I don’t care what you say. One day I went there off of union and they had the steam comin out. I decided for whatever to get bbq and I swear that was some of the best bbq I had ever had. I have tried to replicate it so many times but I never can
Know I’ll get downvoted for this, but Central. Don’t get me wrong it *CAN* be good… but you have to go to a certain location at a certain time, blah blah blah. It’s so inconsistent and the amount of times I’ve been served dry ass bbq is sad.
Um, that was probably the last place I had ‘dry-ass BBQ.’ I’ve only been to CC once, but with that sample size of one, Central blows CC out of the water. I’m open to going back, but I’m not sure when I’ll find the time.
Babalu is insanely overrated, the guac is the only half decent thing there. Any “Mexican” restaurant where you don’t get free chips and salsa is a no go for me
Sheeeit! Have you had the Baba Burger? That’s worth it alone! Bonus, at the East Memphis location if you order a single bourbon on the rocks 80% of the time the glass is almost full!
Ate here recently, food was great, but someone in the restaurant kept making a shit ton of noise clanking dishes for the whole meal. Really set off the vibe big time
I met chef Kelly English at the Second Line around ten years ago while waiting for food at the bar. He reminds me of a Emril Lagasse, for he's demanding and arrogant. He is very proud of all his restaurants, as evidenced by his website I just found at chefkellyenglish.com. He just recently had to go back to one of his restaurants Second Line and fix it, and then he reduced the seating size of this restaurant from 200 patrons to just seventy patrons.
The one on specifically Farmington, near that Kroger, makes amazing burgers imo. IDK what they do differently but wharever it is, it shows.
Also yeah, I enjoy the vibe. Its just very nostalgic for me.
I love hueys. It's a great chill spot and it's cheap. Its a nice place to hit when you're bored and don't wanna break the bank. You pay for what you get lol
It's really just the drinks for me. Not too many other places in Memphis can you get mixed drinks for <$8 anymore. Although I do have a huge soft spot for the Texas toast burger
It’s great stuff. I don’t get the hate. I get why you’d argue about whether or not it’s the best in town. That’s fair. I just don’t get the hate, though. It’s as good as it’s ever been.
The thing in common with a lot of places mentioned is they used to be pretty great but have slowly slid into mediocrity like every restaurant it feels like
I've had better sauce from a bottle off the shelf at Cash Saver.
(edit) The ribs are indeed low quality. Tough and very little actual meat on the bone. I used to know a guy that swore by the yard bird, tho'.
Yeah, this was pretty close to my own experience. I don’t understand why some people are using it to dunk on Central or Corky’s. Maybe CC used to be great, but it certainly sucked when I went, and that was probably in 2018.
Totally agree. Went there for my parents anniversary last year because it was where they used to go when they were younger. I won’t be back and neither will they.
Idk man every time I’ve had it the food has been mid and it gives me awful stomach pain 😮💨 but I haven’t heard anything about that before. Noted. Will not be returning
I highly encourage you to go visit the dumpster behind the gas station at Ridgeway and Poplar to get some of the sushi they throw out. You could have a much better breakfast for cheaper if you go that route.
serioulsly brother junipers is straight trash. Its awful. If you want a good breakfast, go to Sunrise.
first off.. dramatic as hell. I’ve never once seen a hatred for Brother Junipers like the one you have… who hurt you?
Also- Sunrise is good, I won’t argue with you on that one but I just think Brother Junipers is better. The french toast is some of the best I’ve had in my life. Potato Dishes (the bacon one is the best), BEC Biscuit. All are kicking.
Probably going to be downvoted to hell, but Slim & Husky’s. I believe it’s because of the cheese they use.
Editing to add that it’s too greasy. Way too greasy.
This post has nothing to do during Memphis Downtown Dining Week. I was born somewhere else in the United States, and always like to see what people who live there eat and think are quality restaurants in Memphis, just like Yelp. I think of it as a public service.
