Barbecue…must have barbecue…

by The Better Half on April 8, 2009

(A cry for help from The Boyfriend)

I’m so excited.

And I just can’t hide it.

I’m about to lose control…and you know what?   I think I like it.

(Ed. Note: Yeah, he went there.)

In just a little more than a week, Julie and I are heading to Memphis for a long weekend.  I’m excited to the point of giddiness.   We’ve been so busy for the past four months that we haven’t been to the movies, let alone traveled.

Since money is tight, as it is for most people nowadays, we decided to put together a short trip that wouldn’t break the bank account.  We wanted a destination that (1) neither of us has ever visited, (2) could be reached in a few hours by car, and (3) that offers relatively cheap accommodations, food, and entertainment.

As a native Southerner, I’ m contractually obligated at some time in my life to embark upon a pilgrimage to Graceland and to pay homage to The King.   (If you were born after 1980, they actually put a Post-It note on your birth certificate.)  Since I’m not getting any younger, and since Memphis fits all other requirements for a relatively cheap weekend getaway, we are heading to Beale Street.   Our goals for the weekend:  barbecue, music, barbecue, Elvis, blues, barbecue, beer, pork, and barbecue.

This is where you come in.

Neither of us really knows anything about Memphis.  We have, of course, done some nosing around the internet in an attempt to scope out activities for the weekend, and we’ve found some well-known, oft-visited places that show promise.   But this trip is largely about barbecue.  And the best barbecue often hides in out-of-the-way places.  And I don’t want good barbecue…I want the best damned barbecue that Memphis has to offer.

If you have first-hand knowledge of Memphis barbecue, or reliable second-hand knowledge, please pass your information on to Julie and me here at wine me, dine me.

We anxiously await your replies.

(Editor’s note: No large chains, please.)

Tagged as: barbecue, memphis

  • Vinnythe chin

    Rendezvous near the Peabody hotel in Downtown. It is about 4 blocks from Beal St.
    Don’t fall for the Corkys hype.

    Go early to the Peabody and watch the ducks march into the lobby.

  • Beersnob
  • http://obrientastings.blogspot.com/ Gary OBrien

    Well, some might call it hype but personally I think Corky’s is pretty darn good… in fact, I’d call it a must do. If you need evidence that it is more than just hype, then simply look in the frozen food section at Kroger — I have yet to find anything from Rendezvous but I can pick up Corky’s ribs (I won’t go into the whole frozen food thing though).

    Pig-n-Whistle was pretty good also.

    I think it might be closed now, but if not check out Wally Joe Restaurant when you get the BBQ burn out… it was excellent.

  • Megan @meganlicursi

    We prefer NC BBQ, but I can’t wait to get the reviews from you guys. Why NC BBQ? Like the mustard bases. Good news is that a lot of the BBQ companies, even the one-offs, have mail-order packages now!

  • Brandon

    I think you should try Walt’s BBQ (http://www.waltsbarbeque.com/).

    They only smoke their meat, and serve them with no sauce on them, leaving that coice up to you.

  • http://winemedinemecincinnati.com Julie

    Brandon– we’re looking for Memphis barbecue places. Most of the good BBQ places around here smoke, and serve sauce on the side– the way it’s meant to be!

  • http://Cincinnatinomerati.blogspot.com Laura

    My grandparents always take us to the Pig-N-whistle in Bartlett.

    http://www.pig-n-whistle.com/

    I was born in Jackson, TN, and lived in Memphis for a few years after that, so I know it pretty well. It’s always been consistently good. I like the little pig pulled pork sammich, and my dad gets the Idaho pig–baked potato with pork shoulder and shredded cheese.

    My grandpa usually gets the ribs–dry, of course. I hope you have a good trip and have fun.

    Also, love the new layout!

  • Jen

    I second Rendezvous it’s downtown. When someone comes to Cincinnati you tell them to check out Montgomery Inn. When someone comes to Memphis people direct them to Rendezvous. Don’t be scared of the dark alley entrance. Attire is jeans or whatever. A non-bbq place to check out is Gus’s. They are famous for the fried Chicken.

  • ctr

    rendezvous is a lot like montgomery inn — a must-do to say you’ve done it, but certainly not great

    corky’s is fine

    cozy corner is the gold standard, from what i hear. my only trips to memphis were from before i was educated

  • http://www.whatiatethisweek.com Graham

    There is no finer food city in America, in my opinion. I’m 3 weeks away from my annual pilgrimage, and I’ve got it down to a science.

