Vintage hair-dryer chairs are part of the decor at this restaurant. Yes, the big domed kind your grandma once sat under for an hour with rollers in her hair.
The booths come wrapped in glass-brick walls. The whole space looks like a retro salon that traded curling irons for skillets. I like how the theme feels playful without turning into a gimmick.
This spot sits in a lively neighborhood in Tennessee, and the menu is just as adventurous as the room. Wings arrive with watermelon. Monkey bread shows up as a starter. Chicken and waffles anchor a busy Sunday brunch.
I believe a great meal should feel like a small trip somewhere new. This one sends you back a few decades and around the world at the same time. So who’s ready for a booth that used to be part of a beauty parlor?
Your Table Might Come With A Retro Hair Dryer Overhead
Old-school salon charm runs the show at The Beauty Shop in Memphis. Vintage hair-dryer chairs and glass-brick booths give the dining room a playful, retro look.
The name isn’t just a cute idea, either. The building really feels like a 1960s beauty parlor that someone turned into a restaurant.
That theme makes the meal feel like a small time-travel trip. You’re eating modern food in a room that looks straight out of an old family photo album.
The glass bricks matter more than you’d think. They split up the booths, so each table gets its own little pocket of space while still letting light through.
Nothing here feels stiff or overly polished. The decor leans quirky and fun, which is a nice change from plain, beige dining rooms.
Bring a friend who loves vintage style, and they’ll probably start snapping photos before menus land. Bring someone who grew up around salons, and stories may start pouring out.
My tip is simple. Take a minute to look around before you order, because the details are half the fun.
Wings And Watermelon Sounds Odd Until It Makes Sense
Chicken wings with watermelon on the same plate? That pairing appears on the menu, and it’s one of the dishes people talk about most here.
The idea is actually pretty smart. Sweet, juicy fruit next to saucy wings gives your taste buds a break between bites.
Southern cooks have mixed sweet and savory for ages. This dish just turns that habit into something a little more playful.
The menu at this Memphis spot loves surprises like that. New American cooking here borrows from many places, so expect curry, tempura, and Southern classics side by side.
That variety is what makes ordering feel like an adventure. You can pick something familiar or take a small risk on a combo you’ve never tried.
Here’s a friendly suggestion for first-timers. Order one bold plate and one comfort plate for the table, then trade bites.
That way nobody misses out. Plus, you get to judge the wings-and-watermelon debate for yourself. Expect some strong opinions at the table once the plate is empty.
Start Sweet With A Pull-Apart Classic
Most restaurants start you off with bread and butter. The Beauty Shop takes a cozier route with monkey bread.
If you’ve never had it, monkey bread is sticky, pull-apart bread made for sharing. It feels like a dessert that snuck onto the appetizer list.
Fun fact time. Monkey bread got popular in American kitchens decades ago, especially at family gatherings and holiday breakfasts.
Seeing it on a menu in a retro salon setting feels just right. Old-fashioned comfort food and vintage chairs go together like curlers and hairspray.
It also works as a smart move while you wait for bigger plates. Some dishes here take careful prep, so something warm to pick at helps.
Corn fritters show up on the menu too, giving you a savory starter option. Pairing one sweet bite with one salty bite keeps everyone at the table happy.
Just a warning, though. Fingers will get sticky, and somebody will grab the last piece while you’re mid-sentence. Plan your strategy early.
Sunday Brunch Here Is Worth Setting An Alarm For
Sundays run on a different schedule at this Tennessee favorite. Brunch starts at 10 AM and wraps up at 3 PM.
Chicken and waffles is the star of the show for many diners. Crispy chicken plus a warm waffle is basically breakfast and lunch shaking hands.
Beignets also pop up as a popular pick. Those puffy, sugar-dusted treats bring a little New Orleans flair to Memphis mornings.
The brunch menu stretches beyond those two, of course. Shrimp and grits, Benedicts, and a BLT stacked with fried green tomato have all appeared on it.
Hungry for something hearty? Steak and eggs and creative hash plates give you savory options that will carry you well past lunchtime.
Now for the important part. Weekend brunch gets busy, so booking a reservation is a smart idea.
Showing up without one can still work if you’re flexible. Bar seats and a long communal table sometimes open up for walk-ins. Just don’t count on it during the peak rush.