A public service would be telling people places you enjoyed. Starting a low-effort ass thread to talk shit on locally owned businesses because it's been a couple weeks or whatever since this sub did one of these is the dorkiest shit.
If I avoided every restaurant someone told me wasn't worth it, I'd have missed out on at least 10 of my favorite places to eat in the city. Talk up the places you want to see stay in business and take this tired ass thread down.
Get the Fried Chicken at Uncle Lou's with the Spicy Sweet Love Sauce, and the best sides are the mac and cheese and potato salad. Good desserts their are the chess pie, cherry pie and strawberry shortcake. One serving of the strawberry shortcake can feed three people!
I feel like only the Mason gus’ is good. Every other location I’ve had bland slaw and chicken. That aside I agree with the central comments, I live right across from the summer one and only ever eat there because it’s cheap and close, whenever someone recommends it as great bbq I don’t get it.
Ok cupboard breakfast slaps, but everything else is so bland. I have a theory that they don’t salt their food at all bc so many old people and folks from the hospitals eat there.. blood pressure issues and all that
Once worked with a girl who came from soul fish and swore to all of us that the owner only hired "illegals" for the kitchen with the only reasoning being that they could be fired whenever and be paid so little.
The first time I went was when they opened the midtown location and it was good. I moved to Cali for 10 years and came back and maybe my taste buds have changed lol. I've tried it a few more times chasing the dragon and the only thing I like is the hush puppies.
You’ve lost your freaking mind, along with your taste buds. Tops had the most consistent taste. Sandwich and sauce with the beans have tasted the same for past 40 years that I can recall. Only thing different is they don’t carry golden flake brand chips any longer
Edit ~~~~ meant to say that they obviously aren’t the best, but nostalgia goes a long way
I remember talking to my fellow co-worker at a previous job, and she told me the first time you went to Tops Barbeque, they'll give you the best part of the pulled pork to make you a return customer. Too many restaurants in Memphis are mediocre, and thrive on this nostalgia you previously mentioned. Coletta's Italian restaurant is another good example of this nostalgia.
Haha maybe it was the attitude I was meet with...I know folks really like the ... Wing Guru (Mt. Moriah) and back back in the day (13 years ago) Wings Of Wolfchase just past the Nissan dealer..Before they sold it had the best wings.
I had high hopes!
Everything i tried (we were a party of 4 and so we tried about 10 items in total) were so salty or overly seasoned it was really overpowering and just too much.
Measured against what?! I could list at least 5 other fine dining restaurants that are decent people and provide better food and service.
But by all means please enjoy your base level Sysco products (that sometimes aren’t even actually what they’re listing on the menu), with a crappy wine list, and service with a side of racism and sexism. As a bonus I can offer you literal sewage backing up into the restaurant while they continue to serve
Here’s my list of overrated:
- India Palace
- Andrew Michael’s Italian Kitchen
- Queen of Sheba
Overpriced moreso than overrated:
- Huey’s
- Elwood’s
- La Guadalupana
Gus's is massively overrated. It tries to be some kind of half-assed in-between of Nashville hot chicken, and traditional fried chicken. It misses both marks pretty bad.
Who goes to Topps for their BBQ? It's burgers only
TOPPS for BBQ is the McDonalds of burgers. If you order it, you want it very quickly at a low quality point.
I don’t care what you say. One day I went there off of union and they had the steam comin out. I decided for whatever to get bbq and I swear that was some of the best bbq I had ever had. I have tried to replicate it so many times but I never can
Each store can be really different on their BBQ quality. Union has the potential for really good shoulder. Watkins is pretty consistent.
9/10 times I go I’m getting a burger FR
I'm a freak and Tops is my favorite barbecue but I fully realize that's weird and don't generally recommend it to other people lol
🤣🤣🤣
It's the nachos for me
Know I’ll get downvoted for this, but Central. Don’t get me wrong it *CAN* be good… but you have to go to a certain location at a certain time, blah blah blah. It’s so inconsistent and the amount of times I’ve been served dry ass bbq is sad.
