A neighborhood favorite since 1998, Napa Café has become a top Memphis dining destination. Tucked away in a secluded corner of Sanderlin Centré, conveniently located in the heart of the city in East Memphis, we invite you to experience distinctive cuisine amidst refined yet inviting surroundings – warm color schemes, muted lighting and captivating artwork. We are proud to consistently elicit superlatives from first-time visitors as well as guests who return again and again. Memphis Commercial Appeal reviewer, Jennifer Biggs reported that “Napa Cafe is a gem of a restaurant. It's remained current and relevant over the years through consistency in quality and service … I've never left there unsatisfied.” Even noted restaurant critic, Fredric Koeppel, admiring the apparent charm and convivial atmosphere one evening, was inspired to write that Napa Café “is the sweetest, most welcoming restaurant in town.”
Now celebrating our 13th anniversary, we are proud to have been awarded the Gold Medal for Best Wine List, and Silver Medals for Best Restaurant, Best Service, Best Desserts, Best Salads, and received the Award of Excellence for Best Atmoshere in Memphis Magazine's 2009-10 Restaurant Readers’ Poll. We have also earned Wine Spectator magazine’s coveted Award of Excellence for twelve years in a row. Our appellations highlight the great California wine regions from Santa Barbara and Monterey County to Paso Robles and (of course) the Napa Valley.
You will also find a variety of vintages from around the world – ideal for pairing with any of the items on our creative menu. Knowledgeable servers are always at hand, able to provide suggestions that will complement your meal and enhance your dining experience. In addition, arrangements can be made for private dining in the café’s wine cellar.
Chef Ben Adams oversees the kitchen with a watchful eye and inimitable aplomb. Enjoy seared lump crabmeat cakes and swanky marinated shrimp – just two of our succulent first courses. Fresh tomato soup is a heart-warming beginning to any meal, and the walnut-pear salad ingeniously combines spinach with Roquefort cheese, candied walnuts and Port vinaigrette.
The main course is an epicurean adventure that includes potato-encrusted halibut, black pepper-crusted filet medallions and what is widely considered to be the best rack of lamb in town. For dessert, treat yourself to Key lime-mascarpone cannoli, Belgian chocolate pâté or praline-pecan ice cream pie with warm caramel sauce – a grand finale if there ever was one.
