No Mother's Day brunch reservations? No problem at these 10 Memphis restaurants

Jennifer Chandler, Memphis Commercial Appeal
·4 min read

Forgot to make a reservation for Mother's Day brunch? No worries! Here are 10 Memphis restaurants that don't take reservations for brunch.

Our advice: Go early before it gets too crowded.

And if you do have to wait for a table — remind Mom that it's more quality time she gets to spend with you.

Amerigo

1239 Ridgeway Road; (901) 761-4000; amerigo.net

Known for its Italian fare, Amerigo opens at 10 a.m. on Mother’s Day. The restaurant will be serving its regular lunch and brunch menus, as well as a mimosa special (a bottle of Dom Pierre and a carafe of OJ for $45) as well as featured wines for $9 a glass.

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The Arcade

The Arcade Restaurant, pictured here on July 21, 2019. It celebrated its 100th anniversary on Aug. 24, 2019.
The Arcade Restaurant, pictured here on July 21, 2019. It celebrated its 100th anniversary on Aug. 24, 2019.

540 S. Main St.; (901) 526-5757; arcaderestaurant.com

The Arcade is the city's oldest restaurant, founded in 1919 by Speros Zepatos after he immigrated from Cephalonia, Greece, to Memphis. Today it's run by the fourth-generation of the Zepatos family, Jeff and his wife, Kelcie. The iconic Memphis restaurant is known for its breakfast, serving eggs, biscuits and fluffy pancakes seven days a week.

Babalu

Two locations: 6450 Poplar Ave. and 2115 Madison Ave.; eatbabalu.com

Babalu is known for its tableside guacamole, tasty margaritas and creative spins on street tacos. For brunch, it offers all the Southern classics, but with a Latin spin. Your mom will love the Crab Cake Benedict with chipotle hollandaise sauce or the Mexican Chocolate and Caramel Pancakes.

Brother Juniper’s

The loaded biscuits and gravy, which is made up of two eggs over medium, bacon, sausage, gravy, green onions and cheddar cheese, is seen at Brother Juniper’s at 3519 Walker Ave. near the University of Memphis.
The loaded biscuits and gravy, which is made up of two eggs over medium, bacon, sausage, gravy, green onions and cheddar cheese, is seen at Brother Juniper’s at 3519 Walker Ave. near the University of Memphis.

3519 Walker Ave.; (901) 324-0144; brotherjunipers.com

Since 1999, Brother Juniper’s has been a fixture in the University of Memphis neighborhood — serving breakfast to hungry college students and Memphians alike.

What makes Brother Juniper's unique? This family-run spot bakes its own bread, biscuits and pastries.

On most weekend mornings, expect to find a hungry crowd sipping a hot cup of coffee on the front porch while waiting for their table. All the breakfast fare — but especially the omelets — is worth the wait. The San Diegan Open Face Omelet is one dish we keep going back for. A fluffy omelet is topped with sautéed portobellos, tomatoes, green onions, bacon, feta and cheddar cheese.

Celtic Crossing Irish Pub

903 Cooper St.; (901) 274-5151; celticcrossingmemphis.com

Located in the Cooper-Young Historic District, Celtic Crossing Irish Pub serves up a variety of pints and Irish fare inspired by owner DJ Naylor’s traditional, Irish family recipes. Dishes like Irish Nachos (melted cheese, corned beef, tomatoes and green onions over hand-cut fries), Bangers & Mash and Corned Beef Sandwiches are customer favorites here. Weekend brunch includes Irish dishes like Scottish Eggs and a traditional Irish breakfast. On Mother’s Day, the restaurant will be giving moms flowers during brunch.

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Half Shell

Two locations: 688 South Mendenhall and 7825 Winchester Road; halfshell-memphis.com

Open since 1973, Half Shell restaurant is a Memphis institution. On weekends, the restaurant offers up a full brunch menu. Choose from one of the several benedicts, omelets and crepes. There are also brunch entrees like Shrimp & Crawfish Etouffee and Chicken & Waffles.

Owen Brennan’s

Robert Fischer, known as "Shorty" by his customers, prepares omelets at Owen Brennan's Sunday buffet.
Robert Fischer, known as "Shorty" by his customers, prepares omelets at Owen Brennan's Sunday buffet.

6150 Poplar Ave.; (901) 761-0990; brennansmemphis.com

Laissez les bon temps rouler! Step into Owen Brennan’s on a Sunday afternoon and you feel like you have stepped into a restaurant in New Orleans' French Quarter. Its jazz brunch features all your brunch favorites mixed in with its signature New Orleans fare. On Mother’s Day, Owen Brennan's will not be taking reservations; seating will be first-come, first-served. Brunch will start at 9 a.m., and the last seating will be at 3 p.m. The waitlist will begin at 8:30 a.m.

The Liquor Store

The Liquor Store is a poplar brunch restaurant in Memphis. The Sweet Potato Hash with the “Brazilian Miles Away” cocktail to accompany it was photographed on Mar. 7, 2023.
The Liquor Store is a poplar brunch restaurant in Memphis. The Sweet Potato Hash with the “Brazilian Miles Away” cocktail to accompany it was photographed on Mar. 7, 2023.

2655 Broad Ave.; (901) 405-5477; thebroadliquorstore.com

The Liquor Store is a spot like no other in town. It’s both a diner and a bar, offering breakfast all day, diner classics and Latin-inspired dishes alongside craft cocktails, beer and wine. The feeling when you walk in the door is funky and fun with a Miami vibe. White walls, a splash of neon here and there and retro tables make you feel more like you are in South Beach rather than on the industrial Broad Avenue in Memphis. Start with an order of the Biscuit Beignets that come with a dulce de leche sauce.

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Staks Kitchen

Four locations; stakskitchen.com

Staks Kitchen opened its first location in 2015. The restaurant serves breakfast and lunch in a fast-casual, upscale dining environment and takes pride in creating delicious dishes using high-quality, locally sourced ingredients. The menu has something for everyone, from sophisticated French toast to a vegan skillet to our favorite — the cinnamon roll pancakes. Join the waitlist online at stakskitchen.com to shorten the wait.

Sunrise 901

Sunrise Memphis is a breakfast restaurant in. Memphis. The Rooster with a side of a cinnamon roll, The Best Omelette, and a Frozen Irish coffee were photographed on Mar. 7, 2023.
Sunrise Memphis is a breakfast restaurant in. Memphis. The Rooster with a side of a cinnamon roll, The Best Omelette, and a Frozen Irish coffee were photographed on Mar. 7, 2023.

Two locations: 5469 Poplar Ave. and 670 Jefferson Ave.; sunrise901.com

If there is a line outside Sunrise 901, don't worry. It moves quickly. The breakfast menu includes standards such as pancakes, a country breakfast (called The Kitchen Sink), breakfast tacos, omelets and breakfast bowls. Boozy brunch cocktails are also on the menu. It’s been a popular breakfast stop since it opened its first location in 2017.

Jennifer Chandler is the Food & Dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at jennifer.chandler@commercialappeal.com and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @cookwjennifer. 

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This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Mother's Day brunch in Memphis: No reservations required here