10. The Bar-B-Q Shop

Dont know what ya got
Ok, being born and raised in memphis i didnt relize how good i had it untill i moved away. when i was a kid my father lived just down the block from the BarBQ shop on madison. It was weekly tradition to go and have lunch at what i now know is by far the best BarBQ you can ever hope for. Now that im in the military and have been all around the country and the world, i know that i left what is truely the BarBQ mecca that is memphis, with the BarBQ shop being at the top of the bunch. I now live in Dayton Ohio and cant get anything close to there quality here. thank goodness the sauces are available online. so If you like BarBQ go to the shop and order up a pulled pork plate on texas toast (be sure to put your coleslaw on the sandwich) and an order of chicken drummys to start you off. its a little slice of memphis heaven.

Best Ever!
I have to say that this is the best barbeque I've ever had. We spent a few days exploring Memphis and trying different barbecue places. The home of the "dancing pigs" was by far the best. The service was exceptionally fast and friendly. The tender pork ribs were to die for, easily pulled from the bone and melted in our mouths. We had them both dry and with sauce, both were delicious! The pulled pork and beef brisket were equally as good. the meal was complimented by sides of tasty baked beans, cole slaw, and texas toast. Forget Interstate or Corky's! The Bar-B-Q Shop is a MUST when in Memphis!

A well-kept secret
For some reason, this place rarely makes the list of must-visit BBQ restaurants in Memphis, but it right up there with the best, and is better than some that are rated too high. The meat is always good, tender, juicy & flavorful. The sides are good. And the sauce also is good, complementing the meat without overwhelming it. Definitely one of the top 5 or so BBQ spots in Memphis.

Bar-B-Q Shop is excellent!
My wife and I drove from Chicago with some good friends to enjoy The Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. We were a very disappointed at the separation built into the system between the contestants and the public so we went in search of some local BBQ at one of the 'Big' Memphis BBQ shops. What we found really disappointed us until the trip was 'saved' when we ate at The Bar-B-Q Shop. The ribs, wet and dry, were superb! The sauses, hot and regular were loaded with flavor. No cookie cutter crap here! These folks are serious about smokin' pork! My wife and I own a catering business in Sugar Grove, Illinois that specializes in smoking and grilling and we like to think we have fairly discerning 'smoked meat' palates. You'll enjoy The Bar-B-Q Shop!

Great Place
The trek all the way from Houston did not disappoint. The ribs, wet or dry (doesn't matter) were outstanding. Beans, slaw and pulled pork sandwich were great as well. The Yuengling beer from Pottsville, PA was the perfect compliment. Wait staff and service was outstanding. Thanks for the great food! Prosit!

Finally! Business travel has brought me back to Memphis, and back to terrorizing the local BBQ. This week I went to the BBQ Shop which I have been drooling to do. First impression was top notch, super friendly waitstaff, very quick, and more than willing to answer questions off the menu. Being a purist I ordered the full slab (wet) ribs. This came with cole slaw, beans, and 4 pieces of awesome texas toast. There were two sauces available at the table, regular, and hot. Service was snappy, and a perfect 10, and so was every aspect of the food. I found the regular sauce to be delicious, and the ribs were smoked to absolute perfection...the bones pulled from the meat with just enough resistance to know they were not steamed. I hate a rib bone that pulls completely clean with no meat attached. Perfect cued' ribs should have a bone that pulls out, but with a bit of meat attached to much on. The meat should be moist and tender, and the sauce should complement, and not overpower. This was exactly what I recieved. Dipping the thick texas toast into left over sauce was another taste bud delight. Beans were OK, not bad, but not great. Slaw was good, with an onion kick. I love hot food, but found the hot bbq sauce way overpowering. My ONLY complaint was that I loved the regular sauce served at the table, so I bought a bottle when I left. Upon trying the bottle at home these ARE NOT the same sauces. I did not like the "dancing pigs" sauce one bit. So far on my barbecue pilgrimage in Memphis, the best perfect scores in my book have been Central BBQ and this place. Check out other places for other Big-T reviews.

Their BBQ sandwiches can be ordered pulled or chopped with your choice of bun or Texas Toast. The Texas Toast choice is always the right call and sets them apart from the pack. The portions will not leave you wanting more but the taste will. I had never eaten there until I saw them for the 3rd or 4th year in a row as Best of the Best by the "Memphis Flyers" poll. I love BBQ and theirs is the best in Memphis. To mention the best BBQ in Memphis and not mention "The BBQ Shop" hurts your credibility. Sandwiches run about $5 with choice of sides, plates run $7-$11 and the Ribs (to die for) run $11-14.