Folk's Folly
East Memphis, Memphis
Restaurant in Memphis, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Business Casual
Why go
Folk's Folly is the Memphis pick for an easy, polished dinner plan rather than brunch or trend-chasing. Shortlist it for special occasions, business meals, or a conventional evening reservation; cross-shop more casual or clearly defined cuisine-driven options if the group wants daytime dining, pizza, Italian-American, or a lower-commitment meal.
About Folk's Folly
In Memphis, Folk's Folly is a direct evening option for diners. It is open nightly, with Monday through Saturday hours from 5:30–10 PM and Sunday hours from 5–9 PM. The dress code is business casual.
Consider Folk's Folly as a timing-and-setting choice first. Go when the evening schedule and business-casual dress code fit the plan, confirm current menu details directly before going if specific dishes, dietary needs, or price expectations matter.
Choose it for dinner plans, not weekend brunch
The venue's listed hours are in the evening, so it should not be on a brunch shortlist. If the decision is between a daytime meal and a later evening meal, this is the dinner pick. For daytime planning, start with broader Memphis coverage instead: Our full Memphis restaurants guide is more useful, city planning can be rounded out with Our full Memphis hotels guide, Our full Memphis bars guide, Our full Memphis wineries guide, Our full Memphis experiences guide.
Who should shortlist it
Shortlist Folk's Folly if the group wants an evening meal in Memphis and values a clearly listed nightly schedule. Skip it if the meal needs a chef angle, published tasting-menu structure, specific cuisine brief, or specific pricing before committing. If the brief changes, compare it with other Memphis options such as City Silo Table + Pantry, Erling Jensen Small Bites / Topgolf Swing Suites, Half Shell, Hog & Hominy, Napa Café.
For travelers building a broader food map, use broader dining guides when the trip expands beyond one dinner plan in Memphis.
Planning details
- Location
- 551 S Mendenhall Rd, Memphis, TN 38117
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- folksfolly.com
- Phone
- +19017628200
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Folk's Folly reads as the classic, white-tablecloth American steakhouse: an established, disciplined dining room that functions as a civic address for Memphis. The piece emphasizes tenure and restraint — it avoids the theatrical or trend-driven fringes of contemporary dining and instead leans on longevity and focused technique. The room’s pedigree and steady standards give it an institutional, almost venerable personality; this is the sort of place where generations return for the same reliable experience. The result is an elegant, quietly authoritative steakhouse that feels both rooted in the city and deliberately unsentimental about its purpose.
Best For
This is a restaurant built for marked moments: business dinners, celebratory nights, special occasions and group meals all fit naturally into Folk’s Folly’s remit. The essay frames it as the default answer when Memphis wants to ‘mark a moment,’ so expect reservations to skew toward evening service and formal gatherings. Parties that value solid, expertly cooked prime beef and a traditional dining room feel will find it especially well suited. It’s less about casual drop-ins and more about intentional meals where the food and occasion take center stage.
Ordering Tips
The menu is explicitly protein-forward, so prioritize the steaks: prime beef is described as the structural center of the meal. Signature items in the description — the bone-in ribeye, the Famous Fried Dill Pickles and the twice-baked potatoes — are reliable choices and convey the house’s priorities: hearty, classic preparations and supportive sides. The piece warns against menus padded with distractions, so let the main cut lead the meal and use the house specialties as straightforward starters or accompaniments that reinforce the traditional steakhouse template.
Venue details
Ambiance
Cozy, comfortable atmosphere pairing fine dining with relaxed Southern hospitality.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Business Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Medium
Signature Dishes
- bone-in ribeye
- Famous Fried Dill Pickles
- twice-baked potatoes
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- City Silo Table + Pantry, Notable alternative
- Erling Jensen Small Bites / Topgolf Swing Suites, Notable alternative
- Half Shell, Notable alternative
- Napa Café, Notable alternative
- Hog & Hominy, $$ · Italian-American, $$ · Italian-American
Restaurant context
How it compares in Memphis
Folk's Folly makes the most sense when the brief is an occasion-friendly dinner with minimal friction. Hog & Hominy is the clearer value play for Italian-American at a known $$ tier, while City Silo Table + Pantry is a better fit when the group wants a lighter, more casual meal rather than a formal-feeling night out.
For ambiance, compare the mood before choosing. Napa Café is the stronger cross-shop for a polished neighborhood dinner, while Half Shell reads as the more relaxed alternative when seafood-bar energy suits the group. Folk's Folly is the safer pick when the occasion matters more than culinary specificity.
Erling Jensen Small Bites / Topgolf Swing Suites is the outlier: choose it for an activity-led group night rather than a traditional seated dinner. If the group includes diners who care more about entertainment than table atmosphere, it may be the easier sell; if the meal itself is the point, Folk's Folly is the cleaner choice.
Explore Memphis
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Folk's Folly guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Folk's Folly
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folk's Folly | Memphis | ; | No published awards |
| City Silo Table + Pantry | Memphis | ; | No published awards |
| Erling Jensen Small Bites / Topgolf Swing Suites | Memphis | ; | No published awards |
| Half Shell | Memphis | ; | No published awards |
| Napa Café | Memphis | ; | No published awards |
| Hog & Hominy | Memphis | $$ · Italian-American | 2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand |
How Folk's Folly Memphis compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I wear to Folk's Folly?
The dress code is business casual. Folk's Folly is in Memphis, the listed hours run from 5:30–10 PM Monday through Saturday and 5–9 PM on Sunday.
Is Folk's Folly good for a special occasion?
It can be considered for an evening meal when the schedule and business-casual dress code fit the occasion. Confirm menu, price, or service-format details directly if they are important to the plan.
Is Folk's Folly good for solo dining?
It may work for solo dinner if the listed evening hours suit your schedule. For seating format or service-style details, solo diners should confirm current arrangements directly before going.
Is lunch or dinner better at Folk's Folly?
Dinner is the option. Folk's Folly is listed for evening hours only, with Sunday hours from 5–9 PM and Monday through Saturday from 5:30–10 PM.
What are alternatives to Folk's Folly in Memphis?
Other Memphis options to compare include City Silo Table + Pantry, Erling Jensen Small Bites / Topgolf Swing Suites, Half Shell, Hog & Hominy, Napa Café. Choose based on the current hours, menu, setting that best fit your plan.
