I thought it was fine. Solid breakfast and lunch place. Nice Atmosphere.
(3)
Sheryl B.
If you live on Mud Island it's a nice place to meet friends for a snack and drinks. I wouldn't make the trip just for the food. It's expensive but better if you're ok with the limited happy hour or ladies night menu. The service varies.
(3)
C J.
I've been going here for about five years now and must say its customer service has definitely evolved. First several visits were met with unpleasant and moody waitstaff, though the bartenders and chef (Chef Kerry) were always very cordial and accommodating. While the food is basic american fare the gumbo is the best I've had, anywhere. I enjoy breakfast/brunch on the weekends and opt for the patio when weather permits. My favorite dish is the sausage and biscuits, with extra gravy. The pancakes come a close second and aren't the usual bland cakes I tend to get at other restaurants and then have to drench in butter and syrup just to get down my throat! Happy Hour favorites are fried pickles with house wines not too bad considering the price of $4/glass. I've occasionally had to ask for more champagne in my mimosa but have never been given grief about it. My only negative is that when ordering to-go food, by the time I get home (5 minutes away, in Harbor Town) fries, nachos and onion strings have lost their crunch. Maybe different to-go containers would help? If you're lucky enough to visit when Anibal is on a shift, I'd definitely request one of his tables (especially if you have young children.) He is one of the most patient, attentive and fun servers I've come across.
(4)
Christopher M.
It's a nice spot on mud island, right near Mississippi green belt park. Fairly good prices. Had their mud island mojito there, tasty. Also had their gumbo which they said was the best in Memphis, mind as well had a sign that said worlds best coffee.. Nice atmosphere and music. Check it out and see it differently than me hopefully.
(4)
Hannah W.
This place definitely falls on the "Average" side of the spectrum. It's a cute location on Mud Island and has some nice patio seating which is great on a beautiful sunny day. I came here with my boyfriend for brunch and were immediately seated. They have some reasonable alcoholic drink options and I got Bellini cocktail while my boyfriend got the salted dog. Both were $5 but tasted just okay. We ordered the Southern Benedict and seafood gumbo. Both dishes were just alright. The gumbo was pretty thick and tasted very beefy (very brown soup base so I assumed they probably used a lot of beef stock). The benedicts' eggs were slightly overcooked, but overall not bad. I don't think I would come back here unless I was looking for a place near Mud Island where I can be seated and served pretty quickly.
(3)
William H.
Wanted to enjoy a meal by the river and decided to stop in Tug's and give them a test run. Good drink specials on weekend 10-3 and friendly server so looking promising. Chili was very good, meaty and good flavor profile. Not too salty and little heat Had the Tug's spring salad two people with salmon. Greens, goat cheese dressing were yummy. Had some conflict on the salmon topper. Was dry and thin..like kitchen failed on how to cook good fish. Manager asked about fish and what our concerns were. We explained issue and he said he would check into it. Ghost River beer was great as we're sweet potato fries :)
(2)
Channa P.
I hear from a few people the lunch and dinner fare is just average, but I LOVED my brunch at Tugs. I was in a heavy mood, so I got the Farmer's Omelette with onions, peppers, potatoes, and ham. It was AWESOME and I got grits on the side. More importantly, my mom and I got a few well priced mimosas. Because what is brunch without drinks? Harbor Town is in true downtown Memphis, and my mom and I drove for about 25 minutes from the other side of town because she loves the brunch so much. We don't take brunch lightly in our house, and I agree Tugs is a treat.
(4)
Robert K.
Food was delicious and great prices. My wife had the fried catfish while I had the 1/2 pound hamburger with blue cheese. The combination of the sweet bun and perfectly cooked meat made this the best hamburger I have ever had.
(5)
Andy S.
Tug's is a casual grill on Harbor Town. I have been for happy hour a few times. They have $3.50 wells, $2.50 beer, and $5 specialty drinks. They also have many appetizers for $4.95. I had a well whiskey and diet coke. It was the right combination. I have also had the snapple martini. It does take like snapple. They have Asian lettuce wraps, which are probably my favorite. They have chicken strips. Hummus and pita bread is another good tasting appetizer. The chicken quesadilla is also good and filled with toppings. They have a nice patio and I'm sure we'll visit another happy hour sometime soon.
(4)
Lily B.
I like the quiet atmosphere and the fact you don't have to drive forever to get someplace to eat and have a few drinks. Perfect for when I don't want to eat in but I want something close and quiet so I can relax after a long day.
(4)
Nichole B.
If you come for downtown dining week get the pork ribeye! Marinated with teriyaki it's juicy and delish. The spicy greens and potatoes au gratin on the side are also great!
(3)
Kenzie W.
The waitresses are so snotty. The service is so terrible that you would think at least the food would be good. I have never had a good waitress there. This last time the waitress got upset when I went inside to find a service 20 minutes after being sat outside. There were only two other tables outside. She actually rolled her eyes at us. They instead of the nice vodka we ordered, she gave us cheap crap and said she watched the bartender pour it. We left after that. I wish there were more places to eat near the river.
(1)
Evan C.
Great local bar to drop in and watch a game. Convenient for those downtown and on Mud Island. Decent food and good service.
(4)
Mary H.
A beautiful view of the River and pretty good food. Thursday is ladies night and a good value for Happy Hour daily from 5-7. Wine at $3.95 per glass and $2.95 beers plus appetizer's at $4.95-$5.95 with very generous portions. We had the Bruschetta and Asian Wraps on a recent Thursday evening and both were quite yummy, the Bruschetta was nicely crisp and drizzled with balsamic with very fresh and garlicky tomatoes, basil and fresh Parm. The Asian wraps were quite tasty as well, a very nicely soy and ginger marinated chicken breast served on large Romaine lettuce leaves. I really liked the Romaine as opposed to the usual iceberg, it holds up better the filling and has great crunch.
(3)
Dean D.
It's really a shame...I now live on Mud Island and it would be so nice to have a good local bar to go to for some good bar food but this place is average at best. The dinning room is not very clean and somewhat out dated. The food Is average at best but the service was really very good. So at least they have that going for them. I had the chicken sandwich which was overcooked and tiny. As in mostly roll with a "tiny" piece of overcooked chicken lost inside. The fries were good. My wife had the fish and chips...wouldn't recommend it. Overall, I'll drive over the bridge into downtown Memphis next time. Sorry Tug fans.
(3)
Carlos B.
My girlfriend says you can't give out 5 stars to a casual dining place. I understand and value that opinion but I think Tugs is the best they can be for what they are, It's special casual dining with great drink prices and a great atmosphere. My girlfriend had the Harbor Town spring salad with grilled chicken. She said the chicken was dry until she saved it by covering it with the balsamic vinaigrette provided. She said it was delicious, a wonderful combination of warm goat cheese, dried cranberries and walnuts I wanted a salad to try to make up for the, ( totally worth the calories), 3 pieces of Jet's pizza I had for lunch. So, I had the Harbor Town shrimp salad. Thank God for a seafood salad that doesn't use the word "salad" as an excuse to soak something in mayonnaise. At first I was worried because I looked like it only had three pieces of shrimp. Then I assumed that is must have came with 6 pieces of shrimp and my girlfriend must have stolen a 3 while I wasn't looking. But as it turned out there were so many tasty grilled shrimp that I stopped counting. The flavors of the blue cheese an onions mixed well with the thyme vinaigrette. It filled me up and yet felt light and refreshing at the same time. WARNING: the onions have a vary strong odor My girlfriend would not give me" any" for two days afterwards.
(5)
Camille W.
It's a beautiful day and the patio at Tug's was the the perfect spot with a great view of the river. Cool drinks nice food perfect set up.
(5)
Bob W.
Enjoyed beer and sliders whist watching the river...anything after that is just filler but I'll try. It was a weeknight in Harbor Town so it was nice, seemingly safe and of course pretentious. The only reason we stopped by was because we (and I hate to say it) went to the BassPro pyramid. Tugs is like a clubhouse...don't make a special trip to come here
(2)
Adrian B.
Service was good. Food was mediocre. Had the catfish. It had no seasoning at all. The tartar and remoulad sauce we're not good. Best thing on my plate was the hush puppies. High point of my meal was the Margarita.
(2)
Kristy-Anne F.
Came with my sister a few days ago for lunch. I had the catfish plate and it was very tasty. What I didn't like was the hush puppies, they tasted like something out of the freezer aisle. My sister had a burger and she enjoyed it. The bread was really soft which made the burger taste better. Service was great. Everyone that worked there was very kind and warm. My glass of water was always filled. Overall, I would go back to try new items especially since I live so close.
(3)
Brittney H.
The food is actually not all that good, but we love the service we get here. We've become friends with the bartender, Nikki. She's a sweet person and always takes care of us. I ALWAYS get the grilled salmon salad and lately, the piece of salmon gets smaller and smaller... If you're looking for a great place for happy hour, I suggest.. If you're looking for a great meal, look elsewhere.
(3)
Jeannine S.
