Discounts and 15 Places to Carb Load For The St. Jude Memphis Marathon

15 Places to Carb Load For Your Run In Memphis

It's all about the carbs! This guide is for runners fueling up for Memphis races—and for people who just like to eat all the breads.

Coming in town for St. Jude Memphis Marathon and need to carb load before the race? Memphis has you covered.

And if you're not running in the half marathon or 5K or any other race, but you're looking for delicious pasta or pizza in Memphis, this list is also for you. I've focused on downtown and midtown Memphis, but put a few other great area spots too. Keep in mind, this is just a sampling!

We have tons of options. Got a favorite for pasta or other vehicles for carbs? Just leave it in the comments! Below the Discounts Section you'll find 15 places to carb load before the big race.

Discounts For Runners 2023:

  • 17 Berkshire - 10% off with proof of badge/bib or certificate from 12/1 - 12/5
  • Aldo's Pizza Pies - Present your medal or race bib for 20% off your food. Valid Nov. 30 - Saturday, Dec. 2 at both locations.
  • Amerigo Italian - 20% off select pastas and $1 off draft beers to anyone who shows their race bib on Friday
  • ARCHd - Present your bib for 26% all in-store purchases
  • Bardog Tavern - Present your medal or race bib for 20% off your food. Valid Nov. 30 - Saturday, Dec. 2.
  • Bar Ware - All racers will receive half off their Flatbread or French Dip
  • B.B. King's Blues Club - will offer half off the $10 Cover Charge for all participants with proof of bib or registration. Friday only.
  • Beauty Shop - 10% discount on a special pasta dish. Don't forget to show your bib!
  • Bedrock Eats & Sweets - with proof of bib, get 15% off any entree
  • Capriccio Grill - will offer three pasta specials on Friday night for runners looking to carb load!
  • Catherine & Mary's - Fuel up on Friday with their runners portion of Lumache with cacio e pepe for $20 and runners portion of Rigatoni with Maw Maw's gravy for $20.
  • Cocozza American Italian - they'll have a special pasta dish this: Roasted Chicken Tortellini, three cheese tortellini, roasted red peppers, pesto cream sauce
  • Comeback Coffee - will offer 15% off for all runners!
  • Grind City Brewing - Show your bib/medal for $5 drafts all weekend
  • Incredible Pizza Company - Show your runner bib or medal and get one free buffet and drink to the marathon participant on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. 
  • Kooky Canuck Downtown - Will offer $5 mimosas, Bloody Mary's & Caesar's. They're opening early at 9 a.m. on race day!
  • The Majestic Grille - they'll have two special pasta dishes: Italian Sausage & Broccolini Rigatoni, garlic olive oil and a Spinach Manicotti, ricotta, mozzarella, marinara, bechamel
  • Marlowe's Restaurant - Runners will receive 10% off their bill and Marlowe's will match the discount as a donation to St. Jude.
  • Maximo's in Broad - 10% off all food items on the night before and day of race, runners just need to show their number or registration.
  • Mempops - $2 pops for runners with bibs all weekend at their two locations (1243 Ridgeway Rd. and in the Crosstown Concourse) Friday through Sunday.
  • Memphis Chess Club - Show your bib or race medal for a 15% discount on food and drinks! Good for Saturday and Sunday
  • Memphis Made - First beer is free for St. Jude runners! Stick around for their MALTED beer festival too!
  • Memphis Whistle - Hit this super cool home turned bar and receive 15% off pizza and tots with your bib.
  • Momma's - Present your medal or race bib for 20% off your food. Valid Nov. 30 - Saturday, Dec. 2.
  • Old Dominick Distillery - Show your race registration or bib for a $5 Toddy High Ball. Valid Friday-Sunday.
  • People's on Beale - You trained hard, you ran hard. Now have some fun! People's on Beale will offer free pool to runners and their guests. Present your bib!
  • Primas Bakery + Boutique - 15% off total Bakery purchases on Saturday for race participants
  • Serenity Naturals Health - Runners with their bibs can get pre and post-marathon IV hydration appointments for 20% off!
  • Silky O'Sullivan's - Show your marathon credentials for free cover on Friday and Saturday night. Silky's will also open early Saturday morning as a hospitality area with complimentary snacks, juices, and coffee. They're also open as a warming area and bathrooms are open for runners and spectators.
  • Slider Inn - Present your medal or race bib for 20% off your food. Valid Nov. 30 - Saturday, Dec. 2 at both locations.
  • Sunrise Memphis - Show your bib for 15% off your meal on Saturday!
  • Wiseacre Brewing - 20% off beers with runners bib. Wiseacre (downtown HQ) is also an official cheer station! Breakfast will start to be served at 8 a.m.

