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Chez Philippe At the Peabody
Categories: Restaurants French Restaurants Asian Fusion French, Asian Fusion [Edit]
149 Union AveSte 8
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 529-4188
- Hours:
Tue-Thu 2 pm - 3 pm
Tue-Thu 6 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Validated, Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
11 reviews for Chez Philippe At the Peabody
11 reviews in English
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Review from Jim B.
8/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
My wife and I heard that Chez Phillippe was offering a high tea in the efternoon down at the Peabody ... so we went down for finger sandwiches and weak tea in tiny cups ... or so I thought. The entire experience turned out to be a delight. We had a robust English Breakfast Tea, and dozens of delicious sandwiches, confections, scones, pastries, and chocolate whipped ganache mousse cups ... wow. Who would have thought that such a traditional "girly" event would be endorsed by a big linebacker sized guy like myself ... but I'm hooked. Sign me up for the china, sign me up for the tea, and let's all stick out our little pinkies. High Tea is a wonderful thing!
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Review from Keith G.
Columbus, MS
My wife and I dined here during Easter weekend 2011. We were staying at the Peabody and decided not to go far for a meal and gave it a shot. At the end of the night we were glad that we did. From the moment you walk in it's a culinary adventure. The place is beautiful inside and is very romantic. Once we were seated (I mean people actually pulled our chairs out for us and laid our napkins in our laps) the adventure began. Our waiter was a great help and was prompt with everything. We both decided to have the 5 course dinner and we wouldn't regret doing so. The 5 course dinner includes two appetizers or soup, two entrees (meat & fish dish) and a dessert. To start off I got the Lobster Bisque and the Squab and my wife got the Sweet Potato Soup and the Wild Mushroom and Short Rib Terrine. The Bisque was amazing, creamy and tasty without being heavy. The Squab was beautifully presented and was cooked perfectly. My wife said she was amazed at how good her soup was but she wasn't the biggest fan of the Terrine. This is because she has a thing about texture, but she did love the flavor. I sampled it and I enjoyed it greatly. Next up we both had the Dover Sole which is served tableside. Our waiter effortlessly deboned our fish and provided us with a sauce and serving each of lobster safron-yukon puree (lobster mashed potatoes if you will). Sole is now my wife's new favorite fish and the lobster potatoes are out of this world! Next I got the Venison Loin and she got the Strip Loin. Both dishes were beautiful and were perfectly cooked. You couldn't ask for anything better to eat than those two dishes. Next was dessert (also I should point out that this trip was for my wife's birthday). I got the Baked Alaska and she got the Blueberry Tart. Now the only time there was a mention of it being my wife's birthday was two weeks prior when the reservation was made, so when the desserts arrive her plate has the words happy birthday written on it in chocolate. That my friends it attention to details and going the extra mile. The desserts were magnificent and by the time we were done we were sure we couldn't eat another bite. We ordered coffee and to our surprise it was served in a French Press with rock sugar on a stick for you to dissolve into the coffee. It's little touches like this that makes places stand out in your mind. Once we were done they brought us a small plate with a Mango Marshmallow and a small bit of Pine Nut Brittle for a palette cleanser. They were both great and as an added bonus we were given a small gift each for breakfast the next morning (a Banana-Walnut bread muffin, which was so good).
So all in all I'd say it was a great experience and one I hope to enjoy again in the near future. From the surrounding ambiance, great wait staff and the chef it was a perfect evening. -
Review from Omid T.
10/22/2007
Chez Philippe is billed as not only the finest restaurant in Memphis, and not only the finest restaurant in Tennessee, but in all of the Mid South put together.
After a handful of very disappointing meals, I considered canceling my reservation. So far during my week in Memphis, I hadn't had any particularly memorable meals, and looking over the menu, everything looked fairly pedestrian to me. So claims of being the best restaurant in the region wasn't saying much, was it?
