The Farmer

Average service. Nothing bad, but nothing special. Food was good quality, but again nothing special. With so many better places for the same price or cheaper, I’m not sure why anyone would come here, but if someone were to want to try here and they had already been to the regular places (Overton Square restaurants, SOB, Ernestine and Hazels, etc) I wouldn’t stop them from coming. A solid 2.5 mediocre experience. Glad to say I’ve tried it, but no reason to return.

I really liked the Farmer. The food was really fresh and VERY good. I had the shrimp and grits and the scallop appetizer and was very happy. The Mac and cheese and the mashed potatoes were amazing. My son thought the pork chop was a little under seasoned bit otherwise enjoyed everything else. Out service was amazing! Will definitely be back next time we visit Memphis.

Fresh and local is the theme here. Perfectly prepared food, great selection of wine. Romantic spot, food on par with prices. Good for a date or friends.

I tried the Farmer for the first time for their Last (Monday) Supper and absolutely loved it. The menu is preplanned and comes with four glasses of wine – what a steal! The pork tenderloin was amazing and I loved the glaze on top. Plus who doesn’t like mashed sweet potatoes?! A+

Tight parking, limited menu options, loud dining room, and the inability to serve food hot.
I first had to park to get in there. It was 12:30 and there were a couple vacant spots, but inconsiderate people had parked in a way that would not allow others to fit between them. After waiting for a customer to leave, I quickly occupied a spot that said it was reserved for antiques. I didn’t see any antique vehicles and for me it was either a choice of leaving or allowing someone else the benefit of parking there. It wasn’t until I entered the building that I realized there was an antique store sharing the building. So now I’m the inconsiderate A-​Whole who prohibited their customers access to the store. That’s ok, cause I probably won’t be back. At least I didn’t double park though!
The building is very nice and is made to be modern and rustic. Even the bathroom was very homey. The dining room, despite acoustical absorbers in the ceiling was very loud and is not ideal for doing business. It is comfortable and ideal to eat in, and that’s why I was there. This must really be the place to be if you’re into wine, but I’m not.
The menu is short and sweet but does offer some good choices. I don’t like the way the sides are chosen for the customer. If you want a certain dish, you must get the sides they have selected for you. I ordered the salmon patties which they have decided should be served with greens and Mac and cheese. I had to take a phone call and had to go outside to escape the noise. Of course my food was headed to my table at that instant and when I returned, it was cold.
My iPhone logged only 2 minutes for my phone call, so I know it wasn’t served warm. I quit eating it and shared the blame, expecting hot food. The waitress at first said there was nothing they could do since they don’t have a microwave, but then another waitress said they could warm it. I don’t care if it’s reheated in a microwave or an oven, I just like it hot. I would be upset if I was served microwaved leftovers, but that wasn’t the case. I suspect they prepare a certain amount of food and serve it as its ordered without keeping it hot.
My food came back the second time. Mac and cheese is still room temp. Greens just barely warm, and I hadn’t tried the salmon again when they asked if it was better and I said no, it’s still cold. So they took my plate again.
Someone paid me a visit and explained that they are unable to warm food up, so it will be a few while they completely cook the whole order again. Well, you guessed it, my third plate, the salmon cakes which had «just been cooked» straight to my table were warm, but safe for a child to eat as fast as he could. The greens were just above body temperature, and the Mac and cheese was no more than room temp. The little bitty dinner roll looked like the last time it saw an oven was at the wonder bread factory. I know they don’t own a microwave, but don’t they have an oven to bake in? 5 minutes at 350 and they would have gotten 4 stars.
As for the food, the salmon cakes were fine, but not great. I did like the sauce on them with horseradish. What’s that called again? Mac and cheese would have really been good had it been served hot the third time. I like the greens not being cooked into a mush because I like them raw in a salad. What I did not like was the sweetness of the greens. If you’re using fresh grown greens, the earth provides them with all the flavor they need. A little pork never hurts, but making them sweet is just wrong. Then there was this poor little roll.
I decided it was pointless to expect a hot meal here, so I moved on with my life and finished my entire meal in under 5 minutes. Despite sending my food back Twice, I was only there for 45 minutes which I thought was quick service. If the food were hot to my liking, I would still value this meal at $ 3 – 4 dollars less. The inability to serve a hot meal makes this a step lower than buffet, because I could sample more items.

