There are so many small family-owned restaurants tucked away throughout the city of Memphis. Places where generations of family members have poured their hearts into providing customers with unique and memorable dining experiences.

These neighborhood gems are the soul of the Memphis restaurant scene and are worth seeking out.

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When my friend called recently to tell me about their recent dinner at Correale’s Brooklyn Bridge, I knew I had to revisit this East Memphis restaurant.

When we made plans to go last week, neither my husband nor I could remember the last time we had been. Could have it been more 15 years ago? I am afraid it may have been.

We called another couple to join us, and they said, “Sure. We love that place.”

Again I had to ask myself, “Now why haven’t we been in so long?”

When we walked in the door on a recent Wednesday night, the restaurant dining room was almost full. As I looked around I saw multi-generation families, a table of middle-aged couples, a group of men, and a few couples that looked like they were out on a date night. We even saw three different tables of people we knew.

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The menu is large, with a wide variety of Italian classics. There are 20 different pasta selections, and entrees range from Steak Marsala to Sole Pepperonata to Pollo di Parmigiana. Many of the recipes, including the Lasagna Amalfitano, are based on family recipes from Italy.

We started with a pizza to share. Brooklyn Bridge serves a hand-tossed thin-crust New York-style pizza.

A friend told me that you can order some of the restaurant’s classics “off menu” if they are no longer on the official offerings. I took his advice and ordered the Eggplant Parmesan pizza. I was excited to try this marriage of two of my favorite Italian dishes. Crispy pieces of fried eggplant were served on a pizza with a tasty red sauce and fresh mozzarella. Add a few dashes of red pepper flakes, and it was a fun and tasty spin.

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A warning about dishes at Brooklyn Bridge — the portions are huge. I think that may be part of the reason this restaurant has been open almost four decades. You definitely get your money’s worth. I doubt anyone has ever left there saying they were still hungry.

I ordered the Vitello Piccata and loved it. I definitely won and picked the best dish of the table. This classic veal dish was perfectly executed and served with a lemon-caper wine sauce and tender artichokes. This may become my go-to dish at Brooklyn Bridge.

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The server had recommended the Chicken Pollo di Cippoline. My friend’s husband ordered this one — and kindly shared a bite with me. A tender breast of chicken was served with mushrooms in a caramelized onion cream sauce. The dish normally comes served over gnocchi, but my friend ordered it over pasta. The chicken was so tender that you almost didn’t need a knife to cut it, and the sauce was perfectly balanced. The caramelized onion flavor was there, but it was mild, accenting the dish rather than overpowering it.

My husband ordered a pasta sampler, which — to be honest — was not our favorite dish of the meal. I think that the entrees, and possibly some of the signature pastas, are the stars of the menu.

We also ordered the Spinach Florentine as a side, but I will admit it was a bit too creamy for my taste.

Another thing I did love, however, was the Gorgonzola Vinaigrette that came on the house salad. Crumbled blue cheese is tossed in a mild vinaigrette, and if you love blue cheese, pick that as your dressing. (Each entree comes with a small salad.)

If I had had room, I would have ordered the Tiramisu or their signature Caramel Pie. Going to have to make a note to eat a little less at the meal so I can try their desserts.

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39 years of history

This restaurant feels like a step back in time. I am not sure it has been updated in decades, and I honestly feel like that adds to the charm. Family photos and hand-painted murals line the walls, and the staff is friendly and welcoming, with many having worked there for years.

Adele Correale San Miguel, the daughter of restaurant founders Vince and Bridgette Correale, told me that her parents first opened Brooklyn Bridge in 1985 at the corner of Covington Pike and Stage Road. They moved the restaurant to the current location at 1779 Kirby Parkway in 1987. The restaurant expanded in 1992 to the size it is today.

The restaurant was started by San Miguel’s parents when the company that brought their family from Brooklyn had closed. 

The name was a play on words: “Brooklyn” for the Correale’s hometown and “Bridge” was short for Bridgette.

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The restaurant became a family affair for these first-generation Italian-Americans, with all family members working in the restaurant. Adele’s brother George eventually became the chef, a role he held until he died in 2022. With both George and matriarch Bridgette now gone, the restaurant is now run by Vince, Adele, cousin and chef Barry Sidie, and Daniela Montes, who has worked with the family for 34 years.

My friend who eats at Brooklyn Bridge regularly summed up the dining experience perfectly: “It’s good comfort food, and you’ll be happy when you leave. It always hits the spot.”