Folk's Folly has pretty much ruined all other steak house experiences for me. My parents and grandparents have been treating us to dinners at Folk's Folly for as long as I can remember. Pretty much any occasion that could be considered remotely "special" was excuse enough to book a private dining room and bring the kids along. Thus, I tend to stick with the "comfort" foods of those early visits. I usually start with the she-crab soup or the wedge salad- both are big enough portions to share. We always get an order of fried pickles to share with the table. I love their petite filet mignon- medium rare, please- and went through a phase in my younger years where I ordered it stuffed with blue cheese (General Schwarzkopf is also a fan). These days it's a little too much fun to handle, so I just stick to the basics. Everything is served a la carte, so it's quite easy to share sides- sauteed spinach and potatoes au gratin are family favorites. I know that most people would not categorize this restaurant as "good for kids," but I have wonderful, salient memories of dining at Folk's Folly as a child. The private dining rooms are an especially good place to introduce well-behaved children to the experience of eating delicious food at a nice restaurant.
(5)
Jolynna M.
For fine carnivorous dining, you simply cannot beat Folk's Folly. As a native Memphian, and meat eater extraordinaire, I have been to this restaurant many times over the years, and let me tell you, they never disappoint. Most recently I went with a date, who thoughtfully reserved one of the intimate private dining rooms. I don't think you could possibly find a more romantic setting. So if you have a special evening planned, this is a perfect place to start. Not only is the atmosphere elegant and beautiful, but the wait staff is exceptional. And if you're like me, that is definitely part of what makes fine dining so enjoyable. We all like to be a little pampered from time to time. As for the food, well you won't find a better steak in all of Memphis, in my opinion. I usually get the petite fillet cooked medium rare, with a side of creamed spinach. And my steak is always cooked perfectly. Oh and if you go, be sure to try the fried pickles as an appetizer. Very southern and very yummy. Okay, I think I just made myself hungry.
(5)
Chris X.
I'm not a steak eater, but I often find myself going to steakhouses for business dinners. As a frequent nationwide traveler, I seldom find unique finds, but Folk's Folly is a rare exception. The ambiance captivates a 19th century bordello, only without all the loose women and post-establishment of the FDA. Kidding aside, the ambiance is cozy and the service is eager-to-please in a homey kind of way. The menu is uppity enough to ensure a fine dining experience, with some local faves around the edges (e.g., fried pickles, catfish beignets) to remind you of the geography. The specials tend to feature in-season produce (e.g., heirloom tomatoes). I was very happy with the salmon and all the sides that were ordered for the table. I will be back when I return to Memphis.
(4)
Melissa S.
Im giving folks folly a two star not because of the food but the horrible management and and customer service!! I have been to folks folly several times and was very pleased with the food..however this visit our order was horrible! I had a the filet mignon with a lobster tail and my guest had the filet with the crab legs.. the steak was ok and the seafodd was disgusting!!! it was very salty!! for $85 meal..who wouldnt want it to be great! We immediately told notified our waitress.. she apologized and offered to fix the order.. she then came back to the table and said her manager said that it was bitten off of and they could not fix it.. what! are you serious..you have to taste food to know if it wasnt cooked properly idiot!! we then told her we would like to see the manager...He comes to the table with no apology and a blank stare as if we were bothering him or wasting his time..I explained to him that our meal was no up to par.. his response was " well ...I dont know how your food could be salty cause we dont put salt on our food" hmmm... what are you kinding me!! very unprofessional,snotty,and rude as hell! He is the manager on duty for that day and that what you come up with.... After to resolution I cut him short and asked for our bill! with our food unfinished we decide to leave this place! My guess was all the way from California! we both were shocked and digusted on how we were trated at this restaurant!! ugh...how disappointing! I will never recommend another soul eat here.. there are several restaurant in Memphis that would give you much better service and food. our bill was $205 bucks and we left still hungry and pissed off!! We ended up eating again the same night at a carrabbas down the street! dont waste your time and money!!
(1)
Kinshasa H.
Oooh Wee!! This place is amazing. I went for Father's Day and I haven't stopped thinking about the meal since (mind you Father's Day was two weeks ago). We sat in one of those cute little private rooms that are separated by curtains. This was nice, especially because before we went in I spilled nail polish all over my skirt (don't judge me - normally I'm pretty good at in-car pedi's). Anyhow, we started off with the Catfish Beignets, Calamari, Shrimp Cocktail, and Fried Green Tomatoes. All of this tasted amazing. I kid-you-not. Every freaking bite. After eating all of this I wasn't sure how I was gonna manage my entree. That is, until they brought it out! I had the Petite Filet Mignon and shared Sauteed Spinach with Mushrooms, Asparagus, and Garlic Potatoes with the fam (the sides are all a la carte and were more than enough for the four of us). I also tasted the Alaskan King Crab Legs. Mmm Mmm Mmph!! Let me tell you... EVERYTHING was delicious!! I could not stop eating. So I didn't. Instead, I tried the Famous Folks Folly Freeze (Brandy) and the Hot Chocolate Fudge Brownie. Mmm Mmm Good! I suffered a food coma that evening and am looking forward to many more if it means dining at this place.
(5)
Erica B.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Folk's as I'm not what you'd call a meat and potatoes gal. Yet, their menu had quite a few other delicious items listed, so I decided to take one for the team and make our dinner reservations here. From the moment I walked into this place I was impressed. It's so swanky and dare I say it, romantic. Have you ever found a steak house to be romantic? I know this was a first for me. We were seated in one of the private curtained rooms with a black and white checkered wallpaper theme complete with black painted casings, chair rails and wine racks. It was simply fabulous. We started with a calamari appetizer, which had the most amazing ancho chili and mayo sauce dribbled across the tops. It was delicious. For our entrees my husband ordered the filet mignon, I went with the chicken breast with mushroom demi-glace and we split the garlic potato casserole, spinach casserole and bearnaise artichoke bottoms. I cannot rave enough about the steak and chicken. The steak was cooked to his liking- perfectly medium rare and it melted in your mouth. The chicken was delicious based largely in part on that mushroom glace. It was amazing. I should warn you that two huge chicken breasts come on that plate, so be prepared to take some home for lunch the next day. After reading reviews, I was worried about the sides. The spinach casserole is to die for. I would go back there for that item alone. I have no clue what is in it, but i could have eaten the entire bowl. The garlic potatoes had the perfect amount of garlic- not overdone like so many places often do. The artichokes were the only let down. Not bad, but nothing to really talk about either. We split the dessert sampler when we were done. It includes a bite size portion of their key lime pie, cheesecake, pecan pie, bread pudding and brownie with ice cream. It was the perfect choice for our first time there as it samples everything but maybe 2-3 dessert choices. The clear winners on that plate were the key lime and pecan pie. The dessert is made fresh in house and both of those pies were to die for. Our server? If I could hire Shauna to just follow me from restaurant to restaurant and serve me for the rest of my years, I would do it in a heart beat. She was top notch- great conversationalist and was very knowledgeable on the menu. I took note that the other waiters in our section were just as attentive to their patrons, so I get the feeling if you go to Folk's you're getting that same service no matter who waits on you. Yes, this place is pricey, but it isn't somewhere you'll go everyday and I personally don't mind spending $150 bucks on a nice evening when it is up to the standards that our meal was last night. We will definitely be back in the future- probably sooner rather than later to check out the butcher shop/deli they have attached.
I held off writing this review for Folk's Folly until I was able to make my second trip there. I have now been to Folk's Folly 2 anniversaries in a row, which makes it an anniversary tradition. The first time we went, I was completely blown away. Service was perfect, food was to die for, and the price tag was hefty but worth it. My second trip is what is keeping me from giving Folks a 5 star review. I called 4 days in advance to make a reservation for 6:30. They only had openings for after 7:30. This was no big deal to me. We arrive and valet our car right on time for our 7:30 reservation. The place is very crowded. We are put at a table that is way too close to the wall and cramped. This table is right beside a group of 9 people. Our waitress took quite awhile to take our drink and starter order. The table beside us is extremely loud, and we can barely understand each other without having to raise our voices. Our appetizer and drinks are brought out by another server. We enjoy our seared Ahi Tuna and drinks and await making our order. It takes quite awhile because our waitress is too busy with the large table. We finally make our order and in a short while our food is brought out by another separate server. We had bread brought out by another server earlier but no butter was offered. We asked our waitress and never got butter. I asked for a tea to go with my meal and did not get it until 3/4 of the way through my steak. In the mean time, our larger table neighbors have all their food brought out by the actual server. We then finish and order dessert. She puts the order in wrong so after a long wait we are brought out the wrong dessert. It then takes us an additional 40 minutes to get our check and pay. We spent well over 3 hours at dinner, not because we wanted to, but because the service took way to long throughout the night. It was clear the server was paying attention to the big dollar table and not giving us near enough attention. I am not happy with the service, but the food was fantastic once again. I had the Makers Mark Medallions with garlic mashed potatoes. The girl friend had the filet with parmesian tomatoes. We finished with the brownie. It all was perfectly cooked and the taste was amazing. The perfect food is all that is saving the review. I just expected better service for someone who still paid over $150 by the end of the night.
(4)
Jennifer H.
This place was awesome! Went for a business party and the steak is awesome!!
(5)
Allyn B.
Garlic mashed potatoes and the fried pickles are great. Definitely worthwhile-the steak is cooked to perfection.
(4)
Jason K.
Eh, not impressed at all. I think there are definitely better steakhouses in town though interestingly, both are chains (Ruth's Chris and Flemings). The atmosphere was again, just OK...the decor was very dark inside though the black painted walls couldn't match the elegance of the rich woods and leathers of Ruth's Chris and Flemings. Service, though fast and efficient, was rather cold and unfriendly. We had just eaten at an out-of-town Morton's last week, and the contrast was striking. These things would not have mattered if the food was any good...sadly, it wasn't. We were given generic grocery-store baked bread with a few pats of butter. Ho-hum. I then began with the she-crab soup. A stark white soup was served in a white bowl on a white plate. A true she-crab soup is tinged slightly pink from the crab roe...otherwise, it is cream of crab soup! Despite some intact lumps of crab, the soup was sabotaged by being served lukewarm, it needed salt, and it was overpowered by sherry. My wife's spinach salad was even worse. Guys, if you are going to serve a spinach salad with warm bacon dressing, then you shouldn't serve it in a chilled bowl. What results is a gloppy, unappetizing congealed mess. The real shame of it is that the flavor would have been quite nice. In any case, I was still hoping the meal would be salvaged by the steaks. Alas, it was not to be. The bone-in ribeye was a nice medium-rare and quite juicy, though it also had an off-putting grittiness to the texture (had it been frozen?). The baked potato seemed downright puny (less than half the size of the one pound monsters at Mortons and Ruths Chris) and the steamed broccoli was a complete sham...think Costco frozen broccoli florets steamed without any seasoning at all and dumped into a bowl...ugh, this was barely edible. Admittedly, the spinach casserole (basically creamed spinach) was delicious. But my wife's filet mignon was also a letdown...though perfectly done to a medium rare, it was inexplicably dry and tasteless. And again, that unpleasant grittiness marred each bite. What I found quite curious was the lack of any significant char on either steak...really, the taste was more like what would come out of a home broiler than a steakhouse unit. Well, by now, we decided to limit the damage and forego desert. As it was, dinner was already more than $200 for the two of us with nary an alcoholic drink between us! When most cuts are more than $50 a steak, you expect something more. We did not get it here.
(2)
Snop S.
Stopped in solo for a simple steak dinner. Sat in the lounge and ordered a Caesar salad and a New York strip medium. After having finished my salad, and 30 minutes after my initial order, I asked the waitress how much longer it would be before I received my strip. When she told me that my order had been put in behind several large parties and it would be 15 more minutes, I told her that I would like my check for the salad and I will be leaving. Two minutes later, miraculously my steak came to my table. It looked like a delicious piece of meat, however it was very bland. Service and quality or taste of food should have been much better in a restaurant that charges $36 for a New York strip. I would not eat here again.
(1)
Misty R.
My favorite steak restaurant in the city. The atmosphere is perfect as it works for groups and private parties. They have various size private dining rooms that are separate from the main dining area. Some are separate by curtains, but you have total privacy. It's like you are the only one there. We go here every year with 3 other couples to celebrate birthdays and love the private dining rooms. You have to reserve them so make sure you make a reservation at least a week in advance. The service is excellent. Ask for Rose. She has been there for over 20 years and knows everything about the menu. She is quick and efficient and my favorite. The bar area is nice they usually have a piano player so it's nice to go for a before dinner drink. Oh, the food! Well that's the best part. It's my favorite steak in town and the fried pickles are the best. All of the sides are good, and the portions are huge. I like the sauteed spinach with mushrooms and the twice baked potatoes. If you have a reason to celebrate, this is a great splurge!
(5)
A W.
Touted as the best in Memphis, Folk Folly is a usual steakhouse with a usual menu and huge portions. We did not order any wine as there was nothing on the wine list that caught our attention. We ordered: Stuffed mushrooms is a nice light dish. It would have been enough for me as the main course. Veal T-bone, a weekly special, was nicely prepared, whereas salmon fillet was dry and overcooked. Fresh market vegetables were bland and did nothing to enhance flavour of overcooked salmon. Spinach was all right. Bread Pudding was the highlight of the meal for me.
(3)
Charles H.
Rude staff and way over rated
(1)
Bryce M.
Okay... I've eaten at every decent steakhouse in Memphis. Folks folly just didn't impress me. If you want a good steak in Memphis there are plenty of options that won't cost you as much. I've had better steaks in at chain steakhouses for half the price. If you want a great steak in Memphis for a good price try the butcher shop.
(2)
Lindsay B.
This place is on the nicer end of steakhouses I've visited. We had an early dinner (5:45 pm) and there was no wait. I'd recommend the garlic potato casserole and the cheesecake! SO good! I was also impressed with how often the staff checked in to see how we were doing. Nicely done, I'd go again!