What can I say? I'm from San Francisco - the town that boasts the most restaurants (per capita) than anywhere else in the world. And we're only a stones throw away from serveral of the best restaurants in the world. I can be a bit of a foodie.
But I soldiered on. There may be a lot of crappy food in Memphis, but Chez Philippe's accolades have been earned from people everywhere.
And rightfully so.
I went in thinking that the 7-course tasting menu wasn't a very bold showcase of the chef's creativity, nor that the wine pairing was a particularly good selection. Items like day boat scallop, sea bass, or grilled pork loin are culinary cliches I expect on everyday restaurant menus, not from someone who was under the tutelage of a chef with three Michelin stars.
But after each taste, I remembered what it is that separates these chefs from the rest of the pack. It's not just the creative or outrageous bits, but their ability to turn everyday, run-of-the-mill items into their own little masterpieces by using the freshest ingredients or the most unlikely pairings.
And as such, Chef Reinaldo Alfonso bowled me over seven times in a row. The addition of pumpkin seeds to a butternut squash bisque... the use of olive oil as a light marinade for scallops... the pairing of lentils with sweetbreads so as to mask any hint of organ meat aftertaste... the most perfectly cooked sea bass, unfettered by overflavored accompaniments.... caramelized apple-horseradish sauce to give the pork loin some character... It goes on and on.
What truly won me over was that the wine pairing was brilliant. While using some of the cheapest wines I've ever seen on a fine dining restaurant's menu, the selections paired perfectly with each course, proving Chez Philippe's worth as a dining destination.
As a partial wine snob, I was a bit aghast and had to "fake it" with my politeness a bit when a couple of the wines were initially presented, but the consistently perfect pairings eased my worries, and I got over my snobiness in no time at all. For anyone who knows me, this is no small feat.
Of course, my snobbishness can't get over a couple of things. The service, while extremely friendly, rather knowledgeable, and fairly efficient, was not seamless. Some of the younger staff actually appeared a bit nervous, there was a lot of noise as other tables were being cleared, and there was a bit of inconsistency in how some courses were presented and by whom. And I was a bit disturbed that the small side plates for bread didn't match the rest of the restaurant's china. In fact, after a week of taking my meals at the Peabody, I was fairly certain they were the same dishes used in the rest of the hotel. These are not dealbreakers, but the little things that separate hotel-based restaurants from being business class or world class.
Still, despite the tiny shortcomings, I'm happy to give Chez Philippe the full five stars. It certainly proved to me that it's the best restaurant in its category and most likely in its region, and I walked out of there completely satisfied (and ridiculously full for a tasting menu). And then there's the value. Very seldomly can you have a full-service fine dining experience at the low price offered here. I know Memphis isn't San Francisco or New York or Paris or London, but with the quality of food and level of service provided at Chez Philippe, the prices are well beyond reasonable.
And that's the bottom line. While you're getting *nearly* Michelin star quality food and service, you're not paying *nearly* close to the price. That should make anyone - food snob or otherwise - pretty happy. -
Review from Suzanne B.
San Francisco, CA
6/27/2008
One of the most hair-pullingly frustrating experiences one can go through is to be host/tour guide to a mixed group of mostly non-travelers in a city you do not know. Where do you take these people to eat? How do you know what they're going to like? And if a lot of them don't travel that much (one person had never been on an airplane before) do you err on the side of familiarity or encourage an even more exotic experience?
Thanks in part to the adventurous spirit of my group and in part to the warm assurances we received from the restaurant manager, we decided to dine in the posh environs of a high-end French restaurant our final night in Memphis. It was the right decision.
The group quickly determined that a 5 course tasting menu was the way to go. Our server was wonderful - patient and enthusiastic by turns as he described various dishes. He answered a LOT of questions for the uninitiated - and for those who showed some knowledge already he was quick to steer them to options they might like.
The wine selections (picked by the staff based on our general preferences and price range) were lovely. I would come back just to wander through the wine list again!