Dinner Plates Travel Farther Than You Might Expect
Steak frites in a former-salon-style room is a pretty fun twist. That French bistro classic is one of the most talked-about dinner dishes here.
The evening menu goes global from there. Tempura shrimp, curry, and seafood plates share space with Southern comfort.
Executive chef and owner Karen Carrier leads The Beauty Shop. Carrier is known for creative cooking that blends Southern and international influences.
Menus change over time, so specific dishes may come and go. That’s part of the fun, since a return visit can bring brand-new plates.
Small bites work a lot like tapas here. Ordering a few to share before mains lets your group sample more of the kitchen’s range.
Desserts deserve a spot in your plan too. Strawberry cake and a towering chocolate meringue pie have both earned attention from diners.
Save room if you can. Leaving without dessert at a place this playful feels like skipping the last chapter of a good book.
Milkshakes Get Their Own Spotlight
A retro salon theme practically begs for a good milkshake. Luckily, the shake list here is long enough to make choosing tricky.
Shake Baby Shake is a frozen alcoholic cocktail made with Jameson Irish whiskey, cold brew, Irish cream, and almond milk. The name alone sounds like a song your grandparents danced to.
Chocolate is a safe and classic pick. Still, the wider list tempts you to try a flavor you’d never make at home.
Shakes also double as dessert, which is handy. You get something sweet without needing a separate plate on the table.
Mocktails offer another fun route for drinks. The September Girl is one name that has popped up on the menu.
Mocktails are suitable for guests avoiding alcohol, while Shake Baby Shake is intended only for adults of legal drinking age. Fancy glasses and fun names make even a simple drink feel like part of the show.
Here’s my advice for indecisive groups. Order two different shakes and pass them around, because flavor envy is real.
Grab A Bar Seat Or Join The Big Communal Table
Seating at this restaurant comes in a few flavors. Booths, bar seats, a long communal table, and outdoor tables all give you choices.
The bar is a solid pick for pairs or solo diners. Sitting up front often means friendly chats with the staff behind the counter.
That communal table is big and social. You might share elbow room with strangers who become your new menu advisors.
Outdoor seating is great on mild Memphis days. Fans have been set up at patio tables to help fight the Tennessee summer heat.
The space is cozy, and it can get lively. If you want a quiet chat, aim for weekday lunch instead of a packed Saturday night.
Big celebrations work well here too. Just call ahead or reserve online so the team can plan for your group.
Picking the right seat changes the whole mood. Choose the bar for buzz, a booth for privacy, or the patio for fresh air.
Plan Around The Split Hours So You Don’t Miss Out
Timing matters at The Beauty Shop. Lunch is served Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 2 PM, while Saturday brunch runs from 11 AM to 2 PM.
Dinner runs from 5 PM to 10 PM Monday through Thursday and from 5 PM to 11 PM Friday and Saturday.
Sunday works differently, with brunch from 10 AM to 3 PM. There’s no Sunday dinner service, so plan accordingly.
Showing up at 3:30 on a Tuesday would be a sad moment. Checking the clock first saves you that disappointment.
Lunch is a smart pick for a calmer visit. Weekend dinners and Sunday brunch tend to fill up fast.
Reservations are the golden ticket during busy times. Even a quick booking can turn a long wait into an instant seat.
Parking has a few options nearby. A paid lot sits right outside, and street parking around the area is worth checking too.
Give yourself a little extra time on busy days. Rushing through a meal this fun would feel like speed-reading a comic book.
Cooper-Young Makes The Whole Trip Even Better
Location adds a lot to the fun here. The restaurant sits at 966 S. Cooper St., Memphis, TN 38104, in the Cooper-Young neighborhood.
Cooper-Young is one of the most colorful areas in Memphis. Local shops, art, and restaurants line the streets near the main intersection.
That makes a meal here easy to turn into a half-day outing. Eat first, then stroll around and see what catches your eye.
The neighborhood’s famous trestle art sculpture stands near Cooper and Young streets. It’s a quick, free photo stop that fits the creative vibe.
Pairing a quirky lunch with a walk feels like the right rhythm. It turns dinner plans into a small Tennessee adventure.
Out-of-town visitors get a real taste of local life too. This area shows a side of Memphis beyond the big tourist spots.
So go for the hair-dryer chairs and the watermelon wings. Stay for the neighborhood, and you’ll leave with a full belly and a full camera roll.
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