(4)
Katie K.
I give this a five star for Memphis,Tn. Folks Folly is a quaint place with a dressy atmosphere. The steaks are tender my favorite is the 8 oz. filet with creamed spinach and garlic mashed potatoes. The deserts here are awesome! if you are looking for somewhere to conversate this is the best place, it is not noisy adn they have private dining areas which is nice! If you come to Memphis, you must eat at Folk's Folly
(5)
David T.
I have entertained clients here many times and always enjoy the quality of food and service. I can't wait to go again!
(4)
Mike J.
I went to Folk's Folly with a large group as a business outing. It was very enjoyable, we had a good time. I think it had a lot more to do with the people rather than the place, but whatever. Of course they have scotch, that's a starter. The scotch list is good, but not extensive nor do they have any real old stuff (the kind with a dead badger tied to it.). Nothing too exotic, but enough to keep most scotch drinkers happy. Then there's the fried dill pickles. Sounds weird for a Northerner, but it works. Introduced it to a bunch of very Northerners and they were impressed that pickles could be fried. A discussion on everything that anybody ever heard of being fried in the South ensued. Boar Meat Meatballs for appetizer. God, they were humongous. They must have been easy boars to catch, dragging those things around. They were good, a bit spicy, a different taste. They were so large, they needed to be shared. I did not look at the wine list as I was not the lead guy on this one. I was just a loud, demanding guest. The wine selected was just OK. The main course was steak, of course. Really, steak. I had a porterhouse, my favorite. I like it because it has no cholesterol in it. Veggie side orders. This is the bitchy part. The steak was close to medium rare, what I ordered, but not quite. The sides were another just OK. For $7 or $8 per veggie plate, I would expect enough to be able to share with a bunch of people. There was enough to share with two people. Because we were a large group, we had a lot of different sides and we passed them all around, so that worked out. I was a bit disappointed with the variety, not enough different veggie types, just the standard. Dessert? Yup. Again, issues with variety. I can get a cheesecake at 1,347 restaurants in town. Why would I come to a fancy-ass restaurant to get another cheesecake? Most of the items fell into that category. So I ordered berries and cream and let them figure out how to do that. It was OK, but a bit on the small side. The service was very good. Near the end, theyu didn't tell us we were the last people in the place, but they made it kind of obvious. Especially when the valet parking guy came and brought me my keys since my car was the last one left and he was leaving. Overall, very good, but not quite right up there. I whacked off a star for value. If I pay a boatload for a meal (or someone else does on my behalf), I expect to have the socks impressed off of me. Didn't quite make it. The big deal is $60 for a steak. People have a hard time with that concept since everyone feels that can slap a steak on the grill at home and get just about the same thing. If it had been my steak that I bought at the store, I probably would have picked one a little thicker and with a bigger part on the tenderloin side, but that's me.
(4)
Stephanie G.
Absolutely the best meal I have probably ever had. Great private dining with a great atmosphere. Our server Greg was fantastic.
(5)
April S.
****This review is for the piano bar**** The piano bar is certainly a swanky little place to grab a drink. Think dark wood paneling, fancy linens, and quite possibly the best (and largest) wine list in Memphis. Sit back, relax, and let one of the servers bring your drink to you. Order some appetizers or an entree from the menu. All of this set to a background of live piano music at a volume that doesn't hinder conversation. The service is excellent too.
My favorite place for special occasions with my bride. The food and service is excellent. We love the private rooms.
(5)
Mark N.
One word - awesome!!!! Food, atmosphere etc! Larry (piano guy) has a great personality and some great jokes!!! David and Jordan in the bar are fun as well!!!!
(5)
JC C.
Gotta say I had high expectations going in cause friends bragged on how good this place was to eat. Valet - Might as well cause the parking is terrible and it's Free. (However I did tip the Valet) Service - Awesome, can't recall her name but she had been at that place since basically the beginning and had a child in College. She is a true gem. Food - Mine was perfect, but the Wife's 1/2 Rack of Lamb was tough as nails. It had a good flavor, but I had to cut it for her. (Never done that at any place in the past) Staff - They offered to get her something else, but it was mostly gone and she was full. Invited us back to try them again but we drove 90 minutes there just to eat our dinner. I might go back, but at $150 I was expecting a lot more for my $$$.
(4)
Cole B.
Unforgettable experience for you and 3 friends only costs $500! Visited Folks Folly in July of 2015. The service was fantastic but cannot say the same of the food. This place is a Memphis staple but the people that enjoy the food have clearly never experienced high end steak house dining. Here's what you and 3 friends can expect for $500: Atmosphere: We were sat in a closed off room with about 8 tables. Our four top table left us feeling as if we were sitting around a pub table... Table is so small it's almost claustrophobic. Starter: Steak tidbits - a grease filled cube of steak that is deep fried. It sits heavy on your stomach and you'll only eat one! Stuffed mushrooms - again, filled with a steak cube and covered with melted cheese. Appears to be cheese dip until you dig in to the dish, you then realize there are four mushrooms and you'll think back to a whole in the wall Italian restaurant you visited after a night of pub crawling. You'd have to be drunk to finish this dish! Steak: Ordered a $68 porterhouse which was served scorched and smothered in a unpalatable Merlot sauce. It was removed immediately and replaced with what appeared to be a roasted steak served on a hot plate. Took two bites and was done. Special: A 36 ounce ribeye appropriately named "tomahawk"... 36 ounces I say - do we share it? Well it includes the bone. Well guess what - that bone is 3 ft long. So thanks folks folly for the $80 bone! So after a $500 meal, we leave thinking how do these folks stay in business! They are business savvy for sure - the people who regularly dine here have never experienced Peter Lugers, Del Friscos, Ruth's Chris, etc. Even Outback serves a better steak... A much better steak actually. We dined at Ruth's Chris the next weekend and were just amazed by the quality difference in every aspect...from the moment we walked in to the moment we left. Don't waste your money unless being able to tell a friend that you went to Folks Folly is worth $500!
(1)
Scott C.
Wow! What a disappointment for such a legendary place. Ordered appetizers which never came. Entrees are served in such tiny plates, I thought I was in a tapas place. My salmon was over cooked and dry. Almost inedible. Other entrees (filet and rack of lamb) were just mediocre. They offered us free dessert for forgetting the appetizers but we declined and just wanted out. The one star is for the offer of free dessert. This place has seen better days. Opt for Outback at half the price and twice the quality.
(1)
Matt G.
I LOVED it. I had originally wanted to head here but was convinced to try the Capital Grille by a business client, but when they were full, I got my wish. It's a bit of a strange building and a little "old school" but the food is top notch. I had the house salad with the house dressing, which was blue cheese and vinagrette. I thought there was just the right amount of everything on the salad. New York strip done rare-plus, was spot on with a nice seasoning. The spinach casserole was outstanding. Serving sizes just right. Good service and not too outlandish on the price... after all, it was a higher end steak joint. I'd quickly come back again.
Old school quality and attention to detail. I as not surprised to learn that this was an old-school staple in Memphis. This is the perfect place to take a conservative important client, a date you'd like to impress and the parent's-in-law with discerning tastes. My boyfriend took me here for dinner once and I enjoyed the service provided. We ordered and ate far too much food. I had the rack of lamb with spinach. The lamb was mouth-wateringly tender and delicious. We were seated in a semi-private dining room that we shared with another couple. It was wonderful because it was almost as if we were dining alone. So, very easy for us to cuddle and make nice with each other whilst we dined. This place is fantastic for people who love high-quality top notch old-school service and attention to detail.
I recently dined here with a group of 5. The service is excellent. I cannot say anything negative about the fine service. Also, the atmosphere is nice and classy. The location is nice as well. My problem was that the steaks were overcooked and pretty much tasteless. One member of my party complained about it and had her entree removed from the check. So, 3 stars instead of 1 or 2 due to the great servers and staff - and because I'd like to give the place another chance in the future.
(3)
Ronika A.
Truly divine and every time! This is my favorite special occasion restaurant. I love the food, the ambiance, and the service. I love taking my mother here and I enjoy date nights here with the boyfriend. They have the very best Caesar salad I have ever consumed-homemade croutons and dressing that actually melts in your mouth. You can't go wrong with any of the specials or steaks-my two favorite steaks to order are the cowgirl ribeye and filet a la duxelle- it's filled with mushroom puree and wrapped in bacon-hmm mmm good. My boyfriend likes the fried shrimp, too. We once ordered catfish beignets as an appetizer-not a fan. Also, if you have room for dessert -try a Famous Folk's Folly Freeze. I would recommend the Chambord Godiva.
(5)
Elio R.
I tried FF for the first time and my experience was really good. Service was excellent. The food was good but I expected more. Entres were great but sides were ok. Sweet mashed potato was not impressive at all neither the spinach casserole. GREAT vodka martini. I rather have my steak at The Capital Grille, sorry guys.
(4)
Elle S.
Service was great but food was meh. Filet was tasteless, chips w blue cheese didn't taste like blue cheese, and wedge salad was not good (they use cheap blue cheese or something). Best part was the bread pudding. Seriously Texas road house filet was better and my friends husband filet beats everyone's so far. Disappointed, but i know where to go if I'm craving bread pudding.
(3)
Tyler S.
Best steak that I've had in years! Excellent food great atmosphere . I would highly recommend this place.
(5)
Drew A.
We came here last evening for a mixture of a sweet 16 birthday and my in-law's 31st wedding anniversary. The food here is SPECTACULAR! All of the service staff are very attentive and very polite. We had the grilled oysters and fried pickles as an appetizer. The oysters were amazing!!! They are grilled with spinach, pancetta and seasonings and they are to die for! The fried pickles are a staple and very good! I opted for the 16oz USDA Prime Ribeye that you see below. It was cooked perfectly and had great flavor. We all ordered different sides so we could sample everything. Collectively as a table we ordered the twice baked potato, garlic potato casserole, sauteed mushrooms, grilled asparagus and broccoli. My personal favorites were the asparagus, mushrooms and potato casserole. We just happened to mention that it was my sister in law's birthday and they brought out a small cake and candle for us! That's great service! Bottom line: Sure, it's expensive. But you absolutely get what you pay for. Folk's Folly is a Memphis steak fortress and locally owned. This is the only location and they've been around for years. Plus, you can even buy the steaks raw and cook them yourselves at home! Where else in town can you buy USDA Prime beef? NOWHERE!
(5)
Andrea G.
Excellent service by Zar***(privacy) and loved the ambiance - nice private room that did not cost extra - wonderful feature. However the food was not 5 star quality at all and sadly not even 1 star. And if you see I rarely EVER give just 1 star to places we eat out at. We had onion rings - fried pickles and calamari to start and although all deep fried items they were just so heavily battered and soggy with grease. The batter was not even seasoned and aside from spicy mayo on calamari the pickles and onion rings didn't have a special homemade sauce . The best our server could do was some ranch and blue cheese which did not taste to be homemade and at this price point ALL dressings and sauces should be made in house. Even a chain restaurant like Outback makes all dressings homemade and you can taste the difference.. I do not eat meat so was very limited to seafood items and ordered the shrimp - which was VERY hard, dried out and chewy--totally OVER cooked...and covered in batter 2 inches all around. And once again no homemade dipping sauce but just canned cocktail sauce...and when paying $29 for SIX shrimp - there should be something special. No special batter - no special sauce or seasoning. Just dried out fried shrimp. My husband had the bone in steak - he tore it up and said it was "good" - so perhaps it's only about a steak here. - Best thing from dinner aside from the exceptional service was the warm bread served and the lobster mac and cheese. Glad we went to say "been there" but will never go back. Food not worth the $160 (not including tip). Not worth even a 1/4 of that. Dessert: Even sadder was they brought us a complimentary dessert (caramel cake) due to occasion we were celebrating and it tasted like refrigerator air and was cold and very dry. We did not even eat and took it to go because we did not want to offend the gracious server that brought it to us. I REALLY hate writing a poor review because I am all about supporting small business and local families but sadly this was our dining experience. :( I hope the chef reads my review and rethinks the preparation of their menu items so the quality matches the service and price.
- Best garlic bread I've ever had!!! Fresh garlic, melted parmesan and a stick of butter on a perfectly baked loaf of bread - Hot and fluffy in the middle, lightly crisp on the outside. - Crab cakes were tiny. #WTF - That Tomahawk steak tho!!! Put the men
(4)
Blake B.
HOLY COW! best steak in town short of cooking one yourself. The place is a little more upscale than my budget affords, but if friends are buying, the wine will flow... Everything is good at this Memphis institution.
(5)
Don C.
We sat in a private dining room with some good friends. The ambiance was great as was the service. I had a bowl of the she-crab soup and a filet cooked rare. My filet was cooked perfectly and served on a sizzling plate. The she-crab soup was a little salty for me but I think most people would like it. Dyann got a spinach salad and she ate every bite. She followed it with fried shrimp and said they were delicious - she could only eat about half of the shrimp. Our group of six had a great time - I can't remember the last time we spent 3 hours at a restaurant. Maybe the four bottles of wine kept us from leaving earlier. By the way, they have a good wine list and pricing is competitive. Anne was our server - ask for her - she was great.
(5)
Joelle P.
OK, I have to get this off my chest...do NOT get the Folly Tidbits! They are seriously disgusting. The description on the menu may sound delightful...but the reality ain't. Now that I have shared that lil nugget of wisdom, I will continue my review. But really, what can I say? It's Folk's Folly, y'all. The name is synonymous with steakhouse in Memphis...plus it is tradition. And I think you know by name how much nostalgia means to me. Ask any old Memphian their favorite special occasion or date place and it will likely be Folk's Folly. This place IS old Memphis - complete with southern charm and a dash of snootiness. I love their piano lounge (a step back in time to the good old days - and just...classy, sexy, glamorous...the perfect place to grab a drink with your lover) and their steaks are phenomenal. I never understand when people come here and order something other than steak. THAT is what they are known for. And yes, I glared at my boyfriend when he ordered the salmon and salad...I mean, really... So why 4 stars instead of 5? The prices. I think they are really overpriced...the steaks that is. But I still come here because it is THE place to go. I ran into 4 people I knew Saturday night while there on a date. Speaking of which, if you want to impress...when people asked me where Drew took me for dinner Saturday and I said Folk's Folly...every single person went "OOOOO, fancy! Well, he's a keeper." Gentlemen...take notes!
