Great food and excellent service! In Memphis for a couple days, and obviously one must have barbecue!! We stopped for a late lunch. We smoke our own meat at home, and we're a bit picky. Hubs had the ribs, and I had catfish. The ribs were very tender. The ribs come dry with a side of sauce, which is the perfect way to serve. Sauce is good. The catfish was crispy, plentiful and so delicious! I added hot sauce of course. Also ordered the fried okra-also very good! They had a birthday party going on, and in spite of being busy the service was very attentive! Sherri is awesome. We will be delighted to come again. read more

Nice homey feeling bbq restaurant and grill in downtown Memphis! Very nicely decorated with local concert and celebrity posters. Nice bbq menu, we picked the burnt ends and bbq chicken sandwich. Pretty standard fate from brisket to catfish, with all the necessary compliments. It was a slow night, but service was friendly and prompt. Just driving through, but I feel like I got some badly needed Memphis style Q! read more

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Very kind folks. Spacious area. The food missed the mark. Meat came with sauce already on it. read more

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Server was very nice, open feel with sports on was nice. Smelled like they were cooking with propane which was a turn off. Nacho Fries with Chk were good, but the brisket came out dry as if they cooked extra and it def did not just come off a smoker. It was like they tried to warm it up without covering to hold moisture. read more

Arnolds BAR-B-QUE & Grill - Logo - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

10/10! Restaurant itself is spacious and has a nice layout with plenty of seating. Service is excellent and food is outstanding and consistent! read more

Food was fantastic! Service was great. We enjoyed burnt ends, ribs and pulled pork. We shared a peach cobbler. Be sure to save room for it! It is a little off the main drag but well worth the detour. read more

Great food and customer service. Loved the BBQ especially the ribs. Great furniture inside and theme. read more

Arnolds BAR-B-QUE & Grill - Photo with our very caring waitress. - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Amazing hospitality, food, and atmosphere. The waitress was unbelievably kind & accommodating. We stopped through coming from Arkansas to Memphis airport & will make this stop in the future! read more

Arnolds BAR-B-QUE & Grill - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Very slow service with hardly anyone here on a game night (Grizzlies). A bit pricey for what you get. Won't rule out a second visit but it's not looking like a go to spot! read more

Arnolds BAR-B-QUE & Grill - Rib ends - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Best bbq we had on our trip through Memphis. We were looking for the best and hit all the famous and historic hot spots in Memphis. There were good restaurants but Arnold's was the best from vegetable sides to wings. They even have vegetarian items (fried okra, onion rings, fries, baked beans, green beans) and the flavors are each outstanding. I always ask to clarify recipes haven't changed to include egg/milk/any meat as best practice before ordering. The server wasn't able to clarify that anything was vegan but do ask the chef when they aren't busy to clarify/call ahead. They do a whiskey-beer batter on the onion rings that is great. Make this stop a point to visit. Even has some cool Memphis graffiti in the alley in front. No frills, just exceptional food and good service. read more

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This restaurant was amazing. It was a bit hidden from the main street, but once near the place, it's impossible not to identify it. It also has a bug parking lot if you are going by car. Inside, it has a los of seats available. I went around noon for lunch, and it had only one more customer. The waitress was very friendly while taking our order. I ordered the BBQ beef brisket dinner with fries and a cole-slaw. The order took a long time to arrive, but it was worth the wait. The brisket was very tender. The flavor was amazing. The bun that we got was warm and has a nice butter flavor. Also, the beans tasted delicious! Excellent restaurant!! read more

Arnolds BAR-B-QUE & Grill - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Service was more than adequate Ambiance is not fancy, a little rustic with worn floors and exposed vent conduit tubes. No real music besides kitchen radio. :-) Lighting is a little dark for daytime. I got the chicken sandwich which was chopped chicken and sauce. It was very good! Chicken moist and just the right amount of BBQ sauce, fries were crispy and cooked just right. I'd come back. read more