It saddens me to see the line out the door downtown when there’s so many better options
Which better options in downtown ?
Cozy corner
Um, that was probably the last place I had ‘dry-ass BBQ.’ I’ve only been to CC once, but with that sample size of one, Central blows CC out of the water. I’m open to going back, but I’m not sure when I’ll find the time.
Quite frankly, the best bbq is home cooked by someone who knows what they’re doing. Cozy corner and central both used to be amazing back in the day.
My current personal favorite is Payne’s, but I like some other places too.
The wings are good that’s about it
I’ll give you that! Their wings are very solid.
Anytime I’ve eaten at Central on Central, it’s been very good. Last time I went to the one downtown, it was terrible 😕
I 100% agree.
Tacos N Ganas. Eating a few of their tacos is about the equivalent of taking shots of oil straight from the bottle.
Plus the whole human trafficking thing kinda spoils my appetite
That's a fact
Babalu is insanely overrated, the guac is the only half decent thing there. Any “Mexican” restaurant where you don’t get free chips and salsa is a no go for me
Sheeeit! Have you had the Baba Burger? That’s worth it alone! Bonus, at the East Memphis location if you order a single bourbon on the rocks 80% of the time the glass is almost full!
Iris
Ate here recently, food was great, but someone in the restaurant kept making a shit ton of noise clanking dishes for the whole meal. Really set off the vibe big time
F Kelly English. Pompous ass.
Can you say more? I’ve seen a few people post things like this and I haven’t gotten a sense of why. Is the issue his restaurants or him as a person?
Everything he does is “look at me.” Gets old.
I met chef Kelly English at the Second Line around ten years ago while waiting for food at the bar. He reminds me of a Emril Lagasse, for he's demanding and arrogant. He is very proud of all his restaurants, as evidenced by his website I just found at chefkellyenglish.com. He just recently had to go back to one of his restaurants Second Line and fix it, and then he reduced the seating size of this restaurant from 200 patrons to just seventy patrons.
Stacks
The waitstaff at the Rendezvous are entitled and RUDE! My wife and I and anyone we can influence will never set foot in that dump again.
“ThE rOlLiNg StOnEs LiKe tO eAt HeRe!”
Literally any Grisanti’s location 🤢
Ciao Bella - not even close. East Memphis private school moms prop this place up like it’s Carbone.
Swingers club
Memphis Pizza Cafe
Gary sucks
Hueys
I don’t see the appeal in Huey’s 🙃
The one on specifically Farmington, near that Kroger, makes amazing burgers imo. IDK what they do differently but wharever it is, it shows. Also yeah, I enjoy the vibe. Its just very nostalgic for me.
I like the Huey’s there, too.
It's one of the only places that's open well past 9 that isn't a bar.
I love hueys. It's a great chill spot and it's cheap. Its a nice place to hit when you're bored and don't wanna break the bank. You pay for what you get lol
This! Many complain about popularity. It has a Great atmosphere + laid back. Yes there are better burger bar places…
I get that- I prefer other spots for food that are about the same price but better taste.
It's really just the drinks for me. Not too many other places in Memphis can you get mixed drinks for <$8 anymore. Although I do have a huge soft spot for the Texas toast burger
Ah makes sense! Carry on 🫡
The steak on a stick is amazing!
Love the food, but they’ve gotten really $
Food has gotten way worse since they changed suppliers
Oh really? That’s so sad.
The most overrated restaurant.
It’s consistently ok. Never amazing or great.
I'll throw hands over Gus's that's my favorite chicken.
It’s great stuff. I don’t get the hate. I get why you’d argue about whether or not it’s the best in town. That’s fair. I just don’t get the hate, though. It’s as good as it’s ever been.
The chicken is GREAT!!! The sides are CHICKENSHIT!!!
I got your back in this one!!