(4)
Angela C.
Wonderful dining experience! We went for our anniversary and everything was great. Best filet ever cooked to perfection! The dessert sampler is awesome!
(5)
Brittney H.
I can't believe I haven't written a review for this place yet. We dine here every birthday, anniversary, and special occasion. Folk's Folly has the best steak in Memphis... Hands down!! You also must try their lobster bisque! It is TO DIE FOR! My birthday is actually coming up and I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Jackie W.
My husband and I decided to have a special evening out knowing our wedding anniversary was approaching. I remember attending The restaurant often as a child and Loved everything. Now... It was very disappointing. I ordered the Breast of Duck and my husband ordered the Ribeye. The duck breast came out medium rare, but the skin was fatty and not crispy as it should be and the Sauce reduction was way too sweet for my liking. My husband advised his steak was just ok and was very disappointed with the flavor. We ordered four sides which were all tasty, but the highlight of our meal has to be the crispy calamari appetizer. My husband didn't care too much for it, but I thought it was great accompanied with a spicy aioli. Our service was great, but the food was not what I remember. With dinner plus two bottles of wine and tip equaled in amount of $228. I don't believe we will be returning.
(2)
Kristin W.
I went to Folk's Folly for the first time to celebrate with a friend of mine. I emailed for a reservation with no problem. The administrative staff responded promptly and asked if there was a way that she could signify the occasion with anything. When we arrived at the restaurant, our menus were prepared with a note for the special occasion. The food and service were exceptional! We most appreciated the staff's pleasant and accommodating demeanor. You'll love it!
(5)
Deen W.
This particular review is for the lounge. When I read about the hamburger offered in the lounge of Folk's Folly in Friday's Go Memphis "Best Bets", I filed it away as something to mention to my husband. He loves burgers. He loves Folks Folly. He loves the piano music in the lounge. Ladies, you know that men usually like it best when something is their idea, so I casually mentioned it last night as we were driving to another restaurant. I could almost visually see his ears perk up. "We can go there instead, if you want to", he said. Sounds good to me! A quick call confirmed that there was an empty table, so we drove straight past our previously planned restaurant and right to the complimentary valet at Folks Folly. (Especially nice, as it was raining and they had an umbrella!) We settled in to a comfortable table near the piano and enjoyed a round of drinks and some fried pickles. (delightful!) We shared a wedge salad (split in the kitchen) and the burger with shoestring fries. I don't think either of us finished half of our half, it was so big! Very flavorful and I loved the Gruyere cheese. The atmosphere was lively and the piano was nice, playing a mixture of current hits and old favorites. The burger is only offered on Fridays and Saturdays and is ground in-house from steak scraps, so you can safely order as you like it. (We got ours medium) It should definitely be on your list to try for great burgers in Memphis!
(5)
Pat T.
We just had a lovely anniversary dinner there. The food was excellent, and we were treated like royalty. I would recommend Folks Folly to anyone who is interested in a really nice dining experience.
If I had to choose an all time favorite restaurant, it would be this one. Folks Folly is the definition of a southern steak house. It is a fine institution, with gray service and excellent food. I can't wait to return and get some creamed spinach!
(5)
Aprille C.
Super expensive but the food was super DELISH! We each had the small filet steaks, baked potatoes and salads. No drinks = $110! We went there on a recommendation from our tour guide at Sun Studio. When we got there on a Thurs night it was packed and we got the last table in the noisy bar.
(4)
Jay G.
Best steak ever. I've been to a bunch, and I know people will say this and that about good steak places, well this place takes gold for me. Yes it is very pricey, with that being said that's the worst part of it. The service is always perfect, and that's hard to say about places but I have yet to have a bad experience here. The food is perfect. I have had something different each time I have gone and each time it is insanely delicious. You can also ask for a private room which is no extra charge. This place is so special to me that it is where I proposed to my wife. So if you want to have a special culinary treat and experience, stop in here.
(5)
Zoe Z.
what i found interesting: vintage decor. like in the era of "dynasty", series in 1980s. dark carpet. dark walls. lots of heavy dark curtains. you love it or you don't! what i liked: 1. not salty food. ordered garlic bread, spinach salad, crabcakes, fillet, duck, potato gratin, broiled tomatoes, spinach casserole. not 1 dish was salty. wine was reasonable. 2. service was very pleasant. waitress was lovely & polite. what i didn't like: 1. boyfriend ordered seared tuna. had to send it back. every other slice had a thick white vein running through it. i was surprised that for a high priced steakhouse, they didn't even trim away the veins. besides that, the slices looked dry & wilted. 2. they forgot the bread. after we finished. I realized we didn't get house bread. some reviewers rave about their house bread, but we didn't get any so will never know. 3. waitstaff should have been trained on bottled water. our lovely waitress told me to pick san pellegrino water flat or non-flat when I asked for bottled water. and when i asked a busboy to bring another bottled water, he pointed to the wine bottle & said "another 1 of that?" i guess guests here don't drink bottled water so the wait staff don't really pay attention to it. conclusion: if you love recipes from the bygone days in a vintage setting, then you'll find this place charming.
(3)
Casandra R.
Excellent dinner here. The steak was soft, tender and just the right amount of flavorings of pepper. The staff was incredibly helpful, kind and supportive. When they saw that my steak wasn't cooked just how I wanted it, they took it back without me even asking. It is an expensive place but well worth it for a romantic night out or even for groups. The setting can be intimate and groups are separated in their own rooms. Highly recommend.
(5)
Jackie B.
So, I finally got to come back here, and I loved it even more than I did the first time! It was D's birthday, and I had told them that when I made the reservation. When we arrived there were balloons ties to his chair! I thought it was precious, but he could have done without that. (At least, that's what he said....) We skipped appetizers, because we knew there was going to be a lot of food. He had a house salad, which was good. I had the spinach salad with hot bacon dressing, and it was wonderful. The best spinach salad I've ever had! It was sweet and smoky and amazing. I had a filet that was a perfect medium rare with a delicious crust. D's ribeye was flavorful and cooked exactly how he wanted it. The sides, though... Garlic potato casserole and spinach casserole. Apparently, "casserole" at Folk's Folly means delicious, rich, and full of flavor!!! That would have been enough to keep us coming back for more, but then they brought us a mini caramel birthday cake! It was so nice for him to have a candle to blow out after dinner. (And that icing!!!!). We will definitely be back!
(5)
D P.
Surprised that Folk's Folly is so highly rated. This was my first visit to this "Memphis Landmark" and it will most likely be my last. On the plus side, the Filet (14oz) was definitely a generous portion and a nice cut. Initial impressions are not good... Folk's Folly hijacks all the parking lots in the area so that you are forced to valet your vehicle. For such a "classy" establishment, this mafia tactic is very unwelcome. Upon entering the establishment, I got the feeling that they thought very highly of themselves. From the coat check to the hostesses, everyone's attitude seemed like we should be grateful to be allowed to be there. I convinced my wife to order the 14oz knowing that she wouldn't finish it and I could take it home and have it for lunch the next day. Both filet's had a nice char on the outside. Obviously I ordered mine medium rare. My wife ordered hers well done. Unfortunately the waitress mixed them up. About a quarter of the way in we realized the error. For sides we ordered the potato casserole which was good but not fantastic. We agreed that if they had mistakenly brought us the au gratin, we wouldn't have known the difference. We also ordered the grilled asparagus. I would be embarrassed to serve this at my home. The asparagus was an interesting dichotomy: the ends were completely woody to the point that they were inedible but the middle to tip were completely mushy. Folk's Folly offers both steamed and grilled asparagus. Based on the grilled asparagus that we ordered, it seemed like they steam all the asparagus and then if you order the grilled version, they just throw it on the grill for a few minutes and call it good. I know I am jumping around with my thoughts but I'm typing as I'm remembering things... At one point during our meal, an individual that seemed to be a manager or maitre'd came by our table and asked "Is everything cooked to perfection?" Despite the arrogance of this statement, there is no denying that the filet is an excellent cut and cooked very well. Had the waitress not mixed up our filet's I would have responded yes. Either way I didn't want to make a scene so I said yes and let him go on his way. Another positive I just remembered is the wine price/selection. The price for most of the glasses of wine is very reasonable... I know this sounds like a very negative review but I have to compare Folks Folly to other Memphis establishments in the same price range. Obviously everything is subjective. For my money, I would go to Erling Jensen's, Fleming's, or even Ruth Chris before Folk's Folly in the future.
(2)
Chris H.
First time here and I was very pleased. We started out at the bar which was quite nice and had a live piano player. It was a little odd when I asked what sort of beers they had to have the fridge opened up so I could look rather than getting a list but, I'm a casual guy so maybe I inspired that? The hostesses were all very polite and cordial, a pleasure to deal with. We ate in a private room and everything was very good. The fried pickles had a little too much of a crust on them for my taste but the flavors were good and melded well. Stuffed mushrooms, excellent. For dinner I had a house salad which was good, then the makers mark medallions. Definite win. The cold smokes pork chop looked excellent so I may was back for that. The Mac and cheese was okay (mines better) spinach very good. The passion fruit sorbet... Delicious! Wait staff was excellent and courteous, and we were checked on consistently. Definitely give it a try, it's quiet and they played a constant stream of the crooners as we ate. I'll definitely go back.
(4)
Vim I.
Folk's Folly is a special place for sure. The ambiance is so romantic--it takes the best of an elegant, old-fashioned new york steakhouse and puts it in the middle of Memphis. The service is outstanding--the staff is very attentive and friendly. I realize that it got several awards for the best steak in Memphis--but I'm not sure if it was overhyped or what we ate. We had the ribeye and the filet medallions stuffed with mushrooms. I didn't think either was out of this world. The garlic potato casserole we got on the side was delicious. The bread pudding was the PERFECT ending to the meal. Moist, rich, and decadent--everything that a bread pudding needs to be. I had no shame in finishing every last bite.
(4)
Greg I.
This is a straight up situation from a 1978 feel-good film about cocaine and washed out party maniacs. 20 minute wait for a pan fried steak soaked in butter, baked potato still in its foil, and key lime pie that tastes like chemicals and a crust that's a bit staled out. The service was friendly, and pretty neat , though my old fashioned tasted like ginger ale and makers. It seems like a Memphis landmark kind of restaurant, but just be weary of what you're paying for. I'll take my meal at Houston's down the street next time. They are ridiculously consistent and solid.
(2)
Kent M.
Our group of 20 here tonite. WOW service and food to match. I sneaked in a bread pudding dessert first, while rest of gang was standing/visiting. I am not a big fan of that dessert, but it was wonderful. Could use just a little more whiskey in the sauce. Otherwise, wonderful structure. I had the filet medalions and was exceptional good. Service from entire staff is perfect, even considering our large group. I see several very private, single table booths, to be enclosed with curtain. That appeals to me, for future tryout! Anyone who likes good steak should like this. I shall return.
(5)
Shaina G.
My boyfriend and I celebrated our anniversary at Folk's Folly this past October and had an absolutely elegant and excellent night out! From the moment we walked in, we were treated well, seated right away and tended to as if they knew every expectation we would have. A wine expert was sent to our table to help us select the perfect bottle of vino, and our server started us out with glasses of champagne to celebrate! Though our appetizer didn't make it out, we were taken care of at the end with a dessert and barely noticed because we had so much food in front of us (and ever leftovers to take home.) My filet was perfectly cooked, crisp on the outside and MR on the inside with delicious flavors and tender, fresh meat. The service was great and they made us feel special and never once rushed. In fact, we were there for several hours eating, drinking and celebrating.
(5)
C W.
Honestly I was a little disappointed. The food is prepared and cooked well. However the meet is fully trimmed which means there isn't much fat on the steaks, even the ribeye and NY strip. Maybe I should have asked if they had any non-trimmed cuts. I did taste the lamb and it was great. If you are looking for a tenderloin you won't have any worries.
(3)
Colleen G.
Folk's Folly is a solid, local steakhouse. I love the atmosphere of the place: slightly old-school with swanky Southern charm. For a steak restaurant, it is surprisingly romantic- the lighting is dim and it just has that date night feel about it. The food is good. As it was my first visit, I opted for a steak, but the specials sounded wonderful. My petite filet was cooked perfectly, and seasoned nicely. I thought the dessert menu was a bit conventional, so we skipped it... But the wine list is the star. So many choices! We didn't sit in the bar area, but I'd love to try that sometime. The ambience in there was evident just by walking nearby. This is a great place for a date or special occasion. Give it a try, especially if you've visited all of the other comparable steakhouses.
(4)
Joy S.
It was OK, I expected better. Do not get the creme brulee. It was not good.
(3)
Ken K.
I've lived in Memphis almost 15 years and I bet it's been close to 10 yeas since I've been to Folks Folly. I eat out nice a lot.. but just sort of always took a ' been there, done that' approach to Folks Folly. Recently, some clients from out of town wanted to go... so we did. Wow, it was way better than I remembered. The next week, when my wife and I were deciding where to go, I said' you wont believe what I re-discovered'. Great dinner again... bone in filet was great. The bread pudding dessert is the bomb. 3-4 weeks later we went to a wedding, then left early to grab drinks and dessert in the bar. Probably got my fix for a while from Folks Folly but if you haven't been in awhile... you might want to go. If you've never been definitely go. Service is also top notch and not too stuffy
(5)
Jason H.