There are several reasons I go to Tug's: 1. The food is decent. This place has great salads, which is what I usually get (more specifically, the Chef Salad). Their apps aren't great (I've had just about every one on the menu), but they do happy hour every day and have discounted apps and drinks! Save yourself the calories and skip dessert...I've tried a few items off the dessert menu and have been disappointed with every one. 2. The atmosphere is casual. No one will judge you if you walk in wearing your sweatpants. Love it. Ladies-there are always men sitting at the bar, so you might want to throw on something a little fancier, like leggings or your fancy sweat pants. This place has great people watching, and if you don't feel like watching people, they always have a game on one of the TVs at the bar. 3. The pancakes. When I went there one day for breakfast, the waitress convinced me to get the pancakes. She said they were really good...and she was 100% correct. I'm really not sure what they put in these pancakes, but they were absolutely delicious! So if you're looking for a super casual place to meet up with friends for a beer, or you don't feel like cooking and want to go out in whatever you happen to be wearing that minute, Tug's is the place for you. Food is decent, service is ok and there is always someone else to talk to at the bar if you stroll in by yourself. They recently painted this place and it looks great, so check it out for yourself!
(3)
Don C.
We go to Paulette's a lot but had never been to Tug's. What was I waiting for? Great service - decent prices - great sunset views. We just had wine as we waited to attend a wedding outside. We will be back for dinner soon.
(4)
Emily Y.
We don't make it to Harbortown on the reg. So, my husband and I decided to be adventurous and take advantage of a rare chance to visit tugs. We were seated outside, on a hot early evening Memphis day. I don't need to offer a lot more clarification as to how unpleasant the dining conditions were. The tables on the patio are crammed together, and I am still not quite sure how we wedged ourselves into our ridiculously tiny seats. Service was inattentive. We had to beg for someone to come visit us the first time around. Food was really blah. Even more blah than you'd expect out of traditional bar fare. My pasta was borderline inedible. Only highlight were the fries, I'd say. Won't be back unless I'm stranded down there and starving.
(2)
Joseph W.
The service was below average. Our server only checked in with us a couple time during our trip. The food was good but the service made me more critical. I'll have to go back again and give it another try
(2)
Shawn S.
The only good thing this place has going for it is the location. It has a great outdoor patio but that's were the good parts end. The service is AWFUL. It's almost as if they are doing you a favor by taking your order. When the food comes out its either cold, tasteless and bland. I guess one other good attribute was that they had cold bottles of beer. But hey, I have those in my own fridge and don't need to eat awful food in order to get one. You will have better luck getting a cooler and packing a few sandwiches and sitting across the street. This place should be closed down. It makes the island look bad!
(1)
Charles M.
Great location and average food. Good drinks and friendly staff! Good for lunch or drinks and an app
(3)
Ronika A.
The staff is great! Everyone is super nice and accommodating, and this makes you really want to like the food, seriously I'm trying to fall in love with the place. I think they did a good job on their recent renovations and watching a game here seems like it would really be fun. But the food is rather bland-I've tried the pasta, chicken tenders, and meatloaf and they were all missing seasoning-maybe they are looking out for people with high blood pressure. The appetizers are actually okay-the fried pickles and fried wings are my pick. The breakfast is A OK and if I go again it will only be for the breakfast. So yes, I will still continue my quest to love this place but I will stick with their pancakes, eggs, bacon, toast, and biscuits ( I know that's a lot of bread but it's one of my weaknesses). Again, I really like the customer service here!
(2)
Alicia S.
The atmosphere was nice. The server was very courteous and prompt. We had breakfast, and the pancakes were very light and fluffy. The prices were reasonable also.
(4)
Shaun B.
I rarely shell out one star reviews, but this place takes the cake. A small group of us came for my girlfriends birthday after The Terrace was vastly over-packed. We are seated by a Hostess and over 10 minutes elapse until a server comes to take our drink orders. Three of us ordered sodas, and one ordered wine. It took a while for the sodas to come, even longer for the glass of wine, and was an absolute chore to get our servers attention to get a refill; even for the wine (which is baffling, as that they get to charge for each glass, which in theory would increase the tip; wouldn't he be eager to get more money? The restaurant wasn't even remotely crowded). I ordered the stuffed chicken breast, which I figured would be relatively rich in flavor. After all, it's stuffed with mozzarella, tomato, and fresh basil. Man was I wrong. Bland, plain, TOTAL waste of money. There was a general consensus at our table that the experience was rather disappointing. I definitely expected better of a place in Mud Island, but I definitely won't be back.
(1)
Jim H.
Our first visit was a Saturday at 10 am. We were looking for breakfast and decided to give this place a try. We ordered the French toast and the two-egg breakfast (eggs, bacon, potatoes & biscuit). The coffee was a good quality. It has a strong flavor, without the harshness of a popular coffee chain. :-). Although, we tend to prefer a more milder coffee (yes, we're coffee wimps) The French toast was very tasty, made even more so by the real butter (vs. whipped Margarine). My wife said it was as good as what she makes with her homemade bread. The sausage link was good quality and had a good flavor , but she would have preferred that it was cooked a little longer, as she likes it cooked till it's more brown. The scrambled eggs were tasty. Even more, I could tell it was made from real eggs by the yellow and white striations. The bacon and potatoes were cooked a little more than I like. The gravy is great! The biscuit was good and flakey. Over all, the food was good. As well, sitting on the patio in the morning, in view of the river, made for a relaxing time.
(3)
Julie H.
Spring salad with salmon...YUM!!! This salad is very flavorful and the salmon was delicious. I had a professional and attentive server. What more could I ask for...great service, great food = awesome! I'll be back!
(4)
Chris J.
This place has a very nice atmosphere with a very nice view of the Mississippi River. My only gripe about this place and the reason why I give it 3 stars is because it should be considered sacrilege to serve bland fried catfish in Memphis, especially in this area where catfish is in abundance. What made it bad is that I brought the leftover catfish home that I didn't eat, threw some of my favorite hot sauce on it to see if it would do the trick, but that still didn't help it. It seemed like someone just threw some fish in hot grease, fried it to a nice golden brown, but forgot to add the salt and pepper! On another note their queso was awesome! I will probably go back, mainly for the atmosphere. Hopefully the cook just had an off night.
(3)
Joelle P.
*sigh* I am really tired of bland food. I am so sick of wasting the money, gas, time and calories on food that doesn't even taste good. I'm actually pretty easy to please. If you give me a good atmosphere (or drinks) I am more than forgiving about so-so food. But this place has the same charm as a Chile's. You would think that being on Mud Island would give it some sort of cool vibe...but from where I was sitting (and most other seats I noticed as I walked by), you couldn't even see the river. Props should be given for the mist that sprays on the outside porch, but it is too hot out for even that to be an incentive to get me out there. The waitress was very nice and professional but even her attentiveness didn't do much to soften me. I just couldn't believe how expensive it was! $37 for 2 people to have lunch? Granted we did order a $5.95 appetizer, but still...for what we got, it was a tad bit ridiculous. The hummus appetizer was not good. It was the equivalent of eating paste...the pita was pretty good though (I'll give props where they are due). But my buffalo wrap was unappetizing and my mother didn't eat more than a few bites of her veggie sandwich. We both left annoyed at the waste of both money and food.
(2)
Jenn B.
Darius, the friendly bartender was the ONLY redeeming factor about this dining experience. Other than that, customer service is PATHETIC. We were seated then NEVER approached by a server, leaving us to ask the bartender for service. We were completely ignored while watching no less than four-five employees at a time clucking around the bar. Never offered water until we ordered drinks from Darius. I seriously regret even staying to order a meal. Hard to understand how we went unnoticed when a couple was seated right next to us (&after us) and was served in a completely timely manner. Tugs- your customer service is a joke/horrible/and the WORST!!! The teenage manager repeatedly left to walk around in the parking lot. Thank goodness for Darius who took care of us WHILE also tending bar. Thanks for the lack luster birthday lunch Tugs. I will now refer to you as Turds. Turd manager and Turd wait staff. Darius, hats off for picking up everyone else's slack. TURDS STUNK!
(1)
John Z.
This place is fine if you just want a beer, but if you want to eat, expect poorly cooked food that takes way too long to come out. Nothing is made in-house, it all appears to be mass distro food-service type food. You're better off driving over to Midtown or South Main.
(2)
Bev H.
Tried this place again. Meatloaf was obviously Sysco. Reuben sandwich was sub average. This place needs to learn to cook onsite. So disappointing since we live in Mud Island.
(2)
John S.
One of only a handful of restaurants in Memphis that have a river view, Tug's Casual Cafe is in the Harbortown community on Mud Island. Its prices are reasonable and its food is excellent. Special mention has to be made of the paper-thin catfish which is second only to Middendorf's in Manchac, LA and the Wagyu Burger, which is awesome. And on weekends, Tug's has brunch way past noon! Tug's has desserts, but I like to walk over to the nearby Terrace at the rooftop of the River Inn (same owners) for dessert and a view of the Mississippi from higher up.
(5)
David K.
We showed up on Mother's Day; reservation in hand and our party of 6 was seated within minutes. Really do not like going out on these obligatory "Holidays" because of limited menus and typically crappy service. I wasn't looking for much but we were really surprised. I had the Salmon and it was really good. Guests had crab cake benidict that looked fantastic and drew nothing but compliments from my Mother...she's never happy with anything. We had a great lunch on a very difficult day for them. I will definitely be back.
(4)
Carl N.