Arnolds BAR-B-QUE & Grill - Order Counter - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Where do I start....food was delicious! Burnt ends, ribs, onion rings....we shared everything! My favorite was green beans, chicken wings and sweet yams. Everything was so flavorful but I had to pick top 3! Wish we had room for dessert because if dinner was the indicator, I know dessert was going to be another treat. Server Sherri was friendly, helpful and such a hard worker. Everything about the experience for our first meal in Memphis just set the bar very high. If you get a chance...say yes! read more

This place is a hidden gem I stumbled across. The brisket sandwich was amazing, possibly the best baked beans I have ever had. The banana pudding was life changing. read more

Arnolds BAR-B-QUE & Grill - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

I'm shocked it has the reviews it does. My partner and I wanted bbq close to downtown so we decided to give this place a try based on the reviews. I'll start with the food: they were out of brisket (odd for lunchtime middle of the week, but whatever) so I had a pulled pork sandwich. The pork was tender, the sauce was good, but that's about it. There was maybe enough coleslaw to put on two bites but no more. My boyfriend had burnt end ribs that were super dry. The burning was not limited to the ends. The sides we had all tased like they came from a premade something, I am pretty sure none were homemade. The special part of our experience was the add ons. They must be barely keeping their doors open with as money hungry as they were. To sub a side is $2.50/side! I can't imagine why it costs $2.50 extra for a ramekin of canned beans instead of potato salad from a bucket. We were charged that twice even though the three times we discussed what sides come with my sandwich we were given a different answer. Then! Our bill showed a $12.50 "custom item" charge. We were told this was automatic gratuity and we had no say in the matter. The best part, this server was the co-owner. What the hell!? I hope this place fades into the ether and their $17.50 of add-on charges was worth it. read more

I'm remiss in writing about one of the best rib meals ever from Arnolds in Memphis. We stopped there on our way home to the eastern part of the state from a vacation out West. While Arnolds may be a tad difficult to find at the back of a parking lot adjacent to an alley, it was well worth the search. Such mouthwatering fall-apart ribs with the tastiest bbq sauce, the smokiest baked beans and yummiest coleslaw. Add a friendly staff to boot! The inside is roomy and clean, and there is a small patio outside where you can dine when the weather is warm. read more

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Great food, atmosphere, and staff! The food came out altogether with a party of 7, alongside this the drinks were taken care of immediately, no one ever had an empty cup. The staff was very friendly and at the end of our experiences, there was an exchange of numbers! read more

Arnolds BAR-B-QUE & Grill - Future connections! - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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Typical bar with friendly locals. Service was ok. It was later in the night so our server was nice, but may have been looking forward to going home. Food was ok as well. We both had burgers and fries and tasted a lot of salt in the burgers. read more

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There's so many BBQ restaurants in Memphis, even for someone born and raised here occasionally I'll run upon one that's been here forever, but that I haven't ever experienced... So it is with this spot... But they'll be on my list going forward. Their rib tips are for real... But what really stood out was the pulled pork sandwich. Everyone seems to mess this up. Not them... This was probably the best I've had from a restaurant. The absolute best... Puttin' them on the list. read more

I will not be returning! The wait time for the food was excessive, and the quality was disappointing. The brisket was unexpectedly chopped and dry, and the ribs were primarily end pieces and old. Only the fried okra seemed fresh; the fries appeared to have been sitting after being cooked. A gratuity was added to the bill without prior notification. I paid $57 plus change for a meal that was unsatisfactory. Although the waitress provided a replacement plate of brisket, it was unfortunately just as unappetizing as the first. I regret not taking photographs of the so-called BBQ. #BadFood #RestaurantReview #Brisket #Ribs #WasteOfMoney #CustomerService #NeverAgain read more

Arnolds BAR-B-QUE & Grill - Proof of purchase. - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Very tasty ribs and sides. Peach cobbler homemade and awesome. Great decision to have lunch here.