Carb Up at These Spots:

plate of spaghetti

Aldo's Pizza Pies

For New York inspired pies with every kind of topping—plus a local beer selection—head to Aldo's downtown or midtown locations. The garlic knots with vodka sauce will help you carb up with flavor! While they are heavy on the pizza -- Aldo's also offers two pastas: fettuccine or ravioli.

Bedrock Eats & Sweets

This isn't a pasta spot but one of the best healthy yet filling options downtown. Gluten-free menu with both savory and sweet waffles. Many also have added protein in the mix. Our favorite to carb up with is the macro bowls. The buffalo chicken bowl is a personal favorite!

Catherine & Mary's

From James Beard-nominated chefs Andrew Ticer and Michael Hudman comes this upscale Italian eatery on the ground level of the historic Chisca Hotel. Their handmade pastas are worth every penny and upscale atmosphere give it special occasion vibes, but it's not overly fancy. They're also offering larger, runner size portions of Lumache with cacio e pepe and Rigatoni with Maw Maw's gravy the evening before. Reservations recommended!

bowl of pasta

Capriccio Grill

The Peabody Hotel's Capriccio Grill is an Italian steakhouse that serves all your classic pasta favorites, pizzas, and grilled meats. There's plenty of pastas to choose from and they have a bread basket, too. Capriccio is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

Cocozza American Italian

Make your way to Harbor Town for one of Memphis' newest spots. Cocozza has such a cozy nostalgic vibe to make anyone feel at home. Generous portions of your favorite American Italian dishes served with a side of pasta from the Shrimp Penne Arrabbiata to the Bucatini Alla Enzo and so much more.

Dino's 

Head to the no-frills Dino's in midtown for Italian classics and comfort food. Expect pasta, including stuffed shells (pasta pockets filled to the brim with creamy cheese and spinach, topped with a meat sauce and served with a side of spaghetti "like mama made it"). 

Energy Famous Pasta

All the pasta you can think of—especially with Cajun flavors and proteins added— call it in, and it will ready to go for takeout meals (so you can pick up enough for post-race leftovers!) It's takeout only and is located in downtown.

Good Fortune Co.

Made from scratch noodles and dumplings. They offer a variety of noodle ramen bowls and rice bowls to fuel up on. Don't forget to try their wings--one of their most popular menu items! It does get busy so come early. They do not take reservations.

Flame Ramen

Another ramen spot! Flame Ramen has two locations (one downtown and close to the finish line). Load up on a big ramen bowl, Donburi rice bowls, or Yakisoba noodles.

Huey's

Pre-fuel or recover with Huey's long list of burgers. Cheese fries for a carb load are great too. There are many locations across the city but it's important to note that downtown's (right next to the finish line!) will be opening early on race day at 10 a.m. Celebrate with a beer and burger.

Hive Bagel & Deli

One of our favorite forms of carbs to absorb--bagels! They offer all types of bagels and spreads in addition to bagel sandwiches. You can't go wrong with a breakfast bagel or bagel & lox! There are a few outdoor patio seats but this is mostly a grab and go spot.

Majestic Grill

Want to eat flatbreads, pastas, and more in a 1920s Art Deco style theater? Majestic Grill on Main Street is your place. They serve lunch and dinner, plus they have a fabulous patio. They have a cheese ravioli dish on the regular menu. Reservations recommended! 

Little Italy

If you need to carb up before your race in Memphis, but don't feel like getting out, Little Italy offers their beloved New York style pizza and other Italian delicacies. They have locations in downtown Memphis (South Main area) and in midtown.

Tamboli's Pasta & Pizza

This Midtown cafe serves up handmade pastas, plenty of pizzas, garlic bread, and lots of other delicious Italian favorites with fresh ingredients.  They're open for dinner for all your carbo-loading needs for dine-in (inside or on the outside patio) or takeout.

The Nine Thai & Sushi

You don't have to do Italian when you're carb loading, you know. Asian cuisine is full of tasty rice, noodles, and dumplings and you can enjoy traditional Thai entrees, sushi, and other specialities at The Nine downtown. We love the Pad Thai!


Again, this is only a sampling! There are tons more places to carb load in Memphis, so leave your suggestions in the comments.

For more pasta and pizzas in Memphis, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen, Ciao Bella, and Amerigo— which are all in East Memphis. In midtown, check out Bari for delicious pastas and southern Italian cuisine. 

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Janice Taff
Rock & Dough on Ridgeway or the Trolley Stop on Madison... great pizza!
December 3, 2013 5:35pm
Helen
Rockin Dough has THE best pizza in town!
December 4, 2013 11:08am
Dena Ferrell Nance

You definitely missed the best of the best….Pete & Sam’s!! 

December 2, 2022 5:43am