We came here for Mother's Day brunch. We requested seating on the patio. Waited for 10 minutes and no service. Came back inside and were seated. We were informed that they forgot to tell anyone that we were outside. Received a free Bloody Mary. My wife and I both ordered eggs benedict, 20 minutes later it came. Luke warm, eggs over cooked. The coffee that my wife ordered was luke warm and already had sugar in it, came off of another table. We have eaten here a number of times and have never had a bad meal until today.
(1)
Krystal E.
Despite many of my fellow Yelpers...I actually really like this place. It's gets me out of the norm, & I feel like I'm out of the city when I come here. I always get the grilled chicken salad with pecan-crusted goat cheese--bad on the waistline, but YUMMO!!
(3)
Rex Wayne S.
Amazing food. And a great beer and bar selection. They have my fav. Memphis beer in ghost river. Never had a bad food at tugs everything is good. I enjoy the blackened Mississippi catfish and the grilled veggies.
Tugs has your basic sports bar feel. Their alcohol selection is by no means exhaustive but will do for most. My biggest criticism is their chicken tenders are HORRIBLE! There was no salt, and they were very dark which I suspect is from either being cooked twice or recycled oil. How can one trust a bar that hasn't mastered chicken tenders? I will probably go back just to drink, hopefully the fries are better.
(2)
Ren G.
I wanted to like this place because I went with my grandparents and they really love it. But I was not charmed. The river views are nice! If you don't mind the sticky little tables and ridiculously uncomfortable seating. I mean, how much could it possibly cost to make this little patio a destination instead of a landfill with a nice view? A few good chairs and cute tables and a decorative lamp or two would really spruce it up and make it fit into the district better. My first impression of the place was not helped by walking in to see a hostess whom I'd worked with at another restaurant and personally knew to be rude and incompetent. If they'd hire her, what else are they doing wrong? The answer to that question turns out to be practically everything. Our first server was very nice. He was obviously annoyed by a mistake the hostess had made, but he was prompt and friendly and gave the impression of knowing what he was doing. Then, without explanation, our server changed to a pair of servers. After that, one of the pair kept coming back, and never introduced himself or explained he would now be taking care of us. He did the minimal things necessary to keep a table happy, but obviously knew nothing about being friendly and likable with guests. If you can't fake being happy to be there, this is not the industry for you. The food was another lackluster event. My grandparents, although they did not complain, probably should have. My grandfather's panini had obviously been sitting in the window a while. My grandmother's quesadilla looked fine, but if it held up the panini long enough for the cheese on the sandwich to get waxy, this kitchen has a problem. I ordered the onion straws with remoulade and spinach and artichoke dip. The onion straws were very good, my only complaint being that they're kind of hard to eat, like shoe string fries. The spinach dip, however, was deathly unappetizing. The top was covered in bread crumbs, which was the first major mistake, and the dip itself tasted like cheap parm cream with a little bit of spinach thrown in. Very Applebees on a bad night kind of thing. I would NOT order this again, and if I were the owner, I'd do myself and my business a favor by taking it off of the menu. So between the weird service, the patio that actually downgraded our riverfront view instead of making us want to stay all afternoon and order dessert, and the mediocre to terrible food, I will not be back unless I'm dragged by a family member. Do yourself a favor, Tugs management, and keep a better eye on your staff, your kitchen, and your guests overall experience. My visit certainly could've used some managing!
(2)
April S.
I when to Tug's on a Saturday afternoon for lunch with friends. The service was incredibly slow. Our server took our drink order right a way but he waited a long time before asking if we would like to order any food. Tug's serves a brunch menu until 3pm on Saturday. I wasn't in the mood for brunch-y type food so I went with the hot wings. The wings were passable at best. They were small in size and could have used more sauce. The sauce was thin and mild. The blue cheese dressing was thin too... Down right watery, in fact. I had to fish around with a piece of celery to locate any actual blue cheese. The one positive from this visit besides the company of friends was the fact that we were able to sit on the patio and enjoy the weather. I don't believe I will be returning to Tug's just for the patio, however.
(2)
Misti M.
I went to this place for the first time 6/11/2014 during the lunch hour. My review is going to be mixed. I loved the outdoor seating ,but they were very busy and we could not get one of those tables. I am happy for them because I like to see businesses doing well. Inside was lovely and comfortable and I think they have a very nice bar area. I placed my order for a cup of "the best gumbo outside of New Orleans" , to be my appetizer. It never came. I got up and found my waiter to ask him about it after waiting some time and he assured me that he had heard me. In the meantime, my meal finally arrived. I was given the gumbo , which came AFTER my meal was served, free to apologize. I'm not too impressed right now, and waiter is just shrugging his shoulders and telling me he put the order in , as if to say, HEY it ain't my fault. About this gumbo.... thick and rich, flavorful, but does not have the dollup of rice in it I love. I have had gumbo all over Memphis and I would rank them as #3 behind The Bayou and Owen Brennan's and in a dead tie for third with the Half Shell, but NOT the best outside of New Orleans. My entree was a chicken breast stuffed with cheese and tomatoes, mashed potato, and sauteed spinach. I would rate this as very good and quite interesting. The mashed potatoes were excellent and so was the spinach. I also tasted my companion's turnip greens and they were very good. overall the meal was quite tasty. I would go back with hopes of getting an outside table and gazing at the river and the passing traffic. Overall a nice place, makes you feel like you have gotten out of Memphis a little.
(3)
Rebecca R.
Kind of surprised at some of the bad reivews! I live in Harbor Town and go to Tug's at least once a week. Yes, a lot of it has to do with the convenience factor, but I also really like the place! If you sit outside on a busy day, the service can get slow. With that being said, I've only had bad service maybe 3 or 4 times and I've been there well over 50-60 times. I've tried a lot of the menu and have liked almost everything. My favorites are the spring salad, the cajun chicken sandwich, their burgers (love their burgers!), shrimp pasta, cajun chicken pasta etc..... Overall, I would recommend it, especially if you live close like I do!
(4)
Sean M.
The problem with Tug's is that it is yet another quasi-fine dining restaurant with expensive but mediocre food. The bar is in a great location, but it is so quiet inside you can't have a private conversation. Some changes I'd like to see: Drop the formal dining style, let the staff wear street clothes, ditch the lite-FM music--in short, act like a bar. As it is, Tug's and its sister restaurant across the street are competing for the same clientèle, which makes no sense. Until the place lightens up, I and every other middle-aged professional on the Island will continue to head over to TJs for a quick beer, or to one of a dozen better restaurants for a dinner date. Pros: excellent happy hour, great location, friendly staff. Cons: stiff atmosphere, over-priced, average food
(2)
Gary P.
I've been to Tugs twice and had the Gumbo both times, which is very good. The service is attentive and fast. I would go back again the next time I'm on Mud Island.
(3)
Josh S.
Awesome happy hour food and decent drink specials. Brisket sliders n fried pickles all the way. Happy Hour every day from 3-7
(4)
Robert M.
Below average, overpriced bar food with horrible service. Have eaten at Tugs about 3 times since it opened and nothing has changed from the first time I visited. This place is an embarrassment to Harbor Town.
(1)
Tal C.
3.5 good service, enjoyable Pub atmosphere and great gumbo.
(3)
Cristina H.
I think this is a more casual grill type for harbortown. We walked in and we were greeted and sat very quickly bc it wasnt that crowded. Waitress came with a smile and we ordered our drinks. I got a Beliini Martini and my friend got the TN Tea. Both made fine and without a long wait. We looked over menu and realized we just missed the happy hour....DARN oh well maybe next time!!! So we asked for two minutes and she came back in more like ten lol. no biggie tho just more time for us to chit chat before stuffing our face plus we noticed she was bringing out food to the family next to us...Their fries looked really good. I ordered blackened chicken pasta which was absolutely the bomb!!! and he ordered salmon. I should have taken a picture but im guessing his was good too bc both our plates were empty. They dont give huge portions they give you enough to eat right then. But overall this might be our next spot since Harbortown is so close. Next time I may try the amberjack :)
(4)
Laura H.
We went for breakfast this past Sunday and enjoyed our trip to Tug's. There was no wait, which is a big plus in my book. I love the location in Harbortown. It's such a cute area and our table offered a nice view of the river. My farmer's omlet was fine, nothing special. I will say that the grits were pretty great though! Service was good, cute place. We'll probably stop in again sometime.
(3)
Aaron H.
Good burger. Everything else is rather mediocre. Avoid the wings. I also enjoyed the sweet tea.
(3)
Christine L.