The Farmer was one of the first to tout their «farm to table» menu. I love knowing where the local stuff comes from, especially with the advent of all the farmers markets and CSAs available now.
I’ve tried all the versions of the Banh You, Banh Mi, the burger, the sloppy Joe, the Patty Melt and the Highland club. All were delicious. The chicken tostada salad is another favorite. Bigger appetites will enjoy the plate lunches. The veggie plate is always a yummy option.
Featured on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives a few years ago, Mac Edwards prepared his catfish with smoked tomato broth which always looks delicious.
I recently took my niece for lunch. She had just had her braces adjusted and needed soft foods. She dined like a queen on their sweet potato bisque, corn pudding and a delicious piece of coconut cake with fresh whipped cream.
For a few years, they have hosted a monthly wine tasting with small plates. It is almost always a sellout. Service is always attentive, and the patio is lovely when the weather permits.

We read the great reviews and drove out of our way to find this gem of a restaurant! Our lunch was accented with a Local rose’ and enjoyed every local flavor! Make a call to get on the list!

Sorry but I have nothing good to say. Tried to give it 0 stars but wouldn’t let me.
Upon arrival, we were told we could sit outside but without an umbrella so we said sure. After being seated outside we realized a umbrella would make a huge difference being 80 degrees directly in the sun. Seeing another party leaving from a covered outside table we decided to speak up to see if we could move since we had only been seated for 2 or 3 minutes. The response was that a party of 4 had just called the table so somehow they couldn’t accommodate. What was additionally frustrating is that the party that came out to the said table was just a couple! Kind of inconsiderate in my opinion. I guess it’s our fault but it didn’t start out the experience very well.
Getting the menu I was quite hungry and being pescatarian and health minded, nothing really appealed but the caprese salad. It sounded so light that I wanted to add a protein like salmon but they only had salmon party, a meat, and shiitake mushrooms for $ 11. I think that is exorbitantly priced for an add on in my opinion so I went with only the caprese salad.
The wait was ok although quite hot and being hungry made it feel even longer. Getting the salad, I knew that it wasn’t going to be huge but it was definitely smaller that necessary. I support the ingredients being local, but then you must use them well. The pesto was good, however the balsamic «syrup» was terrible. I was expecting the normal balsamic taste but was disturbed by the bitter taste that surrounded the whole dish because of it.
My sister got the Cobb salad and came with an usual plain buttered crostini? Random and didn’t add anything to the salad. Additionally the chicken was said to be cold and dry, the farmer strikes again.
My mom got the chicken tostada and although she said it was pretty good the tostada looked drenched in oil and the whole salad nothing above the mundane.
Anyway, I ate my tiny salad just because I was hungry, but afterward was hungrier than I came. Not a good sign. Won’t be coming back to tell you for sure. the waitress was fine but was overshadowed by the rest of the experience. Sorry!

Considering the reviews a little underwhelming I think.
Service was slow in my opinion, took over 10 minutes to get the check.
Ordered the salmon patties which appeared to be the rave and they were good but very rich, almost needed something to set off the richness of the sauce on them. I have to say the mac n cheese was probably the best thing on the plate.
The atmosphere was a typical wine bar I think, very dimly lit and cozy, a far cry from five stars that people are giving it though.

I had the pleasure of dining at the farmer in September while in Memphis. The food was delicious. I had the salmon and macaroni. The macaroni was to die for and the salmon was super fresh. I will definitely return!

Valentine’s Day was a set meal, and they pulled out all their bests!
The Deviled Duck eggs w/​crab & a special sauce was to die for as was their pear salad! We both ordered the peppered steak with seasoned skin on mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus-​everything paired perfectly! For dessert we chose the salted caramel cheesecake! Ahhhh… heavenly!
As I am new to the Memphis area I can not wait to return to experience The Farmer again!

This is a very good restaurant a little off the beaten path in east Memphis. Formerly known as The Elegant Farmer (a much cooler name!), this place offers a strong menu featuring a good deal of locally sourced foods. As many others have noted, the salmon patty entrée is really great. The mac and cheese and turnip greens that accompany it are as good as you’ll find. I’ve also tried the pork chop entrée, but wouldn’t rate it nearly as high. The lamb quesadilla is my favorite starter.
The restaurant has a great ambience and the courtyard provides a beautiful dinner setting in warm weather.

My wife and I joined another couple for a dinner here just before Christmas. The other couple had been here before and really likes this place. Tables are pretty much on top of one another, no problem for me, cozy is OK. The overall food experience was just middle of the road, for both my wife and I. We both had the salmon patties with braised greens and mac and cheese. The salmon was really good with the remoulade sauce. The greens had a good flavor, but I prefer conventional cooked greens with much less texture. The disappointment came in the mac and cheese, which was really pasta and cheese. Lukewarm, and absolutely –0– flavor. I started looking for some salt and pepper, but just ate what I had. A bottle of wine helped the overall experience.
I get why people like it, and like the concept. I’m sure we’ll be back, looking forward to trying something else on the menu.

