Circa

I don’t care for this restaurant. I think its pretentious and forgettable.
I actually ate there a month ago and I’m racking my brain trying to remember what I had. All I remember is that I didnt like it. If you want to pay $ 50 for 2 spears of asparagus, a scoop of salty potatoes and a piece of salty meat then go for it, this is your place !
My arugula salad was fine but nothing to write home about. Nothing here is that great. I think its too salty. With enough salt and butter anything could taste good but it doesnt here.
Meh…Yawn…boring, now I’m out $ 150. The Wine was good though. Hah !

I’m absolutely in love with Circa. I usually don’t opt for fine dining, but this is one restaurant that is worth the big bucks. I’ve had the oysters on the half shell, the ahi tuna and the duck breast and never been disappointed. Very upscale and relaxing environment as well.

Don’t get the vegetarian plate!

Great food and we will go back. The service was lacking and my 5% tip rewarded the experience.

We came for our anniversary dinner (26 years!).
Décor is sleek and contemporary with monochromatic tones of gray and black. There are great-​looking curvy wine racks that cover most of a couple of the walls and add warmth to the cool gray.
We were delighted with the backlit menus, which look so much classier than having to hold our phones up for light to read the menu. Apparently Circa is the only Memphis restaurant to have these menus, but I predict they will become more popular.
We love appetizers, so we started with the artisan cheeses, dalmatia fig jam, and homemade walnut bread. The bread was nutty and delicious and combined perfectly with the cheeses and jam for an incredible appetizer.
Jim ordered the lettuce wedge and I had the tomato-​cucumber salad, which was light and flavorful.
The pan-​seared scallops were served in pistou with cannellini beans and roasted vegetables. The scallops, cooked perfectly, tasted fresh and clean.
Jim had the ahi tuna, with wasabi mashed potatoes and soy beurre blanc. He’s a red meat lover, so when he says the tuna tasted as good as a steak, that’s a very good sign.
I chose the pan roasted group and shrimp in beurre blanc sauce, which was rich, buttery and tasty. The fish was tender and flaky and the shrimp were especially well complemented by the sauce.
We skipped dessert, opting instead to finish the spicy cabernet we ordered.
Jim said the only thing that kept the experience from being perfect is that we could see the large TV in the bar from our table. Otherwise, a flawless dining experience perfect for a special occasion.

Just stunning. First, to find out that Chef appreciates single barrel scotch as much as I do is a big plus. What an inventory. And the wine. Did I mention the wine? Holy jeepers… the wine! Then the salivation begins upon opening the menu. What do I choose? We sat at Chef’s Table and shared everything. Did Tinker Bell sprinkle pixie dust in the kitchen? Forget that generic franchise steakhouse that shares the parking lot. This is the place.

Absolute fabulous lunch — great wine list. Really one of the better places in Memphis.

What happened, Circa? When Circa moved to East Memphis. I heard great things, and the location was right near my office, so I couldn’t wait to go. I went for drinks/​apps after it opened. The food, wine and décor earned 5 stars from me!
The more I went though, the less I enjoyed the food. The wine list was still good, but the food just wasn’t at the same level as the first time I went.
I’ve had he house salad, which was good. I’ve also eaten the lamb shank, which had a great texture, but very little flavor. The veal had good flavor, but was completely dry. I can’t remember if I had quail or duck, but I do remember the meat was like trying to cut into a combination of rubber and leather.
So yeah, I’ve been to Circa a few times, and I think they have a great concept! However, when my co-​workers won’t go to Circa (even when the company is paying), then I doubt I will be going back anytime soon.

This is my favorite restaurant in Memphis. Since they moved from downtown I do not make the 10 mile trek there often but when I do I am always happy. John Bragg excels at many dishes but I love what he does with veal. The last time I was there I had salmon and my friend had one of the veal dishes, we switched after one bite because she sail I looked unhappy. Jay recommended a great Pinot, but I have never had a bad wine at Circa.
Thinking about a big night out. .. Circa is the best big night restaurant in the city.

I used to frequent Circa at the original Downtown location. Since it’s moved to East Memphis, I’ve gone for happy hour a number of times since it is virtually across the street from my office. I finally made it there for dinner recently and it confirmed that chef John Bragg still has his knack for creatively crafted fare.
The décor is very clean and modern, and I first must say that whoever invented the light-​up menu holders is a flipping genius (how many times have you been in a dimly lit restaurant and had to try and see by the light of that teeny candle on the table??).
We shared the tuna appetizer, and it was quite nice. For dinner, I had a steak that was cooked to perfection. And for dessert, I am glad to say that we ordered the chocolate soufflé — it is absolutely sinful, and worth every single calorie!
One thing that you can always count on at Circa is the wine selection, one that can only be described as «eclectic.» Additionally, the menu suggests pairings with each selection, so if you can’t decide on which one to try, let the restaurant choose for you. Either way, you can’t go wrong.