    Rendezvous is the best barbeque restaurant in America and I’ve been to lots of places. It’s not representative of anything but BBQ. It’s always my FIRST choice.

    Second choice is Central BBQ. It’s in the burbs, but the sweet tea is amazing and they do everything right.

    Do NOT fall for Interstate BBQ. That place is over-hyped, with lousy service and mediocre food (by Memphis standards).

    I’m trying Cozy Corner this year for the first time and it’s supposed to be amazing.

    Why not try a non-BBQ choice? Huey’s, especially the main one downtown, is a bar with character and great food. It’s one of the south’s best burgers.

    I’ve been on my annual “BBQ fast” for a few weeks (I always avoid it for the 2 months before Memphis to keep me good and ready). I’m salivating.

  • ctr

    oh, but do check out the bbq pork nachos at rendezvous

  • http://winemedinemecincinnati.com julie

    I am really appreciating the non-barbecue suggestions. If I didn’t have them, I might come back to town with a snout and a curly tail. Oink.

  • http://andyerickson.org Andy Erickson

    I asked a friend, and here’s his response:

    As a huge fan of both Memphis and barbecue, I’d recommend: Corky’s – http://www.corkysbbq.com or The Comissary – http://www.commissarybbq.com for ribs. The best pulled pork sandwiches can be found at Payne’s Bar-B-Que, (No Web Site) 1762 Lamar Ave. If you’re in Memphis, I’m hugely jealous! Enjoy!!!”

  • Terry

    My advice is to get on Highway 78 East and follow it thru Tupelo to Alabama. Take 65 south to the Garden City exit and stop in Blount Springs when you smell the hickory smoke. That means you’re at The Top Hat, my favorite bbq spot.

  • John

    The Bar-B-Que Shop on Madison (www.dancingpigs.com) is the best, followed closely by Central BBQ and The Germantown Commissary, but it might be out of your way.
    For more suggestions, there are several very opinionated threads about this exact topic on the Chowhound South board.

  • http://winemedinemecincinnati.com The Boyfriend

    Terry — I’ve actually eaten at Top Hat many times. Great barbecue. And Top Hat lends credence to my notion that the best barbecue is found in out-of-the-way places and places that don’t look too inviting from the outside. A friend of mine stumbled on TH because he drove past and thought that the place “looked just sleazy enough to have good barbecue”.

    Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. And, please, keep them coming.

    Julie and I definitely won’t go hungry while we’re in Memphis.

  • http://www.adorkandhispork.com jeff

    I went on a BBQ tour of Memphis last year courtesy of a native. Cozy Corner, as mentioned above, is frikkin delicous.

    Rendevous is fun. You should go. Once.

    Someone already mentioned the Peabody for the ducks. You should definately see that.

    There is a place called Central BBQ which I liked.

    Non BBQ: Try Gus’ Fried Chicken.

  • kid-cincy

    Be careful, some of the places in Memphis put cole slaw on their pulled pork sandwiches without asking. If you’re not into that, you may want to ask first.

    Also, when I was last in Memphis, the Peabody Hotel downtown had a cool jazz bar up on the roof. I just googled their website, but they don’t make any mention of it. Not sure if it still exists.

    Beale St. is WAY developed now. It’s not bad, and you can still see some good bands in the area. But I kind of miss the seedier version that was there in the early 90s.

  • http://www.twitter.com/nth_degree Evan

    Not sure if you are a Man vs Food fan, but Adam made a stop in Memphis. He went to Rendezvous, and the food there looked excellent.

    There were a few places he went. The full itenerary can be found here. It may be worth watching if it airs again before you guys head out there.

  • http://www.wine-girl.net Michelle

    I love Memphis. We went there for my birthday last year. Graceland was the most surreal thing I’ve ever experienced. Seriously. It’s like they immortalized all-American, good-looking young Elvis. He never got old, barely got divorced, and certainly never dabbled in drugs or alcohol. It was one of those uniquely American experiences that I’m thrilled I got to, well, experience. I preferred Sun Records though. I felt like I was standing on history. We also really enjoyed touring the Gibson Guitar plant.

    But as for BBQ, we tried so much BBQ while we were there! We were both amazingly unimpressed with Rendezvous, which is dry rub. Bleh. Kevin loved Interstate, where we ate after the day spent at Graceland, and we brought home a few bottles. But my favorite, by far, was Blues City, which is right there at the top of Beale Street.

    Our Memphis trip is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/writegirl/sets/72157603782060610/

  • Valerie

    Bar-B-Q Shop on Madison Ave – my favorite. But you have some good suggestions

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