Tried to call in an order at 7:30 on a Saturday night and a man named Paul aggressively told me he wasn't taking any orders because they were too busy and hung up on me before I could apologize. Terrible customer service before I even get in the door, Paul is losing this company money. read more

Food was ok but we had to eat outside and it was hot and lots of flies. We had to park in the back and it was very messy and greasy everywhere. Had the impression that nobody cleans at all. read more

July 4th was a busy evening for them. When the order was missing a few items, these people went out of their way to make things right. The BBQ was what we have come to expect--really delicious. Our friends from out of town were impressed with the rack of ribs, the pulled pork, and the chicken. Nothing comparable up north where they are from. But this 5-Star Rating has to do with superior customer service. Friendly, polite, and gracious. We live less than a mile from this remarkable restaurant. read more

*WARNING -- The following contains controversial viewpoints that may be offensive to BBQ purists. Don't hate me just for having an opinion..!* The world is full of different regions with their own signature cuisines, and they all have their own set of fiercely territorial, loyal, stubborn supporters -- local snobs like me who swear you'll never match their hometown version of whatever kind of food. If you're from New York, you can't accept any other place's version of pizza (including Italy). If you're from Chicago, ditto -- along with their claim of the only true hot dog (alien relish, no ketchup allowed). Texas insists theirs is the only real chili. San Francisco & Maryland fight over which native crab is superior. Boston & Manhattan fight over chowder. I'm always pushing the belief that good carne asada is hard to find more than 100 miles from The Border. But the real Amer'can Battle of Five Armies is all over barbecue. Every southern state has its own version and claims to be the best. Is it the rub or the sauce? Ribs or brisket? Smoky, sweet, tangy or spicy? Well Memphis is one of the super powers in the great debate. The locals swear by a dry-rubbed pork rib, with lots of sauce choices for dipping. Most of them also swear by Central BBQ to represent the Memphis version to the rest of the world. So I was all geared up for my first visit to Memphis, and this popular semi-official standard bearer. Here's the controversial part -- ready for it? I've had better barbecue, right here in controversial California! I must be outta my g-d mind... Here's the full breakdown: Ribs -- really good according to my rib-loving companions. I'm not a rib guy, which is probably where I really fall out on this argument (and piss y'all off). Brisket -- pretty good, tasty & tender. Chicken -- really good, tastier & tender. Pulled pork -- looked good, smelled good, tasted like a really nicely cooked hunk of meat -- without any seasoning whatsoever. The right sauce (out of 5 choices) made it taste just fine. The point is that it absolutely needed that sauce, which made me sad. BBQ beans -- yummy! Green beans -- nasty, like the canned ones we grew up with. Slaw -- not bad, too heavy on the mayo for my taste. Mac & cheese -- pretty yucky actually. Greens -- not my thang. Rolls -- yummy, sweet & squishy. Sauce -- we all liked both spicy & mild barbecue sauces, didn't care much for the straight up vinegar or mustard. Service -- pretty darn good, especially compared to what we usually get at home. Atmosphere -- big fan! Cost -- higher than expected, right around Bay Area prices. I guess inflation is happening all over. This is a shock to most of us, I know. But I'd put Hi Life in downtown San Jo, Trail Dust in Morgan Hill and the sadly closed Ray's by the SF Zoo pretty far above Central. And this part is really gonna get me a whuppin', but chains like Armadillo Willy's & Famous Dave's are arguably on the same level as Central. Don't mean to hurt any feelings here, it's just a matter of personal taste... read more

I was on the way to get a pizza. But my hungry mind said.... you want pizza.... AND WINGS. lol. I love their naked and jerk varieties. I got a sausage and cheese plate and a piece of coconut cake too! I plan on giving my dad the sausage and cheese plate... I guess! Lol. Looks so good I might keep it for myself. I'd definitely come back here again and again! Get the wings! You'll love em. I only wish they grilled their wings instead of frying them. read more

I originally went to the Central BBQ in Midtown and it was amazing. The next time I went to this one and it was really bad. But they've stepped it up, and they are top notch. read more