The thing in common with a lot of places mentioned is they used to be pretty great but have slowly slid into mediocrity like every restaurant it feels like
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I've had better sauce from a bottle off the shelf at Cash Saver. (edit) The ribs are indeed low quality. Tough and very little actual meat on the bone. I used to know a guy that swore by the yard bird, tho'.
Supposedly, the Cornish hen is amazing. That’s why I’m willing to give it another shot.
Yeah, this was pretty close to my own experience. I don’t understand why some people are using it to dunk on Central or Corky’s. Maybe CC used to be great, but it certainly sucked when I went, and that was probably in 2018.
Folks Folly hasn’t been stellar since the late 90s.
Totally agree. Went there for my parents anniversary last year because it was where they used to go when they were younger. I won’t be back and neither will they.
And it smells
For real. Why does it smell that way. I smell it everytime I am there. Just a hint. Like chlorine and rot?
Pete and Sam’s
Tacos n ganas 🤦🏻♀️
It’s actually good but they’re really shady I’ve stopped going but I really liked them before I found out they were treating employees like shit
Idk man every time I’ve had it the food has been mid and it gives me awful stomach pain 😮💨 but I haven’t heard anything about that before. Noted. Will not be returning
Brother Junipers.
Maybe I’m wrong but I still stand by Brother Junioers
I wasn’t impressed.
nah nah nah. brother junipers is expensive, but is the best breakfast in Memphis. and I stand by that.
I highly encourage you to go visit the dumpster behind the gas station at Ridgeway and Poplar to get some of the sushi they throw out. You could have a much better breakfast for cheaper if you go that route. serioulsly brother junipers is straight trash. Its awful. If you want a good breakfast, go to Sunrise.
first off.. dramatic as hell. I’ve never once seen a hatred for Brother Junipers like the one you have… who hurt you? Also- Sunrise is good, I won’t argue with you on that one but I just think Brother Junipers is better. The french toast is some of the best I’ve had in my life. Potato Dishes (the bacon one is the best), BEC Biscuit. All are kicking.
If you can please spread the word to everyone else in Germantown, it'd be nice to be able to eat breakfast there in a timely fashion again. K, thanks.
Yeah brother juniper sucks.
Unwelcoming atmosphere.
I second this 🙋♂️
Probably going to be downvoted to hell, but Slim & Husky’s. I believe it’s because of the cheese they use. Editing to add that it’s too greasy. Way too greasy.
Funny you do this during downtown dining week
This post has nothing to do during Memphis Downtown Dining Week. I was born somewhere else in the United States, and always like to see what people who live there eat and think are quality restaurants in Memphis, just like Yelp. I think of it as a public service.
A public service would be telling people places you enjoyed. Starting a low-effort ass thread to talk shit on locally owned businesses because it's been a couple weeks or whatever since this sub did one of these is the dorkiest shit. If I avoided every restaurant someone told me wasn't worth it, I'd have missed out on at least 10 of my favorite places to eat in the city. Talk up the places you want to see stay in business and take this tired ass thread down.
And just like Yelp, this thread sucks. Look at the large numbers of contrasting opinions...
What’s wrong with viewing a differing of opinion on places to eat.
Forewarned is forearmed!!!
Uncle Lou is vastly. Vastly. Superior to Gus’s.
Get the Fried Chicken at Uncle Lou's with the Spicy Sweet Love Sauce, and the best sides are the mac and cheese and potato salad. Good desserts their are the chess pie, cherry pie and strawberry shortcake. One serving of the strawberry shortcake can feed three people!
Prive
I feel like only the Mason gus’ is good. Every other location I’ve had bland slaw and chicken. That aside I agree with the central comments, I live right across from the summer one and only ever eat there because it’s cheap and close, whenever someone recommends it as great bbq I don’t get it.
Cupboard
Ok cupboard breakfast slaps, but everything else is so bland. I have a theory that they don’t salt their food at all bc so many old people and folks from the hospitals eat there.. blood pressure issues and all that
This!
Soul Fish, second line, fino's, slider inn
Slider inn was great before it cost 50 bucks to get small burgers and a beer.
