We work with some of Memphis’ most discerning people—business owners, community leaders and local experts whose insights and expertise we value. So we decided to follow their lead when it comes to a matter of local importance: barbecue.
Where do our River City business partners go, what do they order and why do they keep going back? No rankings, no judgment and no attempt to settle Memphis’ great barbecue debate.
Just good people with good taste—and some strong opinions about one of the things Memphis does best.
CATHLEEN BLACK
Partner, Marx-Bensdorf, REALTORS®
WHERE
The Germantown Commissary
WHAT
Pulled pork shoulder—light and dark meat with bark
WHY
The excellent food and service!
GEORGE GATTAS
Owner, Gattas Home Innovations
WHERE
Interstate Barbecue
WHAT
Barbecue spaghetti
WHY
It was the first time I had ever taken a date to Interstate Barbecue. And good news, she became my wife.
MELISSA KANDEL
Director of Marketing, OrthoSouth
WHERE
Central BBQ
WHAT
Ribs, dry rub only
WHY
They are consistently mouthwatering. I love the consistency in how moist and melty the ribs are.
MIKE KISER
President, Kiser’s Floor Fashions, Inc.
WHERE
Rendezvous
WHAT
Pork ribs
WHY
The special character of the restaurant, the servers and consistently good food.
ELIZABETH MALMO
Interior Designer and Owner, Collected by Elizabeth Malmo
WHERE
Best BBQ in town is Cozy Corner, but the best place to go if you’re entertaining or need a quick fix is Tops.
WHAT
Tops Cheeseburger
WHY
While Tops’ barbecue is great, I actually love a Tops cheeseburger—arguably one of the best in town! Fun fact: I actually went on my first date to Tops with my husband almost 20 years ago!
LISA MALLORY
Interior Designer and Owner, Lisa Mallory Interior Design
WHERE
Payne’s on Lamar
WHAT
The slaw!
WHY
We go every football season, pick up Payne’s and watch a game. The family that owns Payne’s is so nice!
DANIEL PARKER
Senior Property Manager, Boyle Investment Company
WHERE
The BBQ Shop on Madison
WHAT
Jumbo sandwich on Texas toast, plus the potato salad
WHY
The iconic barbecue spaghetti and long-standing family tradition, along with their famous house-made signature sauce and dry rub, authentic pit flavor and family hospitality.
ROLLIN RIGGS
Riggs Entertainment LLC
WHERE
Payne’s—hands down
WHAT
Regular BBQ sandwich with slaw and a side order of beans
WHY
Consistently incredible BBQ, lovely staff—especially Flora, Ron and Candace Payne—and a perfectly, authentically Memphis, no-nonsense, no-frills atmosphere.
LESLIE WALSH
Head of Marketing, The Dabney Nursery
WHERE
Central BBQ
WHAT
BBQ nachos
WHY
It’s a classic that I’ve grown up with and keep coming back to again and again. It holds a special place in my heart, as we hosted our rehearsal dinner here as a way to introduce all of our out-of-town guests to Memphis BBQ.
MORGAN WILLIAMS
Marketing Director, Mid South Imaging
WHERE
Central BBQ
WHAT
Pulled pork sandwich with slaw and mild sauce
WHY
They’re consistent and have a large menu.
Follow Their ’Cue
First dates, rehearsal dinners, football Saturdays, favorite servers and orders that rarely change—when it comes to barbecue, what keeps us coming back is often about more than what’s on the plate.
And while our partners may not all agree on which barbecue is best, they’ve given us something of great value: insider insights and personal recommendations.
Welcome to Local Flavor: People we trust lead us to the tastes and places that define Memphis.
THE BAR-B-Q SHOP
1782 Madison Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104
CENTRAL BBQ
Midtown: 2249 Central Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104
Downtown: 147 E. Butler Avenue, Memphis, TN 38103
Poplar: 6201 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38119
Summer: 4375 Summer Avenue, Memphis, TN 38122
COZY CORNER RESTAURANT
735 N. Parkway
Memphis, TN 38105
GERMANTOWN COMMISSARY
2290 S. Germantown Road
Germantown, TN 38138
INTERSTATE BARBECUE
2265 S. Third Street
Memphis, TN 38109
PAYNE’S BAR-B-QUE
1762 Lamar Avenue
Memphis, TN 38114
CHARLIE VERGOS’ RENDEZVOUS
52 S. Second Street
Memphis, TN 38103
TOPS BAR-B-Q
Multiple locations throughout Memphis and the Mid-South