WOW, pricey but great! I have no problem paying for a meal like this. No only does it taste great but you get large portions, Uris not a pricey place that leaves you hungry. I recommend the pork chop, wow!
(5)
Rachel W.
While I think Folk's Folly is a nice steakhouse, I just can't say it's outstanding for how much you are paying for the meal. We went there for my birthday - I love steak and Folk's Folly has some of the best steakhouse reviews in Memphis. The waiter was attentive, the meal was good, but for how much we paid for the dinner, I expected more. It could be I'm spoiled by eating at some of the best steakhouses in NYC when I lived there.
(3)
Katy C.
It makes little sense to me that Folk's Folly has so few reviews. The food here is ridiculously delicious. I don't usually frequent steak houses, but this one is a can't fail one. Yes, pricey, but how could good steak be cheap? I've been here 3 times and have always gotten the petite filet mignon medium rare. Absolute mouth-watering, buttery goodness. I barely have to chew the meat since it's so tender. You would think that was the highlight of the meal, but amazingly, there is something on the menu even MORE terrific than steak. Wait for it... SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE!!!! Why don't more restaurants serve this dish? I bet I could open a restaurant serving only sweet potato casserole made the way Folk's Folly does it and it would still be a dynamite business model. I'd eat there everyday. Probably wouldn't fit through the door after a week, but whatever, it's sweet potato casserole. If you have cash to burn, there really isn't a better place than Folk's Folly to burn it. PLUS: very good wine.
(5)
Randall F.
Folk's Folly was selected by local business associates and is the touted as the best steakhouse in town. Regulars were recognized in the bar/lounge where live piano playing is a bit more than background music - think Nordstrom X 10 on the volume. You are forced to try the Famous Fried Dill Pickles which apparently is a FF tradition and a Southern delicacy - quite good with cocktails. Excellent wine list and the server was very pleasant and knew about 20% of our party as regulars. The only glitch was my main order - bone-in rib eye which she highly recommended came without the bone. She quickly realized her mistake and fired up one for me while everyone was 'digging' in to their hot plates. My arrived around 5 minutes later on a nuclear hot plate and the steak was just too hot to enjoy that first bite flavor when you have a normally cooked steak. If the meat sat for another 8 minutes the temp and flavor would have settled nicely. No bbq ribs on the menu here.
(4)
Charles D.
1 year ago this would have been a 5-star review, but sadly things have changed. The steaks used to be exceptional but have really gone downhill, not just the quality of beef, but also the cooking. On top of that there have been improvements to other steakhouses in town (which are also cheaper). The service is always great, no complaints there at all. It is very dark inside, but it seems appropriate. Mainly though I have to say the beef is not what it used to be and the prices don't seem to be going down. My only hope is that the economic downturn will lower overall demand for high quality beef and restaurants like this will start to get good steaks again.
(3)
Dana G.
This is a damn good steak- pure and simple. You can order with peppercorn or reductions, etc. etc., but just the simple filet is amazing with just it's (I assume) salt and pepper and natural juices thrown on to the grill. Yum.
(5)
Lawrence M.
My wife and I had heard good things, somewhat of an east Memphis institution and decided to give it a try. We went over and were somewhat under dressed but they let us right in. The setting was nice w/a variety of seating areas. It's a steak house, but has a really diverse menu. We started off w/the "famous" fried dill pickles. I figured if they say it, I needed to try it and was pleasantly surprised they were quite good. I had the Peach Glazed Pork Chops and my wife had their Fillet . She likes her medium well and many places can't quite manage it, but they hit it on the head. I thought the Pork Chops were very good also. Pork is a good test since it can't be dry if not done well. Service was attentive and friendly with the restaurant manager dropping by a couple times to make sure all was well. They wait staff was clearly watching - showing up when needed and otherwise out of site. It was a little pricey, but they did a very good job and worth the visit. We didn't have time for desert, but we'll address that on a future visit.
(4)
greg p.
If you don't want to go to a chain and want to experience local flavor, it is very nice for a local, upscale steakhouse. However, for the price you pay, Ruth's Chris would be my first choice.
(3)
Marion F.
Folk's Folly is a true Memphis tradition. The steaks are the best in town & the service is impeccable. Our family always goes there for celebrations & special occasions.
(5)
Russell D.
I've been a couple of times on business. Definitely a place that benefits if you have an expense account. That said, i did think the wine list was very good and reasonably priced. The bone-on filet is unique and very, very good. There are a couple of private rooms, so even with a small group of 4 or 5 you can get one. A top choice for business dinner with me.
(4)
cin f.
From the outside, Folk's Folly Prime Steak House just looks like a house instead of a fancy steakhouse. Inside, they have created ambience and lighting that invokes a sense of intimacy and privacy. From the valets to the wait staff, the service there is very attentive and informative. They have a large wine collection if you are a wine buff. It is definitely a special occasion type of place. I have been there for a birthday and also a business meeting. If you go for a birthday, they just tie a balloon on your chair and give you a complimentary dessert. i was too full to enjoy mine. As for the steak, i got medallions with blue cheese sauce. It was a quality cut of meat and very tender. The sides are ala carte. i think i got creamed spinach and garlic mashed potatoes. You should just share the sides with others or skip them and just get a steak and salad. The bill can add up quickly if you get ala carte happy. Folk's Folly Prime Steak House is not some place everyone can afford to go every day (unless i guess you are a Memphis Grizzles player or a movie star in town shooting a film). I think Folk's is a nice place to go if you want to treat yourself to a fancy steakhouse experience with white tablecloths and impeccable service.
(4)
Roger G.
Not a place I would recommend, I am from Los Angeles, not Memphis so my base is skewed. This place is dated, the staff does not know how to even open a bottle of wine. I have had much better food and service at the same price point. Flemings, Ruth Chris,Villa Creek........
(2)
TJ H.
Yep, it is THAT good. I have dined here many times over the last 20 years and have always enjoyed it. Recently they had a Dry-Aged New York Strip as a special that I ordered Med-Rare. It was outstanding. For steak lovers, this is a good as at gets. They also ran a special on a 10oz bone-in Filet Mignon. Someone else at the table ordered it and it was monstrous. He thoroughly enjoyed it. For meat lovers and food lovers of all kinds, this is a decadent restaurant that is great for special occasions and group events.
(5)
Tona F.
I have dreamed about their Blue Cheese Mountain chips for 3 years! And they didn't disappoint the 2nd time around!
I had high expectations of this place after reading all the reviews... Although the steak I had was cooked well I've had better quality meat. I do have to say that the duck my wife had was supposedly very good but the overall experience was disappointing and we will not go back. It is -simply- way overpriced...
(2)
Morris S.
Nice atmosphere, I went with a party of 6 the table was not ready for us even though we had reservations so we had to wait in the lounge which was acceptable. I had a petite tenderloin and crab stuffed lobster tail and spinach as a side. The food was excellent steak was cooked to my specifications and very tender. Lobster and crab met my expectations as well. Chrissy was our server and she is very good at her job I highly recommend her.
(4)
Tanya T.
Folk's Folly is perfection. The steaks are juicy, the sides (all a la carte) are heavenly, and the ambiance is the cherry on top. I've been here a few times but I'll share one of my favorite nights ever- my first wedding anniversary. My husband took me to Folk's Folly and we sat in one of those cute tiny private rooms. We both ordered steaks- filet for me, strip for him. I, of course, had to order the garlic mashed potatoes to accompany my meal because I simply lust after them. My hubby had asparagus, and I had to snag a few of those too. A few glasses of red, and our meal was complete. After dinner, we moved over to the piano bar area, and this is where the fun began. The room was crowded with an older set-- probably 60+. And you know what? We had the time of our lives with them. The piano man was incredible, playing all kinds of fantastic music from Broadway show tunes to old standards to fun sing alongs. Since it was our anniversary, we requested a little Frank- "The Best is Yet to Come." It is our song, after all. I'll never forget that night and Folk's Folly played a big part in making it such a great memory.
(5)
Shannon L.
Folk's Folly Prime Steakhouse is consistently voted "Best Steak" by several reader's polls across town, every year. No doubt too, there is a reason behind it. Growing up, I knew that Folk's Folly was the magical place that only grown-ups could go to, and only when it was a very special occasion. In fact, I still feel this way today. Folk's Folly is where we decided to celebrate Valentine's Day this year, and I had been looking forward to it for forever. Since it was Valentine's, I was not allowed to take pictures on this adventure. I crowdsourced a few photos, but sorry for the lack of evidence. To start the evening, we were treated to a private dining room: one single table in a small room, shut out from the rest of the world by curtains. It was fantastic, and also the most romantic atmosphere I have ever experienced. Our server Retha helped us pick out the perfect bottle of wine and listed off our specials. As an appetizer, we chose the crab cakes. They were delicate, lightly fried, and complimented with the perfect remolaude sauce. After we finished our crab cakes, we decided to split a 14 ounce filet minion, small lobster tail, spinach casserole, and twice baked potato. The steak was cooked a perfect medium rare, cooked enough on the outside yet juicy and full of flavor. The lobster tail was buttery (and made me feel very high class). The twice-baked potato was perfect, with a great mix of butter, cheese, bacon, and chives. The spinach casserole made me say outloud, "Oh my God, that is so amazing." After dinner, we went to the bar for dessert. We both ordered a Folk's Folly Freeze, which is ice-cream mixed with your liqueur of choice. Scott got a Brandy Alexander freeze, and I ordered one with Godiva and amaretto. They were heaven! I had absolutely no qualms with any part of my experience at Folk's Folly. Romantic atmosphere. Great wine. Perfect service. Perfect food. Folk's Folly is fine dining, which means the great experience comes with a hefty price tag. This is the reason a special occasion is usually necessary. (Also, we had a gift card.) However, compared to many fine dining or steak restaurants, they are reasonable. Our whole bill, excluding dessert, cost around $150.00. That includes the bottle of nice wine, appetizer, steak, lobster, and two sides. Their steak and drink prices are significantly cheaper than Ruth's Chris.
(5)
Gary D.
Ate there on my birthday a couple of years ago. Great dining experience - and well worth the money (but only for special occassions). I had the 14 ounce filet and it was perfectly cooked and seasoned. I also had a side of boccoli and a layered tomato and mozzarella salad with olive oil and basil - it was excellent. If there is a better steakhouse in Memphis - I don't know of it.
(5)
Goldy H.
I don't get why people rave about this place so much. Went here while I was traveling for work. The food tasted average in my opinion. I think the food is overpriced for the quality. I will say however that the service is excellent! My glass was never half full. The busboy would literally come over every 5 minutes to fill up my water glass. I ordered a rib eye medium rare and it came out pretty much well done. I addressed this to my server and he fixed it immediately. Overall okay place.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Kathleen Q.
Folk's Folly has pretty much ruined all other steak house experiences for me. My parents and grandparents have been treating us to dinners at Folk's Folly for as long as I can remember. Pretty much any occasion that could be considered remotely "special" was excuse enough to book a private dining room and bring the kids along. Thus, I tend to stick with the "comfort" foods of those early visits. I usually start with the she-crab soup or the wedge salad- both are big enough portions to share. We always get an order of fried pickles to share with the table. I love their petite filet mignon- medium rare, please- and went through a phase in my younger years where I ordered it stuffed with blue cheese (General Schwarzkopf is also a fan). These days it's a little too much fun to handle, so I just stick to the basics. Everything is served a la carte, so it's quite easy to share sides- sauteed spinach and potatoes au gratin are family favorites. I know that most people would not categorize this restaurant as "good for kids," but I have wonderful, salient memories of dining at Folk's Folly as a child. The private dining rooms are an especially good place to introduce well-behaved children to the experience of eating delicious food at a nice restaurant.
(5)Jolynna M.
For fine carnivorous dining, you simply cannot beat Folk's Folly. As a native Memphian, and meat eater extraordinaire, I have been to this restaurant many times over the years, and let me tell you, they never disappoint. Most recently I went with a date, who thoughtfully reserved one of the intimate private dining rooms. I don't think you could possibly find a more romantic setting. So if you have a special evening planned, this is a perfect place to start. Not only is the atmosphere elegant and beautiful, but the wait staff is exceptional. And if you're like me, that is definitely part of what makes fine dining so enjoyable. We all like to be a little pampered from time to time. As for the food, well you won't find a better steak in all of Memphis, in my opinion. I usually get the petite fillet cooked medium rare, with a side of creamed spinach. And my steak is always cooked perfectly. Oh and if you go, be sure to try the fried pickles as an appetizer. Very southern and very yummy. Okay, I think I just made myself hungry.
(5)Chris X.
I'm not a steak eater, but I often find myself going to steakhouses for business dinners. As a frequent nationwide traveler, I seldom find unique finds, but Folk's Folly is a rare exception. The ambiance captivates a 19th century bordello, only without all the loose women and post-establishment of the FDA. Kidding aside, the ambiance is cozy and the service is eager-to-please in a homey kind of way. The menu is uppity enough to ensure a fine dining experience, with some local faves around the edges (e.g., fried pickles, catfish beignets) to remind you of the geography. The specials tend to feature in-season produce (e.g., heirloom tomatoes). I was very happy with the salmon and all the sides that were ordered for the table. I will be back when I return to Memphis.
(4)Melissa S.
Im giving folks folly a two star not because of the food but the horrible management and and customer service!! I have been to folks folly several times and was very pleased with the food..however this visit our order was horrible! I had a the filet mignon with a lobster tail and my guest had the filet with the crab legs.. the steak was ok and the seafodd was disgusting!!! it was very salty!! for $85 meal..who wouldnt want it to be great! We immediately told notified our waitress.. she apologized and offered to fix the order.. she then came back to the table and said her manager said that it was bitten off of and they could not fix it.. what! are you serious..you have to taste food to know if it wasnt cooked properly idiot!! we then told her we would like to see the manager...He comes to the table with no apology and a blank stare as if we were bothering him or wasting his time..I explained to him that our meal was no up to par.. his response was " well ...I dont know how your food could be salty cause we dont put salt on our food" hmmm... what are you kinding me!! very unprofessional,snotty,and rude as hell! He is the manager on duty for that day and that what you come up with.... After to resolution I cut him short and asked for our bill! with our food unfinished we decide to leave this place! My guess was all the way from California! we both were shocked and digusted on how we were trated at this restaurant!! ugh...how disappointing! I will never recommend another soul eat here.. there are several restaurant in Memphis that would give you much better service and food. our bill was $205 bucks and we left still hungry and pissed off!! We ended up eating again the same night at a carrabbas down the street! dont waste your time and money!!