Went here tonight for Husband's best friend's birthday. Have been a few times before and always enjoyed food, service, and atmosphere. Got sampler appetizer to share with Husband... Only $11 for wings, sausage & cheese, and nachos. Got portabella mushroom salad for meal and very impressed with flavor and size for cheap price. Overall, great meal with great friends. We will be back soon. read more

We were here last night for the Maxine Smith Steam school. The service was awesome and the food was good. The young people here really know how to take care of the customer. From the ladies behind the counter, to the lady that waited on us, the staff is top notch. The guys that brought out our food were nice and attentive. Check this place out. We had chicken wings, BBQ nachos, and ribs and everything was good. read more

Southern BBQ at its finest.. none of the fancy stuff.. just some good ol bbq... ribs were amazing

The service was good but the food was lacking. I got the Dry Spice smoked wings and I ended up throwing them away. They were not what I expected at all. The seasoning was too much. read more

it's good, a lot of people claim this is the place for bbq -- it's good, the nachos are awesome, enjoyable food and atmosphere. great place to go read more

Yummy BBQ! Even though it was busy, the line went fast and we had bo problem finding a table. Sides aren't anything special but the meat made up for it. Decent selection od local draft beers read more

I would give this 6 stars if I could. The service was amazing. The food was unmatched. We loved every part of this experience. The ribs were so tender, fall off the bone. Definitely get the wet ribs vs the dry ribs. Will 100% be going back here next time I am in Memphis. read more

Sorry guys. I yelped to find the perfect spot in Memphis for our BBQ. I asked the very polite guy at the cashier what to get. I let him know we were from Texas and we knew BBQ. He pointed us to wings, a pulled pork sandwich and some ribs. All of it was good. I've had Memphis BBQ one other time when I stayed at the Peabody and had some room service so I don't have a lot to compare from. But what I do know is I would try somewhere else. The people were very nice, service was fast, but it was nothing to get excited about. I would take room service at the Peabody over this read more

This was a stop for the boyfriend who loves BBQ. I ordered a salad and cup of water as the vegetarian. ( At least they had that option). The boyfriend ordered the ribs wet and dry with a side of links ( which was really smoked kielbasa sausage and not true links) with a mac-n-cheese and greens. Overall the meal was lackluster with no real flavor. The BF actually left the food behind (which never happens). If this represents Memphis BBQ, you may want to pick a different location or a different BBQ place overall. I would not recommend. Lastly, the cleanliness of the overall restaurant was low and the women's bathroom look like a crime scene. I know it was the end of the day but someone needs to handle that on a regular basis. read more

Maybe I should have figured it out by the lack of cars in the parking lot at 12:30 on a Sunday afternoon. The ribs were mediocre, the coleslaw was not even up to mediocre, the potato salad was okay, but nothing special. The staff was a bit irritated that I didn't know the ordering process. read more

3 1/2 stars is about right. Maybe my expectations were too high. Everyone had the pulled pork sandwich. The slaw served on top had way too much mayo. The pork was good but not great. Carolinas have better pulled pork Also added 3 ribs with a dry rub. These were much better than the sandwich. Tender , flavorful and with just enough smoke--these should be all that they serve. Beans were the best side. Onion rings were good but could have been crispier. Overall it was good but this is Memphis--it should be great. read more

Went there friday night and it was so crowded... The ribs were burned beyond recognition. They just threw the ribs on the table and ran... No check back to see how they were so we ate charcoal for dinner. I ordered a beer that i had to go find a manager to get about 5mins AFTER the burned food arrived. No apology or anything. Just give us your money and here is some burned food. wORST BBQ EVER. Dont go there read more

Central BBQ never lets me down. I always get the BBQ chicken nachos with fries instead of tortilla chips and jalapenos. They have 3 sauces that you can add and I like the spicy BBQ the best. It's one of my favorite BBQ places in Memphis. This location is really big and not as crowded as the others so it's also a plus. I've heard great things about their wings and their ribs. They also have a great deal on beers (cheap buckets or cheap individual bottles). Highly recommend it! read more

My boyfriend loves the BBQ Nachos on homemade chips ("the secret chips") he loves this place and has a food hangover for a good day after eating here. As a non-meat eater, I'm happy they offer something for the vegans and vegetarians to eat. The portabella mushroom sandwich/ salad is quite good, which youre a veggie lover or not I recommend it. read more

