Sun Studios Cafe in Memphis, Tennessee: Review

Memphis, Tennessee is known the world over as the birthplace of the blues, but to millions of people it is also known as the home of Elvis. Every August hundreds of thousands of people make the pilgrimage to Graceland to pay their respects to the King on the anniversary of his death. The trip to Graceland is the main event, but no trip to Memphis is complete without a trip to the Sun Studios Cafe in downtown Memphis.

Sun Studios Cafe occupies the first floor of the famous Sun Studios where Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins all recorded some of their first hits. Elvis is a main focus, but there is more to Sun Studio Cafe than just Elvis. All music fans will find something to catch their interest on the memorabilia covered walls, from the obligatory pictures of Elvis to pictures of Irish rockers U2 when they recorded part of their hit "Rattle and Hum" in the still functioning studio upstairs. There is also a jukebox that if filled with the songs that have made Sun Studio a mecca for recording artists an their fans for a half century.

But the Sun Studio Cafe is about more that just good times and memories. They also serve a full menu of standard diner fare, in addition to some treats that you won't find anywhere else. There are the standard hamburgers and fries that are really good in addition to being large, but they really isn't anything to distinguish them from any other hamburger that you might find at any other small diner. To really have the complete Sun Studio Cafe experience, try the Fried Peanut Butter and Banana sandwich, a favorite of-- you guessed it-- Sun Studio's most famous alumnus, Elvis Presley. The Fried Peanut and Banana Sandwich is slathered with thick peanut butter, loaded with sliced bananas and coated with butter on both sides of the bread before being fried on the grill. It's not diet friendly or heart healthy, but it is strangely good. It's definitely not an everyday treat, though.

The Sun Studio Cafe is opened seven days a week from 10 am to 8 pm. In addition to the music themed menu, there is food that will appeal to even the pickiest eater, so bring the family. Free tours of the upstairs studio are available daily, so plan to spend a few hours on your trip.