Move over Beale Street. Jerry Lee Lewis is coming back to Memphis with a parade and a restaurant set to open (softly) on April 23.
The official opening will be April 27 following a 4 p.m. welcoming parade down Beale Street to move the Killer's piano, motorcycle, and memorabilia into Jerry Lee Lewis' Cafe & Honky Tonk, located on the first floor of Dancing Jimmy's. The cafe, the first in the country to carry Jerry Lee's endorsement, will appeal to visitors and locals alike with a Southern menu of home cooking and Memphis barbecue.
A sneak peek at the menu finds a house-smoked pulled pork sandwich with slaw on a potato bun, along with rib and shoulder platters, barbecue salad, and house-made sides such as picnic potato salad, mustard greens, and white beans and pork.
Thanks to chef Andrew Armstrong, who is also directing the wonderful Twelve Bar Supper Club upstairs, the Cafe & Honky Tonk is serving amped up burgers with house-made add-on's; oyster, shrimp, and catfish plates with fries, slaw, and buttered garlic Texas toast; and Miss Josie's bread and butter pickles deep fried with blue cheese or ranch dressing for dipping.
The menu also includes locally-made bread and a handful of Jerry Lee favorites. Try a bowl of the Killer's dark roux chicken gumbo made with okra, tomatoes, chicken, and smoked sausage and finish your meal with Strawberry Jerry, a combo of strawberries, Jello, crushed pretzels, and Chantilly cream.
Souvenir glasses spiff up specialty cocktails, and beer on draft includes Blue Moon, PBR, Yuengling, and locally-brewed Ghost River. There are soft drinks, too, including iced tea and lemonade.
Jerry Lee Lewis' Cafe & Honky Tonk, 310 Beale St.