INCREDIBLY SLOW SERVICE. do NOT go here if you don't have more than an hour to waste sitting around doing nothing and waiting for them to move around. We came here on a Saturday for a brunchy type of meal. First things first, it is gorgeous if the weather is outside and you can sit outside in the patio area and view the river. I do give it props for the view. However, everything else beyond that went downhill. FOOD - we ordered: chicken and cheese quesadilla - it was plain. they put in an extra something to make it taste a little heavier than usual, and there was that extra something in it that i wasn't too fond of. not a big fan. meatloaf - it was aites. i dont like meatloaf in general. the mashed potatos were cold upon arrival and didnt' taste great. gumbo - looked nasty and tasted subpar. kids meal chicken tenders and fries - fries were soggy and not fried. looked very under cooked. chicken tenders had no breading, very dry chicken on the inside. not recommended. bread pudding with bourbon sauce - i ordered this based on a yelpers recommendation. i highly do not recommend it. it comes out in a big slab and it just doesn't taste that great. its not warm, its pretty hard textured. i could taste the bourbon in the sauce which was good, but it seemed greasy and runny. i'm not a fan of this bread pudding. def not recommended. Mimosa- we also ordered a mimosa, which came out in a tiny cup. that was aites, but i couldn't even taste the vodka and I'm incredibly sensitive to alcohol. SERVICE - our waitstaff was nice, he was nothing short of polite and nice. but that's about it. he was never around to refill water. he was never around to really check up on how we were doing. I ordered a bread pudding and he seemed to forget about it until i had to get up, walk inside, tell another waiter about my order and asked for the checks because i was more than ready to get out of there. Also another waitress was the one that came out with it. Then finally after i had already been done eating the dang thing, our waiter comes out with our check, and then never really came back to pick it up. I had to walk inside to ask someone if i could pay for it in order to get out of this establishment. Dont get me wrong, this is a normal place to go eat if you live on the island or if you're visiting mud island. However, if you're looking to have even half of the rest of your day, do not come here. they literally take forever, and the service is WAY TOO SLOW. i had to get up several times and walk inside to ask for anything that we were looking for. Its not even worth it food wise. Dont get me wrong, the food was EDIBLE. but it wasn't tasty. I'm sorry but I'm not coming back again.
(1)
Husni E.
Happy hour 3-7 M-Th....Unfortunately that along with the service are the only good things about Tug's these days. Their fries (and anything they fry) really are consistently soggy, oily and bland. Their burgers are inconsistent at best....good when they decide to actually season the meat before grilling...not asking much just some salt and pepper to bring out the flavor (common sense not rocket science). Their wings are good but nothing to write home about and they don't really offer the gradations of heat most places do. They're fish and chips are woeful at best...they are over breaded (again not even seasoned) and so incredibly soggy that the oil was literally dripping off of them (on the plus side, there were 4 large pieces). Since it's the only "bar" on the island, we'll probably continue to hope to dodge their "bad food days"....
(2)
Raymond B.
Haiku review: Sports bar, not much more Beer on tap, burgers for 10 Plus nice river view.
(3)
Ann P.
I didn't like anything I've order. The foods and drinks were made all wrong. They were so off it was hardly edible. My food was extremely salty, and my alcoholic beverage was made wrong. I asked them to remake the drink, and it got worst. I tried hard to finish to get my money's worth, but i couldn't finish either one. Didn't want to kill myself with horrible eatings.
(1)
Ebonye B.
I went to Tug's on Sunday after church. We were quickly seated inside. The server was friendly. I ordered a salad with shrimp. When I received it, I was appalled by the white and yellow leaves in my $12 salad. One or two, I understand. However, this quantity of subpar lettuce is what I would expect from a fast food chain for $5. The oversight and lack of quality from the greens was disappointing. The only reason I'm giving them 3 stars: The shrimp was very tasty.
(3)
Kay H.
A good place with a variety of american food, affordable prices, with a good happy hour period during the weekdays 4-7 pm , it is bar/restaurant, in a great location on mud island in Memphis Tennessee, just a mile away from Downtown Memphis.
(3)
Barry W.
Good place for a business lunch if you are the downtown area - Save room for the apple pie
(3)
Todd H.
Not bad. Fair drinks and a fun location. Hummus was a bit bland. Pretty good, friendly service. We will be back.
(3)
Jolynna M.
Tug's isn't a place I go for dinner, per se, but it's a great spot to meet up with friends for drinks and appetizers. They have TVs throughout the bar area and dining room, so it's a fun place to watch a big game as well. I really like their Spinach Artichoke Dip and get it almost every time I go. It's served hot with a plate of soft, warm pita wedges. Their nachos are also worth mentioning. Tuesdays are Trivia Nights. Bring a group of friends and get in on the fun.
(3)
Scott L.
First timer and we were there for a Monday business lunch--will be back. It was the day after St Patty's Day and all the specials seemed like they were left-overs...Shepherd's Pie, Potato Soup, Cabbage and Corned Beef, etc. I went for the 4 veggie plate since it was lunch. They were all great! Loved the perfectly seasoned Lima Beans and Cole Slaw. The house dressing, a lemon vinaigrette, was super on my house salad...BUT...couldn't eat their gumbo. Really bad. It had a very thick, dark roux so it seemed to have been over-cooked or possibly yesterday's gumbo that was over-reheated. Some small bites of sausage and dont recall any shrimp if it was supposed to have shrimp. My colleague had the Turkey Reuben and Fries. Huge sandwich, lots of turkey and grilled onions. She shared her crispy fries--like, like, like! We will try it again and I will ask for a sample of the gumbo before I order it again. Or, maybe not go on a Monday.
(3)
Erica B.
After reading an awesome review in the Downtowner, my husband and I went to Tug's for appetizers and drinks. I was specifically interested in one drink they made mention of in this article- The Grape Bubble Yum Martini. Ummmmm what right-minded gal wouldn't want to try this delicious sounding drink?! I found when I got there that it was comprised of grape vodka, grape Puckers, sweet and sour and Sprite. It was delightfully fab- though I couldn't handle more than one as it was very sweet. Another delightful surprise, we happened to go on a Thursday- "Ladies Night" which meant I got Happy Hour priced drinks all night cuz I am of the female persuasion. I was able to try this fun martini for only 4 bucks. The rest of my drinks (wine by the glass) only cost a mere $3 bucks per glass. I am always happy to partake in drinks, especially when they are easy on the wallet. We ordered the spinach and artichoke dip as well as a bowl of the seafood gumbo- both of which were noted as favorites to try in the article I read. The spinach and artichoke dip was served with warm & toasty pita wedges (yum-o) and the gumbo had juicy, plump chunks of shrimp and crawfish floating amidst the creamy broth and seasonings. We both enjoyed the atmosphere, it was very casual, yet still had an air of class about it. They offer outdoor and indoor seating- both with equally amazing views.
(3)
Justin S.
Very good food and bar. Haven't ever had something there I didn't like! Their sweet potato fries are a favorite, as are each of their soups and sandwiches.
(4)
Cheri T.
For $18.95 I expect more than a wad of greasy fries straight out of a frozen fries bag and a paper thin sliver of ribeye with no seasoning. No vegetables in sight unless you want to spring for another $5 for a house salad. The frozen fries were billed as shoestring but they were just the fries you would get at a really indifferent burger joint. The one star is for the view, which is great.
(1)
Mike G.
Really maybe 2.5 stars. The food is overpriced and not very good. They have a nice wine collection for the Stepford Wives of Mud Island. Their music selection is horrible.
(3)
Terry B.
Good bar and grill with a boring menu selection. Even the daily specials are hit or miss. And desserts are poor even with two great shops dow the street that bake like crazy. We had the meatloaf (a regular) and the blacken Tilipia. I make better cornbread. Service was great. Fun to watch the sunset on the river. Not that expensive (2 for about $40) excluding drinks.
(2)
Andy H.
I think the other reviewer who hit on 2.5 stars is about right, but I will round up for the friendly staff. The food is just ok, and I feel the prices are a bit high for the quality you get. The best deal is for happy hour, with the small plate options. There really is a lot of potential at Tugs.
(3)
Nessa W.
My co-worker and I decided to make the trip downtown to Tug's for lunch. We were able to walk right in and get a table, same as everyone that came after us. The menu is filled with a lot of delicious options. My co-wo had been before, but it was my first time. My co-wo decided on the veggie sandwich that comprised of grilled zucchini, yellow squash, mushroom, roasted red pepper, mozzarella, and Thai mayonnaise on ciabatta with fries. I ordered the Tug's spring salad which consisted of greens mixed with balsamic dressing, cranberries, oranges, walnuts and topped with warm goat cheese. My co-wo's food looked great and she enjoyed it immensely. My salad was so divine that I can't wait to go back and get it again. After we returned to work, we told another co-wo about our lunch and she explained how she use to frequent Tug's in past for trivia night, but the food was so bad her group stopped going. After hearing our rave reviews she said she will consider going again. Another thing I will mention is that our waiter was very friendly, but he had his arm wrapped in a bandage. I think he should have worn a long sleeve shirt.
(4)
MtnCritter M.
Tug's opened it's doors this past November and was highly anticipated as a casual option for diners on Mud Island. We enjoyed dinner there for the soft opening and the food was quite good but as can be expected the prices were on the high side. Service was efficient and friendly and has continued to be the times we've visited since. Items we've enjoyed: house salad with lemon dressing, mushroom bisque, gumbo, chili, Guiness, Anchor Steam. Atmosphere isn't great yet, maybe in need of some better lighting and for the staff to switch out of the green shirts to something that doesn't conjure images of "pieces of flair" like just black. Bar: only 3 beers on tap but they boast the "Mid-south's only" Guiness Surger which is pretty interesting to experience if you're sitting at the bar. Weekend nights tend to be busy and usually a wait for a table. Patio seating on busy turn-in street but fair river view. In the near future I would return and get a beer and something off of the starters menu.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Frank M.
I thought it was fine. Solid breakfast and lunch place. Nice Atmosphere.
(3)Sheryl B.
If you live on Mud Island it's a nice place to meet friends for a snack and drinks. I wouldn't make the trip just for the food. It's expensive but better if you're ok with the limited happy hour or ladies night menu. The service varies.
