One of the South’s legendary chefs is opening his first Memphis restaurant. John Currence plans to open Big Bad Breakfast late this year or early next.

Because of COVID, Desiree Robinson of Cozy Corner received her award from the American Barbecue Hall of Fame outside the lobby of her restaurant on N. Parkway, but she was excited anyway.

With rising COVID numbers in Europe, loss of holiday parties, outdoor seating concerns in winter and diners who are increasingly canceling, restaurateurs worry about the coming months.

Coming events include a reinvented St. Ann Fall Fest with food from Coletta’s, and another Restaurant Phoenix Project event, this time to benefit Claire’s House. Plus, New Asia and Sakura dining rooms reopen.

Reopening a restaurant as large as The Majestic Grille isn’t in the cards just yet, not when we’re playing a COVID hand, but Patrick & Deni Reilly are getting by with a little Italian place.

High Point Grocery isn’t trying to compete with liquor stores, but has added a small wine section to give shoppers a convenient option.

Nick Scott talks with Jennifer Biggs on our new Sound Bites podcast/radio show about what it was like to have Alchemy closed for 11 weeks and about his plans for Salt | Soy, opening soon on Broad.

A weekend hoe-down on a farm raised money to help Johnny Kirk’s Third Plate Pastures get through a tough spot, and the Restaurant Phoenix Project has three more events planned for the year.

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.

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.

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.”

As early as Wednesday, some limited-service restaurants will reopen, but all restaurants still must close at 10 p.m.

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.

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. 

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.

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."

Basma and Tony Lucchesi will take over the space occupied by Raffe’s Deli, which was opened and owned by her parents for many years.

Jim Neely is 83, the last of his generation of local barbecue legends. He never really intended to be in the restaurant business, but he succeeds in whatever he does.