Staying open two more hours at night could make all the difference for bars that were closed for almost three months because of COVID, owners say.

At Tavern 018 in Cordova, the plate lunch is a remarkable bargain at $7; the food is good and most of it is from scratch.

Nick Scott will open Salt | Soy in the former Lucky Cat space on Broad Avenue in about a month. Scott’s Alchemy reopens today in Cooper-Young.

Part of Turner Dairy’s plant site next to Overton Square is not zoned for trailer parking or materials storage. So the dairy is seeking zoning variances from the Board of Adjustment.

Lucky the cockatoo moved to a sanctuary for exotic birds in April, but Hurricane Sally drove him back to Memphis. 

During the past six months, business at Waffle Mania on Peres Avenue has continued to remain strong and for the co-franchisee, that’s a “blessing.”

Tacos 4 Life Grill is open in Collierville. The restaurant likes to say its tacos have a mission.

The latest Health Directive goes into effect at midnight.

The Office@Uptown served many purposes, but its most important aspect was serving the community and Uptown residents in whatever way – or space – was needed.

The Grove at Germantown Performing Arts Center provides a socially-distanced outdoor dinner and a movie event on Thursdays through Oct. 15. 

Shelby County will offer grants up to $10,000 for limited-service restaurants closed during COVID-19; the application process begins Tuesday.

Miles Tamboli opened a restaurant just four months before COVID closed his dining room. With a degree in public health, he knows enough to know he’s not reopening it just yet.

New outdoor seating off South Main beside Puck Food Hall will be for dining, working or just gathering to enjoy a little distanced socializing and music.

Global Café opened in 2018 to give immigrant food entrepreneurs a place to cook. Two of us split empanadas and Juan’s tacos, and it was more than we could finish.

A Summer Avenue taco truck scene has bloomed through the summer, with at least eight regular trucks around the wider neighborhood and several others that seem to pop up more infrequently. If you live near Summer or Macon avenues between Highland and White Station, there’s a good chance you can walk to a taco truck. 

“It’s likely that all restaurants will be held to the same requirements as it relates to safety measures and how you operate,” said Dr. Bruce Randolph, Shelby County Health Department health officer.

Hazel’s Lucky Dice Delicatessen, Karen Carrier’s restaurant named after her mother, opened Monday in her Cooper-Young corral. 

Southall Café is open and serving breakfast and lunch in the heart of East Memphis; the chicken sandwich is top-notch.

County health department officials visited 13 sites that have received complaints for failing to follow distancing or masking or other rules; five were closed after failing to heed warnings. 

A few limited-service restaurants have reopened under a new TABC rule, but most remain closed two months after they were shut down by the Health Department.

East Memphis will get two new restaurants this week as SOBEast and Southall Café both open on Tuesday; Curfew will delay its opening until next week.

Chef Kelly English continues to serve Catalan cuisine at Restaurant Iris for the month of September, but other Iris items are on the combined menu at The Second Line.

Molly’s La Casita has been around for almost half a century, but COVID has hit it just as hard as newer restaurants. On the bright side, "it could be worse."