Memphis is packed with famous places to eat, but few restaurants carry as much history as Coletta’s Italian Restaurant. This longtime South Parkway favorite has been serving generations of diners with hearty Italian-American comfort food, old-school hospitality, and one especially memorable Memphis creation: barbecue pizza.
Step inside and the restaurant feels like a time capsule, complete with nostalgic dining rooms, family stories, and connections to Elvis Presley. Longtime customers return for familiar plates of pasta, pizza, and red-sauce classics, while first-time visitors come curious about the restaurant’s decades of history.
Coletta’s appeal is not about chasing trends. It comes from tradition, generous portions, and the kind of neighborhood loyalty that takes generations to build.
From its famous barbecue pizza to its family roots and vintage atmosphere, here is what makes Coletta’s one of Memphis’ most enduring dining institutions and why it continues to draw hungry visitors today.
A Memphis Italian Institution With Deep Roots
Some places feel like part of the city’s furniture, and Coletta’s is one of them. Mention it to a longtime Memphian and you will likely hear a story about a birthday, a first date, or a Friday night pizza run.
The restaurant sits at 1063 S Pkwy E, a spot that visitors often call a roadside remnant with plenty of character. Locals describe it as a place that has kept its feel while the neighborhood changed around it. Reviewers say the building looks modest outside, but stepping through the door is like traveling back in time.
Longevity is the big headline here. Many guests say the restaurant has been around since the 1920s or 1930s, and the exact date matters less than the feeling that it has always been there. In a world of quick openings and quick closings, that kind of staying power gets noticed.
Google reviewers have given it a 4.2 rating across more than 2,000 reviews. That is a lot of people with opinions, and they do not all agree. Some rave, some grumble about age and wear, and that mix is honest for a place with this much history.
The listing calls it a casual, family-friendly eatery serving barbecue pizza and Italian staples in a relaxed setting. That sums up the appeal pretty well. You come hungry, you leave with leftovers, and you probably walk out with a story.
Think of Coletta’s as a living piece of Memphis dining culture. It is not trying to be trendy, and that is part of the charm. Its reputation grew one table, one pizza, and one family tradition at a time.
If you want to understand how Memphis eats, this is a solid place to start. Come with curiosity, an appetite, and a little patience for a pizza that takes its sweet time.
How Coletta’s Italian Restaurant Got Its Start
Every old restaurant begins with a family and a dream, and Coletta’s is no different. It grew from the Coletta family kitchen into a Memphis fixture that has been handed down through the years.
Guests often say the roots go back to the early 1930s, while others say the 1920s. Since stories vary, it is safest to say this is a very old business with deep history. What stands out is how many people agree it has been here a long, long time.
Family ties still matter inside the dining room.
That sense of continuity shows up in the staff too. A visitor described a third generation server taking the order, her mother delivering it, and a longtime employee from the 1970s working the register. That is rare in the restaurant world.
Early Memphis diners were hungry for hearty, affordable food, and Italian-American cooking fit the bill. Big pans of pasta, thick red sauce, and bubbling cheese made friends fast. Over time, the menu grew to include pizza, and the restaurant found its signature twist.
Picture a young business in a growing river city, feeding neighbors and workers who wanted a warm meal. Those early years built trust, and trust built regulars. Regulars then brought their kids, who brought their own kids.
That is how a family restaurant becomes a landmark. It does not happen overnight, and it certainly does not happen without a lot of dishes, dough, and dedication.
The Famous Barbecue Pizza That Put Coletta’s on the Map
Barbecue on a pizza sounds like a dare, but in Memphis it became a legend. Coletta’s claims to have invented the barbecue pizza, and the restaurant’s fans back that story with enthusiasm.
The idea is simple. Take a pizza crust, add tangy sauce and shredded pork, then top it with cheese. It blends two things Memphis loves, smoky pork and Italian-American comfort food, into one pie.
Reviewers mention it more than anything else. The popular topics list counts the barbecue pizza at 46 mentions, far ahead of everything else.
Elvis connects to the story too. Guests say the original barbecue pizza was an Elvis favorite, and some even sit in the Elvis room to eat it. Pictures of him visiting hang near one booth.
Not everyone swoons, and that is fair to say. A few diners found the meat bland or the crust soggy, while others loved even the crust. Pizza is personal, and tastes differ.
Plan on a hearty meal. One visitor warned that it is a lot of food, and another ordered a large and finished the whole thing because it was so good. Sharing is smart, and leftovers are a bonus.
