Three ‘new’ burger specials around town are special ones indeed: One of them has been gone more than three times as long as it was served.

Lobster Exotic is the new special sandwich at Elwood’s Shack and it’s a winner with tenderloin, lobster and Hollandaise.

River Oaks Restaurant has reopened and chef/owner José Gutierrez is relaxed, his food is excellent and the restaurant as comfortable and welcoming as ever.

The Beauty Shop is back and better than ever, with some new menu items to go along with some of chef/owner Karen Carrier's classics.

In lieu of a buffet, India Palace is serving food thali style, and is giving customers masks if they arrive without one.

Erling’s has reopened with an expanded bar, a new bar menu and happily, most everything else has remained the same.

Acre has reopened and only one item from the pre-COVID menu remains. The restaurant has also embraced family-style share plates, and all the food is good.

Magnolia & May opens its dining room Friday, May 29, with a “country brasserie” menu of new items and Not the Grove’s pimento cheese (but it is). 

Fam’s second restaurant opened just a month or so before COVID closed dining rooms, but now it’s reopened on Highland, serving fresh and healthy food.

Mississippi Terrace has opened in Bass Pro Shops at The Pyramid, offering plenty of outdoor seating and a nice view with a snack and cocktail.

Ryan Trimm is doing what it takes to keep his restaurants going, and that includes theme nights for takeout. On Wednesdays, it’s paella.

The Cupboard is back with its big menu of vegetables, and the people came out in a steady flow to the large Midtown restaurant on Wednesday.

Some folks aren’t ready to go out to dinner; po’boy kits are one of the many options available for takeout and delivery from Iris Etc.

Take-and-bake “pizza kits” of three of Hog & Hominy’s most elemental pies are available as part of the curbside takeout program at Catherine & Mary’s on South Main. 

Pizza from Aldo’s and a Jameson slushie from Aldo Dean’s Slider Inn just down the street makes a great meal to enjoy outside on a nice evening.

Garibaldi’s family meals are good old-fashioned Italian dinners and a bargain; our experience says they serve two meals for four.

Char’s family meal for four is generous, delicious and a bargain at $10 per person; the to-go cocktail is just a sweet bonus. 

Sweet Grass offers a nice menu of chicken, fish, meatloaf and sides to go, but sometimes you need nachos. And a drink.

Crazy Cactus is a new Mexican restaurant on Summer Avenue that serves cheese enchiladas topped with carnitas. Of course it’s a favorite thing; why wouldn’t it be?

Coastal Fish Company delivers. It’s beautiful, the staff is fully attentive and while it’s pricey, you can spend considerably more for food that doesn’t approach this quality. Spectacular sunsets, sadly, cannot be guaranteed.

The pizza will set you back $8-$10, depending on which one you order. The crust was perfect, puffed around the edges, a bit of chew in the center.

Home cooking is as personal as food gets, and Robert Taylor's Daisy’s on South Third offers real soul food and home cooking that you need to add to your list of soul food restaurants.

Big food, soul food, over-the-top food: It’s what you’ll find at Chef Tam’s Underground Cafe in its new location on Union Avenue.

McEwen's offers a soup-and-salad deal for $9.50 that warms you on a cold day and gives you plenty of fresh greens on the side.

There are Grisantis all over, but only one in Collierville. David Grisanti is operating smoothly in the back of Sheffield Antiques Mall, serving up all the family favorites.