Billy Kent (BK)
Google
Cocozza – Harbor Town, Memphis, TN.
We made reservations but showed up 45 minutes early. We asked to sit at the bar, but they graciously offered us our table so we could relax while waiting for our guests. That set the tone—welcoming and easygoing.
The atmosphere here is great: light chatter, traditional Italian music playing in the background, and a warm, comfortable setting.
Milan took care of us tonight—friendly, attentive, but not overbearing. Perfect service.
I started with their olive oil martini (gin, of course—lol). My wife went with a mimosa.
The olive oil martini is a light, dry gin-based martini. You can sub vodka if that's your thing. It has a subtle olive oil flavor, just enough salt, and is garnished with rosemary and an olive. Not my usual drink, but very nice—and even my wife said, “Not bad,” which is huge coming from someone who doesn’t like martinis.
Her mimosa had a good ratio of champagne to orange juice—not too sweet, not too dry.
For starters, we kept it simple with baked garlic bread—good herb and garlic flavor and a great presentation. We also ordered a Caesar salad to share—fresh and well-balanced.
For the main course, I had the Veal Piccata—sautéed with lemon, capers, and white wine. The veal was tender, cut like butter, and the sauce was creamy, lemony, and delicious.
My wife went with the Salmon Oreganata. The salmon was flaky and buttery, and the breadcrumb topping paired perfectly with the light sauce.
For dessert, we shared the tiramisu and the lemon cheesecake. While I’m not a fan of tiramisu, my wife said it was excellent. The cheesecake was very good—rich and smooth. I didn’t really catch the lemon, but that may just be my palate.
Apologies, forgot pictures of the dessert.
Overall: Cocozza is a charming American-Italian restaurant with a finely curated menu, great atmosphere, and excellent service. Take the time to make a reservation and enjoy your evening—you won’t regret it.