(1)Kinshasa H.
Oooh Wee!! This place is amazing. I went for Father's Day and I haven't stopped thinking about the meal since (mind you Father's Day was two weeks ago). We sat in one of those cute little private rooms that are separated by curtains. This was nice, especially because before we went in I spilled nail polish all over my skirt (don't judge me - normally I'm pretty good at in-car pedi's). Anyhow, we started off with the Catfish Beignets, Calamari, Shrimp Cocktail, and Fried Green Tomatoes. All of this tasted amazing. I kid-you-not. Every freaking bite. After eating all of this I wasn't sure how I was gonna manage my entree. That is, until they brought it out! I had the Petite Filet Mignon and shared Sauteed Spinach with Mushrooms, Asparagus, and Garlic Potatoes with the fam (the sides are all a la carte and were more than enough for the four of us). I also tasted the Alaskan King Crab Legs. Mmm Mmm Mmph!! Let me tell you... EVERYTHING was delicious!! I could not stop eating. So I didn't. Instead, I tried the Famous Folks Folly Freeze (Brandy) and the Hot Chocolate Fudge Brownie. Mmm Mmm Good! I suffered a food coma that evening and am looking forward to many more if it means dining at this place.
(5)Erica B.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Folk's as I'm not what you'd call a meat and potatoes gal. Yet, their menu had quite a few other delicious items listed, so I decided to take one for the team and make our dinner reservations here. From the moment I walked into this place I was impressed. It's so swanky and dare I say it, romantic. Have you ever found a steak house to be romantic? I know this was a first for me. We were seated in one of the private curtained rooms with a black and white checkered wallpaper theme complete with black painted casings, chair rails and wine racks. It was simply fabulous. We started with a calamari appetizer, which had the most amazing ancho chili and mayo sauce dribbled across the tops. It was delicious. For our entrees my husband ordered the filet mignon, I went with the chicken breast with mushroom demi-glace and we split the garlic potato casserole, spinach casserole and bearnaise artichoke bottoms. I cannot rave enough about the steak and chicken. The steak was cooked to his liking- perfectly medium rare and it melted in your mouth. The chicken was delicious based largely in part on that mushroom glace. It was amazing. I should warn you that two huge chicken breasts come on that plate, so be prepared to take some home for lunch the next day. After reading reviews, I was worried about the sides. The spinach casserole is to die for. I would go back there for that item alone. I have no clue what is in it, but i could have eaten the entire bowl. The garlic potatoes had the perfect amount of garlic- not overdone like so many places often do. The artichokes were the only let down. Not bad, but nothing to really talk about either. We split the dessert sampler when we were done. It includes a bite size portion of their key lime pie, cheesecake, pecan pie, bread pudding and brownie with ice cream. It was the perfect choice for our first time there as it samples everything but maybe 2-3 dessert choices. The clear winners on that plate were the key lime and pecan pie. The dessert is made fresh in house and both of those pies were to die for. Our server? If I could hire Shauna to just follow me from restaurant to restaurant and serve me for the rest of my years, I would do it in a heart beat. She was top notch- great conversationalist and was very knowledgeable on the menu. I took note that the other waiters in our section were just as attentive to their patrons, so I get the feeling if you go to Folk's you're getting that same service no matter who waits on you. Yes, this place is pricey, but it isn't somewhere you'll go everyday and I personally don't mind spending $150 bucks on a nice evening when it is up to the standards that our meal was last night. We will definitely be back in the future- probably sooner rather than later to check out the butcher shop/deli they have attached.
(5)Michael M.
Before I moved to San Francisco from Memphis, this was my favorite steakhouse in America. Now that I live in SF, Folk's Folly is STILL my favorite steakhouse. I've tried other great independents like Chicago Chop House, but this is the one. What really sets it apart is the Southern influence on the menu and the private dining rooms. My standard order: Petit Filet medium rare with crabmeat béarnaise, mashed potatoes (or twice baked potato), Folk's Folly Freeze for dessert. Yummm..... Also great wine list and bar staff.
(5)Rocky N.
I held off writing this review for Folk's Folly until I was able to make my second trip there. I have now been to Folk's Folly 2 anniversaries in a row, which makes it an anniversary tradition. The first time we went, I was completely blown away. Service was perfect, food was to die for, and the price tag was hefty but worth it. My second trip is what is keeping me from giving Folks a 5 star review. I called 4 days in advance to make a reservation for 6:30. They only had openings for after 7:30. This was no big deal to me. We arrive and valet our car right on time for our 7:30 reservation. The place is very crowded. We are put at a table that is way too close to the wall and cramped. This table is right beside a group of 9 people. Our waitress took quite awhile to take our drink and starter order. The table beside us is extremely loud, and we can barely understand each other without having to raise our voices. Our appetizer and drinks are brought out by another server. We enjoy our seared Ahi Tuna and drinks and await making our order. It takes quite awhile because our waitress is too busy with the large table. We finally make our order and in a short while our food is brought out by another separate server. We had bread brought out by another server earlier but no butter was offered. We asked our waitress and never got butter. I asked for a tea to go with my meal and did not get it until 3/4 of the way through my steak. In the mean time, our larger table neighbors have all their food brought out by the actual server. We then finish and order dessert. She puts the order in wrong so after a long wait we are brought out the wrong dessert. It then takes us an additional 40 minutes to get our check and pay. We spent well over 3 hours at dinner, not because we wanted to, but because the service took way to long throughout the night. It was clear the server was paying attention to the big dollar table and not giving us near enough attention. I am not happy with the service, but the food was fantastic once again. I had the Makers Mark Medallions with garlic mashed potatoes. The girl friend had the filet with parmesian tomatoes. We finished with the brownie. It all was perfectly cooked and the taste was amazing. The perfect food is all that is saving the review. I just expected better service for someone who still paid over $150 by the end of the night.
(4)Jennifer H.
This place was awesome! Went for a business party and the steak is awesome!!
(5)Allyn B.
Garlic mashed potatoes and the fried pickles are great. Definitely worthwhile-the steak is cooked to perfection.
(4)Jason K.
Eh, not impressed at all. I think there are definitely better steakhouses in town though interestingly, both are chains (Ruth's Chris and Flemings). The atmosphere was again, just OK...the decor was very dark inside though the black painted walls couldn't match the elegance of the rich woods and leathers of Ruth's Chris and Flemings. Service, though fast and efficient, was rather cold and unfriendly. We had just eaten at an out-of-town Morton's last week, and the contrast was striking. These things would not have mattered if the food was any good...sadly, it wasn't. We were given generic grocery-store baked bread with a few pats of butter. Ho-hum. I then began with the she-crab soup. A stark white soup was served in a white bowl on a white plate. A true she-crab soup is tinged slightly pink from the crab roe...otherwise, it is cream of crab soup! Despite some intact lumps of crab, the soup was sabotaged by being served lukewarm, it needed salt, and it was overpowered by sherry. My wife's spinach salad was even worse. Guys, if you are going to serve a spinach salad with warm bacon dressing, then you shouldn't serve it in a chilled bowl. What results is a gloppy, unappetizing congealed mess. The real shame of it is that the flavor would have been quite nice. In any case, I was still hoping the meal would be salvaged by the steaks. Alas, it was not to be. The bone-in ribeye was a nice medium-rare and quite juicy, though it also had an off-putting grittiness to the texture (had it been frozen?). The baked potato seemed downright puny (less than half the size of the one pound monsters at Mortons and Ruths Chris) and the steamed broccoli was a complete sham...think Costco frozen broccoli florets steamed without any seasoning at all and dumped into a bowl...ugh, this was barely edible. Admittedly, the spinach casserole (basically creamed spinach) was delicious. But my wife's filet mignon was also a letdown...though perfectly done to a medium rare, it was inexplicably dry and tasteless. And again, that unpleasant grittiness marred each bite. What I found quite curious was the lack of any significant char on either steak...really, the taste was more like what would come out of a home broiler than a steakhouse unit. Well, by now, we decided to limit the damage and forego desert. As it was, dinner was already more than $200 for the two of us with nary an alcoholic drink between us! When most cuts are more than $50 a steak, you expect something more. We did not get it here.
(2)Snop S.
Stopped in solo for a simple steak dinner. Sat in the lounge and ordered a Caesar salad and a New York strip medium. After having finished my salad, and 30 minutes after my initial order, I asked the waitress how much longer it would be before I received my strip. When she told me that my order had been put in behind several large parties and it would be 15 more minutes, I told her that I would like my check for the salad and I will be leaving. Two minutes later, miraculously my steak came to my table. It looked like a delicious piece of meat, however it was very bland. Service and quality or taste of food should have been much better in a restaurant that charges $36 for a New York strip. I would not eat here again.
(1)Misty R.
My favorite steak restaurant in the city. The atmosphere is perfect as it works for groups and private parties. They have various size private dining rooms that are separate from the main dining area. Some are separate by curtains, but you have total privacy. It's like you are the only one there. We go here every year with 3 other couples to celebrate birthdays and love the private dining rooms. You have to reserve them so make sure you make a reservation at least a week in advance. The service is excellent. Ask for Rose. She has been there for over 20 years and knows everything about the menu. She is quick and efficient and my favorite. The bar area is nice they usually have a piano player so it's nice to go for a before dinner drink. Oh, the food! Well that's the best part. It's my favorite steak in town and the fried pickles are the best. All of the sides are good, and the portions are huge. I like the sauteed spinach with mushrooms and the twice baked potatoes. If you have a reason to celebrate, this is a great splurge!
(5)A W.
Touted as the best in Memphis, Folk Folly is a usual steakhouse with a usual menu and huge portions. We did not order any wine as there was nothing on the wine list that caught our attention. We ordered: Stuffed mushrooms is a nice light dish. It would have been enough for me as the main course. Veal T-bone, a weekly special, was nicely prepared, whereas salmon fillet was dry and overcooked. Fresh market vegetables were bland and did nothing to enhance flavour of overcooked salmon. Spinach was all right. Bread Pudding was the highlight of the meal for me.
(3)Charles H.
Rude staff and way over rated
(1)Bryce M.
Okay... I've eaten at every decent steakhouse in Memphis. Folks folly just didn't impress me. If you want a good steak in Memphis there are plenty of options that won't cost you as much. I've had better steaks in at chain steakhouses for half the price. If you want a great steak in Memphis for a good price try the butcher shop.
(2)Lindsay B.
This place is on the nicer end of steakhouses I've visited. We had an early dinner (5:45 pm) and there was no wait. I'd recommend the garlic potato casserole and the cheesecake! SO good! I was also impressed with how often the staff checked in to see how we were doing. Nicely done, I'd go again!
(4)Katie K.
I give this a five star for Memphis,Tn. Folks Folly is a quaint place with a dressy atmosphere. The steaks are tender my favorite is the 8 oz. filet with creamed spinach and garlic mashed potatoes. The deserts here are awesome! if you are looking for somewhere to conversate this is the best place, it is not noisy adn they have private dining areas which is nice! If you come to Memphis, you must eat at Folk's Folly
(5)David T.
I have entertained clients here many times and always enjoy the quality of food and service. I can't wait to go again!
(4)Mike J.
I went to Folk's Folly with a large group as a business outing. It was very enjoyable, we had a good time. I think it had a lot more to do with the people rather than the place, but whatever. Of course they have scotch, that's a starter. The scotch list is good, but not extensive nor do they have any real old stuff (the kind with a dead badger tied to it.). Nothing too exotic, but enough to keep most scotch drinkers happy. Then there's the fried dill pickles. Sounds weird for a Northerner, but it works. Introduced it to a bunch of very Northerners and they were impressed that pickles could be fried. A discussion on everything that anybody ever heard of being fried in the South ensued. Boar Meat Meatballs for appetizer. God, they were humongous. They must have been easy boars to catch, dragging those things around. They were good, a bit spicy, a different taste. They were so large, they needed to be shared. I did not look at the wine list as I was not the lead guy on this one. I was just a loud, demanding guest. The wine selected was just OK. The main course was steak, of course. Really, steak. I had a porterhouse, my favorite. I like it because it has no cholesterol in it. Veggie side orders. This is the bitchy part. The steak was close to medium rare, what I ordered, but not quite. The sides were another just OK. For $7 or $8 per veggie plate, I would expect enough to be able to share with a bunch of people. There was enough to share with two people. Because we were a large group, we had a lot of different sides and we passed them all around, so that worked out. I was a bit disappointed with the variety, not enough different veggie types, just the standard. Dessert? Yup. Again, issues with variety. I can get a cheesecake at 1,347 restaurants in town. Why would I come to a fancy-ass restaurant to get another cheesecake? Most of the items fell into that category. So I ordered berries and cream and let them figure out how to do that. It was OK, but a bit on the small side. The service was very good. Near the end, theyu didn't tell us we were the last people in the place, but they made it kind of obvious. Especially when the valet parking guy came and brought me my keys since my car was the last one left and he was leaving. Overall, very good, but not quite right up there. I whacked off a star for value. If I pay a boatload for a meal (or someone else does on my behalf), I expect to have the socks impressed off of me. Didn't quite make it. The big deal is $60 for a steak. People have a hard time with that concept since everyone feels that can slap a steak on the grill at home and get just about the same thing. If it had been my steak that I bought at the store, I probably would have picked one a little thicker and with a bigger part on the tenderloin side, but that's me.
