes. But the waitress kept my drink full, and I had the honor of BJ to meet all the guests. She gave me a cheek peck kiss and thanked me for coming to them for lunch. The entire staff was so embracing, sweet, and loving. That is why the review is difficult to do. The food was hot and fresh from cooking. The two chicken legs were of good size. However, the coating was relatively thick, lacked spices, and tasted the grease used to cook it. It was rather dull. The chicken was moist and well done. The greens were the biggest disappointment. They were bitter and lacked the rich umami of a meat flavor. The mac and cheese was okay; it cooked well but lacked the cheesy encapsulation of the shells was missing. The cornbread was unique. I had two pieces of flat-layered bread. The top piece was flavorful, but the lower piece again had some of the grease taste. Overall, the ambiance, staff, and BJ make this place a must. The food was a little hit-and-miss; I expected more after Guy Fieri's praises. I am glad that I went and recommend you do, too!

Tia R.

Yelp
Oh this place is like your bougie great grandma's shop. You can tell that this is a family owned business from all the photos and gifts displayed throughout the restaurant. We were greeted with the warmest welcome and the food was just as comforting. The menu seems to change frequently but I think that goes to show that it's all home cooked and made from the heart. This is what I want to see when I think of a down home restaurant . 9.5/10

Christian K.

Yelp
I'll send as has the best soul food I have had in Memphis and I grew up here. You also feel like family when you come in. They are professional, but still treat you like they love you. I recommended this place to a friend of mine from LA and he's planning a trip back to Memphis to go again.

J. G.

Yelp
Many Thanks to the Food Channel for their featuring this lovely Memphis restaurant! The brunch is awesome & over abundant! BJ is ever so charming. Couldn't help but purchase 3 cookbooks so I can "do it myself!"

Sai X.

Yelp
For $20, I got two 2 shriveled overcooked dark meat pieces. A little cup of rice with one small dry biscuit (one mouthful). 1 small cup of gravy. I didn't feel the love.

FT M.

Yelp
I was at the Memphis Convention Center and wanted something good to eat. I was thinking I would have to Uber someplace. I was shocked to find Alcenia's was literally down the street. I walked to the restaurant and found a small restaurant that was packed with people and filled with laughter. The food was so good I was mad that I was leaving the next day and had not discovered this gem sooner. I ordered a pork chop dinner with black eyed peas and candied yams. The pork chop was perfectly seasoned. The corn bread that came along with the dinner was good. The black eye peas were nit cooked with meat. I did not miss the meat not being there. The candied yams were so good I wanted to order another serving. I did order a pork chop sandwich to take to my room but ended up giving it to a friend who claimed he was starving! I tasted the Ghetto Aid but could not order it because I did not want to end up in a diabetic coma. I ordered a 1/2 Unsweet1/2 Sweetened tea and it was perfect. We met the owner who was super sweet and kept us in line. I ended up buying her cookbook. If you visit Memphis definitely check this place out. Everything is freshly made so there will be a wait.

Carlotta T.

Yelp
After seeing you on TV, I will make it a point to stop by what intrigued him me the most. Was it sweet potatofries. The outside dining.

Clayton Y.

Yelp
Food was just soso. Nothing extra nor special. The crust is rough crust on the chicken . I had a leg n wing for $18. The hash brown potatoes was smashed potatoes with skin. Tasted Peppery. Service was good. The owner was sweet and welcomed her customers .. the place was clean and modern I walked a mile to get there so built up an appetite but hmmm. Just didn't move me. Located in the midst of big power lines I thought to myself n the person who referred me. That I better get some tasty food if I'm gonna be getting some electromagnetic radiation. Lol

Jennifer S.

Yelp
Amazing food! Love the decorum! Some of the best fried chicken I've had and my boyfriend had the Meatloaf ! Sooooo yummy!!

Scott H.

Yelp
Friendliest staff, best soul food spot in town! Fried chicken is super crisp and perfectly fried Save room for dessert, you'll leave stuffed and happy!

Matt S.

Yelp
Amazing amazing service, food, even the sweet tea was the best I've ever had! Such an amazing experience. The owner came out gave us a hug! So good!

Ariel R.

Yelp
I love this place so quaint and beautiful great family service the owner comes out and greet you the food is very flavorful Definitely stop by if your in Memphis.

Dana S.

Yelp
Great food made with love. Great service. The food is fresh and seasoned well. I would eat here again. The food wS delicious.

Shane R.

Yelp
Food was very good, But overpriced. I do recommend but make sure have at least $25.00 to drop on lunch .

Caroline H.

Yelp
Yum. Yum. Yum! What a beautiful way to start the day. I could smother that gravy over everything! Dont think twice - just head over to Alcenia's and enjoy some very tasty soul food with a side of lovin'!

