Looking to check out a new Memphis restaurant? Here are 4 must-try spots that open in April

Jacob Wilt, Memphis Commercial Appeal
·4 min read

There's no shortage of great restaurants in Memphis.

But if you're looking for a new spot to try, you're in luck. There's a lot to look forward to in April when it comes to new Memphis restaurant openings.

From traditional breakfast food to pizza, beer, tropical drinks and accessible fine dining, there's something new for everyone to try.

Here is a closer look at four restaurants opening in April in Memphis: Kitchen Laurel, Mary's B.O.T.E., JEM and Rock'n Dough Pizza & Brewery.

Kitchen Laurel

Kevin Sullivan, former lead chef at Tsunami, is opening comfort food restaurant Kitchen Laurel in Cooper-Young.
Kevin Sullivan, former lead chef at Tsunami, is opening comfort food restaurant Kitchen Laurel in Cooper-Young.

800 Cooper St.

Developed by longtime lead chef at Tsunami Kevin Sullivan, Kitchen Laurel aims to deliver top-tier Southern comfort food. The Cooper-Young restaurant will feature breakfast food with the "Asian flair" Sullivan is known for. Kitchen Laurel's soft opening begins April 9.

There's a lot of passion behind this culinary project. After spending 20 years in someone else's kitchen, Sullivan is excited to share a vision wholly his own and hear genuine feedback from customers.

"Everything I do revolves around thinking about... making sure [the restaurant] is enjoyable and it's somewhere people want to be," Sullivan told The Commercial Appeal in February. "You could use all these techniques and learn all these lessons out here in the world. But if it doesn't help anyone else... it doesn't matter. You have to have people out here enjoying your art."

Mary's B.O.T.E.

The owners of Cameo and Mary's B.O.T.E., Paul Gilliam, left, and Mary Oglesby.
The owners of Cameo and Mary's B.O.T.E., Paul Gilliam, left, and Mary Oglesby.

588 Cooper St.

The owners of Cameo are bringing a bar like no other in Memphis to Cooper-Young. Opening April 13, Mary's B.O.T.E., or Bar of Tropical Escapism, is a tropical paradise in every sense of the word. Owners and operators Mary Oglesby and Paul Gilliam have designed the bar to transport customers to the beach, with fish nets, bamboo and cups shaped like tiki statues filling the space.

NEW MEMPHIS RESTAURANTS: Trio behind Secret Smash Society to open a new deli in Memphis. Here's what to expect.

Mary's will provide a wide variety of tropical drink choices like Mai Tais, Piña Coladas, Banana Daiquiris or Oglesby's favorite, called Shark's Tooth. “It's made with rum, lemon and Luxardo Maraschino,” she said. “It’s a little short drink — really flavorful.” Non-alcoholic variants of multiple drinks are available as well.

JEM

Husband and wife Josh and Emily Mutchnick are co-owners of JEM.
Husband and wife Josh and Emily Mutchnick are co-owners of JEM.

644 Madison Ave.; (901) 286-1635

Developed by classically trained chef Josh Mutchnick, JEM (Just Enjoy the Moment) aims to create a fine dining experience for everyone, remaining "decidedly unpretentious." JEM's grand opening is April 25.

Mutchnick, who spent time perfecting his craft in restaurants all across the U.S., including four Michelin starred restaurants, said in a news release that excellent food should be accessible to all. JEM's menu will focus on seasonal and local ingredients, and uniquely, will provide a small dictionary of terms for dishes that may only be recognizable to most hardcore foodies.

“The little food dictionary is one of the things I’m most excited about,” Mutchnick said. “It shows people that good food doesn’t have to come with pretension. Come to JEM, have a great time. My message is just that simple.”

Rock'n Dough Pizza & Brewery

The interior of Rock'n Dough's newest location at 704 Madison Ave. It features a full-size bar and four duckpin bowling lanes.
The interior of Rock'n Dough's newest location at 704 Madison Ave. It features a full-size bar and four duckpin bowling lanes.

704 Madison Ave.; (901) 587-6256

Located in the Orleans Station development is Rock'n Dough's newest location. This is the pizza chain's first "hybrid" location, which aims to combine the experience of their brewery in Jackson with their other full-service restaurant locations in the Memphis area. The new location's grand opening is April 13.

Co-owner Jerry Corley described Rock'n Dough as the ideal communal space for students and locals to grab a slice and hang out. The new location is adjacent to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center's campus, making it a great place for students.

DOWNTOWN MEMPHIS RESTAURANTS: Front St. Deli is back: Here's what's new & what's changed at longtime Memphis restaurant

While the food and beer menu is the same as other locations', the experience is not. There are four duckpin bowling lanes inside for people to enjoy as they sip one of Rock'n Dough's 16 custom beers on tap at the full bar. Fan favorites include Barbarian Pale Ale and Light Rock, a drink for those who "think they don't like craft beer," Corley said.

Jacob Wilt is a reporter for The Commercial Appeal. You can reach him at jacob.wilt@commercialappeal.com.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: What are the best new Memphis restaurants? 4 spots that opened in April