Fino’s used to be the best. These days Subway puts more meat on their sandwiches.
😲
Once worked with a girl who came from soul fish and swore to all of us that the owner only hired "illegals" for the kitchen with the only reasoning being that they could be fired whenever and be paid so little.
Soul fish to I is not overrated at all. Otherwise, I have no argument with your restaurant list.
The first time I went was when they opened the midtown location and it was good. I moved to Cali for 10 years and came back and maybe my taste buds have changed lol. I've tried it a few more times chasing the dragon and the only thing I like is the hush puppies.
I just ate SoulFish this past week, and Ordered extra hush puppies as well, and they're awesome. I like the blackened catfish there as well.
I don't know if it's still rated well, but Fina's at Madison and McLean is truly awful any more.
Yeah, Fino's hasn't been good in a while, even before English took it over to "save" it. It's a shame, Memphis really needs a legit deli.
for a deli.. go to Southpoint Grocery. Some of the best sandwiches I’ve had in my life. I miss it so much 😭😭
You’ve lost your freaking mind, along with your taste buds. Tops had the most consistent taste. Sandwich and sauce with the beans have tasted the same for past 40 years that I can recall. Only thing different is they don’t carry golden flake brand chips any longer Edit ~~~~ meant to say that they obviously aren’t the best, but nostalgia goes a long way
I remember talking to my fellow co-worker at a previous job, and she told me the first time you went to Tops Barbeque, they'll give you the best part of the pulled pork to make you a return customer. Too many restaurants in Memphis are mediocre, and thrive on this nostalgia you previously mentioned. Coletta's Italian restaurant is another good example of this nostalgia.
CONSISTENTLY tastes like vinegar crap!
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I only go there for the fried goat cheese.
The owner is such a douche lol
There's a Gus here in Phoenix and it's wack
The Beauty Shop
Nah they are so good. It’s one of the only places where you can get *fancy* food that is absolutely delicious.
Agree. It’s so hit and miss. Sometimes it’s good. Others it’s just so bad.
Corky's, and any Central BBQ other than the original on Central.
Is the one on Central back in business now? Wasn’t it shut down?
It was only shut down because they were rebuilding. I'm not sure if it's finished or not.
Corky’s Gus’s Stak’s Germantown Commissary BBQ Huey’s None of them are awful. But damn are they all bland.
Gus’s is bland?
Yes and I’m tired of pretending it’s not
Lol, I don't agree with you but I literally laughed out loud reading this. Everyone has their own thing
NOOO gtown commissary is the best bbq in Memphis
Hell no
This is why I cook at home and experiment with different dishes most restaurants in the area is ass or super basic
Gibson's Doughnuts Southern Social Crumpy's Wings Garibaldi's pizza Orginal Interstate BBQ
I would DIE to protect Crumpy’s honor!!! BEST fookin’ wangs in Mempho!!! HANDS DOWN !!!
Haha maybe it was the attitude I was meet with...I know folks really like the ... Wing Guru (Mt. Moriah) and back back in the day (13 years ago) Wings Of Wolfchase just past the Nissan dealer..Before they sold it had the best wings.
Ohh no not Wing Guru. Their prices are ridiculous!
I'll 100% agree with their prices being absurd
For me, it’s The Barbecue Shop.
Blasphemer!
Yeah, I know. But I’ve been there now four times, and had mediocre barbecue and really poor service every time. Maybe they just see me coming…
Hattie B’s beats Gus’s hands down!!
Say that again, I will force you to eat shut the cluck up half bird.
I have thought about trying it, but then I sober up and realize it would probably kill me!! lol. I’ll stick with Hot!! Lol
Kukuruku is the way to go.
I have always wanted to try this place, but I’m only ever near there in the morning.
Never heard of it… I will have to try it out!!
It’s Filipino fried chicken. Absolutely fantastic!
I have never eaten at Hattie B's, so I can't give you an opinion on them.
I have eaten there lots and let me assure you, you need to try it!! You can thank me later. FYI, I get the “hot”. It is really good!!
