This past weekend my husband and I finally made plans early enough to get a reservation at Itta Bena.  It’s one of several Memphis restaurants we’ve been wanting to try, and we were glad we did.

The lighting inside is very controlled.  When we arrived at 7pm the curtains were drawn on one side, so it was very dim (but not too dim).  Many of the lights are made to look like candles.  The windows that were exposed were tinted blue!  They opened the rest of the curtains a little after we arrived.

You can see the B.B. King Blues Club sign outside

We had the Abita BBQ Shrimp appetizer which showed up with three slices of some bread made with Abita beer.  I was shocked when I picked up the bread as it was very heavy.  Wow was it good…especially when dipped in the sauce the shrimp was in.  Yum.  The Hand Gathered Field Greens salad had a combination of greens, thin green apple slices and goat cheese.  I’m a sucker for salads with interesting cheese, and this one was great.  For dinner my husband had the Red Snapper and I had the lamb special.  Both were spectacular.

Next to our booth was a door our waiter would occasionally knock on and visit.  We asked what was up with that and apparently it’s a table called The Cove.  It seats two, and you just have to ask for it when you make a reservation.  I didn’t get to peak inside, but was certainly intrigued and tempted to knock on the door myself (but I was good and left them alone).

After dinner we enjoyed a little walk around Beale and S. Main Streets.  Wear shoes you can walk in so you can enjoy the atmosphere!  This is certainly not a place I’d bring my kids as they are too young to appreciate the food, but I’d highly recommend it for a date night.

I checked online before we went, and people kept talking about how the entrance was difficult to find.  The staircase we went up was on South Second Street…behind the valet parking stand.  That’s the other thing you’ll want to know.  They have valet parking, and there is a lot across 2nd Street where you can park for $10.  We didn’t realize this so we parked at Peabody Place, and were glad since it was only $2.

Itta Bena
145 Second Ave. (Above BB Kings on the corner of Beale Street and 2nd Avenue)
901.524.5464