We went to Memphis for a weekend to enjoy bbq. We arrived on Friday night and went to Rendezvous. It was very good. We were intending to go to Central the next day, but it was a very long line. We looked to see who else was close, it was Arnolds. Really glad we made that choice. Just a little bit smoky inside, just what I'd expect from a rib joint. I ordered a rib platter with slaw and beans, my wife ordered rib tips with fries and beans, potato salad on the side. The ribs were perfect, dry rub with sauce on the side. The flavor was amazing!! The rib tips were a little fatty, but so good! I had peach cobbler for dessert, with vanilla ice cream. Just like Mama used to make. They know how to cook at Arnolds Barbeque. read more

Stopped in prior to a NBA game. A bit off the beaten path, as soon as you open the door you catch a whiff of true smoke and know you have chosen well! I went for a rib basket, 3 nice sized meaty ribs, unsauced perfection! Great taste, tender and well seasoned. The sauce on the side was a great compliment but love them just as they were. My better 1/2 went for the brisket tips. Again, spot on. Nice crunchy flavorful bark and also perfectly cooked and tender. BUT SAVE ROOM FOR DESERT!!! The peach cobbler served hot with ice cream on the side. Fantastic and uniquely spiced. Perfect crumbly crust to top it. THEN there was the banana pudding... ERMAGERD. The custard was rich creamy and chock full of flavor! Worth the drive from OKC just for this place alone! read more

If you are in Memphis and looking to quench that Memphis BBQ foodie craving, this is THE spot! Bonus points for being within walking distance of Beale St. My husband and I were Memphis for just a couple of days and were hunting for some of the best BBQ to try. This place makes me went to move to Memphis. I literally don't know where to start. When I say everything was phenomenal, I mean it. From the brisket, to the coleslaw (I don't even like coleslaw, but omg was this good), the Italian spinach, baked beans, rib tips, and homemade sauce. I wish I could remember the name of sweet woman who waited my husband and I. She took her time to come over and chat with us and was the epitome of southern hospitality. This is a must try spot for anyone visiting Memphis. P.S. Google maps correctly takes you to an alley. Loop around and park in the grassy lot read more

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Astonishingly good pork ribs. Smoky, crisp skin, pink soft juicy meat. I have smoked ribs 35 years and these are as good as mine. Well almost. ; ) But they have fried catfish too! Light light light, crisp and light. Tender fresh meat. Perfect seasoning. I could try for 20 years and never get close. We were at the La Quinta downtown two blocks away and the staff and I were dying to go over as I checked in. I went. They are tomorrow. Go! Beautiful friendly wait staff, clean, friendly ambiance. finishe read more

Arnolds BAR-B-QUE & Grill - oscar - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Sherry, the waitress and greeter is consistently kind and personable each time we come to visit. The food is on point! My favorites are the catfish nuggets, yams and greens. The ribs are good as well. I absolutely recommend to give this restaurant a try when in the area! California visitors were not disappointed. read more

Hands down the best ribs I've eaten at a restaurant. Incredible flavor, tender and perfectly succulent meat. Beans and fries were OK and the slaw was very good. The entrance to the restaurant is in an alley which could be off-putting but do not be deterred. If you want great ribs then Arnold's is a GO TO spot. read more

The hotel recommended this place when we asked for the best BBQ in town (cuz when you're in memphis, you should at least eat BBQ food once!). Unfortunately, they didnt have ribs when we went, which was a disappointment. I ordered the catfish bites, which sounded interesting, but it tasted super fishy and the batter had a weird crunchy consistency. We opt for the brisket, which was good. The BBQ flavor was on point. Just wish they had ribs. read more

Arnolds BAR-B-QUE & Grill - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Amazing food and amazing service. Visited from VA and felt like I got the Memphis BBQ experience!

The barbecue was excellent! We were really happy to find this place. The wait staff were friendly. Pork sandwich and the pork shoulder dinner plate. Yum! Seems like a local sort of place. Several guys in Fire Department uniforms came in for lunch while we were there. read more

Arnold's is a hidden gem. The pork bbq sandwich rivals any of the more well known bbq joints in Memphis. Rib tips are delicious. Catfish is always fresh & crispy -never greasy. Sides are good & their bbq sauce is great. Ask for extra. Lots of menu choices that I haven't tried yet but will! read more