(4)Stephanie G.
Absolutely the best meal I have probably ever had. Great private dining with a great atmosphere. Our server Greg was fantastic.
(5)April S.
****This review is for the piano bar**** The piano bar is certainly a swanky little place to grab a drink. Think dark wood paneling, fancy linens, and quite possibly the best (and largest) wine list in Memphis. Sit back, relax, and let one of the servers bring your drink to you. Order some appetizers or an entree from the menu. All of this set to a background of live piano music at a volume that doesn't hinder conversation. The service is excellent too.
(4)Philip M.
My wife and I had our 12th Anniversary dinner at Folk's Folly during the summer of 2015. It was one of the best dining experiences I've ever had. First off, I let them know that it was our anniversary when I made the reservation. When we arrived, we were seated in a private dining room which was very romantic. There were two balloons placed in the room which made us feel special. Our server was Greg, and right from the start we could tell that he took pride in his job. He was cordial, non-intrusive and was passionate about the menu. He listed off in great detail the specials of the day and was extremely helpful when it came to selecting the proper wine. He even let us sample a couple of different wines so we could see what we liked before committing. We never lacked for water either as the water server was on point all evening. Greg's (server) knowledge of the menu was impeccable and did not hesitate in giving us his recommendations on the food and wines. After making our selections, my wife and I enjoyed some of the most fabulous food we've ever tasted. My wife started with the crab soup and I with the wedge salad with bleu cheese, both were very tasty. The freshly baked baguette was delightful as well. For our entrée, we split the 14 oz. filet which was exquisite. The buttery seasoning was so succulent it made my mouth water. We ordered the filet medium rare and the middle was definitely rare, which my wife liked. The edges were more medium, which I preferred. If we were given another opportunity, I think we would have ordered it medium. The sides were also amazing. We ordered the artichoke bottoms and twice baked potatoes. Sadly, we didn't get to eat much of either since the filet was so filling, but did get to take them home. For dessert we had the crème brûlée which was unsuprisingly scrumptous as well. I coupled dessert with decaf coffee which was a delightful touch. Lastly, Greg packed up all the sides we couldn't eat along with a complementary cake for our anniversary to complete a wonderful evening. I give the ambiance, service and food all five stars. Greg truly made the evening with his legendary service. The manager even stopped by a couple times to see how we were doing. This is a top-notch restaurant and I highly recommend it for any special occasion. While it was expensive for our budget, the value we received was well worth it! We will be coming back again soon! Sincerely, Philip
(5)Hart R.
My favorite place for special occasions with my bride. The food and service is excellent. We love the private rooms.
(5)Mark N.
One word - awesome!!!! Food, atmosphere etc! Larry (piano guy) has a great personality and some great jokes!!! David and Jordan in the bar are fun as well!!!!
(5)JC C.
Gotta say I had high expectations going in cause friends bragged on how good this place was to eat. Valet - Might as well cause the parking is terrible and it's Free. (However I did tip the Valet) Service - Awesome, can't recall her name but she had been at that place since basically the beginning and had a child in College. She is a true gem. Food - Mine was perfect, but the Wife's 1/2 Rack of Lamb was tough as nails. It had a good flavor, but I had to cut it for her. (Never done that at any place in the past) Staff - They offered to get her something else, but it was mostly gone and she was full. Invited us back to try them again but we drove 90 minutes there just to eat our dinner. I might go back, but at $150 I was expecting a lot more for my $$$.
(4)Cole B.
Unforgettable experience for you and 3 friends only costs $500! Visited Folks Folly in July of 2015. The service was fantastic but cannot say the same of the food. This place is a Memphis staple but the people that enjoy the food have clearly never experienced high end steak house dining. Here's what you and 3 friends can expect for $500: Atmosphere: We were sat in a closed off room with about 8 tables. Our four top table left us feeling as if we were sitting around a pub table... Table is so small it's almost claustrophobic. Starter: Steak tidbits - a grease filled cube of steak that is deep fried. It sits heavy on your stomach and you'll only eat one! Stuffed mushrooms - again, filled with a steak cube and covered with melted cheese. Appears to be cheese dip until you dig in to the dish, you then realize there are four mushrooms and you'll think back to a whole in the wall Italian restaurant you visited after a night of pub crawling. You'd have to be drunk to finish this dish! Steak: Ordered a $68 porterhouse which was served scorched and smothered in a unpalatable Merlot sauce. It was removed immediately and replaced with what appeared to be a roasted steak served on a hot plate. Took two bites and was done. Special: A 36 ounce ribeye appropriately named "tomahawk"... 36 ounces I say - do we share it? Well it includes the bone. Well guess what - that bone is 3 ft long. So thanks folks folly for the $80 bone! So after a $500 meal, we leave thinking how do these folks stay in business! They are business savvy for sure - the people who regularly dine here have never experienced Peter Lugers, Del Friscos, Ruth's Chris, etc. Even Outback serves a better steak... A much better steak actually. We dined at Ruth's Chris the next weekend and were just amazed by the quality difference in every aspect...from the moment we walked in to the moment we left. Don't waste your money unless being able to tell a friend that you went to Folks Folly is worth $500!
(1)Scott C.
Wow! What a disappointment for such a legendary place. Ordered appetizers which never came. Entrees are served in such tiny plates, I thought I was in a tapas place. My salmon was over cooked and dry. Almost inedible. Other entrees (filet and rack of lamb) were just mediocre. They offered us free dessert for forgetting the appetizers but we declined and just wanted out. The one star is for the offer of free dessert. This place has seen better days. Opt for Outback at half the price and twice the quality.
(1)Matt G.
I LOVED it. I had originally wanted to head here but was convinced to try the Capital Grille by a business client, but when they were full, I got my wish. It's a bit of a strange building and a little "old school" but the food is top notch. I had the house salad with the house dressing, which was blue cheese and vinagrette. I thought there was just the right amount of everything on the salad. New York strip done rare-plus, was spot on with a nice seasoning. The spinach casserole was outstanding. Serving sizes just right. Good service and not too outlandish on the price... after all, it was a higher end steak joint. I'd quickly come back again.
(5)Amanda W.
Absolutely exquisite service! We came her for our anniversary dinner, and were treated like royalty. They had a table by the window for us, decorated with balloons. Our server, Angela, was spot on the entire evening. We did not have to ask for water to be filled, she decanted our wine for us, and everything was timed perfectly. We were neither rushed, nor were we ever left waiting. While Angela went to retrieve our cocktails, I noticed another server come through the empty tables and wipe down each and every glass for water spots, as well as adjust silverware so that it wasn't crooked. A second server did the same thing about 30 minutes later. That is true pride in their appearance and gave an air of elegance to the night. Angela recommended the steak (it is a steak joint, after all). Sadly, I did not take her advice and tried the duck, instead. Although I love duck, this was not to my liking, and I did not eat it. Angela promptly noticed, offered me something else, and took it off the bill. I did not take her up on another entrée, because I was (shamelessly) diving in to my husband's bone-in filet. Oh, lordy, it was heavenly!! Take my advice (and Angela's) GET THE STEAK! My husband's will always be the best, but this is a close second. We will certainly be back!
(5)Michael S.
Top notch. The most tender filet mignon ever coupled with a pound of Alaskan King crab legs. Add to that a side of broccoli. Finish it off with Creme brûlée. The best meal I've had in Memphis. Service is par excellence. Atmosphere is very nice and relaxed. You will leave with no regrets.make reservations and don't come rushed. You'll need time to truly enjoy this place. It is simply fantastic. This is my first time here but it won't be my last.
(5)Ursula D.
Old school quality and attention to detail. I as not surprised to learn that this was an old-school staple in Memphis. This is the perfect place to take a conservative important client, a date you'd like to impress and the parent's-in-law with discerning tastes. My boyfriend took me here for dinner once and I enjoyed the service provided. We ordered and ate far too much food. I had the rack of lamb with spinach. The lamb was mouth-wateringly tender and delicious. We were seated in a semi-private dining room that we shared with another couple. It was wonderful because it was almost as if we were dining alone. So, very easy for us to cuddle and make nice with each other whilst we dined. This place is fantastic for people who love high-quality top notch old-school service and attention to detail.
(4)Don B.
Folk's is a Memphis landmark and I had an overall enjoyable dinner here last night but a word of caution to come. First off, the service was exceptional! 5 stars for that. On to the food, which was a mixed bag. I enjoyed the lobster deviled eggs - felt pretty fancy when I noticed they had a tiny bit of caviar on them. The bread is phenomenal. My date and I both had filets. Mine was delicious and cooked to perfection. I added a lobster tail to mine. The lobster was good, not great. Maybe a tad overcooked. Now, my date's steak on the other hand was - how do I put this delicately - rancid? It smelled of manure. I have read that this is possible with grain-fed beef. But I do not expect this from a high-end establishment, particularly for the price. The server immediately took it away and removed it from the ticket. An otherwise 5-star experience was severely impaired by the sour steak. I expected better! Luckily, my date was able to eat her sautéed mushrooms (she said they were great) and the rest of my lobster. I will try again, cautiously....
(2)Chris G.
I recently dined here with a group of 5. The service is excellent. I cannot say anything negative about the fine service. Also, the atmosphere is nice and classy. The location is nice as well. My problem was that the steaks were overcooked and pretty much tasteless. One member of my party complained about it and had her entree removed from the check. So, 3 stars instead of 1 or 2 due to the great servers and staff - and because I'd like to give the place another chance in the future.
(3)Ronika A.
Truly divine and every time! This is my favorite special occasion restaurant. I love the food, the ambiance, and the service. I love taking my mother here and I enjoy date nights here with the boyfriend. They have the very best Caesar salad I have ever consumed-homemade croutons and dressing that actually melts in your mouth. You can't go wrong with any of the specials or steaks-my two favorite steaks to order are the cowgirl ribeye and filet a la duxelle- it's filled with mushroom puree and wrapped in bacon-hmm mmm good. My boyfriend likes the fried shrimp, too. We once ordered catfish beignets as an appetizer-not a fan. Also, if you have room for dessert -try a Famous Folk's Folly Freeze. I would recommend the Chambord Godiva.
(5)Elio R.
I tried FF for the first time and my experience was really good. Service was excellent. The food was good but I expected more. Entres were great but sides were ok. Sweet mashed potato was not impressive at all neither the spinach casserole. GREAT vodka martini. I rather have my steak at The Capital Grille, sorry guys.
(4)Elle S.
Service was great but food was meh. Filet was tasteless, chips w blue cheese didn't taste like blue cheese, and wedge salad was not good (they use cheap blue cheese or something). Best part was the bread pudding. Seriously Texas road house filet was better and my friends husband filet beats everyone's so far. Disappointed, but i know where to go if I'm craving bread pudding.
(3)Tyler S.
Best steak that I've had in years! Excellent food great atmosphere . I would highly recommend this place.
(5)Drew A.
We came here last evening for a mixture of a sweet 16 birthday and my in-law's 31st wedding anniversary. The food here is SPECTACULAR! All of the service staff are very attentive and very polite. We had the grilled oysters and fried pickles as an appetizer. The oysters were amazing!!! They are grilled with spinach, pancetta and seasonings and they are to die for! The fried pickles are a staple and very good! I opted for the 16oz USDA Prime Ribeye that you see below. It was cooked perfectly and had great flavor. We all ordered different sides so we could sample everything. Collectively as a table we ordered the twice baked potato, garlic potato casserole, sauteed mushrooms, grilled asparagus and broccoli. My personal favorites were the asparagus, mushrooms and potato casserole. We just happened to mention that it was my sister in law's birthday and they brought out a small cake and candle for us! That's great service! Bottom line: Sure, it's expensive. But you absolutely get what you pay for. Folk's Folly is a Memphis steak fortress and locally owned. This is the only location and they've been around for years. Plus, you can even buy the steaks raw and cook them yourselves at home! Where else in town can you buy USDA Prime beef? NOWHERE!
(5)Andrea G.
Excellent service by Zar***(privacy) and loved the ambiance - nice private room that did not cost extra - wonderful feature. However the food was not 5 star quality at all and sadly not even 1 star. And if you see I rarely EVER give just 1 star to places we eat out at. We had onion rings - fried pickles and calamari to start and although all deep fried items they were just so heavily battered and soggy with grease. The batter was not even seasoned and aside from spicy mayo on calamari the pickles and onion rings didn't have a special homemade sauce . The best our server could do was some ranch and blue cheese which did not taste to be homemade and at this price point ALL dressings and sauces should be made in house. Even a chain restaurant like Outback makes all dressings homemade and you can taste the difference.. I do not eat meat so was very limited to seafood items and ordered the shrimp - which was VERY hard, dried out and chewy--totally OVER cooked...and covered in batter 2 inches all around. And once again no homemade dipping sauce but just canned cocktail sauce...and when paying $29 for SIX shrimp - there should be something special. No special batter - no special sauce or seasoning. Just dried out fried shrimp. My husband had the bone in steak - he tore it up and said it was "good" - so perhaps it's only about a steak here. - Best thing from dinner aside from the exceptional service was the warm bread served and the lobster mac and cheese. Glad we went to say "been there" but will never go back. Food not worth the $160 (not including tip). Not worth even a 1/4 of that. Dessert: Even sadder was they brought us a complimentary dessert (caramel cake) due to occasion we were celebrating and it tasted like refrigerator air and was cold and very dry. We did not even eat and took it to go because we did not want to offend the gracious server that brought it to us. I REALLY hate writing a poor review because I am all about supporting small business and local families but sadly this was our dining experience. :( I hope the chef reads my review and rethinks the preparation of their menu items so the quality matches the service and price.
(1)Jennifer R.