There are very few chefs in Memphis who are creating buzz like John Bragg. He was even voted the best restaurant in town by readers of Memphis Magazine. Even a move from Downtown to East Memphis hasn’t dimmed his popularity. Of course my husband, Tom, and I had to try it out.
For his appetizer, Tom ordered crawfish beignets with red pepper remoulade. He was extremely excited about this dish; the description made him salivate. While the beignets were light and not at all greasy, they were bland, and the remoulade added very little flavor.
I decided on the artisan cheese and meat platter: St. André Triple Crème, manchego, Bonny Blue chèvre, bresaola, chorizo, and capicola. The meats and cheese were of very good quality, but there were very few accoutrements– a bit of crostini and a few strawberries.
For my entrée, I chose the Georgia Bobwhite Quail stuffed with chorizo and served with polenta and seasonal vegetables. The quail was extremely tender, well-​cooked, and well-​seasoned. The polenta was creamy and thick, and the vegetables were crisp-​tender. The overall presentation was delicate and hearty at the same time. I was quite satisfied with the dish.
Tom chose the daily special, lamb shank with a side of Parmesan gnocchi. The portion was huge. It looked like the Brontosaurus ribs that tipped over Fred’s car in the opening credits of the Flintstones. It was fall off the bone tender with a flavor reminiscent of mom’s pot roast. It was juicy and flavorful, but didn’t seem as refined as something that would be served at this type of restaurant. The Parmesan gnocchi were actually deep-​fried and flavored with chives. They had the taste and texture of fancy tater tots.
For dessert, we chose the chocolate soufflé, which was served with vanilla gelato. It was dense, rich, and an appropriate end to the meal, but we’ve had much better versions. This one was nothing special.
Final Impressions: Come to think of it, there was nothing special about the meal at all. When I spend $ 150, I’d like at least one item to be memorable, and these items just weren’t. Maybe I didn’t select the correct choices. Either way, Circa would be a great place for a nice, romantic dinner or a girls night out. The quality of the food is excellent, but the taste is hit or miss.

This place is awesome! Friendly service and great food. See the hostess Liz and she’ll hook you up with a patio seat!

I’ve been to Circa at least 4 times. I’m glad that they moved to East Memphis – a little bit closer to home. The atmosphere is great – although it is a fine dining restaurant, it’s still nice for quick work lunch. I’ve had mostly seafood dishes when I was here: the salmon, snapper, and tuna. All of them were delicious and satisfying. The prices are definitely fair. The bar is also great for a snazzy happy hour after work.

It took me about fifteen minutes to figure out that Circa has moved from downtown to East Memphis. Note, my review is for when it was still downtown — though I am sure the menu is comparable.
I am surprised to see some negative reviews on here because I had what was arguably the best steak of my life at Circa… and I’ve had a LOT of steak — from New York City to Cheyenne, Wyoming (where this are probably more cows than people).
I don’t know if it was a special or a regular item, but it was a filet wrapped in bacon topped with bleu cheese. I ordered it medium rare, though I probably asked for it more on the rare side. The steak was phenomenal. PHENOMENAL. I could just about cut it with a butter knife and it was unbelievably tender and delicious. I have wet dreams about this steak, still.
We got a cheese platter, which was great, and I can’t remember what my dining companion ate, but he loved it. We had a bottle of Malbec that our server recommended and it was exquisite.
The interior was very trendy and hip, but I don’t know if that is still the case at the new location. The service was superb as well, which I’m sure remains consistent.
We had a truly wonderful dining experience here — probably the best I’ve had in Memphis. I’m from Philadelphia which is a very «foodie» city, and this place was on par with some of the nicer restaurants there.

Well, I was a bit disappointed in Circa this time. I had been for lunch and thought it was really good. Although lunch is never a testament to the kitchen in my opinion, I did believe they had quality food and talented chefs.
I took clients here to dinner a few weeks ago. The restaurant is intimate with low lighting and cool design. There were four of us and we were greeted promptly once we sat down. I will be honest, the server was untalented in every respect. We had trouble understanding him, he was overbearing and was just not what I would expect for one of the nicer dining establishments in Memphis.
The wine list was actually pretty good. Had an amazing bottle of Muscadet from the Loire that hit the spot on a hot night. I started with an Artichoke noodle salad served with udon, truffle oil, shaved artichoke and parm. It was a cold dish that was perfect to start with.
Ordered another bottle but moved into a Cab since some were having meats. Had a Newton Claret that was excellent and very reasonable.
My dinner guests raved about the filet so I tried that out. It was overcooked when I asked for Medium Rare. It tasted okay but was nothing special. Bearnaise sauce was served over the steak and it had a small side of whipped potatoes that tasted like they came out of a box.
Some other entrée items on our table were duck and tuna. The tuna looked good but it was a bit grainy.
We split some deserts which were pretty good and after dinner drinks. We were toasted by this point and did not need the after dinner’s but we had fun.
Overall, I think I would give it one more try. Prices are a bit much for what you get in return. There are some good values on the wine list if you know what to search for.

