A lot is new at Railgarten. Here's what to expect at the reopened Midtown Memphis venue

Laughter, frosty drinks and spicy crawfish were the norm at tables throughout Railgarten over Memorial Day weekend as friends and families returned to the reopened Midtown entertainment venue. 

Railgarten reopened May 20 with new eats, a new playground and new safety protocols. It had been closed since mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The owners of the 1.5-acre venue hope Railgarten's outdoor spaces will make guests feel safe in this time of social distancing.

“Personally, I feel safer outside,” said Jack Phillips, Railgarten majority owner. “This is a scary time for everybody. As people start to come out of their homes, we want to offer a sigh of relief of normalcy.”

The team took the past two months to revamp both the food and cocktail menus as well as upgrade amenities throughout the property.

New eats

A new dining program is the biggest change guests will see when they return to Railgarten.

During the venue’s coronavirus closure, the owners launched a food truck to keep employees on the payroll.

Lagniappe debuted April 9. The food truck, which had been permanently parked in front of Railgarten, featured a menu that includes po' boys, gumbo and boiled crawfish.

Phillips’ partner Mason Jambon, a native Louisianan, ran with the idea and created a New Orleans-inspired menu that turned out to be a big hit with customers.

Creative dishes like BBQ Shrimp Po' Boys (crispy fried shrimp tossed in a spicy honey-hot sauce mixture) and Cochon de Lait Po-boys (slow-roasted Cajun-spiced pork shoulder with creole mayo) have become top-sellers.

“The food truck was a beta run to test out a new menu,” said Phillips, explaining that the food truck will eventually be used for parties and special events.

Over the next weeks, Jambon will expand the menu offerings at Railgarten's diner.

Salads, a spicy chicken sandwich and fresh boiled shrimp are among the new items already added to Railgarten’s menu.

“Lagniappe means a little something extra. We are offering that Cajun hospitality here at Railgarten,” Phillips said.

Guests can now order food at all bars. Meals will be delivered straight to your table. Menus are available online or as single-use paper menus. Indoor dining in the diner is also available.

The cocktail program has also been improved, with frozen drink machines added to every bar on the property.

Safety changes to expect

“Our primary goal is to keep our employees and our customers safe,” Phillips said. 

To that measure, they have implemented many new safety protocols throughout the property.

Tables and seating have been placed at safe distances throughout the property. A headcount of all guests is kept at the front gate to control the number of guests on the property. Hand sanitizer stations are throughout the venue. All employees will wear masks and gloves.

Phillips also made sure every staff member was trained by the National Restaurant Association ServSafe COVID-19 program.

New features

One change Phillips, who has young children himself, is excited about is the new children’s play area.

“We need more capacity and safety,” he said of the play area upgrades. “Our new play area has multiple slides, climbing walls and more space for families to sit in that area.”

New shade structures have also been added throughout the grounds.

“They will make hot days cooler and rainy days drier,” Phillips said.

Pingpong tables have been moved outdoors for those who wish to play a game in the fresh air.

While live entertainment is still not allowed, Railgarten is launching a livestream concert series featuring Memphis musicians.

“All of the changes are things we have been wanting to do to finish the space," Phillips said. "We took advantage of this time to make these improvements."

Phillips added that he and his staff are glad to get back to work.

“Our staff came out to help us get this right,” Phillips said. “We are excited about the future.”

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.