Larger Restaurant Iris expected to open by end of year
Chef Kelly English pours olive oil into a blender while making pesto sauce during a Zoom cooking class on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)
Kelly English is ready to make his big move to Laurelwood, where the bar at Restaurant Iris will be larger than the entire restaurant is at present.
And here’s some good news/bad news/just news. Yes, he has a plan for what will go in the small house on Monroe. No, he’s not announcing it yet. But in the timetable of how things will unfold, it will open before Iris does in the former Grove Grill spot.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and Google Podcasts.
This 34-minute podcast was hosted by Food and Dining Editor Jennifer Biggs with Kelly English. It was recorded on Monday, July 12 and airs on WYXR on Thursday morning, July 15, at 11.
Like what you hear? Subscribe to Sound Bites wherever you get your podcasts and you’ll always have the latest episodes at your fingertips.
He explains it, but in short he’ll open the current Restaurant Iris location and The Second Line again July 15 — they’ve been closed for some kitchen work and to give the staff a bit of time off. Soon, though the date is unknown, Restaurant Iris will close.
The new place will open, though it’ll take a little time to revamp a little, so it’s not like they’ll close the doors one night and open them the next day. After they get it up and running, get the kinks out, they’ll tackle the reopening of Iris, this time in its big new home.
The only time frame he can give is that he hopes to be serving holiday meals at Laurelwood.
Listen to him talk about his plans and share his thoughts on how restaurants are recovering post-vaccine, now that restrictions have been lifted and things are “back to normal.”
Topics
Sound Bites Kelly English Restaurant Iris LaurelwoodJennifer Biggs
Jennifer Biggs is a native Memphian and veteran food writer and journalist who covers all things food, dining and spirits related for The Daily Memphian.
Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.