Overall an elegant and wonderful evening, made even more so by warm, friendly service.
One note - when we dined the menu was traditional French. My understanding is the menu has shifted to a more French-Asian fusion at this point.Listed in: Meanderin' in Memphis
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Review from Melanie T.
Apple Valley, MN
5/8/2011
Traveling in Memphis. While we were not staying at The Peabody we knew that a special dinner at Chez Philippe was in order. We made an early reservation for dinner because we had a music event to attend later in the evening. The service was worth the price alone. I enjoyed the Lobster Cappucino, the Strip Loin and the incredible (but rich) chocolate-hazelnut dessert to all be quite good. We also chose the wine pairing. Overall the food was good and the portions were perfect. It wasn't the most exciting food I have eaten but it was well done. A great place for that special occasion.
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Review from Raymond B.
Memphis, TN
4/13/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Chez Philippe is A-Ok for what it is. To be clear, it is a "very refined dining experience," and "expensive." Therefore, I compare it a) to the other options of Memphis, and b) to other very refined and expensive dining experiences I have had around the globe... and I find Chez Philippe to be A-Ok. That's not easy for me to say... since after we dined there with another couple, had two bottles of wine, and went with the "three course" menu, we split the bill down the middle for the two couples and I shelled out $333. Woops, that wine was pricey. :) Either way, it needs to be knocked down to size just a bit. The interior is certainly over the top in it's classical decor... a baroqueness that is in your face to the point you'd expect to see a painting of Louis XIV on the wall. On top of that, the place is so quiet you'd wonder if they are hosting a wake... *searches for coffin* ... *no coffin*... *searches again to be sure*. I'm told that the afternoon tea is a good time there, so I'm curious how that goes... but Friday evening dinner is a bit boring. I'm anything but old money, and I'm anything but Southern... and that might just be the style they're going for... so my wannabe nouveau riche, New England self felt a bit out of place. But, as I mentioned before... the wine loosened things up nicely... maybe a bit much when I saw us get the evil eye from the waiter when we 'done us some cussin'.' The food was excellent, and fell in line exactly with what I would want at a fine dining experience. Great job... you're A-Ok at the level you want to play at. The entire menu was relatively classic, with some more exotic choices than most restaurants, but nothing incredibly creative as a whole.
Look... if you want to spend the money, and check the box on CP, go for it... we did, and the food is great, the decor is wonderfully over the top, and it's a Memphis experience. I'm not running back there for another meal by any means... but I prefer my boxes checked. Bon appetit, y'all. -
Review from Mike J.
5/24/2008
Chez Philippe comes with a reputation in Memphis. I wasn't sure what to expect and it wasn't exactly what I thought it would be.
The menu is a bit limited. On page 1, you have a choice of a 3 course or a 5 course meal. You select from 8 starters, 10 main courses (Half fish, half meat), and 5 desserts. For 3 courses, pick one of each, for 5 courses pick 2 starters, 2 mains and a dessert. Price is $68 or $75. Page 2 is a 7 course meal. To qualify everyone at your table has to take it.
The wine list is extensive and expensive.
I took the 5 course. I was expecting to find menu choices I had never or seldom seen. Nope. Nothing exotic. The food was very good though. The servings were small but very nicely presented. Oysters with caviar was a nice touch, but only three of them.
The atmosphere and the setting was not stuffy and was very friendly. Not snooty at all.
The service was very good. I found one of our team of waiters a bit too chatty, at one point he took over the conversation at our table. The service extended to having my car brought up by the valet parking when I validated my ticket so the car was waiting when I walked out. (P.S. Free valet parking when you eat there.)
Overall, very good, but not great. Not the over the top experience I was expecting. Value for money is OK surprisingly, except for wine. It would be more accessible if there were more bottles under $100. -
Review from Christine G.
