Itta Bena — Restaurant in Memphis

Our party of eight recently had the pleasure of dining at this upscale restaurant, and I must say, it was a truly remarkable experience. From the moment we stepped through the door, I was transported back in time to an enchanting era. Tucked away like a hidden gem, this restaurant exuded the charm and mystery of an old speakeasy, with soft jazz music delicately playing in the background.

First and foremost, I was blown away by the exceptional dishes served at this establishment. Each plate was a work of art, prepared with utmost care and attention to detail. The flavors were nothing short of exquisite, tantalizing my taste buds in ways I never thought possible. It was clear that the culinary team here takes great pride in creating dishes that transcend the ordinary.

What truly distinguished this restaurant, however, was the impeccable service. The staff members were knowledgeable, attentive, and genuinely passionate about providing an unforgettable dining experience. From the moment we arrived, we were treated like honored guests, and every request was met with a warm and welcoming smile. The level of professionalism and warm hospitality demonstrated by the staff was nothing short of extraordinary.

The ambiance of this place is what sets it apart from any other upscale restaurant I've visited. The cozy interior, dimly lit by elegant chandeliers, exudes an air of sophistication and exclusivity. The attention to detail in recreating the speakeasy atmosphere is impeccable, transporting you back in time and making you feel like a part of a secret society. The soft jazz music playing discreetly in the background added to the ambiance, creating a perfect backdrop for a memorable evening.

Overall, I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone seeking an extraordinary dining experience. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion, looking for a romantic evening, or simply seeking incredible cuisine and impeccable service, this is the place to be. You'll be charmed by the speakeasy atmosphere, enthralled by the delectable dishes, and delighted by the attentive staff. Prepare to be amazed and whisked away on a culinary journey you won't...

I booked Itta Bena for my 70th Birthday, after reading the reviews, however I left feeling quite disappointed. I arrived on 18th April for my 1930 booking. We waited at the reception desk for at least 7 minutes, and received no acknowledgement from any staff member? Eventually a waitress (red haired), apologies as I don’t know her name, came and apologised for keeping us waiting. She proceeded to usher us to our table in the main restaurant, then told us that our table wasn’t ready, and to go to the bar. After a short time, we were told that the table was ready, and we wanted to add the drinks to our bill, but were told that we couldn’t do that! We consequently had to wait for quite some time, to pay our bar bill, as the poor barman was so busy and trying to ‘multi task’, so I believe our table was given to other diners. We were then ushered to an overflow annex type room, and told that we’d taken too long to pay for drinks. A scenario that was out of our control! It made me feel like we were an afterthought, and the staff just wanted us placed anywhere, despite me booking this restaurant about 3-4 months in advance. We spoke to the Manager, about not being happy to be seated on our own, and she said that she’d move us when a table became available, but we didn’t see her again for the rest of the evening. Joe the waiter seemed pleasant, and we asked for bread and butter, before we’d ordered our starters as we were quite peckish, and this arrived after we’d eaten our starters? The food was lovely. I asked for the bill/check and it was $200, so I gave my credit card to Joe. When the bill came back for me to sign, it had suddenly increased to $260? I queried this, and Joe said that he’d forgotten to add the wine, even though I’d checked the bill, and I’m certain that the wine had been included? I believe that the increase of $60 should have been explained by Joe, out of courtesy. All in all, the food was very good, but I felt somewhat let down by the lack of customer service, and I didn’t feel valued, despite spending $260 plus tip, and it was a 70th birthday to remember, but for all the...

If you are thinking about a private party or special event for a medium-large party, think again about choosing Itta Bena.

The management made our event HELL for our rehearsal dinner there for 90 people. -We had all the details arranged in September- October 2014 for our event in May 2015, including having the entire main dining room to ourselves. -They fired the original event coordinator in early Spring and then changed how much of the room we had (even though it was in the contract and very clear that the room was ours.. they even agreed that they had changed it). They told us this the week of the event and were super hard to get in touch with for months beforehand. -They told us of the change three days before our event and guaranteed us the use of a microphone for the whole dinner due to the increased noise from extra guests in the main dining room. Then they restricted the microphone use to 30 minutes total--- my uncles and grandmother were not able to give their speeches. I tried to reason with them and spent 15 minutes bawling because they were so unaccommodating. It was extremely difficult to hear anything without a microphone. -They finalized the table arrangements three days before the event-- THEN CHANGED THE LAYOUT on the day of-- forcing us to spend 4 hours on the day of the event re-seating guests. -After all of this, the waiter spilled hot wax from a candle on the groom and did not even apologize for ruining his best shirt. Two dry cleanings later, and it's still ruined. -We were repeatedly lied to about the layout, the room, and the accommodations. This was the most condescending and untruthful management I have ever seen. We were shocked by how rude people can be.

Save yourself a headache and go somewhere else. Whatever they say, they...