This is one of the best BBQ places we've tried. It definitely makes our top 2. We've had sandwiches, nachos and etc and it is all good. The ribs are fantastic as well. They're probably the best ribs inside Memphis city limits. Let me be honest, we make the 20-30 minute drive just for the wings! They are the best wings I've ever had. (Shhh...please don't tell my husband I said that, although I'm sure he'd be inclined to agree they're better than the wings he's grilled.) The atmosphere is very cool and comfortable. The service is great as well. We've been to all three locations, and this one is our second favorite. The downtown location is the best, and the original on Central is okay too. read more

We just moved from Memphis and Central BBQ will be the restaurant we miss the most. Everything we've tried is delicious. My personal favorite are the BBQ nachos, the best in Memphis in my opinion. When you're not in the mood for BBQ their wings are amazing. Get them with the house made blue cheese. I've never seen bigger chunks of blue cheese in restaurant dressing before. read more

Delicious! The ribs were good no sauce needed. Their wings were fried right and they honey sauce was on point. The souvenir cups were a cute touch. read more

This place used to be the old Red Lobster. Lots of room, long tables for groups, two big rooms in the back which have a few tvs (to watch the games). You order up front. Big menu. My favorites are the wings and the bbq bologne sandwich. I'm a wing finatic, these never disappoint. A few kinds to choose from, I really like the "naked." They aren't too messy and you can dip them in sauce if you need to. The hot are excellent too. The real winner at this restaurant is the bbq bologne sandwhich. Thick cut, with slaw, on a hamburger bun, sauced. Wow! You're thinking, "this guy doesn't know what he's talking about, he's talking about bologne." Trust me on this, don't judge until you've tried it. Get the homemade chips or the pork rinds with it. Good stuff! read more

I couldn't believe the amount of food the five of us got for $25. The plates (we had pork) come with generous portions and two sides. The home-made chips were perfect already and dipped in blue cheese dressing they were even better. Great value, good service, and I loved the self-serve sauce options of hot, mild, mustard, and vinegar. read more

I've only eaten here a couple of times but I've been very pleased each time. It is a great place for large meetings with family or friends. I want to mention that other locations are not quite as large and are not able to seat many people at one table . This time I had ribs and they were delicious. Everyone got something different and they all seemed pleased. On Saturday the best time to go would be 12:30. There is not a big crowd at that time but it is steady. read more

This Central location has more and better seating than the one on Central. I tried the pulled pork and it was pretty good, as was their sauce. I really liked their beans. The best thing I had that day was their bbq chicken. That was some of the best bbq chicken I have ever had. They nailed it. Moist, tender and delicious. read more

Had the pulled pork sandwich with potato salad and beans for sides. The pork was not overly chopped which I like and sauce spot on. The potato salad was one of the better ones I've tried in a long while and the beans were flavorful with bits if meat and sauce simmered in. A new favorite. read more

First the food, the ribs were excellent, brisket not so good and sausage was okay. The beans on the side seemed to be cooked in sugar syrup. The bread was moldy. When I showed it to the manager he just said sorry and replaced it. Really?? Just a sorry and replacement for a moldy, unhygenic four plus days old? Pathetic customer service and poor concern cor hygiene. Not coming back! read more

The meat was pretty good, I tried the pork and my husband got the beef. The fries were obviously frozen and sorta limp and my beans and slaw were so awful tasting they were un edible. They bring the food to you but u order at the counter and we were never told to sit so it was a awkward confusion for a bit. Nearly all the tables were dirty as well and we had to wipe it down ourselves. The bus boy did come by to clean the table next to us, which gave me some hope until he got closer and smelled like he had not bathed in a month which did not set well with my mediocre food. If u are going in to get a to go sandwich-5 stars, anything else is a waste of time and money. read more

I just placed an order and came up for pick up for my ENTIRE company. We attempted to place an order FOR THE FIRST TIME with your "General Manager Paul" in regards to separate orders. He was INCREDIBLY rude and had a HUGE attitude issue. Advised that we were unable to do multiple orders due to the holiday, but we were able to call separately and waste the EMPLOYEE'S time to serve other customers because we couldn't handle our first call, CORRECTLY?? As a first time customer, you would think your customer service would be exponential and persuade us to consider your establishment more often? How do you promote someone to be a general manager whenever they have HORRIBLE customer service? It's also sad whenever your employee's have to APOLOGIZE for your cruelty towards PAYING customers. read more

