08/18/08

True Southern Soul & History

by vudu

This was my first trip to Memphis, and I fell in love with the city. But by far the best experience I had was at Earnestine & Hazel's. I've been all over the country and I've never found anything quite like it. It was exactly the authentic Memphis experience I was hoping for. By the end of the night (we closed the place down, hanging out till 3 a.m.) the bartenders were our life-long friends, and we had stayed long enough to eat two meals: delicious, juicy Soul Burgers. Make sure to check out the second floor, where you can see the room where Ray Charles used to hang out in the '50s. The lighting and ambience upstairs are amazing, and because the building is on the historical preservation list, everything is original and the furniture is antique. The whole place has an awesome, creepy, haunted feel, and the bartenders will share stories of their experiences with playful ghosts. The place has been featured on Sci-Fi for this reason. Twelve movies have been filmed at E & H's, including 21 Grams and My Blueberry Nights. If the bartender takes a shine to you, she might show you the room where a scene from Black Snake Moan was filmed. By the way, E & H's has the best jukebox in the city and plenty of room for dancing, so put on some Elvis, Motown, blues or soul and get down. By far the best bar in the city!

06/26/06

Yes, I've tried one sober

by jakker

Definitely not as good as they are at 3 in the morning when you're several sheets to the wind - but thats the point....

One of Memphis' most eclectic spots it really looks like a run down hole - but head on in and sample some local flavour. If you haven't been carousing elsewhere beforehand then go somewhere else.

• Pros: Can't beat the burger
• Cons: You need to be fairly well lubricated to appreciate it (if thats a con?)

07/09/04

THIS PLACE ROX!

by wired_jibit

I know it looks like a dilapitated building when you first walk in. But, believe it or not this place used to be a Brothel in the twenty's. there are still bedrooms upstairs you can hang out in. And not to mention only THE best juke box intown. The SOUL BURGER is like a slice of moms meatloaf on a bun! YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!

05/20/04

Great

by bluejane1234

This place is so great because the atmosphere is friendly and the food (soul burger) is wonderful. The music is good, too. A trip to Memphis is not complete without tasting an "E and H" soul burger.

• Pros: Atmosphere, Friendly, Inexpensive

10/20/03

Just a Memphis Bar

by jedi_cornbread

There is nothing bad I can say about E &H's with the exception that you come out smelling like a Soul Burger.

Speaking of Soul Burgers, has anyone tried one sober? I don't know if I would do it. The place is kind of dirty...not like biker gang dirty, just old. It's neat. Pretty safe crowd of College kids, recent grads and downtown locals.

EVeryone is friendly. Great juke box. They could use a larger drink selection, but no one goes there until they are already hammered. You can ride the Trolley there.

• Pros: Juke Box, On the Trolley line, Cheap
• Cons: Drink Selection, Burger Smell

Slide into this funky former brothel for a cheeseburger and a beer.

by Contributor

The Scene
This swingin' juke joint was once a brothel, where soul stars like James Brown and Otis Redding used to pass through. With the same well-worn floors and cracked brick walls, it's now a haven for hip cliques and college kids. Sit at the main bar with a bumpin' dance floor and funk-filled jukebox, or head up the rickety stairway to old cathouse rooms turned into private lounges, great for groups who like privacy and the sounds of live jazz piano.

The Draw
You can't get a cocktail here, but the beer list covers the basics. Four busy bartenders keep the beat downstairs; upstairs, brews are served by a sole man in a cowboy hat. A must-have: the legendary Soul Burger, Earnestine's only food offering. It's pretty much a basic burger topped with a special "soul sauce," but the smell permeates every nook and cranny of the bar, enticing you and everyone else to get one.

10/25/02

best late night burger

by wghcrti

E & H has possibly the best late night burger in memphis. The atmosphere is excellent and the jukebox is one of the best in Memphis.

• Pros: Atmosphere, service, best jukebox
• Cons: poor airconditioner, restooms suck

09/05/02

soulreview

by mattbwill

Nothing can beat the secret sauce that is used to make the best "soul" burger in town

05/16/02

Brothel Turned Bar

by mstampley_citysearch

The neighborhood may be a little shady, but hey, this used to be a brothel. There have been some great parties at this spot. The jukebox is oozing with funk, the beer is free flowing and a late-night soul burger is close to heaven. If you need a break from dancing, shoot some pool or head upstairs to the small second-floor bar and grab a stool next to the open window. Wander around the rooms-turned-lounge areas and you'll speculate..."If only walls could talk." When the piano is cranking in the intimate upstairs bar, this is the place to be.

• Pros: soul burger and beer
• Cons: shady area