Visiting Memphis for a meeting and we were told to stop by Arnold's. We arrived a little after 7:30pm on a Saturday night. Place had one large party of 8 and a table of two, which worried me since it was mostly empty. But the smell coming from the kitchen had me wanting to give them a try. We ordered the bbq nachos as an appetizer. Full of meat and accompanied by their bbq sauce, cheese and jalapeños, I really wish they made this an entree because it was worthy to have that title. I knew we were in for a treat off the nachos alone. Everything is cooked to order so patience is required. Our server, the owner's sister, gave us some great recommendations. I went with the rib tips plate and I was not disappointed. They were meaty and flavorful and I'm glad I made the decision to have the sauce on the side. It was good enough without the sauce. I did get two overcooked pieces but it was such a generous portion of tips that I was full by the time I made it to those pieces. I asked for fried okra and coleslaw as the sides. Both were really good too. I hate I got such a small cup of coleslaw but I enjoyed what I did have. We were having such a good time that I forgot to buy a bottle of the bbq sauce. Gives me a reason to go back when I come again! read more

Arnolds BAR-B-QUE & Grill - Rib tip dinner with fried okra and coleslaw - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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My brother visited from out of town, and we went to a restaurant with many positive reviews. We ordered BBQ Eggrolls, but they were unavailable despite the restaurant being nearly empty. In addition, dogs from the kennel above the restaurant were barking throughout the meal. We then ordered BBQ Pork Nachos, but I was disappointed with the tasteless BBQ pork, which was smothered in Velveeta cheese (all bland). The food was flavorless, and the pork was extremely dry (the BBQ sauce provided gave the only flavor). We also tried the BBQ pork sandwich, but it too was underwhelming due to the dry pork and bun. While the customer service was good, I cannot recommend this establishment or its food. read more

Arnolds BAR-B-QUE & Grill - BBQ Sandwhoch - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

This place is phenomenal. Service was great. Food was stellar. You have to get the corn bites and ribs!

This place was nice, I ordered the BBQ nachos and it was very good the perfect amount for a meal. The atmosphere is cool I love the two different floor design and tv's for sports. The service was great and inviting. The only confusing part was how to get to the parking lot. I would def recommend going any giving them a try! read more

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Ms. Sherry was the most gracious hostess and provided great service. The fried catfish bites, fried okra, bbq beans and brisket were amazing. Topped off with Memphis craft beer and it made for a great afternoon. Can't wait to do it again! read more

Best BBQ I've ever had!!. Coming all the way from California we don't have BBQ like this. Don't overthink it just do it! Sherrie was great to us, great service!!! read more

Arnolds BAR-B-QUE & Grill - Burnt ends and a full rack of ribs No need for sauce but does compliment the ribs deliciously - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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This place is a gem, and this is coming from a vegan. We were passing through on a long cross country road trip and while typically my wife goes along with vegan friendly places she really wanted Memphis bbq and I was happy to find a good spot for her. We were staying at La Quinta and when I saw Arnold's was right around the corner with such great reviews I figured it was meant to be! I knew I'd be fine with a couple sides and beer while she could indulge her rib fantasy. I got the green beans and seasoned fries. Nothing super exciting about the beans but the fries were great. I also stole most of my wife's dinner roll. We got a couple of local beers in cans while she got the bbq rib plate with baked beans. She LOVED the ribs. I dipped a fry in the bbq sauce and it was delicious but she said the ribs were so good dry there was no need for the sauce. She also enjoyed the peach cobbler with a scoop of ice cream. Aside from the great bbq, what really shines about this place is the owners. Sherry was a delight - we chatted about the city and she gave us some great tips and tidbits, and even chatted about veganism. We would have been happy to stay and talk with her more if we had more time. We said hello to her husband in the kitchen on the way out. There's plenty of space inside or you could easily get things to go. Really this was such a nice local place, would totally recommend. read more

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The food was great but waited a long time because they were busy. The staff is friendly. We had the ribs, catfish, baked beans, fries, and BBQ nachos so we left very full! read more

This is definitely one of the best BBQ places that I have had in Memphis. The BBQ Nachos were excellent, and the smoked wing appetizer was very good . For my main meal, I got the rib and catfish combination with fries and BBQ beans. It was excellent. I will definitely be coming back the next time that I am in Memphis. read more