To me, this is Memphis. Bar is great, bartender always nice and always cheery. Have Ghost River and Fat Tire on tap. The bar in back and great place to watch games. This location is great. read more

Heard about this place from some locals. Very underwhelmed. Ribs were good but more greasy than moist. Pulled pork was dry but had decent taste. The brisket was more like beef jerky than BBQ brisket. read more

Beans, potato salad and slaw all tasted like they were commercialy made. I expected them to be made in house. Ribs were okay but a bit dry. Pork was very dry and lacked much flavor. read more

First time Central BBQ customer. First the good of the place. Their beans are amazing. Love the hint of bell pepper in them. Vinegar sauce is a great addition and love the tanginess of it. Slaw was good. Fully dressed and not overly soaked but still had a crunch to it. The not so good. We arrived at 830pm when the place was set to close at 9pm. I ask if there's a 2 item combo. I get just "no", with a look of disgust for even asking. We ordered and the girl just says "to go". I say "no, we want to dine in". I get it, employees don't like to stay after closing. Telling us we only have 30 min to eat was slightly inhospitable but I acknowledge we will be gone in 30min. Then the girl goes into kitchen and I hear another employee say "didn't you tell them they only have 30mins?". At that point I ask if we can just have the food to go so not to have a unpleasant experience. The food came out and it was a 25min drive home. So I didn't get the best experience on having hot food and can't give a perfect opinion on what it should taste like. The pulled pork was pretty flavorless, luckily the vinegar sauce kicked butt and I added that to bring it back to edible. The brisket was dry and flavorless. It's fat didn't fully render in the cooking process so it was like a surprise meat gummy bear here and there, there was no saving it. The best part of the meat trio was the ribs. It was cold when I ate it but it still fell off the bone. Had a nice pink hue smoke ring and good flavor. It came fully sauced which isn't my thing but I respect individual restaurants styles and no complaints on that. Just if I went back id order them dry for comparison. Would I go back? Maybe to try the BBQ nachos. read more

We placed our order days in advance over the phone and were shocked when we went to pick it up and the young woman at the register couldn't find it. A man with a mustache (who I assume was in management) took over and was BEYOND rude. He barked at us that he was getting it ready and then snapped at my mother when she asked if the box at the counter was ours. I also watched as he was short was multiple other customers. Luckily, an extremely kind employee carried out my box to my car and went through the receipt to assure I got my entire order. Through all of this though, as always, the food was delicious. read more

Not terribly impressive. We've had much better BBQ at our local roadside stand in Texas. The brisket and pulled pork were bland, needing sauce just to add flavor. Ribs were okay. The sausage, however, was great! Beans were also very good. Both the chocolate and caramel cakes were yummy as well. Maybe the other Central BBQ locations are better?? Will be trying another BBQ spot the next time we're in Memphis. read more

I recently used Central BBQ to cater my wedding. They did an outstanding job. I spoke to Leslie who took care of everything over the phone. They showed up on time and brought everything as promised. I would use them again in the future. read more

In my opinion this is the best BBQ in Memphis. Better sides than most BBQ restaurants but leans toward the soul/southern food route and they are all very good. The ribs here are the best in Memphis and the BBQ sauce is definitely my favorite in Memphis too. If it is summer in Memphis do not sit outside. Too hot and the flies are everywhere. Otherwise great Memphis BBQ. read more

While I'm not a fan of their pulled pork sandwich or their coleslaw, I'm a fan of their bbq nachos. Their pulled pork sandwich was dry and the coleslaw is something that I'll always remember and I don't mean that in a good way. The coleslaw was lacking something but I couldn't put my finger on it..I will never get their coleslaw again. With their bbq nachos, you get enough for two people with just one order of bbq nachos. I like to order mine with extra cheese (both the sauce and shredded) bbq sauce and extra meat! Yummy!!! They don't have the best food but I guess it would be kind of hard to mess up bbq nachos. read more