So I have been dying, dying to try this place for as long as I can remember and finally got to last week with my family. I have lived in Memphis my entire life and people can't believe it when I tell them i have never been to Folk's Folly! Now I can tell them over wise! We started off with cocktails in the bar area. It is such a nice and classy environment. After an hour of drinks it was time to eat! I ordered the New York strip and it was unbelievably delicious. We ordered a bunch of sides for the table and brought in a bottle of red wine from my dads collection for this special occasion. For dessert we ordered the creme burlee. It was amazing but I am a sucker for a creme brûlée! Overall my dining experience was great with wonderful service and I can't wait to go back for dinner here again!! But it will have to be on someone else's tab...too expensive for me! ;)
(4)Hazim J.
- Best garlic bread I've ever had!!! Fresh garlic, melted parmesan and a stick of butter on a perfectly baked loaf of bread - Hot and fluffy in the middle, lightly crisp on the outside. - Crab cakes were tiny. #WTF - That Tomahawk steak tho!!! Put the men
(4)Blake B.
HOLY COW! best steak in town short of cooking one yourself. The place is a little more upscale than my budget affords, but if friends are buying, the wine will flow... Everything is good at this Memphis institution.
(5)Don C.
We sat in a private dining room with some good friends. The ambiance was great as was the service. I had a bowl of the she-crab soup and a filet cooked rare. My filet was cooked perfectly and served on a sizzling plate. The she-crab soup was a little salty for me but I think most people would like it. Dyann got a spinach salad and she ate every bite. She followed it with fried shrimp and said they were delicious - she could only eat about half of the shrimp. Our group of six had a great time - I can't remember the last time we spent 3 hours at a restaurant. Maybe the four bottles of wine kept us from leaving earlier. By the way, they have a good wine list and pricing is competitive. Anne was our server - ask for her - she was great.
(5)Joelle P.
OK, I have to get this off my chest...do NOT get the Folly Tidbits! They are seriously disgusting. The description on the menu may sound delightful...but the reality ain't. Now that I have shared that lil nugget of wisdom, I will continue my review. But really, what can I say? It's Folk's Folly, y'all. The name is synonymous with steakhouse in Memphis...plus it is tradition. And I think you know by name how much nostalgia means to me. Ask any old Memphian their favorite special occasion or date place and it will likely be Folk's Folly. This place IS old Memphis - complete with southern charm and a dash of snootiness. I love their piano lounge (a step back in time to the good old days - and just...classy, sexy, glamorous...the perfect place to grab a drink with your lover) and their steaks are phenomenal. I never understand when people come here and order something other than steak. THAT is what they are known for. And yes, I glared at my boyfriend when he ordered the salmon and salad...I mean, really... So why 4 stars instead of 5? The prices. I think they are really overpriced...the steaks that is. But I still come here because it is THE place to go. I ran into 4 people I knew Saturday night while there on a date. Speaking of which, if you want to impress...when people asked me where Drew took me for dinner Saturday and I said Folk's Folly...every single person went "OOOOO, fancy! Well, he's a keeper." Gentlemen...take notes!
(4)Angela C.
Wonderful dining experience! We went for our anniversary and everything was great. Best filet ever cooked to perfection! The dessert sampler is awesome!
(5)Brittney H.
I can't believe I haven't written a review for this place yet. We dine here every birthday, anniversary, and special occasion. Folk's Folly has the best steak in Memphis... Hands down!! You also must try their lobster bisque! It is TO DIE FOR! My birthday is actually coming up and I can't wait to go back!
(5)Jackie W.
My husband and I decided to have a special evening out knowing our wedding anniversary was approaching. I remember attending The restaurant often as a child and Loved everything. Now... It was very disappointing. I ordered the Breast of Duck and my husband ordered the Ribeye. The duck breast came out medium rare, but the skin was fatty and not crispy as it should be and the Sauce reduction was way too sweet for my liking. My husband advised his steak was just ok and was very disappointed with the flavor. We ordered four sides which were all tasty, but the highlight of our meal has to be the crispy calamari appetizer. My husband didn't care too much for it, but I thought it was great accompanied with a spicy aioli. Our service was great, but the food was not what I remember. With dinner plus two bottles of wine and tip equaled in amount of $228. I don't believe we will be returning.
(2)Kristin W.
I went to Folk's Folly for the first time to celebrate with a friend of mine. I emailed for a reservation with no problem. The administrative staff responded promptly and asked if there was a way that she could signify the occasion with anything. When we arrived at the restaurant, our menus were prepared with a note for the special occasion. The food and service were exceptional! We most appreciated the staff's pleasant and accommodating demeanor. You'll love it!
(5)Deen W.
This particular review is for the lounge. When I read about the hamburger offered in the lounge of Folk's Folly in Friday's Go Memphis "Best Bets", I filed it away as something to mention to my husband. He loves burgers. He loves Folks Folly. He loves the piano music in the lounge. Ladies, you know that men usually like it best when something is their idea, so I casually mentioned it last night as we were driving to another restaurant. I could almost visually see his ears perk up. "We can go there instead, if you want to", he said. Sounds good to me! A quick call confirmed that there was an empty table, so we drove straight past our previously planned restaurant and right to the complimentary valet at Folks Folly. (Especially nice, as it was raining and they had an umbrella!) We settled in to a comfortable table near the piano and enjoyed a round of drinks and some fried pickles. (delightful!) We shared a wedge salad (split in the kitchen) and the burger with shoestring fries. I don't think either of us finished half of our half, it was so big! Very flavorful and I loved the Gruyere cheese. The atmosphere was lively and the piano was nice, playing a mixture of current hits and old favorites. The burger is only offered on Fridays and Saturdays and is ground in-house from steak scraps, so you can safely order as you like it. (We got ours medium) It should definitely be on your list to try for great burgers in Memphis!
(5)Pat T.
We just had a lovely anniversary dinner there. The food was excellent, and we were treated like royalty. I would recommend Folks Folly to anyone who is interested in a really nice dining experience.
(5)Taylor G.
Great dinner last night!!! We loved our waitress and my filet with sautéed onions was killer- thank you for taking such good care of us! I also loved the French onion soup!!! Next business trip this will be my first stop for sure!!!
(5)Corey W.
If I had to choose an all time favorite restaurant, it would be this one. Folks Folly is the definition of a southern steak house. It is a fine institution, with gray service and excellent food. I can't wait to return and get some creamed spinach!
(5)Aprille C.
Super expensive but the food was super DELISH! We each had the small filet steaks, baked potatoes and salads. No drinks = $110! We went there on a recommendation from our tour guide at Sun Studio. When we got there on a Thurs night it was packed and we got the last table in the noisy bar.
(4)Jay G.
Best steak ever. I've been to a bunch, and I know people will say this and that about good steak places, well this place takes gold for me. Yes it is very pricey, with that being said that's the worst part of it. The service is always perfect, and that's hard to say about places but I have yet to have a bad experience here. The food is perfect. I have had something different each time I have gone and each time it is insanely delicious. You can also ask for a private room which is no extra charge. This place is so special to me that it is where I proposed to my wife. So if you want to have a special culinary treat and experience, stop in here.
(5)Zoe Z.
what i found interesting: vintage decor. like in the era of "dynasty", series in 1980s. dark carpet. dark walls. lots of heavy dark curtains. you love it or you don't! what i liked: 1. not salty food. ordered garlic bread, spinach salad, crabcakes, fillet, duck, potato gratin, broiled tomatoes, spinach casserole. not 1 dish was salty. wine was reasonable. 2. service was very pleasant. waitress was lovely & polite. what i didn't like: 1. boyfriend ordered seared tuna. had to send it back. every other slice had a thick white vein running through it. i was surprised that for a high priced steakhouse, they didn't even trim away the veins. besides that, the slices looked dry & wilted. 2. they forgot the bread. after we finished. I realized we didn't get house bread. some reviewers rave about their house bread, but we didn't get any so will never know. 3. waitstaff should have been trained on bottled water. our lovely waitress told me to pick san pellegrino water flat or non-flat when I asked for bottled water. and when i asked a busboy to bring another bottled water, he pointed to the wine bottle & said "another 1 of that?" i guess guests here don't drink bottled water so the wait staff don't really pay attention to it. conclusion: if you love recipes from the bygone days in a vintage setting, then you'll find this place charming.
(3)Casandra R.
Excellent dinner here. The steak was soft, tender and just the right amount of flavorings of pepper. The staff was incredibly helpful, kind and supportive. When they saw that my steak wasn't cooked just how I wanted it, they took it back without me even asking. It is an expensive place but well worth it for a romantic night out or even for groups. The setting can be intimate and groups are separated in their own rooms. Highly recommend.
(5)Jackie B.
So, I finally got to come back here, and I loved it even more than I did the first time! It was D's birthday, and I had told them that when I made the reservation. When we arrived there were balloons ties to his chair! I thought it was precious, but he could have done without that. (At least, that's what he said....) We skipped appetizers, because we knew there was going to be a lot of food. He had a house salad, which was good. I had the spinach salad with hot bacon dressing, and it was wonderful. The best spinach salad I've ever had! It was sweet and smoky and amazing. I had a filet that was a perfect medium rare with a delicious crust. D's ribeye was flavorful and cooked exactly how he wanted it. The sides, though... Garlic potato casserole and spinach casserole. Apparently, "casserole" at Folk's Folly means delicious, rich, and full of flavor!!! That would have been enough to keep us coming back for more, but then they brought us a mini caramel birthday cake! It was so nice for him to have a candle to blow out after dinner. (And that icing!!!!). We will definitely be back!
(5)D P.
Surprised that Folk's Folly is so highly rated. This was my first visit to this "Memphis Landmark" and it will most likely be my last. On the plus side, the Filet (14oz) was definitely a generous portion and a nice cut. Initial impressions are not good... Folk's Folly hijacks all the parking lots in the area so that you are forced to valet your vehicle. For such a "classy" establishment, this mafia tactic is very unwelcome. Upon entering the establishment, I got the feeling that they thought very highly of themselves. From the coat check to the hostesses, everyone's attitude seemed like we should be grateful to be allowed to be there. I convinced my wife to order the 14oz knowing that she wouldn't finish it and I could take it home and have it for lunch the next day. Both filet's had a nice char on the outside. Obviously I ordered mine medium rare. My wife ordered hers well done. Unfortunately the waitress mixed them up. About a quarter of the way in we realized the error. For sides we ordered the potato casserole which was good but not fantastic. We agreed that if they had mistakenly brought us the au gratin, we wouldn't have known the difference. We also ordered the grilled asparagus. I would be embarrassed to serve this at my home. The asparagus was an interesting dichotomy: the ends were completely woody to the point that they were inedible but the middle to tip were completely mushy. Folk's Folly offers both steamed and grilled asparagus. Based on the grilled asparagus that we ordered, it seemed like they steam all the asparagus and then if you order the grilled version, they just throw it on the grill for a few minutes and call it good. I know I am jumping around with my thoughts but I'm typing as I'm remembering things... At one point during our meal, an individual that seemed to be a manager or maitre'd came by our table and asked "Is everything cooked to perfection?" Despite the arrogance of this statement, there is no denying that the filet is an excellent cut and cooked very well. Had the waitress not mixed up our filet's I would have responded yes. Either way I didn't want to make a scene so I said yes and let him go on his way. Another positive I just remembered is the wine price/selection. The price for most of the glasses of wine is very reasonable... I know this sounds like a very negative review but I have to compare Folks Folly to other Memphis establishments in the same price range. Obviously everything is subjective. For my money, I would go to Erling Jensen's, Fleming's, or even Ruth Chris before Folk's Folly in the future.
(2)Chris H.
First time here and I was very pleased. We started out at the bar which was quite nice and had a live piano player. It was a little odd when I asked what sort of beers they had to have the fridge opened up so I could look rather than getting a list but, I'm a casual guy so maybe I inspired that? The hostesses were all very polite and cordial, a pleasure to deal with. We ate in a private room and everything was very good. The fried pickles had a little too much of a crust on them for my taste but the flavors were good and melded well. Stuffed mushrooms, excellent. For dinner I had a house salad which was good, then the makers mark medallions. Definite win. The cold smokes pork chop looked excellent so I may was back for that. The Mac and cheese was okay (mines better) spinach very good. The passion fruit sorbet... Delicious! Wait staff was excellent and courteous, and we were checked on consistently. Definitely give it a try, it's quiet and they played a constant stream of the crooners as we ate. I'll definitely go back.
(4)Vim I.
Folk's Folly is a special place for sure. The ambiance is so romantic--it takes the best of an elegant, old-fashioned new york steakhouse and puts it in the middle of Memphis. The service is outstanding--the staff is very attentive and friendly. I realize that it got several awards for the best steak in Memphis--but I'm not sure if it was overhyped or what we ate. We had the ribeye and the filet medallions stuffed with mushrooms. I didn't think either was out of this world. The garlic potato casserole we got on the side was delicious. The bread pudding was the PERFECT ending to the meal. Moist, rich, and decadent--everything that a bread pudding needs to be. I had no shame in finishing every last bite.
(4)Greg I.
This is a straight up situation from a 1978 feel-good film about cocaine and washed out party maniacs. 20 minute wait for a pan fried steak soaked in butter, baked potato still in its foil, and key lime pie that tastes like chemicals and a crust that's a bit staled out. The service was friendly, and pretty neat , though my old fashioned tasted like ginger ale and makers. It seems like a Memphis landmark kind of restaurant, but just be weary of what you're paying for. I'll take my meal at Houston's down the street next time. They are ridiculously consistent and solid.
(2)Kent M.
Our group of 20 here tonite. WOW service and food to match. I sneaked in a bread pudding dessert first, while rest of gang was standing/visiting. I am not a big fan of that dessert, but it was wonderful. Could use just a little more whiskey in the sauce. Otherwise, wonderful structure. I had the filet medalions and was exceptional good. Service from entire staff is perfect, even considering our large group. I see several very private, single table booths, to be enclosed with curtain. That appeals to me, for future tryout! Anyone who likes good steak should like this. I shall return.
(5)Shaina G.