Timing matters as well. A reviewer noted that pizza takes about thirty minutes to bake, so order a salad or Italian spinach to tide you over. Try it once and decide for yourself if this Memphis mashup deserves its fame.
A Menu Built on Italian-American Comfort Food
Beyond the famous pie, the menu reads like a love letter to red-sauce classics. Think pasta, baked dishes, sandwiches, and plenty of cheese.
Guests mention lasagna, spaghetti, manicotti, ravioli, cannelloni, fettuccine alfredo, and veal parmesan.
Lunch specials draw a steady crowd. A traveler enjoyed lasagna and spaghetti and was too full for dessert. Prices are often called reasonable, which helps when you are feeding a family.
There are other pizzas to try, such as the Around the World pizza and a meat lovers pie. Hot wings also show up in reviews. A jar of shredded cheese and breadsticks often arrive early, which keeps little ones happy while the kitchen works.
Opinions vary, so go in with open eyes. Some guests found the spaghetti too tomatoey, and others had issues with toppings like cooked spinach. That kind of feedback is a helpful reminder to order what the restaurant is known for.
A smart move is to pair a pizza with a pasta and share. You get the famous flavor and a taste of the comfort classics. Add a salad and sweet tea, and you have a full table.
The overall idea is old-fashioned and filling. Nobody comes here for tiny plates.
What It Feels Like to Dine at Coletta’s Today
Walk in and the first thing you notice is that time moved slower here. The space feels like a classic family spot, with booths, framed photos, and the hum of a busy dining room.
Reviewers mention an atrium with a fountain in the center and large canvas prints of Italian places along the walls. Others point to the Elvis room, where photos show the King visiting long ago. Many describe the room as welcoming, clean, and nostalgic.
Service gets a lot of praise. Staff are described as friendly, quick, and hospitable, and one server even ran to a car to return a dropped scarf. Even critical reviewers often admit the service was good.
Portions are generous, so arrive hungry. Cheap beer, sweet tea, and a carafe of wine are easy to find. Takeout is busy, but dining in offers the full old-school feel.
Hours run from late morning into the evening most days, with later closings on Friday and Saturday. Sunday opens at one in the afternoon. Call ahead at 901-948-7652 if you want to check on timing or a big group.
Come for the history, stay for the hospitality, and keep your expectations grounded. It is a time capsule, not a polished showpiece.
Why Generations of Memphians Keep Coming Back
“I haven’t been in twenty years, and it tasted just like I remembered.” That kind of comment shows up again and again in reviews, and it explains a lot.
Nostalgia is a powerful ingredient. For many Memphis families, Coletta’s was a first restaurant experience for their children, and that memory becomes part of the family story.
Loyal regulars keep the place humming. Some grew up here and moved away, then returned with their own kids. Others come because a parent or grandparent brought them years ago.
The staff plays a big part. When employees stay for decades and families work side by side, guests feel recognized. That warmth is hard to fake.
The Elvis connection adds another layer. Fans arrive from out of town hoping to eat what he ate, while locals enjoy having a famous story attached to their neighborhood spot. There is also a second location on Appling, which one fan said feels more updated, but they still preferred the original on South Parkway.
Community ties show in the small moments too. Neighbors chat across tables, takeout orders pile up, and pitchers of beer get passed around. It feels more like a gathering place than a simple restaurant.
People return because it feels familiar. In a city that loves tradition, that counts for plenty.
After Decades in Business, Coletta’s Is Still Going Strong
Staying open for decades is a feat, and Coletta’s has done it by sticking to what it does best. The headline is true. This is one of Tennessee’s long-running Italian restaurants, and people still line up for a seat.
Numbers back that up. A 4.2 rating from over two thousand reviews shows steady interest. Fans and critics alike keep stopping by, which says a lot about its pull.
It is fair to say the place is not perfect. Some visitors complain about smells, decor, or toppings, and those comments are worth reading before you go. Others leave full, happy, and smiling, calling it a must-visit for history lovers.
What keeps it alive is a mix of food, family, and a famous story. Barbecue pizza gives it a hook, comfort pasta gives it depth, and friendly service gives it heart. Add a splash of Elvis lore, and you have a Memphis story worth telling.
If you are planning a visit, the address is 1063 S Pkwy E in Memphis. Hours vary by day, so check the website at colettas.net or call ahead. Bring friends, split a big pizza, and order something from the pasta side.
Memphis has plenty of famous eats, but few places carry this much history on the menu. Coletta’s is worth knowing about because it shows how a family restaurant can hang on through the years. Go see for yourself, and decide whether it earns a spot on your list.
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