Memphis…cool fucking city
Mrs Nacho and I drove down on Tuesday to see a show at the Orpheum Theatre and came back home on Thursday.
I’ve been to Memphis twice before but only to go to Graceland. The ex-Mrs Nacho grew up about 45 minutes north of there.
The band we went to see was Lake Street Dive and after buying tickets found out the opener is a band called The Dip. I was The Dip in Lexington in 2019 at a music festival. Being the homer I am, I wore a UW shirt and was apparently visible to the band on stage. Later that night, I walk past a couple dudes and the say “go dWags”. I talk to them and they say “we saw you from the stage earlier today” Turns out at least a few of them went to UW and might even know @MelloDawg
On the drive down, I remembers @dnc lives or lived near Memphis so I sent a DM asking for food recommendations. @dnc’s enthusiasm for Memphis BBQ is close to my enthusiasm for nachos.
We ended up going to 2 of the BBQ places he recommended. I’ve never had the meat sweats before but I think I came really close after the first place.
Spent Wednesday being tourists and went to The National Civil Rights Museum located at the place where MLK was killed. That was a sobering experience and was well worth the time and money.
We walked in Memphis including going down Beale Street which to me, was a JV version of Broadway in Nashville. We went through there late afternoon and it was ok and not impressive enough for me to want to go back that evening.
I was thinking about crossing into Mississippi and seeing if anyone there knew @SECDAWG but we decided to get back home.
I leave you with pictures of Memphis BBQ
Second picture is the combo platter at Central BBQ. That’s allegedly 4 oz of each meat.
Comments
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Broadway in Nashville feels manufactured. Beale is legit old school seedy bars and culture. Night time hops You should have gone back
Memphis is a cool fucking city. If you remain on the right block your chances of staying alive are greatly improved.
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My first tim in Nashville and on Broadway specifically was in 2012 or 2013. It gentrified like crazy by 2018. Some good dives still standing and the availability of live music in just about every place at any time is amazing. That said, I no longer care to see Broadway when I go to Nashville.
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Going to be in Memphis for a night with Cuog buddies for the Ole Miss game. What's the best Barbumque place?
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@dnc is your source.
He recommended both places we went to: Rendezvous and Central. I had different meats at each place so it’s kinda hard to make an apples to apples comparison but I’d go to Rendezvous again based on what I did have.
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I'm lazy so I'll just copypasta what I told Señor Nacho in the DMs
BBQ recommendations depend a little bit on the part of town you are in and what dish you want, but here's the gist:
Best experience - Rendezvous (only location is downtown). Nothing like it, super cool place, very iconic.
Other icon - Corky's (local chain). I prefer their BBQ to Rendezvous personally but it's not as cool of a vibe.
Best overall - Central (small local chain) or Memphis BBQ (one location - Horn Lake, MS). Central is probably the local favorite, especially if you go to the OG location on Central Ave. Memphis BBQ is probably my personal favorite. Everything they make is delicious.
There are tons of other great options, One and Only is probably my other favorite local chain.
But if I were coming in town for a show and could only do one I'd probably go Rendezvous for the vibes or Central for the flavor since Memphis BBQ Co is probably gonna be a decent bit out of your way.
You really can't go wrong though.
Some recommendations:
Appetizer - get the sausage and cheese plate at basically any of these places. I think I've had it at all of them except maybe Central.
Entree - Memphis BBQ is all about pork and ribs is obviously the crown jewel of the pig. If you get ribs either get them dry rubbed (this is the Memphis way) or muddy (half dry and half "wet" which means sauced). I was all about sauce before I came here but I've learned that dry rub is the better way to go.
Lighter entree option - if you aren't hungry enough for ribs or don't want something that heavy before the show your best bets are either pork shoulder (typically served as a sandwich - this will either come sauced or sauce will be provided at the table) or my personal favorite, BBQ Nachos. I thought the sound of it was horrible when I moved here but I have definitely come around.
Non pork option - if you or the Mrs aren't into pork the pulled chicken or half chicken is going to be a great option at most of these places. Central and One and Only have really good wings, too.
Side - corn on the cob, baked beans, and hush puppies are my personal favorite options but all of these places are known for their slaw (not my thing) and usually have good fries too.
There's way more information than you ever wanted about Memphis BBQ -
Thanks Bro Jangles!
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I kinda figured you had this set aside and copy pasted to anyone who requested a recommendation.
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Nah I've done something similar a few tims and finally decided to save the one I made for you for the future.
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Was in Memphis for a night and a day going to and back from the Coug/Ole Piss game. I had only been there on the sojourn from picking up the old tour bus my family takes to Dwag games and driving it from Nashville to the west coast. Ran out on the street that runs across Beale to pick up to go ribs at midnight and saw the sketchiest street I have ever seen in America. The ribs were from a place that seemed like a tourist trap - Blues City Cafe I think , but may be the best I've ever had.
Last Thursday rolled into Memphis late and checked out Beale. Wanted to check out Jerry Lawler's place but it shockingly closed at 10pm, as did a lot of places and the only ones left open were either way too loud with live bands and too much to walk into flat sober. Other bars were all depressing vibes with girls actually sleeping in them while Chingy blared. We sat down at three places and no one ever acknowledged us for a drink so we retired flat fucking sober. Tried the Peabody lobby but it was way too packed.
Cozy Corner was the one of the recommended BBQ places we went adn was good but honestly the Blues City Cafe place was better ribs.
Came back on Sunday and hit up an awesome old bar The Green Beetle, which had a frozen drink, a Bushwacker, that might be the best thing my taste buds of a 7 year old have ever tasted. Went to a pretty nice brewery and got out of town without getting robbed.
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Was the brewery at the end of Beale Street?
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"Never had the meat sweats before...."
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nah it was Wiseacre a little ways away. Feel like the one I saw on Beale wasn’t nearly as nice
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The one on Beale didn’t look special at all and the beer was ok. The bartender made it fun. It was 4 pm and the guy asked if we wanted shots and I said nope. He said fine, I’ll have one. He ended having 3 shots of whiskey while we were there.
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We went to Wiseacre as well after going to the civil rights museum.
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I need to order up some Rendezvous rub and start going in dry more often on my ribs. Love that stuff.