(3)C J.
I've been going here for about five years now and must say its customer service has definitely evolved. First several visits were met with unpleasant and moody waitstaff, though the bartenders and chef (Chef Kerry) were always very cordial and accommodating. While the food is basic american fare the gumbo is the best I've had, anywhere. I enjoy breakfast/brunch on the weekends and opt for the patio when weather permits. My favorite dish is the sausage and biscuits, with extra gravy. The pancakes come a close second and aren't the usual bland cakes I tend to get at other restaurants and then have to drench in butter and syrup just to get down my throat! Happy Hour favorites are fried pickles with house wines not too bad considering the price of $4/glass. I've occasionally had to ask for more champagne in my mimosa but have never been given grief about it. My only negative is that when ordering to-go food, by the time I get home (5 minutes away, in Harbor Town) fries, nachos and onion strings have lost their crunch. Maybe different to-go containers would help? If you're lucky enough to visit when Anibal is on a shift, I'd definitely request one of his tables (especially if you have young children.) He is one of the most patient, attentive and fun servers I've come across.
(4)Christopher M.
It's a nice spot on mud island, right near Mississippi green belt park. Fairly good prices. Had their mud island mojito there, tasty. Also had their gumbo which they said was the best in Memphis, mind as well had a sign that said worlds best coffee.. Nice atmosphere and music. Check it out and see it differently than me hopefully.
(4)Hannah W.
This place definitely falls on the "Average" side of the spectrum. It's a cute location on Mud Island and has some nice patio seating which is great on a beautiful sunny day. I came here with my boyfriend for brunch and were immediately seated. They have some reasonable alcoholic drink options and I got Bellini cocktail while my boyfriend got the salted dog. Both were $5 but tasted just okay. We ordered the Southern Benedict and seafood gumbo. Both dishes were just alright. The gumbo was pretty thick and tasted very beefy (very brown soup base so I assumed they probably used a lot of beef stock). The benedicts' eggs were slightly overcooked, but overall not bad. I don't think I would come back here unless I was looking for a place near Mud Island where I can be seated and served pretty quickly.
(3)William H.
Wanted to enjoy a meal by the river and decided to stop in Tug's and give them a test run. Good drink specials on weekend 10-3 and friendly server so looking promising. Chili was very good, meaty and good flavor profile. Not too salty and little heat Had the Tug's spring salad two people with salmon. Greens, goat cheese dressing were yummy. Had some conflict on the salmon topper. Was dry and thin..like kitchen failed on how to cook good fish. Manager asked about fish and what our concerns were. We explained issue and he said he would check into it. Ghost River beer was great as we're sweet potato fries :)
(2)Channa P.
I hear from a few people the lunch and dinner fare is just average, but I LOVED my brunch at Tugs. I was in a heavy mood, so I got the Farmer's Omelette with onions, peppers, potatoes, and ham. It was AWESOME and I got grits on the side. More importantly, my mom and I got a few well priced mimosas. Because what is brunch without drinks? Harbor Town is in true downtown Memphis, and my mom and I drove for about 25 minutes from the other side of town because she loves the brunch so much. We don't take brunch lightly in our house, and I agree Tugs is a treat.
(4)Robert K.
Food was delicious and great prices. My wife had the fried catfish while I had the 1/2 pound hamburger with blue cheese. The combination of the sweet bun and perfectly cooked meat made this the best hamburger I have ever had.
(5)Andy S.
Tug's is a casual grill on Harbor Town. I have been for happy hour a few times. They have $3.50 wells, $2.50 beer, and $5 specialty drinks. They also have many appetizers for $4.95. I had a well whiskey and diet coke. It was the right combination. I have also had the snapple martini. It does take like snapple. They have Asian lettuce wraps, which are probably my favorite. They have chicken strips. Hummus and pita bread is another good tasting appetizer. The chicken quesadilla is also good and filled with toppings. They have a nice patio and I'm sure we'll visit another happy hour sometime soon.
(4)Lily B.
I like the quiet atmosphere and the fact you don't have to drive forever to get someplace to eat and have a few drinks. Perfect for when I don't want to eat in but I want something close and quiet so I can relax after a long day.
(4)Nichole B.
If you come for downtown dining week get the pork ribeye! Marinated with teriyaki it's juicy and delish. The spicy greens and potatoes au gratin on the side are also great!
(3)Kenzie W.
The waitresses are so snotty. The service is so terrible that you would think at least the food would be good. I have never had a good waitress there. This last time the waitress got upset when I went inside to find a service 20 minutes after being sat outside. There were only two other tables outside. She actually rolled her eyes at us. They instead of the nice vodka we ordered, she gave us cheap crap and said she watched the bartender pour it. We left after that. I wish there were more places to eat near the river.
(1)Evan C.
Great local bar to drop in and watch a game. Convenient for those downtown and on Mud Island. Decent food and good service.
(4)Mary H.
A beautiful view of the River and pretty good food. Thursday is ladies night and a good value for Happy Hour daily from 5-7. Wine at $3.95 per glass and $2.95 beers plus appetizer's at $4.95-$5.95 with very generous portions. We had the Bruschetta and Asian Wraps on a recent Thursday evening and both were quite yummy, the Bruschetta was nicely crisp and drizzled with balsamic with very fresh and garlicky tomatoes, basil and fresh Parm. The Asian wraps were quite tasty as well, a very nicely soy and ginger marinated chicken breast served on large Romaine lettuce leaves. I really liked the Romaine as opposed to the usual iceberg, it holds up better the filling and has great crunch.
(3)Dean D.
It's really a shame...I now live on Mud Island and it would be so nice to have a good local bar to go to for some good bar food but this place is average at best. The dinning room is not very clean and somewhat out dated. The food Is average at best but the service was really very good. So at least they have that going for them. I had the chicken sandwich which was overcooked and tiny. As in mostly roll with a "tiny" piece of overcooked chicken lost inside. The fries were good. My wife had the fish and chips...wouldn't recommend it. Overall, I'll drive over the bridge into downtown Memphis next time. Sorry Tug fans.
(3)Carlos B.
My girlfriend says you can't give out 5 stars to a casual dining place. I understand and value that opinion but I think Tugs is the best they can be for what they are, It's special casual dining with great drink prices and a great atmosphere. My girlfriend had the Harbor Town spring salad with grilled chicken. She said the chicken was dry until she saved it by covering it with the balsamic vinaigrette provided. She said it was delicious, a wonderful combination of warm goat cheese, dried cranberries and walnuts I wanted a salad to try to make up for the, ( totally worth the calories), 3 pieces of Jet's pizza I had for lunch. So, I had the Harbor Town shrimp salad. Thank God for a seafood salad that doesn't use the word "salad" as an excuse to soak something in mayonnaise. At first I was worried because I looked like it only had three pieces of shrimp. Then I assumed that is must have came with 6 pieces of shrimp and my girlfriend must have stolen a 3 while I wasn't looking. But as it turned out there were so many tasty grilled shrimp that I stopped counting. The flavors of the blue cheese an onions mixed well with the thyme vinaigrette. It filled me up and yet felt light and refreshing at the same time. WARNING: the onions have a vary strong odor My girlfriend would not give me" any" for two days afterwards.
(5)Camille W.
It's a beautiful day and the patio at Tug's was the the perfect spot with a great view of the river. Cool drinks nice food perfect set up.
(5)Bob W.
Enjoyed beer and sliders whist watching the river...anything after that is just filler but I'll try. It was a weeknight in Harbor Town so it was nice, seemingly safe and of course pretentious. The only reason we stopped by was because we (and I hate to say it) went to the BassPro pyramid. Tugs is like a clubhouse...don't make a special trip to come here
(2)Adrian B.
Service was good. Food was mediocre. Had the catfish. It had no seasoning at all. The tartar and remoulad sauce we're not good. Best thing on my plate was the hush puppies. High point of my meal was the Margarita.
(2)Kristy-Anne F.
Came with my sister a few days ago for lunch. I had the catfish plate and it was very tasty. What I didn't like was the hush puppies, they tasted like something out of the freezer aisle. My sister had a burger and she enjoyed it. The bread was really soft which made the burger taste better. Service was great. Everyone that worked there was very kind and warm. My glass of water was always filled. Overall, I would go back to try new items especially since I live so close.
(3)Brittney H.
The food is actually not all that good, but we love the service we get here. We've become friends with the bartender, Nikki. She's a sweet person and always takes care of us. I ALWAYS get the grilled salmon salad and lately, the piece of salmon gets smaller and smaller... If you're looking for a great place for happy hour, I suggest.. If you're looking for a great meal, look elsewhere.
(3)Jeannine S.
There are several reasons I go to Tug's: 1. The food is decent. This place has great salads, which is what I usually get (more specifically, the Chef Salad). Their apps aren't great (I've had just about every one on the menu), but they do happy hour every day and have discounted apps and drinks! Save yourself the calories and skip dessert...I've tried a few items off the dessert menu and have been disappointed with every one. 2. The atmosphere is casual. No one will judge you if you walk in wearing your sweatpants. Love it. Ladies-there are always men sitting at the bar, so you might want to throw on something a little fancier, like leggings or your fancy sweat pants. This place has great people watching, and if you don't feel like watching people, they always have a game on one of the TVs at the bar. 3. The pancakes. When I went there one day for breakfast, the waitress convinced me to get the pancakes. She said they were really good...and she was 100% correct. I'm really not sure what they put in these pancakes, but they were absolutely delicious! So if you're looking for a super casual place to meet up with friends for a beer, or you don't feel like cooking and want to go out in whatever you happen to be wearing that minute, Tug's is the place for you. Food is decent, service is ok and there is always someone else to talk to at the bar if you stroll in by yourself. They recently painted this place and it looks great, so check it out for yourself!