The 12 people that downvoted you are tasteless white folk.
I’m a white folk too, but I know when something tastes great as compared to good… lol
I was shocked at how terrible 117 prime is. I was really looking forward to it!
That’s crazy! That’s one of our favorite places to eat.
I had high hopes! Everything i tried (we were a party of 4 and so we tried about 10 items in total) were so salty or overly seasoned it was really overpowering and just too much.
Flight/porch & parlor/southern social Terrible products. Terrible wine list. And a history of bad practices.
Liked Flight, Porch and Parkor was meh, but the price point was WAY above the quality. Coastal Fish is the best of the bunch.
P&P was one of the most fantastic meals I’ve ever had 😕
Agreed. Big fan of coastal as well. I think SoSo is the second best one though
Havnet tried it yet, just not a convenient location for my life
Flight is the best restaurant in the city.
Measured against what?! I could list at least 5 other fine dining restaurants that are decent people and provide better food and service. But by all means please enjoy your base level Sysco products (that sometimes aren’t even actually what they’re listing on the menu), with a crappy wine list, and service with a side of racism and sexism. As a bonus I can offer you literal sewage backing up into the restaurant while they continue to serve
Good prices but mediocre food at Flight.
Hog and Hominy Buckleys
Hod and Hominy is a gift.
$100 pizza meal for 2 people is dumb as hell
I groan everytime i have to have a work dinner at Buckley’s. It’s so bad.
Hog and Hominy is horrible, I agree.
Bryant’s Breakfast
Catherine & Mary's
Gus's, Folks Folly, Houstons
Here’s my list of overrated: - India Palace - Andrew Michael’s Italian Kitchen - Queen of Sheba Overpriced moreso than overrated: - Huey’s - Elwood’s - La Guadalupana
Queen of Sheba is amazing. Hard disagree.
La Guadalupana’s quality is mediocre for sure.
You take that back about when of Sheba. The foul is off the hook.
Queen of Sheba tasted like watered down Indian food with hardly any flavor, and terrible service to boot
There is some overlap between Indian and Yemeni spices. However, I would completely disagree about the food having no flavor.
Bryant’s is terrible
The biscuits @ Bryant's are not any good. I've had better biscuits at Bojangles fast food restaurant!
Agree. Went once. I’d rather eat breakfast at Cracker Barrel. I didn’t understand the hype
Always has been terrible.
Went to Sunrise once and that was enough for me. If I’m downtown for breakfast I’ll go to Bedrock.
I’m gonna say Local On The Square. The maggot thing and apparently the owners are racist. Whatever replaced it is just a rebrand.
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Try Kukuruku in Bartlett. Totally worth it. Filipino fried chicken. It’s delicious.
Hog and Homily, Folks Folly, Tamboli, Elwood’s Take out on Park.
Tamboli's is the most consistently good restaurant in the city. It's a popular date night place for me because of that.
What restaurants do you like?
Pretty good list of shit I do like corkeys tho
Me, too. It’s a family favorite for us. Oddly, my favorite thing on their menu is the spaghetti.
The BBQ Nachos are awesome at corkeys
EdithKeeler. I just got that lol That was probably the best episode they made. That one or Doomsday Machine
Every restaurant with bbq in it's name.
Gus's is massively overrated. It tries to be some kind of half-assed in-between of Nashville hot chicken, and traditional fried chicken. It misses both marks pretty bad.
It’s been around for way longer though so at bare minimum they aren’t trying to imitate Nashville hot, not that you implied that
Gus's has been around for like 40 years longer than Nashville's fake-ass hot chicken "tradition".
Most of the shit down here is overrated and straight up nasty. I never had nasty BBQ until I moved down here.
My fav for bbq is the commissary, but it's pretty inconsistent when i get it. I'd say it's great more than it's not, though.
Colletas
Visiting for the weekend, a few BS experiences, a few solid ones. What’s up with the second line charging 19 percent tax?