Memphis,TN

Smokin' T

Taking a trip to Memphis next month. Looking for some good restaurants, wether they be BBQ or other. I'm sure we will be in and around the Beale St. vicinity. Was wondering if any of you had any experiences there, and might make some suggestions. Remember the BGE does spoil a person. Thanks in advance if you can help.

Tom
Dunedin,Fl

Crimsongator

my faverite stuff at Memphis joints:

BBQ chicken nachos at the rendezvous
BBQ spaghetti at interstate bbq
banana pudding at Germantown commisary bbq

Firetruck will chime in shortly!

danny285

Check out the Rendezvous BBQ just off Beale st, the ribs are great, not BGE, but still great.

Crimsongator

Charcoal, direct ribs with membranes on and will be a bit tougher. Go for lunch on Friday and be sure to get the red beans.

Hoss

Yeah,I live about 10 miles from there.Shoot me an e-mail and I can tell you some awesome places.

danny285

crimsongator
how did our post get reversed? i was there not long ago and the red beans were served to everyone as an appetiser.

danny285

i guess i am looking a the wrong thing, sorry for confusion.

Crimsongator

I remember them being free at lunch on Friday while it lasted. I think it was leftovers from all week and had to go. Free bowls for everone (2 if you were nice...and a regular...and tipped well)

Crimsongator

send him to Cozy Corner

Sweathog

The Rendezvous is good, but the ribs are "char-broiled," and not true BBQ. It's a touristy place, and not one that local go to very often.

In my opinion, you'll find better ribs at the Cozy Corner (across from St. Jude Children's hospital on N. Parkway). My favorite sandwich is the BBQ Shop on Madison in Midtown. Get it on the Texas Toast. Trust me. Interstate BBQ is great, but a little dicey in locale. A lot of my friends love Central BBQ, oddly enough on Central Ave. I think they had a fire recently; I'd call before I went.

As you will be downtown near Beale, you could consider non-BBQ joints such as Gus's Famous Chicken (one of Esquire magazine's meals worth travelling 10,000 miles for) or nicer restaurants such as Encore, McEwan's on Monroe, or Stella. Great burgers to had at Hueys, on Union about 100 yards west of the Peabody hotel.

My wife and I went to Iris in Midtown last Friday. It's fantastic. It's about ten minutes from downtown, but well worth it. Reservations are necessary. The chef, Kelly English, is in this month's Food and Wine magazine as one of the top 11 new chefs in the USA. English went the CIA and trained under John Besh at August, considered by many to be the best restaurant in New Orleans.

http://www.foodandwine.com/bestnewchefs/kelly-english

http://www.restaurantiris.com/

Have a great trip.

Sweathog

Jim

Hoss

It ain't what it used to be.There are still good spots,you just have to be careful,AND PACKIN!!! :(

Bob V

Sweathog already mentioned the Cozy Corner, and let me add my recommendation for them. They also do BBQ'ed Cornish hens, which you won't find anywhere else!

Rendezvous is good once, more for the ambiance than anything else. If you've been Egging for awhile, I think you'll find their ribs sub-par. Rendezvous is also not open on Mondays.

Bob V

Firetruck

Hey Tom, You really have a decision to make. I must say that when it comes to bbq sandwiches there is a hole in the wall place at the corner of Macon and Mt. Pisgah.(in Cordova) I don't know the name of it. Basically it's an old gas station that shut down. This old black man started smoking pork and selling sandwiches there several years ago. Anyway it's the best sandwich I've ever eaten. (Don't look at the decor)

If you want steak, go to "Folks Folly". Some fine food and really good people.

Probably my most favorite place is Firebirds on Hwy 64 across from the Wolfchase Mall. You really have to try their buffalo meatloaf. It's the best I've ever had.

Good luck and let us know what decision you made.

P.S. I had to edit my post.

A place that my wife and I love on special occasions is about 20 minutes south of Memphis in Hernando Ms. "Timbeau's on the square" I think that's how to spell it. Elegant and really good food. Get the spinach salad with the meal.

Hoss

Heads up JoJo,Timbeaux's has been closed for a looong time.They tried to auction it off last week and had the highest bid come in at 200K under the minimum.You are rite,it used to be great.Folk's Folly Wannabe!Could'nt make it in Hernando. :(

Firetruck

Sure hate to hear that. As you can tell we haven't been down in a while. Not really much need to go out since the egg.

Hoss

I understand! I hated to see it too.One of my favorite waterin holes in the day.SOOO close to home.Maybe one mile,on a bad nite!

home team Jim

cozy corner is the only answer, with an honoable mention to Tom's