Memphis BBQ

Memphis, TN is often regarded as home to some of the best pork BBQ restaurants in this country.  Folks often come to town and wind up in the local tourist traps.  The following, in my opinion, are the real deal:

    1.  Interstate BBQ - excellent sandwich, but they are a little heavy on
the sauce, order it on the side.  Try the bbq spaghetti.
    2.  Neely's - owned by members of the same family as above, pretty much
the same.
    3.  Cozy Corner - best ribs in town, but located in less than desirable
area.  Closes at 6:00 p.m.
    4.  John Will's - fern bar atmosphere, but good food.
    5.  Corky's - usually crowded, Dan Quayle ate here.
    6.  Leonard's - Elvis's favorite.

David K. wrote:
>OK...need to know now! Best BBQ in Memphis... My plane leaves in 24
>hrs..

Well, I know it's a bit late, but for future reference, your best bets are the Rendezvous (Downtown) or Corky's (East Memphis). Enjoy.

Current recomendations on Memphis BBQ:

1.******* Neely's, On Jefferson (the Med Center) and on Mt Moriah. IMHO Memphis's BEST BBQ sandwiches and RIBS. MAKE THIS A MUST VISIT IF YOU PLAN ON BEING IN MEMPHIS!!!!*******

2. Interstate BBQ, South Third street. Great ribs, sandwiches and BBQ spaghetti. Same family as above same damn good taste.

3. Corky's, Poplar ave. Hard to go wrong with their ribs or sandwiches.

4. ******The Rendeveous (world Famous) Downtown. Best Dry ribs on the planet, a experience to remember.********

Jeff

Dear Sam,
I have a place for you. I wrote it up for the 100dollarhamburger web site: I paste it below. Directions are explicit & included. They BBQ is quite excellent, and the neighborhood fine, if a tad grungy. But nothing to worry about. The directions are from across the Mississippi in Arkansas. But with a map you can easily translate into the directions you need. Hope you make it. Mike

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Payne's Bar-B-Q
 Memphis, TN

Some travel is required from any of the Memphis area airports. Believe me, if you love BBQ, as I do, it might be worth the effort. Landed at West Memphis Airport (AWM), just under the Class B airspace, on the flat, flat, Mississippi flood plain, west of the river. Busy, but friendly place, with rental cars, courtesy car, and a splendid airport cat. The courtesy car was available for the quick drive east to Memphis, Tenn. And a quest for a Memphis BBQ fix. Take I-40, then I-55 south (posted Jackson Ms.) across the river; head for the international airport (MEM) via I-55S & I-240; hang a left on Airways Blvd. northbound, to US78 (Lamar Ave.); there, take a left on Lamar, to about McLean to *PAYNE'S BAR-B-Q*. It is on the right as you head west on Lamar, just past the eye-catching Mel's Seafood restaurant. Payne's is a hideous-looking white cinder-block place---a converted gas station, no less.

Inside, it's a different story. The atmosphere is like---how can I sum it up?---a temple, or cathedral, devoted to the worship of meat; more specifically, pork. A hushed silence among the orderly crowd awaiting service. The interior is tasteful, and clean, at least by most BBQ standards.

You can eat in, or take out. The menu is short. Shoulder sandwiches (specify sliced or chopped meat); ribs (full or half slab); hot links; bologna; potato chips . and that's about it. However, no more is necessary. The food is great. And the BBQ sauce (you have a choice of hot or mild; I never did hear anyone order mild, and having tasted the hot, I can see why) is about the best I ever remember tasting. A hint of orange(?) fruitiness, but wholesome and totally savory. It goes with the meat perfectly, and dunking a sandwich in it turns the meal into a deeply religious experience. As with all Memphis BBQ, coleslaw will be added to your sandwich unless you specify otherwise. In this case it's no hardship. A piquant version of the coleslaw genre. No creaminess to mask the meat flavor. Perfect!

The staff consists of an two older folks. He fishes out hunks of shoulder or ribs from a vast pitch-black pit. She wields a mean cleaver, hacking away at the ribs and shoulder meat; and also assembles orders and collects your money. There were a constant stream of customers, patiently waiting as each order was painstakingly prepared to perfection. While the neighborhood is of the auto bodyshop, slightly grungy, variety, it's certainly quite respectable. I would have no worries venturing there at any time. And even if I did, I would still go for some more of their ribs, and a "sliced shoulder" on the side. Owing to bad forecasts we flew to AWM; ate at Payne's; and were in the air back home in less than three hours. Six hours flying in a day, for BBQ may seem excessive. But then you'd have to try it before you pass judgment on my sanity.

Payne's Bar-B-Q
1762 Lamar Ave 272-1523

 Mike Larke

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