Allow me to preface this with, the last two times I came here I would have probably given them 5 stars, but this time was… sadly meh. We usually *love* the mac and cheese but we goo-​ily recommended it to friends, and they got it and it was rich but lacking seasoning and somehow bland and underwhelming — no one at the table said they’d order it again. That said, I ordered the vegetable plate and was *over*whelmed by the sage and dryness of the field peas on my plate. And, none of the veggies were seasoned together… lil sage here, lil suh’in else in the other… wasn’t cohesive. The turnips were amazeballz though (mmmh, everyone agreed). I had a bite or two of the pork chop on my date’s plate, but we were struggling to find a bite without heavy fat… like someone hadn’t trimmed it (and it was really not that big of a piece) and the chipotle squash really didn’t make sense with it.
We were with two other couples and while everyone liked theirs «ok» other comments were, «Damn, they overcooked the tenderloin,» and «ummm? haha, was this chef high?»
So, I’ll probably go back because I’ve had good experiences for sure, but this time it took 20 mins for our server to talk to us, another 30 mins to get the food, and then we were oddly confused about the flavor situation.
They’re seasonal so it will change again… but I’m gonna wait this season out.

I don’t get the hype. I really wanted to like this place it’s cute, they use food from around the area as much as possible, there’s a chicken on the sign what’s not to like right. Well the taste of the food is what’s not to like. I ordered a sloppy Jo and Mac and cheese, the pictures on here look fabulous but as soon as I took a bite I was so disappointed, the Mac and cheese tastes like something from a bad buffet. The sloppy Jo was just as bad there was some spice that over powered the whole thing, maybe someone messed up and dropped the jar in the mix. My huddy ordered the patty melt it also looked really good. Well it was not, it seriously had no flavor at all. The good part The atmosphere is nice our waitress was good.

Probably the best Patty Melt I have ever eaten! Very flavorful and the bread was superb. Tasted my wife’s salad and my daughter’s grill cheese — both excellent! Local brews and local ingredients make for a must try restaurant. I’ll return to check out more of the menu.

Had a Christmas dinner with close friends, our first at The Farmer. We ordered the deviled eggs for our app, and I believe that these are the best that I have ever eaten! I ordered the salmon patties, which came with mac & cheese, and braised greens. The meal came with 2 patties and a large serving of the sides. I had so much food, that I had to ask for a take home box to bring home the remainder of my lunch for the next day. The salmon patties were delicious, the mac & cheese bland, and greens, a little too much for me.
We made reservations, and upon arriving, had to wait for our table to be cleared of the two patrons that had been seated at our «reserved» table. Our server was as good as they come!

By far our favorite restaurant when we want simple, unpretentious yet awesome meal. We come here for special events and when we need to have yummy food. Love the salmon patties!!! We have had lots on the menu. We took a friend here from out of town and he was blown away with it. I wish the had more variety with desserts like lighter sorbets or ice cream or fruit pies. Other than that we love it!

Food is turnt as fuck. Tea is great too. Great service. ¹⁰⁄₁₀ would eat here again. Already planning my next meal in my head honestly. Y’all should come here.

I haven’t reviewed this place!!! What an oversight.
First, my favorite entrée is the Old School Salmon Patties. It comes with Mac ‘N’ Cheese and Braised Greens. I’ve had many dishes at The Farmer, but I believe this is the best combination of flavors and textures.
Second, The service here is quick and quiet.
Pro Tip, stop by the antique/​silver store next door They have great little gifts and other cool stuff.
The food is prepared with care and pride. You can taste it. Every time I bring someone here, they just love it.

My girlfriends and I dined at The Farmer on a Tuesday night and it was packed!
Our service was amazing. The waiter was kind and very attentive.
My food was spectacular. I ordered the special of snapper, cheese grits and chard. This was one of the best meals I’ve eaten in a long time. Everything was perfectly cooked and seasoned.
We shared the chocolate tart for dessert. It was also incredible.
The prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is lovely. I highly recommend dining here.

Tried the caprice salad and sea bass entrée. All very good. Farm fresh ingredients, great selection, well prepared. Service is down home, friendly and welcoming. Had a great meal, this will be a Memphis favorite! Thanks.

I have been here multiple times and gosh, it’s just so good. Every time I go I leave impressed! My favorite dishes: salmon cakes, sweet potato soup, any of their salads, and the vegetable plate. The last time I got the vegetable plate it included roasted purple fingerling sweet potatoes (I know. Incredible!), creamed corn, and eggplant. So so good. Go here!
Also, just as an added bonus, the service is good, too.