(3)Don C.
We go to Paulette's a lot but had never been to Tug's. What was I waiting for? Great service - decent prices - great sunset views. We just had wine as we waited to attend a wedding outside. We will be back for dinner soon.
(4)Emily Y.
We don't make it to Harbortown on the reg. So, my husband and I decided to be adventurous and take advantage of a rare chance to visit tugs. We were seated outside, on a hot early evening Memphis day. I don't need to offer a lot more clarification as to how unpleasant the dining conditions were. The tables on the patio are crammed together, and I am still not quite sure how we wedged ourselves into our ridiculously tiny seats. Service was inattentive. We had to beg for someone to come visit us the first time around. Food was really blah. Even more blah than you'd expect out of traditional bar fare. My pasta was borderline inedible. Only highlight were the fries, I'd say. Won't be back unless I'm stranded down there and starving.
(2)Joseph W.
The service was below average. Our server only checked in with us a couple time during our trip. The food was good but the service made me more critical. I'll have to go back again and give it another try
(2)Shawn S.
The only good thing this place has going for it is the location. It has a great outdoor patio but that's were the good parts end. The service is AWFUL. It's almost as if they are doing you a favor by taking your order. When the food comes out its either cold, tasteless and bland. I guess one other good attribute was that they had cold bottles of beer. But hey, I have those in my own fridge and don't need to eat awful food in order to get one. You will have better luck getting a cooler and packing a few sandwiches and sitting across the street. This place should be closed down. It makes the island look bad!
(1)Charles M.
Great location and average food. Good drinks and friendly staff! Good for lunch or drinks and an app
(3)Ronika A.
The staff is great! Everyone is super nice and accommodating, and this makes you really want to like the food, seriously I'm trying to fall in love with the place. I think they did a good job on their recent renovations and watching a game here seems like it would really be fun. But the food is rather bland-I've tried the pasta, chicken tenders, and meatloaf and they were all missing seasoning-maybe they are looking out for people with high blood pressure. The appetizers are actually okay-the fried pickles and fried wings are my pick. The breakfast is A OK and if I go again it will only be for the breakfast. So yes, I will still continue my quest to love this place but I will stick with their pancakes, eggs, bacon, toast, and biscuits ( I know that's a lot of bread but it's one of my weaknesses). Again, I really like the customer service here!
(2)Alicia S.
The atmosphere was nice. The server was very courteous and prompt. We had breakfast, and the pancakes were very light and fluffy. The prices were reasonable also.
(4)Shaun B.
I rarely shell out one star reviews, but this place takes the cake. A small group of us came for my girlfriends birthday after The Terrace was vastly over-packed. We are seated by a Hostess and over 10 minutes elapse until a server comes to take our drink orders. Three of us ordered sodas, and one ordered wine. It took a while for the sodas to come, even longer for the glass of wine, and was an absolute chore to get our servers attention to get a refill; even for the wine (which is baffling, as that they get to charge for each glass, which in theory would increase the tip; wouldn't he be eager to get more money? The restaurant wasn't even remotely crowded). I ordered the stuffed chicken breast, which I figured would be relatively rich in flavor. After all, it's stuffed with mozzarella, tomato, and fresh basil. Man was I wrong. Bland, plain, TOTAL waste of money. There was a general consensus at our table that the experience was rather disappointing. I definitely expected better of a place in Mud Island, but I definitely won't be back.
(1)Jim H.
Our first visit was a Saturday at 10 am. We were looking for breakfast and decided to give this place a try. We ordered the French toast and the two-egg breakfast (eggs, bacon, potatoes & biscuit). The coffee was a good quality. It has a strong flavor, without the harshness of a popular coffee chain. :-). Although, we tend to prefer a more milder coffee (yes, we're coffee wimps) The French toast was very tasty, made even more so by the real butter (vs. whipped Margarine). My wife said it was as good as what she makes with her homemade bread. The sausage link was good quality and had a good flavor , but she would have preferred that it was cooked a little longer, as she likes it cooked till it's more brown. The scrambled eggs were tasty. Even more, I could tell it was made from real eggs by the yellow and white striations. The bacon and potatoes were cooked a little more than I like. The gravy is great! The biscuit was good and flakey. Over all, the food was good. As well, sitting on the patio in the morning, in view of the river, made for a relaxing time.
(3)Julie H.
Spring salad with salmon...YUM!!! This salad is very flavorful and the salmon was delicious. I had a professional and attentive server. What more could I ask for...great service, great food = awesome! I'll be back!
(4)Chris J.
This place has a very nice atmosphere with a very nice view of the Mississippi River. My only gripe about this place and the reason why I give it 3 stars is because it should be considered sacrilege to serve bland fried catfish in Memphis, especially in this area where catfish is in abundance. What made it bad is that I brought the leftover catfish home that I didn't eat, threw some of my favorite hot sauce on it to see if it would do the trick, but that still didn't help it. It seemed like someone just threw some fish in hot grease, fried it to a nice golden brown, but forgot to add the salt and pepper! On another note their queso was awesome! I will probably go back, mainly for the atmosphere. Hopefully the cook just had an off night.
(3)Joelle P.
*sigh* I am really tired of bland food. I am so sick of wasting the money, gas, time and calories on food that doesn't even taste good. I'm actually pretty easy to please. If you give me a good atmosphere (or drinks) I am more than forgiving about so-so food. But this place has the same charm as a Chile's. You would think that being on Mud Island would give it some sort of cool vibe...but from where I was sitting (and most other seats I noticed as I walked by), you couldn't even see the river. Props should be given for the mist that sprays on the outside porch, but it is too hot out for even that to be an incentive to get me out there. The waitress was very nice and professional but even her attentiveness didn't do much to soften me. I just couldn't believe how expensive it was! $37 for 2 people to have lunch? Granted we did order a $5.95 appetizer, but still...for what we got, it was a tad bit ridiculous. The hummus appetizer was not good. It was the equivalent of eating paste...the pita was pretty good though (I'll give props where they are due). But my buffalo wrap was unappetizing and my mother didn't eat more than a few bites of her veggie sandwich. We both left annoyed at the waste of both money and food.
(2)Jenn B.
Darius, the friendly bartender was the ONLY redeeming factor about this dining experience. Other than that, customer service is PATHETIC. We were seated then NEVER approached by a server, leaving us to ask the bartender for service. We were completely ignored while watching no less than four-five employees at a time clucking around the bar. Never offered water until we ordered drinks from Darius. I seriously regret even staying to order a meal. Hard to understand how we went unnoticed when a couple was seated right next to us (&after us) and was served in a completely timely manner. Tugs- your customer service is a joke/horrible/and the WORST!!! The teenage manager repeatedly left to walk around in the parking lot. Thank goodness for Darius who took care of us WHILE also tending bar. Thanks for the lack luster birthday lunch Tugs. I will now refer to you as Turds. Turd manager and Turd wait staff. Darius, hats off for picking up everyone else's slack. TURDS STUNK!
(1)John Z.
This place is fine if you just want a beer, but if you want to eat, expect poorly cooked food that takes way too long to come out. Nothing is made in-house, it all appears to be mass distro food-service type food. You're better off driving over to Midtown or South Main.
(2)Bev H.
Tried this place again. Meatloaf was obviously Sysco. Reuben sandwich was sub average. This place needs to learn to cook onsite. So disappointing since we live in Mud Island.
(2)John S.
One of only a handful of restaurants in Memphis that have a river view, Tug's Casual Cafe is in the Harbortown community on Mud Island. Its prices are reasonable and its food is excellent. Special mention has to be made of the paper-thin catfish which is second only to Middendorf's in Manchac, LA and the Wagyu Burger, which is awesome. And on weekends, Tug's has brunch way past noon! Tug's has desserts, but I like to walk over to the nearby Terrace at the rooftop of the River Inn (same owners) for dessert and a view of the Mississippi from higher up.
(5)David K.
We showed up on Mother's Day; reservation in hand and our party of 6 was seated within minutes. Really do not like going out on these obligatory "Holidays" because of limited menus and typically crappy service. I wasn't looking for much but we were really surprised. I had the Salmon and it was really good. Guests had crab cake benidict that looked fantastic and drew nothing but compliments from my Mother...she's never happy with anything. We had a great lunch on a very difficult day for them. I will definitely be back.
(4)Carl N.
We came here for Mother's Day brunch. We requested seating on the patio. Waited for 10 minutes and no service. Came back inside and were seated. We were informed that they forgot to tell anyone that we were outside. Received a free Bloody Mary. My wife and I both ordered eggs benedict, 20 minutes later it came. Luke warm, eggs over cooked. The coffee that my wife ordered was luke warm and already had sugar in it, came off of another table. We have eaten here a number of times and have never had a bad meal until today.
(1)Krystal E.
