Alcenia's

I literally drove from Washington, DC to Memphis to experience the glory that is Alcenia’s, and let me tell you, IT WAS WORTH THE DRIVE! The catfish was so juicy, the cabbage delish, and the yams… THE YAMS! I’d never experienced yams like that in my life. They should win an award. As should the hospitality at Alcenia’s! Miss Betty gave me a lovely hug as I left, and her son took care of me the whole time I was there. It’s truly a family run operation that gives as much love as they give amazing food. I’d give more than five stars if I could.

“I died and went to Heaven!” Exclaimed my son’s dad after 1 bite of the fried chicken at Alcenia’s. That was just the first of many positive comments regarding the food at this place. And that’s without mentioning the most pleasant people serving us including the owner. This is the way dining should happen. Great food, great service, great camaraderie with other patrons. We are passing through from Phoenix to Philadelphia to take my son to college and needed a place to eat. We didn’t think we would eat too much so were going to share but ended up ordering extra food while we were there to take with us on the road! And we had to take a pie too! We each got a kiss on the head and heard her tell others about the recipes in her book. I didn’t even mention the scrumptious peach ice cream we got to sample!! We were so full but the food was SO good it was hard to stop. How they get the chicken so tender and keep the coating so crispy, is beyond imagine, and the flavor was the BEST I have ever had in my 55 years! Then there was the gravy, fritters, yams … I could go on and on!! I will definitely come back to Memphis just to go to Alcenia’s!! It was our pleasure to get the opportunity to eat there and we are blessed to have met her! Thank you TJ!

Everything from the moment I walked in was perfect. Staff and owner are so kind and genuine. The food was next level! Fried chicken was over the top. Would 100% recommend and will 100% be back.

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.

It’s not just the places you go but the people you meet (and the food you eat) along the way that make unforgettable memories!! Ms BJ and her Alcenias team are absolutely amazing. Ms BJ is so loving and welcoming. My visit was nothing short of amazing and was one of the many highlights of my Memphis visit… from being greeted and welcomed to the family with a forehead kiss to being served some of the most delicious soul food, Ms BJ makes you feel like you’re at grandmas for Sunday dinner. Having the opportunity to listen to Ms BJ share her love and passion for cooking along with her recipes was an absolute bonus! #foodforthesoul #downtownmemphis #Cookedwithloved

I like to support small black owned businesses. I will pull up to a bbq grill on the corner or food truck to support. Yesterday I decided to try Alcenia's. I saw it while working a conference downtown, and when I was looking for fried pork chops to eat, I thought I would try it. I went on the website to check out the menu. WARNING: The prices on the site do not match what you will pay at the restaurant! When I saw fried pork chops, I figured that it came with 2 pork chops, but when I called in my order, I found the dinner came with one. For the price, I would usually get 2 chops at other soul food restaurants, but I guess they charge more since they are downtown. Maybe it should say "pork chop plate" instead of it being plural. So I purchased the pork chop plate with Mac n cheese and yams. I wanted a slice of German chocolate cake, but they didn't have any. So I decided to get something outside my regular and try the bread pudding with the bourbon sauce. When I arrived to pay at the restaurant I wasn't expecting the price hike. I would have gone somewhere else to eat. It said $17.95 for the pork chops on the website, but you see on th receipt it actually says pork chop $19.50. The bread pudding is $5 on the website, but in store, it's $8 plus $0.50 for the bourbon sauce. The container wasn't full for the price. The cashier just said that she doesn't know why they won't update the prices. I did ask about how much an extra pork chop was, and I was told $8.50. Now to the taste. The yams were good. The Mac n cheese lacked cheese, sauce, and flavor and was kind of dry. The flavor of the pork chop is in the batter, but the batter was falling off when I started to eat it. This is a thick pork chop if you like them thick. The chop itself was not seasoned and kind of dry. The bread pudding bread was a little tough at the top but got more moist and soft towards the bottom. Do not eat the bourbon sauce if you are a former alcoholic, can't drink alcohol while on the job, or if you don't want to have a buzz in the middle of the day. This sauce is a straight shot of bourbon. Someone will smell liquor on your breath after eating it. I'm glad I just did a little sip. For the price, it was not worth it to me. I was looking at the pictures of the catfish, and I like the larger fillets, but how much will it cost and what other sides would I try? I'm not sure if I will give them another try. But I just wanted you all to know you need to call and check prices. Do not go by the website. There is plenty of street parking.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

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!

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!

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!

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.

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!

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...

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...

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!

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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

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.

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!"

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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!

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!

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.

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

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

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'!

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!)..

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!

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.

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~

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!!

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!

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.

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!

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!

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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