Naomi S.

Yelp
Absolutely AMAZING soul food experience.. We came here last weekend and had one of the BEST soul food meals we've ever had... hands down the best fried green tomatoes/ best grits and best fried chicken I've ever had.. The staff is super friendly, place is very homey and everyone is warmly greeted by the owner BJ ( her mom and daughter are both named Alcenia). You first place your order on a piece of paper ( they list the options) and then they make everything up FRESH... absolutely nothing is made in advance which makes this an entirely different experience. You may wait a bit longer for your food but it's worth it.. Our teenager is actually the person who found Alcenia's through reviews and recommendations and he really enjoyed our visit... Feels more like you're visiting a family member than a restaurant when you eat at Alcenia's.. We also bought their cookbook ( seriously wonderful recipes!)..

Gabby A.

Yelp
Right when we walked in Alcenia was very welcoming and kind. The food was very delicious and very homey. My table got the fried catfish, fried chicken, coleslaw, mash potatoes, French fries, and the mac and cheese. All the food was tasty and a great experience. This is a place I would recommend to those looking for soul food!

Rosemary F.

Yelp
Definitely a neighborhood gem. Love the decor, very upbeat and colorful. The food is truly made with love and it shows. The owner B.J. Chester-Tamayo makes sure to come out of the kitchen and give everything a hug and a thank you.

M.C C.

Yelp
we have wanted to visit for many, many years, but haven't made it back to Memphis for years so we were very excited to finally make it to the famous "Alcenia's"! we ordered our food and the gentleman was so nice. we waited for our food and when it arrived it looked very tasty. One bite of pintos and I knew it wasn't good. I couldn't even taste the beans for the huge amount is salt in them (yes, I know soul food has salt) it was like someone just poured salt all over the beans. my meatloaf was not the denser type, it crumbled apart where you had to stab the bits in order to get a bite. There were the tops of onions in it that you usually cut off. You couldn't eat them. the Mac & cheese was dry and most of it was just the shell with no cheese. There was no creaminess to it. the yams had either too much nutmeg or cinnamon. I couldn't not eat this food at all. my husbands fried catfish was absolutely delicious! I wish I would've ordered it. the people are nice, the place is clean and it could be so much better. Soul food is our fav. I grew up here eating nothing but this type of food so I know how great it can be. you can't put that much salt in food where you can't taste the flavors! on a side note (and this might be a generational thing), there was a lovely girl fully pregnant with little tiny tap pants on and her belly fully exposed with nothing covering her, just barely enough clothes to cover her bottom and top only. For a food place to have someone's belly a few inches from your face with the pregnant line and hairs made us feel weird lol we will stick with Four Way for our Soul Food needs~

Marcus C.

Yelp
The Food was good but it took a hour and 45 minutes to come out and the order was wrong but our waitress was very nice and she apologized several times for the delay so you gotta have som patience because your gonna be waiting a while!!

Loren R.

Yelp
Alcenias's is AN EXPERIENCE! Plan to be there a while! Yes. Alcenia's has some of the BEST COOKING in Memphis. Visitors from all over the world love it! I always enjoy my meal. That said, there are MANY other equally good spots in town. This may be the best soul food in this area of town (The Pinch District). EXPECT SLOW SERVICE!!! Now that you have been informed, be cool with it if you still come here. When I've come, there's only 1 or 2 working the kitchen. So bring a friend, a book, tablet, phone, Rubix Cube or something to kill the time. The cornbread! My question: Why is it that on every visit I get a cold, disappointing basket of cornbread -followed by the BEST CORNBREAD EVER? Every time! Lol! Germaphobes: Be prepared for some lovin' from Ms. Alcenia! Xs & Os! It's part of what makes coming here AN EXPERIENCE! I recommend the catfish. Or the pork chops. Or the fried chicken. Or the .... never mind. IT'S ALL GOOD! Hope this was helpful!

Erick D.

Yelp
This place is amazing, but isn't a well oiled machine. Betty Joyce "B. J." Chester-Tamayo is the owner of Alcenia's and what I would call a local celebrity. When I say this, it's well intentioned, she has run a restaurant for more than 20 years, written a cook book and been on Chopped the TV show. She greets all of her guest with a hug which was great but a little different for me as I am a little standoffish. Do NOT come here if you're in a hurry. Be patient because it's well worth the wait. It's great food, but NOT fast food or high end gourmet. I went in on a Saturday morning with a large party. They did their best to accommodate us, but we were the beginning of the storm. They do a fixed price brunch type of menu on Saturdays. A main dish, three sides, bread and a drink round out the meal. I had the fried pork chop, grits, fried green tomatoes, tomato gravy, a biscuit, and a water. The beverage choice of Ghetto Kool-Aid, super sweet Kool-Aid was on the menu, but I think my body would flip out if I drank that much sugar. Everything was well prepared and flavorful. It was an excellent meal, but they got slammed with customers and had a hard time keeping up. I hope they do better during the week during lunch. Awesome place, exellent value, and friendly service.