Despite many of my fellow Yelpers...I actually really like this place. It's gets me out of the norm, & I feel like I'm out of the city when I come here. I always get the grilled chicken salad with pecan-crusted goat cheese--bad on the waistline, but YUMMO!!
(3)Rex Wayne S.
Amazing food. And a great beer and bar selection. They have my fav. Memphis beer in ghost river. Never had a bad food at tugs everything is good. I enjoy the blackened Mississippi catfish and the grilled veggies.
(5)Julie J.
Very average menu and food. Atmosphere isn't great but servers are friendly. Walking in, Tugs looks like an old sports bar (which is sort of is) and you expect the same level of menu. But it will surprise you with a bit more to it - fresh fish filets, lettuce wraps, etc. We took our food to go but the servers were all very nice while we waited! We had the southwest rolls and the salmon entree. The rolls were pretty tasty with a sort of chipotle cheese dip, but nothing amazing. The salmon was cooked well, not over, and had some nice herb lemon flavor. It came with a bland angel hair pasta and some sautéed vegetables. Overall, this is a solid place to go late at night when nothing else is open, but I wouldn't say it's great or one of a kind.
(3)Catherine M.
Tugs has your basic sports bar feel. Their alcohol selection is by no means exhaustive but will do for most. My biggest criticism is their chicken tenders are HORRIBLE! There was no salt, and they were very dark which I suspect is from either being cooked twice or recycled oil. How can one trust a bar that hasn't mastered chicken tenders? I will probably go back just to drink, hopefully the fries are better.
(2)Ren G.
I wanted to like this place because I went with my grandparents and they really love it. But I was not charmed. The river views are nice! If you don't mind the sticky little tables and ridiculously uncomfortable seating. I mean, how much could it possibly cost to make this little patio a destination instead of a landfill with a nice view? A few good chairs and cute tables and a decorative lamp or two would really spruce it up and make it fit into the district better. My first impression of the place was not helped by walking in to see a hostess whom I'd worked with at another restaurant and personally knew to be rude and incompetent. If they'd hire her, what else are they doing wrong? The answer to that question turns out to be practically everything. Our first server was very nice. He was obviously annoyed by a mistake the hostess had made, but he was prompt and friendly and gave the impression of knowing what he was doing. Then, without explanation, our server changed to a pair of servers. After that, one of the pair kept coming back, and never introduced himself or explained he would now be taking care of us. He did the minimal things necessary to keep a table happy, but obviously knew nothing about being friendly and likable with guests. If you can't fake being happy to be there, this is not the industry for you. The food was another lackluster event. My grandparents, although they did not complain, probably should have. My grandfather's panini had obviously been sitting in the window a while. My grandmother's quesadilla looked fine, but if it held up the panini long enough for the cheese on the sandwich to get waxy, this kitchen has a problem. I ordered the onion straws with remoulade and spinach and artichoke dip. The onion straws were very good, my only complaint being that they're kind of hard to eat, like shoe string fries. The spinach dip, however, was deathly unappetizing. The top was covered in bread crumbs, which was the first major mistake, and the dip itself tasted like cheap parm cream with a little bit of spinach thrown in. Very Applebees on a bad night kind of thing. I would NOT order this again, and if I were the owner, I'd do myself and my business a favor by taking it off of the menu. So between the weird service, the patio that actually downgraded our riverfront view instead of making us want to stay all afternoon and order dessert, and the mediocre to terrible food, I will not be back unless I'm dragged by a family member. Do yourself a favor, Tugs management, and keep a better eye on your staff, your kitchen, and your guests overall experience. My visit certainly could've used some managing!
(2)April S.
I when to Tug's on a Saturday afternoon for lunch with friends. The service was incredibly slow. Our server took our drink order right a way but he waited a long time before asking if we would like to order any food. Tug's serves a brunch menu until 3pm on Saturday. I wasn't in the mood for brunch-y type food so I went with the hot wings. The wings were passable at best. They were small in size and could have used more sauce. The sauce was thin and mild. The blue cheese dressing was thin too... Down right watery, in fact. I had to fish around with a piece of celery to locate any actual blue cheese. The one positive from this visit besides the company of friends was the fact that we were able to sit on the patio and enjoy the weather. I don't believe I will be returning to Tug's just for the patio, however.
(2)Misti M.
I went to this place for the first time 6/11/2014 during the lunch hour. My review is going to be mixed. I loved the outdoor seating ,but they were very busy and we could not get one of those tables. I am happy for them because I like to see businesses doing well. Inside was lovely and comfortable and I think they have a very nice bar area. I placed my order for a cup of "the best gumbo outside of New Orleans" , to be my appetizer. It never came. I got up and found my waiter to ask him about it after waiting some time and he assured me that he had heard me. In the meantime, my meal finally arrived. I was given the gumbo , which came AFTER my meal was served, free to apologize. I'm not too impressed right now, and waiter is just shrugging his shoulders and telling me he put the order in , as if to say, HEY it ain't my fault. About this gumbo.... thick and rich, flavorful, but does not have the dollup of rice in it I love. I have had gumbo all over Memphis and I would rank them as #3 behind The Bayou and Owen Brennan's and in a dead tie for third with the Half Shell, but NOT the best outside of New Orleans. My entree was a chicken breast stuffed with cheese and tomatoes, mashed potato, and sauteed spinach. I would rate this as very good and quite interesting. The mashed potatoes were excellent and so was the spinach. I also tasted my companion's turnip greens and they were very good. overall the meal was quite tasty. I would go back with hopes of getting an outside table and gazing at the river and the passing traffic. Overall a nice place, makes you feel like you have gotten out of Memphis a little.
(3)Rebecca R.
Kind of surprised at some of the bad reivews! I live in Harbor Town and go to Tug's at least once a week. Yes, a lot of it has to do with the convenience factor, but I also really like the place! If you sit outside on a busy day, the service can get slow. With that being said, I've only had bad service maybe 3 or 4 times and I've been there well over 50-60 times. I've tried a lot of the menu and have liked almost everything. My favorites are the spring salad, the cajun chicken sandwich, their burgers (love their burgers!), shrimp pasta, cajun chicken pasta etc..... Overall, I would recommend it, especially if you live close like I do!
(4)Sean M.
The problem with Tug's is that it is yet another quasi-fine dining restaurant with expensive but mediocre food. The bar is in a great location, but it is so quiet inside you can't have a private conversation. Some changes I'd like to see: Drop the formal dining style, let the staff wear street clothes, ditch the lite-FM music--in short, act like a bar. As it is, Tug's and its sister restaurant across the street are competing for the same clientèle, which makes no sense. Until the place lightens up, I and every other middle-aged professional on the Island will continue to head over to TJs for a quick beer, or to one of a dozen better restaurants for a dinner date. Pros: excellent happy hour, great location, friendly staff. Cons: stiff atmosphere, over-priced, average food
(2)Gary P.
I've been to Tugs twice and had the Gumbo both times, which is very good. The service is attentive and fast. I would go back again the next time I'm on Mud Island.
(3)Josh S.
Awesome happy hour food and decent drink specials. Brisket sliders n fried pickles all the way. Happy Hour every day from 3-7
(4)Robert M.
Below average, overpriced bar food with horrible service. Have eaten at Tugs about 3 times since it opened and nothing has changed from the first time I visited. This place is an embarrassment to Harbor Town.
(1)Tal C.
3.5 good service, enjoyable Pub atmosphere and great gumbo.
(3)Cristina H.
I think this is a more casual grill type for harbortown. We walked in and we were greeted and sat very quickly bc it wasnt that crowded. Waitress came with a smile and we ordered our drinks. I got a Beliini Martini and my friend got the TN Tea. Both made fine and without a long wait. We looked over menu and realized we just missed the happy hour....DARN oh well maybe next time!!! So we asked for two minutes and she came back in more like ten lol. no biggie tho just more time for us to chit chat before stuffing our face plus we noticed she was bringing out food to the family next to us...Their fries looked really good. I ordered blackened chicken pasta which was absolutely the bomb!!! and he ordered salmon. I should have taken a picture but im guessing his was good too bc both our plates were empty. They dont give huge portions they give you enough to eat right then. But overall this might be our next spot since Harbortown is so close. Next time I may try the amberjack :)
(4)Laura H.
We went for breakfast this past Sunday and enjoyed our trip to Tug's. There was no wait, which is a big plus in my book. I love the location in Harbortown. It's such a cute area and our table offered a nice view of the river. My farmer's omlet was fine, nothing special. I will say that the grits were pretty great though! Service was good, cute place. We'll probably stop in again sometime.
(3)Aaron H.
Good burger. Everything else is rather mediocre. Avoid the wings. I also enjoyed the sweet tea.
(3)Christine L.
