No Comment, the neon-soaked '80s wine bar on Central Avenue, is about to level up from casual sips to full-on supper spot. Co-owners Paul Gilliam and Mary Oglesby plan to relaunch the space at 2155 Central Ave. in early June with a broader food menu, an expanded wine list, and interior tweaks that shift the vibe toward dinner service. The move takes the concept beyond flight-style tastings and small plates to full-service dining built around pairings and shareable dishes.
As reported by the Daily Memphian, the owners are trading No Comment’s tasting-room format for a full kitchen, refreshed wine list, and a new cocktail program ahead of the reopening. The outlet notes that the redesign will tone down the bar's neon-heavy '80s motif in favor of seating and lighting that work better for table service. Gilliam told the publication the shift is a deliberate attempt to move past a flights-and-snacks model.
Owners Build A Midtown Cluster
Gilliam and Oglesby have been steadily building a Midtown mini-empire that already includes Cameo, Mary’s B.O.T.E., and the restaurant Fawn. Edible Memphis profiled their approach last year, noting how each project leans into strong design and tightly curated drink programs. That reputation helps explain why No Comment’s next chapter is doubling down on wine pairings and shareable plates rather than chasing a sprawling menu.
Menu And Design Tweaks
"We knew that we needed to expand the menu," Gilliam told the Daily Memphian, adding that the relaunch is meant to "take No Comment to what it should have been day one." Early coverage and owner interviews describe bottle-friendly shareables such as oysters on the half shell, tinned seafood, and other pairings as central to the kitchen’s focus. The owners say the dining program will stay intentionally compact and is designed to spotlight the wine list rather than compete with it.
Where This Fits In Midtown
Midtown has been on a run of new concepts and reinventions, and local coverage has pointed to growing demand for niche, design-forward spots. Memphis Magazine and other outlets place operators like Gilliam and Oglesby at the center of that trend, blending late-night bar energy with full restaurant service. No Comment's pivot toward a more robust food program fits that pattern and gives the duo another way to draw the dinner crowd.
No Comment’s site lists the address and current hours, and the team says it will announce a firm opening date and full menu closer to the early June target. For reservations and updates, see No Comment. The relaunch aims to keep the playful '80s spirit while slowing things down for table-centered nights built around bottles and shared plates.
