Recently, I’ve heard a lot of good things about the food at Memphis Chess Club. Friday I decided to walk down there and taste for myself.
The chess club is on the ground floor of the Press Box Lofts on Madison, half a block east of B.B. King. You can become a member and play chess, both pickup games and tournaments. As a member, you can attend live, in-person lessons as well as access the club’s extensive library.
For non-chess purposes, though, you don’t need to be a member. Anyone can order from the club’s cafe, and you should make your order a pizza. They have about 7 gourmet pizzas, each named for a chess master. I got the Carlsen, named for Norwegian chess star Magnus Carlsen.
The Carlsen is a thin-crust white pizza with two types of cheeses: mozzarella and Gruyere. They hooked it up with the gooey, chewy cheese – this pizza had more cheese than any “extra cheese” pizza I’ve ever ordered. Atop the cheese lay a generous helping of sausage as well as red onions and mushrooms.
The pizzas were available in 8-, 12-, and 18-inch sizes. I ordered the 12, concerned that I might finish the 8 still hungry.
The verdict: One of the most delicious pizzas in town! The white sauce was a hit and the crust was firm and crunchy. 10/10 would get again!
The 12-inch was way more than I could handle, though. I shoulda got the 8. I ended up leaving half the pizza in a box, gently perched on a trash can on Main Street for one of our homeless friends to find.
Can’t wait to explore more of the menu. Don’t overlook this place!
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