http://firstwefeast.com/eat/the-state-of...n-america/

What traditional BBQ capital or famous BBQ joint do you think is in danger of falling out of the pantheon?


Carman says: I don’t think Memphis is in danger of losing its barbecue capital status, but I found more mediocre than good barbecue in the city when I visited last year. Holding ribs seems to be a particular problem for some joints.

The state of BBQ must be clearly downhill, with ESPN writers, and people from Syracuse writing about it. The end is near.

There are some highly-regarded Memphis BBQ establishments that are mediocre, at best. There are some others that are hit or miss. There are only a couple that are great every time I go.

(04-22-2015 02:47 PM)ksigtigerdood Wrote:  There are some highly-regarded Memphis BBQ establishments that are mediocre, at best. There are some others that are hit or miss. There are only a couple that are great every time I go.

Do share...for discussion purposes.

(04-22-2015 03:03 PM)99Tiger Wrote:  

(04-22-2015 02:47 PM)ksigtigerdood Wrote:  There are some highly-regarded Memphis BBQ establishments that are mediocre, at best. There are some others that are hit or miss. There are only a couple that are great every time I go.

Do share...for discussion purposes.

*cough* rendevous *cough*

(04-22-2015 03:07 PM)tiger2000 Wrote:  

(04-22-2015 03:03 PM)99Tiger Wrote:  

(04-22-2015 02:47 PM)ksigtigerdood Wrote:  There are some highly-regarded Memphis BBQ establishments that are mediocre, at best. There are some others that are hit or miss. There are only a couple that are great every time I go.

Do share...for discussion purposes.

*cough* rendevous *cough*

Um...I highlighted the part about "great" ones. Rendezvous is where the tourists go se the rest of us have seats at the good BBQ joints.

(04-22-2015 04:10 PM)99Tiger Wrote:  Um...I highlighted the part about "great" ones. Rendezvous is where the tourists go se the rest of us have seats at the good BBQ joints.

^^^^^^

The truth is it is impossible to have consistently great BBQ in a traditional large scale restaurant with normal business hours. The process of slow smoking simply doesn't lend itself to the ebb and flow of restaurant life. You can have fantastic BBQ and mediocre BBQ during the same day at any of the big places in town.

I'm not a big chest beater when it comes to Memphis BBQ. We have a lot of good places, but the best BBQ I've eaten has come from shops in Texas and North Carolina. Properly smoked BBQ is going to be fantastic no matter which "style" it is.

(04-22-2015 03:03 PM)99Tiger Wrote:  

(04-22-2015 02:47 PM)ksigtigerdood Wrote:  There are some highly-regarded Memphis BBQ establishments that are mediocre, at best. There are some others that are hit or miss. There are only a couple that are great every time I go.

Do share...for discussion purposes.

BBQ Shop and Commissary, in my opinion.

some of my favs...

Blues City Cafe's ribs.

the BBQ Nachos at Central BBQ.

Payne's BBQ Bologna.

Coletta's BBQ pizza.

BBQ Spaghetti at Interstate.

and I pretty much like everything at Gtown Commissary and the BBQ Shop.

Tops is also the best lunch around...their burger and BBQ are great.

(04-23-2015 01:10 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  some of my favs...

Blues City Cafe's ribs.

the BBQ Nachos at Central BBQ.

Payne's BBQ Bologna.

Coletta's BBQ pizza.

BBQ Spaghetti at Interstate.

and I pretty much like everything at Gtown Commissary and the BBQ Shop.

Tops is also the best lunch around...their burger and BBQ are great.

BBQ shoppe may have better nachos than Central. And blues city does have really good ribs.

(04-23-2015 12:29 PM)ksigtigerdood Wrote:  

(04-22-2015 03:03 PM)99Tiger Wrote:  

(04-22-2015 02:47 PM)ksigtigerdood Wrote:  There are some highly-regarded Memphis BBQ establishments that are mediocre, at best. There are some others that are hit or miss. There are only a couple that are great every time I go.

Do share...for discussion purposes.

BBQ Shop and Commissary, in my opinion.

I like BBQ Shop...haven't been in awhile, need to get over there.

I'm indifferent towards Commissary. I eat there, but mostly when I want BBQ and don't feel like dragging the kiddos out (they have a good take out set up).

(04-23-2015 11:22 AM)TigerNK Wrote:  The truth is it is impossible to have consistently great BBQ in a traditional large scale restaurant with normal business hours. The process of slow smoking simply doesn't lend itself to the ebb and flow of restaurant life. You can have fantastic BBQ and mediocre BBQ during the same day at any of the big places in town.

I'm not a big chest beater when it comes to Memphis BBQ. We have a lot of good places, but the best BBQ I've eaten has come from shops in Texas and North Carolina. Properly smoked BBQ is going to be fantastic no matter which "style" it is.

That is true...Rendezvous does so much volume that QC suffers.