Miami-Dade, FL
9/14/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Gorgeous interior, lovely classical music, nice wine list. The menu is terrific; lots of really "classically creative" dishes. Service was impeccable, but friendly. We had the 5 course tasting menu. My only complaint was that one item was far undercooked (potatoes on the lobster-fingerling salad) and one far overcooked (halibut entree). For a restaurant of this caliber and at these prices ($400.00 for 2 with cocktails and a moderately-priced bottle of wine) one would think the food would be cooked perfectly.
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Review from Kerry C.
11/3/2009 2 photos
I went to Afternoon Tea at Chez Philippe in the Peabody Hotel.
Here's how afternoon tea works. Make a reservation with Chez Philippe by 9 a.m. on the day you'd like to have tea. When you arrive, you order two kinds of tea, one to go with the sandwiches and one to go with dessert (I tried the very flavorful blackberry tea and the mint tea).
A tiered tray of mini-sandwiches is brought to the table. On the day I was there, the sandwiches were chicken salad, ham and apricot preserves, crab salad, salmon and cream cheese, and cucumber. I wasn't quite sure how to eat the sandwiches. Was I supposed to pick them up and eat them with my fingers or transfer them to my plate, cut them up and eat them with my fork? I went for an awkward hybrid of the two methods that didn't seem to offend anyone.
After we finished the miniature sandwiches, full-sized blueberry scones with marmalade and clotted cream were brought to the table. They're not quite scones like you'd buy in a bakery. They're a little more like biscuits.
Sometime between the sandwiches and the scones, the second cup of tea arrived. With it came a giant tiered tray full of shrunken desserts.
Let's start at the top. There are chocolate dipped strawberries, red velvet cupcakes, chocolate boats filled with white chocolate mousse, orange and pistachio quiche things and raspberry lavender cheesecake. Everything on the tray was tasty, but I'm going to be dreaming about that raspberry lavender cheesecake for a long, long time. It was more like a mousse than a cheesecake and the lavender flavor was a perfect (and unassuming) complement to the raspberry.
Don't let the tiny food fool you - afternoon tea will fill you up. I skipped lunch and still wound up taking some of the desserts home with me.
Afternoon Tea is definitely not an every day thing, but it's great for special occasions. It would be a great mother's day treat for your mom or grandma, a good afternoon meeting spot, or a great treat for a little girl. I would have loved afternoon tea as a kid (though, some of the food may be a bit sophisticated). -
Review from Mike G.
Young Harris, GA
7/3/2011
It was our anniversary so we chose this beautiful restaurant based on many reviewers comments on ambiance. we were not disappointed. We were greeted by name and seated immediately. The wait staff was gracious and well informed. But the biggest surprise was the food itself. You choose between a 3, 5, or 7 course meal with or without paired wines. We chose the 5 course and each and every course was beautifully presented and impeccably prepared. Neither of us could remember a finer meal. While not inexpensive we recommend Chez Philippe without hesitation as the best place In Memphis to celebrate that special occasion.
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Review from Lauren B.
Memphis, TN
11/18/2010
I've been to Chez Philippe once before but it was close to ten years ago. I went last night as part of special week in Memphis called Downtown Dining Week where several different restaurants offer a fixed three course menu for an extremely reasonable/cheap price. (Two options for app, two options for entree, two options for dessert.) The service was above and beyond - as I would expect nothing less from the Peabody Hotel - and we were treated just as if we were dining off the full price menu. I never had to ask for anything, the servers were that good. And the food! Oh, the food! I had a butternut squash soup that was perfect. For the my entree I chose the shrimp fricassee and it was delicious. The light sauce with this entree was a great addition. The dessert was probably my favorite part of my meal - and I'm not a sweets person. I opted for the creme brulee and it was hands down the best one I've had in my life. I ate almost every bit of it until I felt almost sick because I was so full. Overall, the food was incredible and the service was top notch. They even gave us a lemon poppyseed muffin to go and I ate it for breakfast this morning! I will go back to Chez Philippe again very, very soon.