The food here was amazing and so was the service. The owner greets you at the door with a friendly smile all of the food was fresh. I had the beet salad which was delicious and for my entre I had the catfish in a basil butter with the gnocchi that was lightly fried and so delicious with fresh collard greens that were braids in a tomato sauce out of this world totally worth the detour off the freeway. I would definitely go back. But I would definitely wear something nicer than I did it’s a little bit more fancy then jeans and t-​shirt I felt a little under dressed oh and the wine list was fantastic

We went here for a working list and WOW was I impressed! I haven’t found this level of quality and attentiveness anywhere in Memphis. The waiter was fantastic and explaining everything to us and being so helpful. The food was incredible, by far the best I’ve had in all of Memphis and it’s surrounding areas. The other customers were just as excited to be there as we were. I highly recommend. My boss is a regular!

My father got to pick where I took him for lunch for his birthday and he very eagerly suggested The Farmer. (Extra points to him having Unilocal pics up for me to see when I picked him up!)
What a fabulous meal! He got the sloppy joe and I got the salmon patties.
Dare I say, the salmon patties are better than mine. This is fresh salmon here, folks. No «Chicken of the Sea» or «Pillar Rock» canned stuff. I’m not a greens fan, but was glad to know you can sub any other side for no extra charge. I opted for the veggie of the day, squash and zucchini, and it was great. Mac & cheese was nice and rich — — heavy cream, butter, and cheese… how can you go wrong there?!?
SOOO many things on the menu that caught my eye and will make me return — — catfish in a tomato broth, a bahn you bahn me sandwich, there’s a club that I know my husband would love to try… so we will definitely be making our way back to this quaint little restaurant. This, I believe, is one of those rare places where you can just close your eyes, point your finger, and will be delighted. :)

I don’t give 5 stars for much of anywhere but this place deserves it. The food was excellent and the service was great. I highly recommend this place. I will definitely be coming back here regularly. It does really need more seats and parking though. They have outgrown this space.

Lunch at The Farmer is highly recommended. Make sure you get there early if you want a parking spot! Today I enjoyed the Elegant Salad with salmon patties, sauteed zucchini, squash and sauteed eggplant. Everything was very well done.
Please do yourself a favor and enjoy this farm fresh restaurant!

The Last (Monday) Supper with Wine Pairings
4 wines and 3 courses
This is a difficult experience to rate. 3.5 stars would probably be a better option but it’s not an option and 4 stars is too many for the overall experience.
The Farmer is normally closed on Mondays but they are open on the last Monday of each month for the wine pairing dinner (reservations required).
The quality and taste of the food was exceptional. However, there was so little of it that I had to eat again when I got home. This was a huge disappointment since my husband had been during lunch a few times and said that he had left stuffed. Biggest disappointment was announcing the dessert was their chocolate cake and we received a bite of cake not a piece of cake. If you go for lunch or dinner, I would recommend the cake when getting a complete piece. Also, when I asked for coffee after dinner, they said they do not make coffee at the end of the evening. Surely I am not the only person who would prefer coffee with their bite of cake. I really think that because they are not typically open on Mondays that the staff was ready for everyone to leave instead of relaxing there with a cup of coffee for a few extra minutes.
I would prefer that they charge $ 40 per person instead of $ 30 per person and actually give me a portion size of food not an appetizer size.
Three-​stars: Not enough food, no coffee, feeling of being rushed to finish and leave
Four-​stars: Had a great time socializing with friends we hadn’t seen in a while, the food quality was exceptional
I will go back one day during normal business hours (although it may be a while since not a convenient location for me) and will give an updated review.

Visited here with a friend from work. It’s a cute little place. The parking lot is small, so leave some time in your schedule to navigate through that in the event it is full when you arrive. The service was great. No complaints here!
The reason I’m giving this place 2 stars is because of the food. It just wasn’t what I expected, especially with how much I’ve heard about this place. I had been saving this place for something special and I’m actually glad that my visit was with a coworker doing casual lunch because this did not seem special to me. I got the salmon cakes. The cakes and the sides were over seasoned and salty. It really wasn’t appetizing — I didn’t even eat my leftovers (never happens!). I’ll visit again at some point I’m sure, but I’m not in a hurry.

Nice little quaint spot with fresh home cooked meals. They service is great as well. It’s limited seating so I would recommend calling ahead.
The description in here says they are closed on Sunday; however, they were open when I went. I would suggest calling ahead to confirm.
We enjoyed our meal: pan seared catfish, braised greens, macaroni and cheese, and sliced tomatoes. Everything was fresh and seasoned well.

Absolutely. Delicious.
Definitely one of my favorite places. Awesome ambiance, really good comfort food, we made reservations so we didn’t have to wait long. I got the roast pork which was super moist and tender, and the greens were wonderful. Will definitely go back to try other dishes such as the chicken breast and pot roast.