Nice small bar but comfortable for dinner.
Roasted tomato soup was sublime.
Stiped Bass was nicely paired with risotto and peas.
The pastry crust on my strawberry tart was perfectly crunchy.
Went back with my colleague and was again impressed. My buddy didn’t fare as well that night.
I’m coming back.

UPDATE:
Had the chance to go back to Circa, (My wife was given a gift certificate for her birthday, otherwise, we’d have gone elsewhere) and things went quite a bit better. Service was great, wine selection was exceptional ($ 60 Tresor would be tough to beat) and I immensely enjoyed my medium rare Strip Steak. One down note was that my wife did not care for her Red Snapper dish much at all. Luckily the Strip was so big I was able to give her nearly a third of it. All in all, a much better visit than last time. Still, I only raised my opinion of the place to 3 stars due to the price you pay (unless you’re packing said gift card) — its still a far cry from Erling’s or Iris. Still, fair is fair, so I had to share our better than expected last trip.
PREVIOUS REVIEW:
I went recently to celebrate my anniversary and after reading the reviews, there seemed to be a disparity in the experiences had by the reviewers. However, due to Circa’s generally positive reputation, we were pretty excited about trying out this place from a guy who cut his teeth with Erling Jenson.
First the good: Nice location, nice wine list, pretty cool décor,… the rest, meh. That’s all I’ve got.
Now the rest: We made reservations, but clearly didn’t need to as we were one of few couples there. Then surprisingly waited around 15 minutes for someone to come by our table. I never do this, but I got up to ask someone if we were seated in the right section. Without apologizing, the guy said he’d be with me in a minute. Finally, guess who our server was? Nice!
Ever been one of the last few at a party when you can tell the hosts are ready to go to bed? That’s exactly how we felt all night, except it was 8:00! And we were at a restaurant! Still, its our party so we tried to rally. We started with drinks and then ordered a pretty nice bottle of wine. ($ 140ish)
I’ve waited tables before, I know there are off nights, but still, we were obviously there to spend money. Humor me a little?
The food came later, my wife had the soft shell crab, I had tuna over wasabi mashed potatoes. Not bad, but not great either, just well, meh? The only memorable part of the meal? The wine we ordered and poured ourselves.
Look, I am no dining snob, and I hate to let just one bored server and an average night in the kitchen ruin the place for me. But then again, if you’re going to have «Brought to you by John Bragg!» stenciled on every flat surface, and then charge for a premium dining experience, I expect a bit more than what we sat through.
Finally, I assure anyone reading this I am no jealous competitor, just a guy who likes eating out. Hopefully the mgmt tightens the screws and one of you will tell me about the flawless night you’ve had there someday. Believe me, I would welcome it.

Circa is a great little restaurant on Main Street– so hip and cool, light and airy. I love the look of the place and the way they display their wine as if it’s part of the décor. Think art deco wine racks attached to the walls, housing dozens of wine bottles. They also have outdoor seating for when the weather is nice.
I’ve only been for lunch, and I’ve sampled a few items like the lobster and crab bisque, grilled tuna sandwich, and cobb salad. All were very good. I couldn’t stop eating the fries that came with my sandwich– so delish.
I’d like to come back during the dinner hour because it seems like a great place to chill and relax while catching up with friends.

I have given Circa three chances because it keeps getting praise in print. After the last chance it is safe to say that short of a gun being put near my head I won’t be returning.
Let me be fair the food is not atrocious, nor is the service, or wine list. They are all adequate, just not for the price you pay. The food is mid-​grade for dining in Memphis (saying something since Memphis is hardly the gastronomic center of the world) but is priced as though you were at the tip-​top. The wine list (celebrated by the good folks at the Commercial Appeal) is extensive (again, for Memphis) but laughably overpriced. The service is actually the weak link here, just not even mid-​range. I have waited 45 minutes for a check, requested utensils, sauces, and other things that never arrived, and not experienced anyone with a half decent understanding of the wine list.
To be frank for the price this is a 1-​star, but I feel this is extreme since it is not a horrible restaurant, just an over-​rated and over-​priced one.
One other note, the «cool» wood wall that runs through the center of the restaurant adds an interesting flair (not remarkably original or attractive but interesting for Memphis), unfortunately it also gives the restaurant a cramped feeling that makes you feel as though you are eating in a box. If you must eat here do your best to sit outside.
***Update for Jack B.***
I may not have been exceedingly gentle or kind in my review but I never stooped to personal attacks or name calling. How about you class it up a bit and attack my points and not me. Thanks a bunch

I went again last week with a couple of business associates. This restaurant still stands out. The food is excellent, the service wonderful. The waitress even remembered me for what I did to their apple pie.
We just had salad and appetizers to eat, but we had a really nice bottle of wine and we had Armagnac’s to finish up. That was great and the price was good too.