Gerri M.

Yelp
I have found my new Memphis go-to restaurant. For years, my family has visited Memphis for reunions, Memphis in May festival, or just a weekend getaway. And normally we dine at Interstate BBQ or Blues City Cafe. Not anymore! The go-to restaurant for authentic homemade soul food is Alcenia's. The owner and head chef, B.J. Chester-Tamayo greets every guest like family. The quaint little eatery is an extension of her home kitchen and dining room. On Friday, she served meatloaf, smothered pork chops and fried chicken with all the fixings. We enjoyed it so much that we returned on Saturday for Brunch. The brunch menu included all of the above plus eggs, omelettes, salmon crochets, Red Smoke sausage, bacon, home fries, waffles, French Toast and get this.....Fried Bologna Sandwich! And just when we thought our dining experience couldn't get any better, the wait staff repeatedly checked on us to ensure we had plenty of hot sauce, sweet tea, and napkins! Do yourself a favor and go by Alcenia's. You'll be glad you did!

Kat H.

Yelp
My son and I were driving through town from Boston and decided we wanted soul food so we chose Alcenia's. What a fantastic choice!! Best food, delicious, all of it! Fried catfish, pork chops, black eyed peas with okra, yams, mac n cheese, and sweet corn cakes!! mmmmm. We are from Los Angeles California and are sad that this place is so far away. If you are ever in the Memphis area, please stop in and be a patron...you wont regret it!

John R.

Yelp
We went in around 12:30 on a Tuesday. They appeared somewhat busy but , after a while, it was clear that food was arriving slowly. We ordered as soon as we arrived. After 45 minutes my wife was ready to leave. She started asking where's the order? The answer was "soon ". After an hour our fried green tomatoes and fried catfish sandwich came. The tomatoes were fine. The sandwich couldn't have had more than three counces of fish in it. Not likely to go back

Alex D.

Yelp
We went to Alcenia's for our first breakfast in Memphis after reading the rave reviews. All I can say in a nutshell is that was an experience of endurance. We walked in hungry (big mistake) and were told by Ms. BJ that it was going to be a 40-minute wait. No problem, we said, we've read the reviews raving about the food. Well, we waited ... and waited. I finally had to ask if my daughter could have a biscuit since she was starving. The wait continued ... other people who ordered finally gave up and left. Two hours later I finally got my plate ... fifteen minutes later my husband got his plate ... ten minutes later my daughter got her plate. I've never experienced anything like this ... such a long wait, plates for the same table coming out so far apart. I can understand being short-staffed but other older reviews show this is a recurring issue. I would add if you know the wait is going to be so long, bring something for the table as a starter (biscuits, toast, fruit, something) The food: My salmon croquettes were amazing! Delicious and moist on the inside, crispy but not oily on the outside. Steaming hot. My potatoes were hot and delicious. My grits were lumpy but the tomato gravy made them delicious. My husband's fried chicken was delicious but came out cold. My daughter's French toast was a hit for her. Ms. BJ is a sweetheart and her staff are all super nice and do their best to attend to everyone. But it's obvious they're way understaffed for the number of tables. I'd recommend going as soon as they open or do take out.

Janis B.

Yelp
First of all, any review of this food that isn't 5 stars is just a reflection on the impatience or faulty expectations of the reviewer. There are some experiences that define themselves on their own terms. This is one of them. Alcenia's food is good for the soul. Period. If you have to complain about how you receive grace, then maybe you should just sit this one out. One of the best meals and food experiences I have ever had.

William H.

Yelp
we enjoyed a lovely meal here on our journey across country. BJ and her staff were very friendly. Would definitely recommend to all who come into the Memphis area to see Graceland etc. I had the chicken and my wife and mother had the catfish. Cornbread was great and hospitality was beyond great. Thank you.

Janice R.

Yelp
The character and atmosphere of this place is exceptional. The relaxed ambience of the restaurant enhanced our dining experience. The food is delicious and the servings are abundant. Everyone in our party left with a take home box. This is definably a mandatory stop every time I visit Memphis

Jackson B.

Yelp
Food tastes like a nice nap on grandmas corduroy couch. Stopped by for lunch one day and had a blast! The moment I walked through the door I was a member of the family, and I was fed like one too. Had the fried pork chop with rice and hash browns, my plate (and bowls) were CLEAN in no time. Expect a bit of a wait, but don't be scared by it. The fun and welcoming atmosphere makes the time fly by in no time. Must stop by