Old Whitten Tavern — Restaurant in Memphis

TLDR: Cozy, country-style spot with friendly service and traditional food. The automatic 20% tip might be a dealbreaker for some.

Review for Old Whitten Tavern

Food: The menu sticks to traditional country flavors. The hashbrowns were good, though I prefer a layer of crunch, and these were soft throughout. The eggs were cooked perfectly and came with cheese as I ordered. The biscuits were thin, flat, and basic in flavor, but the country gravy had a good texture with a simple, satisfying taste. The pancake was generously sized (about 10 inches across and 1/2 inch thick) with a soft and chewy texture, though it lacked much flavor on its own. Thankfully, the syrup complemented it well. Overall, the food gives off a "like grandma used to make" vibe, focusing on simplicity over bold flavors.

Service: The service was excellent. All the staff pitched in to check on me, ensuring I was taken care of. The friendliness added to the relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. However, the establishment automatically adds a 20% tip to each dine-in order, regardless of the service quality. While you can add more, it feels a bit rigid—good service should earn a good tip, not have it guaranteed.

Atmosphere: The country vibe is undeniable. The interior features dark ceilings, tables, and floors, with moderate lighting during the day that feels slightly dim but cozy. With one booth and about 17 tables inside, the spacing is comfortable without feeling crowded. The outside seating allows dogs, making it a good option for pet owners. The full bar and all-day breakfast menu add to its versatility, whether you’re stopping by for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. However, with only one private bathroom per gender, the morning coffee rush could be challenging.

Summary: Old Whitten Tavern offers a solid country breakfast experience with traditional flavors and a welcoming atmosphere. While the food and service were good, the automatic 20% tip policy might not sit well with those who feel tipping should reflect service quality. Still, it’s a cozy spot worth visiting, especially if you’re seeking classic, no-frills...

This is a great down home bar & grill venue with loyal patrons and staff.

They have been supportive of local singer songwriters for many years scheduling a weekly open mic hosted by Bob & Susie Salley that provides opportunity for singer songwriters of every experience level to share covers and originals. Sallie is the hostess with the mostest full of fun. She is a seasoned performer with an ability to make the whole room feel right at home like their family and part of the show. Bob is one of the best in the pocket musicians that you’ll ever hear play and engineers an open mic sound that is second to none attentive to Tailoring every participants sound levels to their individual styles motivating every one to do their absolute best. Bob has a keen awareness of the room and keeps the sound levels where it works well for the listeners who come out every week to hear the performers and others in the house that are there to relax at the bar, eat or play pool.

The Old Whitten Tavern serves cold beers, good cocktails, the food is always well prepared and comes out quick. Nights when there is no live music there is a killer juke box with the sound levels set to just the right spot for country, rock and pop. They are one of the few places that are still smoker friendly. And!, they are clean and well keep from the bar to the bathrooms.

They support local riders and their events, they have a dedicated group of pool players and frequent tournament play. Most all of the folks you will ever see there are long time regulars who are respectful to others and treat the establishment like its their home.

If your looking for a nice place to unwind and relax or kick up your heels, Old Whitten Tavern’s got my vote and I would recommend them to all grown folk with grown folk needs and...

I had always been curious about this place, so we stopped in for a drink or two on our way home the other night. The lay out of the bar is not bad, some pool and card tables. It wasn't overly busy on a Thursday night. The beer selection was okay (Ghost River Golden Ale $4.00), they didn't have anything on draft however. My wife ordered a top shelf margarita ($11.00) and said it was pretty terrible, it was sour and barely had any alcohol in it. The bar was really smokey too, there was very poor ventilation in the bar. We were only there for about 20 minutes and walked out smelling like we had chain smoked all night long (we don't smoke). While it wasn't the establishment's fault, there was a scene with a gentleman at a card table who became upset with another patron and wanted to fight. They insisted that gentleman leave, but it took a few moments and descended into people yelling and screaming at each other before he left. While it has potential to be a nice spot for a drink and place to hang out with friends and play a few games of pool, the thick clouds of smoke and weak drinks makes it a last stop rather than first on my list of places to go.

Update 01/01/19

While I haven’t returned since our less than pleasant experience at Old Whitten Tavern, the owner did contact me to thank me for the review and to promise the patron who displayed such ill behavior would not be allowed back in the establishment. The owner also stated that the smoke issue was being worked on. No mention of the terrible margarita. I’ve updated my rating based on the effort of the owner to at least acknowledge some of the issues we had with his establishment, not because the experience was a...