Magnolia & May: What to expect at new Memphis restaurant by family behind The Grove Grill

Chip and Amanda Dunham have been working on their new restaurant for more than a year now. On Friday, Magnolia & May opens its doors.

The couple, who previously ran The Grove Grill with Chip’s father, Jeff Dunham, have transformed an East Memphis insurance office into a charming and quaint dining establishment, complete with a large bar and an inviting patio.

Being touted as a country brasserie, Magnolia & May is a more causal dining establishment than Grove Grill. 

The couple, who met while in culinary school at The Culinary Institute of America in New York, will share duties running the restaurant. Chip is in charge of the kitchen, and Amanda runs the dining room.

The food

Chip defines a country brasserie as “an informal restaurant where creative and rustic dishes from countries around the world are served — all while staying loyal to our French technique, using seasonal and local ingredients where it makes sense.”

Magnolia & May’s menu will also be strongly influenced by Chip’s experience in Southern kitchens.

“We will be serving rustic cuisine from around the world,” Chip said. “While we will use Southern ingredients, it is not just Southern food.”

The menu includes items like a Black-eyed Pea Falafel — a Mediterranean classic made with Southern ingredients. Pork porterhouse chops are crusted in tortilla chips and served with Mexican Rice, Ancho Cream and Avocado Salsa to give them a Southwestern spin.

The house burger has a unique spin. The griddled burger is served with a “cheese skirt.” “We cook the cheese on the flat top to get it nice and crispy,” Chip said.

Vegetarian items like a Collard Green Melt and a house-made, beet-based veggie burger are also included in Magnolia & May’s offerings.

Chip said the menu will be “ever evolving.” “Especially since we now have to print paper menus daily,” he added, referring to the COVID-19 regulations restaurants are implementing.

Amanda has created a beverage program that includes a curated wine list, local beers and frozen drinks.

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The space

The Dunhams spent more than a year remodeling the building. They tore out walls to create an open dining room with a large 17-seat bar as the centerpiece.

Exposed brick, reclaimed wood shelves made from the wood torn out of the 1940s building and a wall made from bourbon barrel staves create a rustic look reminiscent of a European brasserie. Longtime Memphians will appreciate that the bar top was made from old bowling lanes from the long-gone Imperial Bowling Lanes on Summer Avenue.

At full capacity, the dining room will seat 49. Outdoor seating is available on both an enclosed patio and the front porch.

Chip thinks the casual atmosphere is what Memphians are looking for now. “Would you rather eat in your grandmother’s dining room or be on the patio grilling burgers?” Chip said.

And if you are wondering about the name, it has an interesting story.  A family tradition the Dunhams have is to nickname babies during pregnancy. Magnolia was the nickname for the Dunhams' daughter, and May was the nickname for her cousin.

Jennifer Chandler is the Food & Dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at jennifer.chandler@commercialappeal.com and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @cookwjennifer. 

At a glance

Magnolia & May

Where: 718 Mt. Moriah Road

Hours: 4-10 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 4-9 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday

Phone: (901)  676-8100

Online: magnoliamay.com

Reservations: Reservations only accepted for parties of six or more