My boyfriend and I celebrated our anniversary at Folk's Folly this past October and had an absolutely elegant and excellent night out! From the moment we walked in, we were treated well, seated right away and tended to as if they knew every expectation we would have. A wine expert was sent to our table to help us select the perfect bottle of vino, and our server started us out with glasses of champagne to celebrate! Though our appetizer didn't make it out, we were taken care of at the end with a dessert and barely noticed because we had so much food in front of us (and ever leftovers to take home.) My filet was perfectly cooked, crisp on the outside and MR on the inside with delicious flavors and tender, fresh meat. The service was great and they made us feel special and never once rushed. In fact, we were there for several hours eating, drinking and celebrating.
(5)C W.
Honestly I was a little disappointed. The food is prepared and cooked well. However the meet is fully trimmed which means there isn't much fat on the steaks, even the ribeye and NY strip. Maybe I should have asked if they had any non-trimmed cuts. I did taste the lamb and it was great. If you are looking for a tenderloin you won't have any worries.
(3)Colleen G.
Folk's Folly is a solid, local steakhouse. I love the atmosphere of the place: slightly old-school with swanky Southern charm. For a steak restaurant, it is surprisingly romantic- the lighting is dim and it just has that date night feel about it. The food is good. As it was my first visit, I opted for a steak, but the specials sounded wonderful. My petite filet was cooked perfectly, and seasoned nicely. I thought the dessert menu was a bit conventional, so we skipped it... But the wine list is the star. So many choices! We didn't sit in the bar area, but I'd love to try that sometime. The ambience in there was evident just by walking nearby. This is a great place for a date or special occasion. Give it a try, especially if you've visited all of the other comparable steakhouses.
(4)Joy S.
It was OK, I expected better. Do not get the creme brulee. It was not good.
(3)Ken K.
I've lived in Memphis almost 15 years and I bet it's been close to 10 yeas since I've been to Folks Folly. I eat out nice a lot.. but just sort of always took a ' been there, done that' approach to Folks Folly. Recently, some clients from out of town wanted to go... so we did. Wow, it was way better than I remembered. The next week, when my wife and I were deciding where to go, I said' you wont believe what I re-discovered'. Great dinner again... bone in filet was great. The bread pudding dessert is the bomb. 3-4 weeks later we went to a wedding, then left early to grab drinks and dessert in the bar. Probably got my fix for a while from Folks Folly but if you haven't been in awhile... you might want to go. If you've never been definitely go. Service is also top notch and not too stuffy
(5)Jason H.
WOW, pricey but great! I have no problem paying for a meal like this. No only does it taste great but you get large portions, Uris not a pricey place that leaves you hungry. I recommend the pork chop, wow!
(5)Rachel W.
While I think Folk's Folly is a nice steakhouse, I just can't say it's outstanding for how much you are paying for the meal. We went there for my birthday - I love steak and Folk's Folly has some of the best steakhouse reviews in Memphis. The waiter was attentive, the meal was good, but for how much we paid for the dinner, I expected more. It could be I'm spoiled by eating at some of the best steakhouses in NYC when I lived there.
(3)Katy C.
It makes little sense to me that Folk's Folly has so few reviews. The food here is ridiculously delicious. I don't usually frequent steak houses, but this one is a can't fail one. Yes, pricey, but how could good steak be cheap? I've been here 3 times and have always gotten the petite filet mignon medium rare. Absolute mouth-watering, buttery goodness. I barely have to chew the meat since it's so tender. You would think that was the highlight of the meal, but amazingly, there is something on the menu even MORE terrific than steak. Wait for it... SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE!!!! Why don't more restaurants serve this dish? I bet I could open a restaurant serving only sweet potato casserole made the way Folk's Folly does it and it would still be a dynamite business model. I'd eat there everyday. Probably wouldn't fit through the door after a week, but whatever, it's sweet potato casserole. If you have cash to burn, there really isn't a better place than Folk's Folly to burn it. PLUS: very good wine.
(5)Randall F.
Folk's Folly was selected by local business associates and is the touted as the best steakhouse in town. Regulars were recognized in the bar/lounge where live piano playing is a bit more than background music - think Nordstrom X 10 on the volume. You are forced to try the Famous Fried Dill Pickles which apparently is a FF tradition and a Southern delicacy - quite good with cocktails. Excellent wine list and the server was very pleasant and knew about 20% of our party as regulars. The only glitch was my main order - bone-in rib eye which she highly recommended came without the bone. She quickly realized her mistake and fired up one for me while everyone was 'digging' in to their hot plates. My arrived around 5 minutes later on a nuclear hot plate and the steak was just too hot to enjoy that first bite flavor when you have a normally cooked steak. If the meat sat for another 8 minutes the temp and flavor would have settled nicely. No bbq ribs on the menu here.
(4)Charles D.
1 year ago this would have been a 5-star review, but sadly things have changed. The steaks used to be exceptional but have really gone downhill, not just the quality of beef, but also the cooking. On top of that there have been improvements to other steakhouses in town (which are also cheaper). The service is always great, no complaints there at all. It is very dark inside, but it seems appropriate. Mainly though I have to say the beef is not what it used to be and the prices don't seem to be going down. My only hope is that the economic downturn will lower overall demand for high quality beef and restaurants like this will start to get good steaks again.
(3)Dana G.
This is a damn good steak- pure and simple. You can order with peppercorn or reductions, etc. etc., but just the simple filet is amazing with just it's (I assume) salt and pepper and natural juices thrown on to the grill. Yum.
(5)Lawrence M.
My wife and I had heard good things, somewhat of an east Memphis institution and decided to give it a try. We went over and were somewhat under dressed but they let us right in. The setting was nice w/a variety of seating areas. It's a steak house, but has a really diverse menu. We started off w/the "famous" fried dill pickles. I figured if they say it, I needed to try it and was pleasantly surprised they were quite good. I had the Peach Glazed Pork Chops and my wife had their Fillet . She likes her medium well and many places can't quite manage it, but they hit it on the head. I thought the Pork Chops were very good also. Pork is a good test since it can't be dry if not done well. Service was attentive and friendly with the restaurant manager dropping by a couple times to make sure all was well. They wait staff was clearly watching - showing up when needed and otherwise out of site. It was a little pricey, but they did a very good job and worth the visit. We didn't have time for desert, but we'll address that on a future visit.
(4)greg p.
If you don't want to go to a chain and want to experience local flavor, it is very nice for a local, upscale steakhouse. However, for the price you pay, Ruth's Chris would be my first choice.
(3)Marion F.
Folk's Folly is a true Memphis tradition. The steaks are the best in town & the service is impeccable. Our family always goes there for celebrations & special occasions.
(5)Russell D.
I've been a couple of times on business. Definitely a place that benefits if you have an expense account. That said, i did think the wine list was very good and reasonably priced. The bone-on filet is unique and very, very good. There are a couple of private rooms, so even with a small group of 4 or 5 you can get one. A top choice for business dinner with me.
(4)cin f.
From the outside, Folk's Folly Prime Steak House just looks like a house instead of a fancy steakhouse. Inside, they have created ambience and lighting that invokes a sense of intimacy and privacy. From the valets to the wait staff, the service there is very attentive and informative. They have a large wine collection if you are a wine buff. It is definitely a special occasion type of place. I have been there for a birthday and also a business meeting. If you go for a birthday, they just tie a balloon on your chair and give you a complimentary dessert. i was too full to enjoy mine. As for the steak, i got medallions with blue cheese sauce. It was a quality cut of meat and very tender. The sides are ala carte. i think i got creamed spinach and garlic mashed potatoes. You should just share the sides with others or skip them and just get a steak and salad. The bill can add up quickly if you get ala carte happy. Folk's Folly Prime Steak House is not some place everyone can afford to go every day (unless i guess you are a Memphis Grizzles player or a movie star in town shooting a film). I think Folk's is a nice place to go if you want to treat yourself to a fancy steakhouse experience with white tablecloths and impeccable service.
(4)Roger G.
Not a place I would recommend, I am from Los Angeles, not Memphis so my base is skewed. This place is dated, the staff does not know how to even open a bottle of wine. I have had much better food and service at the same price point. Flemings, Ruth Chris,Villa Creek........
(2)TJ H.
Yep, it is THAT good. I have dined here many times over the last 20 years and have always enjoyed it. Recently they had a Dry-Aged New York Strip as a special that I ordered Med-Rare. It was outstanding. For steak lovers, this is a good as at gets. They also ran a special on a 10oz bone-in Filet Mignon. Someone else at the table ordered it and it was monstrous. He thoroughly enjoyed it. For meat lovers and food lovers of all kinds, this is a decadent restaurant that is great for special occasions and group events.
(5)Tona F.
I have dreamed about their Blue Cheese Mountain chips for 3 years! And they didn't disappoint the 2nd time around!
(5)Jamey L.
I am writing on the quality of the staff and management, not the food. The couple of times we've eaten here, we have enjoyed the food and atmosphere. The problem is that my wife has celiac disease, which includes a very sensitive gluten allergy, and the restaurant was not accommodating and then not even apologetic. We notified our server regarding the allergy, but she didn't seem to understand what gluten is. This was confirmed when she suggested that for dessert my wife might try the key lime pie with graham cracker crust. My wife ordered a filet, potato, mushrooms and creme brûlée for dessert. On the way home the very unpleasant reaction to gluten began and continued to plague her much of the night and into the next day. In speaking with the manager the next day, he was very cordial, but incompetent in solving the problem. He was unable to identify which part of the meal had gluten in it and was unapologetic for our dreadful experience. It's too bad that this restaurant cannot be a safe option for patrons with food allergies. The food and atmosphere are great, but not worth the results of poor management and execution.
(1)Christophe M.
I had high expectations of this place after reading all the reviews... Although the steak I had was cooked well I've had better quality meat. I do have to say that the duck my wife had was supposedly very good but the overall experience was disappointing and we will not go back. It is -simply- way overpriced...
(2)Morris S.
Nice atmosphere, I went with a party of 6 the table was not ready for us even though we had reservations so we had to wait in the lounge which was acceptable. I had a petite tenderloin and crab stuffed lobster tail and spinach as a side. The food was excellent steak was cooked to my specifications and very tender. Lobster and crab met my expectations as well. Chrissy was our server and she is very good at her job I highly recommend her.
(4)Tanya T.
Folk's Folly is perfection. The steaks are juicy, the sides (all a la carte) are heavenly, and the ambiance is the cherry on top. I've been here a few times but I'll share one of my favorite nights ever- my first wedding anniversary. My husband took me to Folk's Folly and we sat in one of those cute tiny private rooms. We both ordered steaks- filet for me, strip for him. I, of course, had to order the garlic mashed potatoes to accompany my meal because I simply lust after them. My hubby had asparagus, and I had to snag a few of those too. A few glasses of red, and our meal was complete. After dinner, we moved over to the piano bar area, and this is where the fun began. The room was crowded with an older set-- probably 60+. And you know what? We had the time of our lives with them. The piano man was incredible, playing all kinds of fantastic music from Broadway show tunes to old standards to fun sing alongs. Since it was our anniversary, we requested a little Frank- "The Best is Yet to Come." It is our song, after all. I'll never forget that night and Folk's Folly played a big part in making it such a great memory.
(5)Shannon L.
Folk's Folly Prime Steakhouse is consistently voted "Best Steak" by several reader's polls across town, every year. No doubt too, there is a reason behind it. Growing up, I knew that Folk's Folly was the magical place that only grown-ups could go to, and only when it was a very special occasion. In fact, I still feel this way today. Folk's Folly is where we decided to celebrate Valentine's Day this year, and I had been looking forward to it for forever. Since it was Valentine's, I was not allowed to take pictures on this adventure. I crowdsourced a few photos, but sorry for the lack of evidence. To start the evening, we were treated to a private dining room: one single table in a small room, shut out from the rest of the world by curtains. It was fantastic, and also the most romantic atmosphere I have ever experienced. Our server Retha helped us pick out the perfect bottle of wine and listed off our specials. As an appetizer, we chose the crab cakes. They were delicate, lightly fried, and complimented with the perfect remolaude sauce. After we finished our crab cakes, we decided to split a 14 ounce filet minion, small lobster tail, spinach casserole, and twice baked potato. The steak was cooked a perfect medium rare, cooked enough on the outside yet juicy and full of flavor. The lobster tail was buttery (and made me feel very high class). The twice-baked potato was perfect, with a great mix of butter, cheese, bacon, and chives. The spinach casserole made me say outloud, "Oh my God, that is so amazing." After dinner, we went to the bar for dessert. We both ordered a Folk's Folly Freeze, which is ice-cream mixed with your liqueur of choice. Scott got a Brandy Alexander freeze, and I ordered one with Godiva and amaretto. They were heaven! I had absolutely no qualms with any part of my experience at Folk's Folly. Romantic atmosphere. Great wine. Perfect service. Perfect food. Folk's Folly is fine dining, which means the great experience comes with a hefty price tag. This is the reason a special occasion is usually necessary. (Also, we had a gift card.) However, compared to many fine dining or steak restaurants, they are reasonable. Our whole bill, excluding dessert, cost around $150.00. That includes the bottle of nice wine, appetizer, steak, lobster, and two sides. Their steak and drink prices are significantly cheaper than Ruth's Chris.
(5)Gary D.
Ate there on my birthday a couple of years ago. Great dining experience - and well worth the money (but only for special occassions). I had the 14 ounce filet and it was perfectly cooked and seasoned. I also had a side of boccoli and a layered tomato and mozzarella salad with olive oil and basil - it was excellent. If there is a better steakhouse in Memphis - I don't know of it.
(5)Goldy H.
I don't get why people rave about this place so much. Went here while I was traveling for work. The food tasted average in my opinion. I think the food is overpriced for the quality. I will say however that the service is excellent! My glass was never half full. The busboy would literally come over every 5 minutes to fill up my water glass. I ordered a rib eye medium rare and it came out pretty much well done. I addressed this to my server and he fixed it immediately. Overall okay place.
(3)