Venue Image

Hours

Mon.-Thurs. 5PM-2AM
Fri.-Sat. 5PM-3AM
Sun. 7PM-2AM

Cross Street

E.G. Patterson Avenue

Parking

Lot and street parking available

Pricing

Occasional cover charge

City's Best

Earnestine & Hazel's   

531 S Main St.
Memphis, TN 38103
901-523-9754

Rating: 5 out of 5  (7 Ratings)   Read Reviews (7)    Rate and Write a Review
DirectionsDirections   Email this venue to someoneEmail   Send to CellSend to Cell  

Originally owned and operated by the wife of nightclub impresario Sunbeam Mitchell, the two-story Earnestine & Hazel's boasts a swingin' history. The first-floor bar served as an office for visiting musicians who conducted big business from the booths along the walls. The real action took place upstairs: Part hotel and part brothel, these rooms provided a haven for both down-and-out hookers and up-and-coming soul stars. The early 1990s bore Earnestine & Hazel's a vital face-lift after years of dereliction. Today, the long Formica bar and the black and white tile floor shine clean, and the club attracts a crowd of downtown professionals and local hipsters. New Orleans-bound tourists at Central Station often wander over for a beer, dropping a quarter in the jukebox for Little Junior Parker's 'Mystery Train' before boarding Amtrak. Stop in for a beer and stay for the elegantly shabby atmosphere. Order a thick and juicy Soul Burger, and then venture upstairs to absorb the scene. Finally, cue up a seemingly unspooky record -- an Ike Turner number usually works. If you close your eyes, you nearly hear the walls talk. -- Andria Lisle

User Ratings and Reviews Rate and Write a Review

7 Ratings and Reviews

Order by: Oldest | Newest
user image
Review rating 5 out of 5
By HAM1979 on 06/27/2008
user image
Review rating 5 out of 5
soul burger
By Life Auto on 05/16/2008
best burger i have ever tasted
user image
Review rating 5 out of 5
Stanley
By steven1642 on 02/03/2004
This is the best place to go in memphis on a saturday night.. Relaxing atmosphere with a party mood. Great SOUL BURGERS...Friendly people.. Come on out every saturday night..the crew from the ville will be there..
jeffdavisrebel
Review rating 5 out of 5
Jeffdavisrebel's Review
By jeffdavisrebel on 10/14/2002
yes indeed back in march of 94 my ex and i were trekking down to my fathers home which is locally referred to as the vampire castle off virginia and main when i bumped into my cousin russel george who owns the bar earnestines he said hey duke you want to work here with me and i agreed to do so . My view on the place has its fond memories we worked hard to make the place run like a fine spanish sailing vessel. russel had two fine women who helped out more than far beyond the call of duty. they were courteous and sweet they were mary shelly jack and miss vivian my lil bro who russel promptly titled little king served in the earnestine machine as well it was all of us who came up with the said burger of topic you all know as the soul burger it was concocted early one morning after an all night party had closed the ingredients called for 1/2lb fresh ground sirloin and some secret ingredients that are a secret but feel safe they are found in the produce and seasoning aisles of your neighborhood kroger king and i were tinkering with an idea when russell came up ant threw on some chopped onions and butterd buns this was the birth of the forerunner to what is called the soul burger we called it the blues burger it grew popular soon 100s of people had gotten wind of the wonderful things we were putting out to eat in that old bar it became tradition so next time you are in the downtown area on a weekend after dark walk on in and have one of the finest burgers the south has to offer enjoy fine burgers and some of russels home frys they are the business! who knows you may even run into me they call me duke so run by and tell em i sent ya
Advertisement