INCREDIBLY SLOW SERVICE. do NOT go here if you don't have more than an hour to waste sitting around doing nothing and waiting for them to move around. We came here on a Saturday for a brunchy type of meal. First things first, it is gorgeous if the weather is outside and you can sit outside in the patio area and view the river. I do give it props for the view. However, everything else beyond that went downhill. FOOD - we ordered: chicken and cheese quesadilla - it was plain. they put in an extra something to make it taste a little heavier than usual, and there was that extra something in it that i wasn't too fond of. not a big fan. meatloaf - it was aites. i dont like meatloaf in general. the mashed potatos were cold upon arrival and didnt' taste great. gumbo - looked nasty and tasted subpar. kids meal chicken tenders and fries - fries were soggy and not fried. looked very under cooked. chicken tenders had no breading, very dry chicken on the inside. not recommended. bread pudding with bourbon sauce - i ordered this based on a yelpers recommendation. i highly do not recommend it. it comes out in a big slab and it just doesn't taste that great. its not warm, its pretty hard textured. i could taste the bourbon in the sauce which was good, but it seemed greasy and runny. i'm not a fan of this bread pudding. def not recommended. Mimosa- we also ordered a mimosa, which came out in a tiny cup. that was aites, but i couldn't even taste the vodka and I'm incredibly sensitive to alcohol. SERVICE - our waitstaff was nice, he was nothing short of polite and nice. but that's about it. he was never around to refill water. he was never around to really check up on how we were doing. I ordered a bread pudding and he seemed to forget about it until i had to get up, walk inside, tell another waiter about my order and asked for the checks because i was more than ready to get out of there. Also another waitress was the one that came out with it. Then finally after i had already been done eating the dang thing, our waiter comes out with our check, and then never really came back to pick it up. I had to walk inside to ask someone if i could pay for it in order to get out of this establishment. Dont get me wrong, this is a normal place to go eat if you live on the island or if you're visiting mud island. However, if you're looking to have even half of the rest of your day, do not come here. they literally take forever, and the service is WAY TOO SLOW. i had to get up several times and walk inside to ask for anything that we were looking for. Its not even worth it food wise. Dont get me wrong, the food was EDIBLE. but it wasn't tasty. I'm sorry but I'm not coming back again.
(1)Husni E.
Happy hour 3-7 M-Th....Unfortunately that along with the service are the only good things about Tug's these days. Their fries (and anything they fry) really are consistently soggy, oily and bland. Their burgers are inconsistent at best....good when they decide to actually season the meat before grilling...not asking much just some salt and pepper to bring out the flavor (common sense not rocket science). Their wings are good but nothing to write home about and they don't really offer the gradations of heat most places do. They're fish and chips are woeful at best...they are over breaded (again not even seasoned) and so incredibly soggy that the oil was literally dripping off of them (on the plus side, there were 4 large pieces). Since it's the only "bar" on the island, we'll probably continue to hope to dodge their "bad food days"....
(2)Raymond B.
Haiku review: Sports bar, not much more Beer on tap, burgers for 10 Plus nice river view.
(3)Ann P.
I didn't like anything I've order. The foods and drinks were made all wrong. They were so off it was hardly edible. My food was extremely salty, and my alcoholic beverage was made wrong. I asked them to remake the drink, and it got worst. I tried hard to finish to get my money's worth, but i couldn't finish either one. Didn't want to kill myself with horrible eatings.
(1)Ebonye B.
I went to Tug's on Sunday after church. We were quickly seated inside. The server was friendly. I ordered a salad with shrimp. When I received it, I was appalled by the white and yellow leaves in my $12 salad. One or two, I understand. However, this quantity of subpar lettuce is what I would expect from a fast food chain for $5. The oversight and lack of quality from the greens was disappointing. The only reason I'm giving them 3 stars: The shrimp was very tasty.
(3)Kay H.
A good place with a variety of american food, affordable prices, with a good happy hour period during the weekdays 4-7 pm , it is bar/restaurant, in a great location on mud island in Memphis Tennessee, just a mile away from Downtown Memphis.
(3)Barry W.
Good place for a business lunch if you are the downtown area - Save room for the apple pie
(3)Todd H.
Not bad. Fair drinks and a fun location. Hummus was a bit bland. Pretty good, friendly service. We will be back.
(3)Jolynna M.
Tug's isn't a place I go for dinner, per se, but it's a great spot to meet up with friends for drinks and appetizers. They have TVs throughout the bar area and dining room, so it's a fun place to watch a big game as well. I really like their Spinach Artichoke Dip and get it almost every time I go. It's served hot with a plate of soft, warm pita wedges. Their nachos are also worth mentioning. Tuesdays are Trivia Nights. Bring a group of friends and get in on the fun.
(3)Scott L.
First timer and we were there for a Monday business lunch--will be back. It was the day after St Patty's Day and all the specials seemed like they were left-overs...Shepherd's Pie, Potato Soup, Cabbage and Corned Beef, etc. I went for the 4 veggie plate since it was lunch. They were all great! Loved the perfectly seasoned Lima Beans and Cole Slaw. The house dressing, a lemon vinaigrette, was super on my house salad...BUT...couldn't eat their gumbo. Really bad. It had a very thick, dark roux so it seemed to have been over-cooked or possibly yesterday's gumbo that was over-reheated. Some small bites of sausage and dont recall any shrimp if it was supposed to have shrimp. My colleague had the Turkey Reuben and Fries. Huge sandwich, lots of turkey and grilled onions. She shared her crispy fries--like, like, like! We will try it again and I will ask for a sample of the gumbo before I order it again. Or, maybe not go on a Monday.
(3)Erica B.
After reading an awesome review in the Downtowner, my husband and I went to Tug's for appetizers and drinks. I was specifically interested in one drink they made mention of in this article- The Grape Bubble Yum Martini. Ummmmm what right-minded gal wouldn't want to try this delicious sounding drink?! I found when I got there that it was comprised of grape vodka, grape Puckers, sweet and sour and Sprite. It was delightfully fab- though I couldn't handle more than one as it was very sweet. Another delightful surprise, we happened to go on a Thursday- "Ladies Night" which meant I got Happy Hour priced drinks all night cuz I am of the female persuasion. I was able to try this fun martini for only 4 bucks. The rest of my drinks (wine by the glass) only cost a mere $3 bucks per glass. I am always happy to partake in drinks, especially when they are easy on the wallet. We ordered the spinach and artichoke dip as well as a bowl of the seafood gumbo- both of which were noted as favorites to try in the article I read. The spinach and artichoke dip was served with warm & toasty pita wedges (yum-o) and the gumbo had juicy, plump chunks of shrimp and crawfish floating amidst the creamy broth and seasonings. We both enjoyed the atmosphere, it was very casual, yet still had an air of class about it. They offer outdoor and indoor seating- both with equally amazing views.
(3)Justin S.
Very good food and bar. Haven't ever had something there I didn't like! Their sweet potato fries are a favorite, as are each of their soups and sandwiches.
(4)Cheri T.
For $18.95 I expect more than a wad of greasy fries straight out of a frozen fries bag and a paper thin sliver of ribeye with no seasoning. No vegetables in sight unless you want to spring for another $5 for a house salad. The frozen fries were billed as shoestring but they were just the fries you would get at a really indifferent burger joint. The one star is for the view, which is great.
(1)Mike G.
Really maybe 2.5 stars. The food is overpriced and not very good. They have a nice wine collection for the Stepford Wives of Mud Island. Their music selection is horrible.
(3)Terry B.
Good bar and grill with a boring menu selection. Even the daily specials are hit or miss. And desserts are poor even with two great shops dow the street that bake like crazy. We had the meatloaf (a regular) and the blacken Tilipia. I make better cornbread. Service was great. Fun to watch the sunset on the river. Not that expensive (2 for about $40) excluding drinks.
(2)Andy H.
I think the other reviewer who hit on 2.5 stars is about right, but I will round up for the friendly staff. The food is just ok, and I feel the prices are a bit high for the quality you get. The best deal is for happy hour, with the small plate options. There really is a lot of potential at Tugs.
(3)Nessa W.
My co-worker and I decided to make the trip downtown to Tug's for lunch. We were able to walk right in and get a table, same as everyone that came after us. The menu is filled with a lot of delicious options. My co-wo had been before, but it was my first time. My co-wo decided on the veggie sandwich that comprised of grilled zucchini, yellow squash, mushroom, roasted red pepper, mozzarella, and Thai mayonnaise on ciabatta with fries. I ordered the Tug's spring salad which consisted of greens mixed with balsamic dressing, cranberries, oranges, walnuts and topped with warm goat cheese. My co-wo's food looked great and she enjoyed it immensely. My salad was so divine that I can't wait to go back and get it again. After we returned to work, we told another co-wo about our lunch and she explained how she use to frequent Tug's in past for trivia night, but the food was so bad her group stopped going. After hearing our rave reviews she said she will consider going again. Another thing I will mention is that our waiter was very friendly, but he had his arm wrapped in a bandage. I think he should have worn a long sleeve shirt.
(4)MtnCritter M.
Tug's opened it's doors this past November and was highly anticipated as a casual option for diners on Mud Island. We enjoyed dinner there for the soft opening and the food was quite good but as can be expected the prices were on the high side. Service was efficient and friendly and has continued to be the times we've visited since. Items we've enjoyed: house salad with lemon dressing, mushroom bisque, gumbo, chili, Guiness, Anchor Steam. Atmosphere isn't great yet, maybe in need of some better lighting and for the staff to switch out of the green shirts to something that doesn't conjure images of "pieces of flair" like just black. Bar: only 3 beers on tap but they boast the "Mid-south's only" Guiness Surger which is pretty interesting to experience if you're sitting at the bar. Weekend nights tend to be busy and usually a wait for a table. Patio seating on busy turn-in street but fair river view. In the near future I would return and get a beer and something off of the starters menu.
(3)