buongiorno

If you stay near Beale Street it will likely be expensive. Have you checked the Hampton Inn Beale Street? They're probably cheaper than The Peabody. Unless you stay out East and rent a car, you're probably talking about $200/night. You could stay out East for probably $125 or less per night and rent a car and it would probably be cheaper. The car would give you a lot of flexibility in seeing the city.

SharonG

Another vote for Cozy Corner. I lived in Memphis for a year while I did my internship and this place is the greatest. Go in the daytime because it really is not a great neighborhood but I don't think they are open too late anyway. It is not to be missed.

hampsterbrain

Is the Cozy Corner anywhere near the zoo? I think we plan on doing the zoo on Sunday. Maybe eat here before we go?? Or go around 5pm on Saturday?

buongiorno

By the way, here's a link to a guy named Robert's take on Memphis Q. I don't agree with all his opinions. I did forget to mention Leonards on Fox Plaza Drive, good spot.
http://home.midsouth.rr.com/colezoo/Robert/bbq.html

Anyway, the zoo is not too far from Cozy Corner but you're not going to walk between the two. The zoo's on Galloway and Cozy Corner is on N. Parkway. I would call Cozy Corner and get their hours. I'm not sure they're open Saturdays. All the phone numbers are in the link.

hampsterbrain

Thanks buongiorno!

buongiorno

Have a great trip ham, Memphis is a fun town. If you do end up staying out East (Poplar/Walnut Grove area), check out the Blue Plate on Poplar for a killer breakfast...try the biscuts and gravy!

missypie

If you go through Missouri, you can take a short detour to Mansfield, to see Laura Ingalls Wilder's home, then stop to eat in Springfield/Nixa at Lamberts (sp?), the home of the throwed rolls.

wsoxrebel

Lamberts is awesome! My family has even driven out of the way to get all those sides and rolls.

We went through on a holiday a few years ago and waited in line almost 2 hours, I guess everybody has the same craving at the same time

My grammarian daughter always gets cranky though

buongiorno

You really hit Lamberts best going from Memphis to St. Louis. My inlaws from Memphis used to stop there whenever on that route. I can't remember what it was exactly, but some tragedy befell the family in the last few years.

rkkwan

The OP is coming down from Chicago. They can visit the original Lambert's location in Sikeston, MO where I-57 meets I-55. No detour needed.

Clifton

I didn't know Lambert's had branched out to Springfield. Haven't been that way in awhile. Been liveing in Memphis now for a long while, but still drive "home" back and forth to St. Louis all the timeto see the family.

Lamberts in Sikeston is definitely an institution (although I think the novelty of bread flying by has worn off for me ) Kind of down the road from the original actually, isn't it? Moved somewhere along the line as I recall.

Back in Memphis, I'm still sticking with Neely's as my BBQ of choice. Cafe 61 is a casual place downtown that I really like.

hampsterbrain

One last question. We are leaving here around 8 or 9 am in the morning, so we'll be ready to have lunch by the time we get around the I 55 I57 area. Will there be a HUGE wait if we try going to Lambert's? I'm not really good with waiting in line for a long length of time. Thanks again!!

rkkwan

Chicago to Sikeston is 441 miles. You won't be there for lunch. Effingham, IL is more like it. Lots of truck stops, lots of restaurants where I-70 and 57 merge.