By Sandi Butler Hughes
Photo by Michael Perry
Owen Brennan’s has been an East Memphis institution for over three decades. The popular eatery has anchored The Regalia at Poplar and Ridgeway since 1990. A cornerstone since the shopping mecca first opened, Owen Brennan’s was designed by a renowned restaurant architectural design firm with upscale and perfectly appointed details, and even Hollywood took notice and used it as a movie set in The Firm with Tom Cruise and Gene Hackman.
Owen Brennan’s is owned by the Baker family: Jim, Judy, Austin, Lawson, and Becky who have been the foundation of the business for 35 years. The family is lovingly represented in a large New Orleans-themed mural in the exclusive private dining room at the rear of the restaurant. Family is a vital component of the “OB” story - from ownership to long-time employees to clientele. Jim has retired from the daily operation, and Becky is continuing the family legacy of managing the restaurant. “Most of my memories come from growing up in the middle of the restaurant. I have known some of our employees for more than half of my life. They are my family,” Becky shares. “We also have our regulars who are our extended family. In that way we are like a ‘Cheers’ bar. Everyone has their place in the restaurant, their favorite server or bartender. They share their lives with us and are a part of ours as well.”
In addition to family, New Orleans culture, from the food to the decor, is another very important part of the OB legacy. Becky is always looking for new New Orleans food ideas and recipes. While they have added new things, 70% of the menu is original dishes which contribute to the restaurant’s longevity. The interior also feels like authentic NOLA, from the jazz band playing for Sunday brunch to the large-scale decor that was originally used on Mardi Gras floats.
While Owen Brennan’s is all about bona fide New Orleans flavor, all of the recipes are theirs exclusively. Some of the more popular OB dishes include the Pasta Jambalaya, Crawfish Etouffee, Oysters Rockefeller, Eggs Hussarde, Blackened Redfish Perez, Bananas Foster, and Jackson Square Bread Pudding with Myers’s Rum Sauce. Becky explains, “We have never strayed from the original recipes of our traditional dishes, and each dish is made in-house from scratch. Some of our cooks have been with us for as long as 27 years, which has helped us maintain the consistency in our dishes.”
Of all the scrumptious dishes mentioned, it is the famous Sunday Jazz Brunch that gives diners a chance to enjoy a variety of their specialities - and why OB is the most award-winning brunch in the Mid-South. “Sunday brunch is like a big family get-together, with Lannie’s jazz band playing and families singing along. And then there is Shorty - he has been throwing plates and tossing omelets for us for decades,” Becky laughs.
Owen Brennan’s brings the heart of NOLA to the 901, with classic Cajun dishes shared among friends. This is the very best lagniappe, and we say “Cheers to OB!”
Owen Brennan’s is owned by the Baker family: Jim, Judy, Austin, Lawson, and Becky who have been the foundation of the business for 35 years. The family is lovingly represented in a large New Orleans-themed mural in the exclusive private dining room at the rear of the restaurant. Family is a vital component of the “OB” story - from ownership to long-time employees to clientele. Jim has retired from the daily operation, and Becky is continuing the family legacy of managing the restaurant. “Most of my memories come from growing up in the middle of the restaurant. I have known some of our employees for more than half of my life. They are my family,” Becky shares. “We also have our regulars who are our extended family. In that way we are like a ‘Cheers’ bar. Everyone has their place in the restaurant, their favorite server or bartender. They share their lives with us and are a part of ours as well.”
In addition to family, New Orleans culture, from the food to the decor, is another very important part of the OB legacy. Becky is always looking for new New Orleans food ideas and recipes. While they have added new things, 70% of the menu is original dishes which contribute to the restaurant’s longevity. The interior also feels like authentic NOLA, from the jazz band playing for Sunday brunch to the large-scale decor that was originally used on Mardi Gras floats.
While Owen Brennan’s is all about bona fide New Orleans flavor, all of the recipes are theirs exclusively. Some of the more popular OB dishes include the Pasta Jambalaya, Crawfish Etouffee, Oysters Rockefeller, Eggs Hussarde, Blackened Redfish Perez, Bananas Foster, and Jackson Square Bread Pudding with Myers’s Rum Sauce. Becky explains, “We have never strayed from the original recipes of our traditional dishes, and each dish is made in-house from scratch. Some of our cooks have been with us for as long as 27 years, which has helped us maintain the consistency in our dishes.”
Of all the scrumptious dishes mentioned, it is the famous Sunday Jazz Brunch that gives diners a chance to enjoy a variety of their specialities - and why OB is the most award-winning brunch in the Mid-South. “Sunday brunch is like a big family get-together, with Lannie’s jazz band playing and families singing along. And then there is Shorty - he has been throwing plates and tossing omelets for us for decades,” Becky laughs.
Owen Brennan’s brings the heart of NOLA to the 901, with classic Cajun dishes shared among friends. This is the very best lagniappe, and we say “Cheers to OB!”
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