I'm a sucker for any restaurant regarded as a city institution. It's obviously a very popular spot for tourists, so it should be approached and assessed with that in mind. A very old school entrance down an alley, then down the stairs. Walls and ceiling filled with all manner of bric a brac. Service was a bit slow and perfunctory. There's not much reason to entice people to return since so many are visitors. We ordered the small ribs and a brisket plate. Both were heavily seasoned. The ribs were a little dry but made better with the table BBQ sauce which was nothing memorable. We did enjoy the small tarts, both the buttermilk chess and pecan were delicious. read more

Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous - Rendezvous sign - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Charlie Vergo's Rendevous has a speakeasy feel to it with the main entrance in an alleyway just off 2nd street and BB King Drive. It's been around for over 75 years (since 1948) and has great staying power. Inside is like a museum of signs, print articles, and lots of eclectic decor but it all seems to fit just right. The Rendevous shows up as a must-try place when in Memphis so, of course, we had to try it. My wife and I really enjoyed ourselves here and for what it might lack in some areas, the character and staff more than make up for it. We had a seat at a crossroads area where two in-restaurant walkways merged and there was no shortage of ongoing activity throughout our visit. We shared the perfect sized Pork Ribs and Brisket Combo with sides of beans and coleslaw. The meats are all charcoal grilled and tasted very good. They put a LOT of dry seasoning on the ribs. I liked the baked beans and mustard vinegar slaw as well. They were a nice compliment to our meats. The ribs were a bit dry but good with the added tangy BBQ sauce that is on every table. I even bought a bottle to take home. Our server was Mark F and was very seasoned and professional. He did a great job. I love these types of old school places with an "if these walls could talk" vibes. Also love their website name: HogsFly.com. Hilarious! Everyone needs to try this place at least once. read more

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A Memphis staple! Anyone traveling through Memphis MUST make the pilgramage to "The Rendezvous." I brought my son here during a recent visit and introduced him to the "Full Slab for Two," which we both eagerly inhaled. That, coupled with their incredibly-yummy corn slaw, made the vsiit very memorable. Ambiance is incredible!! Check out my pictures! Service was friendly and promot as usual. read more

Cole slaw vinegary and spicy. Beans super sweet. Ribs dry. I've had bbq from many different states and I come from a bbq state. Being my first time trying Memphis bbq it was very disappointing. But it won't deter me from trying other bbq restaurants. Service was excellent though and ambience was great. Loved the decor and jukebox. read more

Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Average in just about every way. Sorry, but if you think this is great BBQ, you need to branch out and try more places. This is a lot of history with dry rub on it. read more

This ain't Texas BBQ, this is the best you can find Memphis dry rub (FAMOUS seasoning available at local retailers along with other sauces & sides - see locator on the website) in a cozy underground speakeasy served family style for sharing. Darron was fast and friendly, making choice recommendations (excellent potato salad & beans like mom's) - I had plenty to enjoy, share, and take home. When I'm ready for more, there's local catering & take-out, and ribs are shipped nationwide - it's a legendary experience @ hogsfly.com read more

Wifey and I visited on Saturday-May 2 around 5pm. I am giving them a 5 star due to the service and the Brisket. The service was excellent and the red beans and rice along with brisket was excellent. The only issue I had was the ribs due to them being baked/boiled. The dry rub was excellent but the ribs were not cooked properly on a charcoal grill. I do pellets and charcoal grilling of ribs and this place gets a D+. They must do better with the ribs due to no favor and no smoke/seasoning in meat and bone read more

Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous - Outside entrance - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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My friends and I came here for dinner on a Friday night. We did not have a reservation, but it was a big restaurant and we were able to be seated right away. I had the small ribs plate, which has five ribs and is served with mustard-vinegar slaw and baked beans. I thought the meat on the ribs was a little dry, but everything was delicious. There was a great selection of local beers on draft, too. Our server was so nice. Overall, we had a great experience! read more

Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous - Small ribs with baked beans and slaw - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

what a unique place really cool when you walk in you can smell the smoked meat. The servers were great. I asked what their most famous dishes were and it was the brisket and the ribs. The ribs with the dry rub were phenomenal. The brisket was average at best bonus. They had a gluten-free beer, which I loved. read more

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We had a very enjoyable lunch, ribs, brisket, baked beans and slaw. Everything was delicious and the service was incredible. It was fun to walk around the beautiful restaurant and look at all the pictures. Great place to have parties or family dinners. Darvon was our server and provided great hospitality. And one of the owners, Tina, checked in on us and answered our questions on the history of the restaurant. We really appreciated the time that she spent with us. Coming from Las Vegas, we have very high expectations when it comes to tasty food. We were very pleased with everything we ate. Thank you! read more

Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous - Brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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This place is a staple in Memphis, so of course had to check it out! The decor is eclectic. The service was amazing, our waiter was very attentive! We tried the sausage appetizer which was different, but tasty. I ordered the ribs and brisket. Both were decent, but I think would have been better if they'd been fresh! My ribs were lukewarm and the brisket was cold. The cole slaw and baked beans were ok/unique though I think they could benefit from a sweet/spicy or just sweet bbq sauce at the table to help offset the strong vinegar-y flavors. They do offer two sauces, but they were also tangy so didn't offer much balance in my opinion-- minus a star for that. I will say the night ended for a few of us with terrible stomach aches that kept us bathroom bound :( Minus 2 stars. Can't say I recommend. read more

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We walked through the alley across from the Peabody and down the steps into the basement of Rendezvous. There was valet parking & 2 security guards stationed in the alley. It's our last night in Memphis and we had to finish our day off with barbecue. Charlie Vergos has been serving bbq here since 1948. Today Charlie's family, the staff at Rendezvous continues cooking up his famous barbeque ribs in a casual, fun dining atmosphere. The signature "Memphis-style" dry rub ribs, brisket, red beans, rice, chicken & salad are on the menu, unfortunately, the lamb riblets are $57 per rack and are only available on weekends. They usually sell out by lunchtime as they only do nine racks Dan waited on us and got us icy cold beers. We shared the pork rib and brisket combo with coleslaw and beans. For dessert, we shared a pecan chart and a chocolate chess pie. Dan was so quick. Food came before we had a chance to put the napkins on our lap. read more

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Well worth the hype! Service is excellent as well. Brisket, beans, sweet tea, ribs, pecan pie, and buttermilk chess pie were the bomb. I can fly back home now. Calvin was our server and he was great! 10/10 read more

Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous - Pork Ribs and Brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Im a Georgia boy, so this was my first experience with Memphis style BBQ, so I went to where it all began. I really enjoyed it. Since Georgia doesn't have an "official" style of bbq it was really good. The dry rub on the ribs was really good. The sauce was some of the best ive had. The slaw was great. It was what I call "red" slaw. The chicken was good, the sausage was good. But, the beans? I could have eaten a gallon of them. They were the best beans ive EVER had. Our waiter was great and the food was there before we even realized. The ambiance was what I would have expected for a bbq joint. While not my favorite bbq it was really good. But, I'm finicky when it comes to my que. read more

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Food was spot on! This is what Memphis BBQ should taste like. Ribs is what they are famous for, but I would highly recommend getting the Pork Rib & Brisket Combination. Service was excellent and fast! Original decor makes this place look & feel like you walked in to the past. read more

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The BEST ribs I have EVER had in my life. Don't play with me. I dream about these on the regular. The place has been here since 1948 serving charcoal grilled ribs and meats. It's down a long alley by the Peabody Hotel. You have to go downstairs to a tiled mosaic basement. Once there it's all a blur. Lots of servers and workers bustling around with a purpose. This is my 3rd time eating here I've tried a lot of the menu. The lamb riblets are amazing. The ribs have a nice crust but after a bite of crunch you get the smoky tender insides. The seasoning is perfection. Buy some and take it home! The slaw is vinegar and mustard based. I cannot express how much I love this place. One of my top 10 places to eat in the USA! read more

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Walking into a time capsule from yesteryears. Lots of memororabila on the walls. This has an alley entrance with the restaurant just down the stairs into a vibrant hustling dining experience. The open kitchen / bbq corner is bustling with trays of food going out one after another. The meats were fabulous- no sauce needed but if you're like me you use it anyway on the side for dipping. Sides are limited to special tasting (good I liked it) coleslaw and baked beans and bread. They offer wine, beer, soft drinks along with a dessert menu. Delicious and highly recommended! read more

Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous - Desserts - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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Fantastic / casual. Dining BBQ experience Very casual dress, Great service and great food. It's Filling and priced right. read more

We were told this is the bbq place to go and its cool down an alley and underground with a crazy set of decor. Service was excellent and only a few minutes to seat. If you like dry rub bbq ribs I'm sure it's good. We. Prefer ours soft and covered in sauce. A good experience but we had different ribs we preferred elsewhere. read more

Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous - Back room....the space goes for miles! - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Spending a few days in Memphis and in search of really good BBQ. The Rendezvous answered the call. We were staying at the Peabody Hotel, if you go out the back entrance onto 2nd Street they are located across the street in an alley. Don't judge this place by the outside appearance. This is a third generation, family owned restaurant. We ordered the Ribs for Two dinner, which came with 2 good size half slabs, baked beans and Cole slaw. They use a family recipe dry rub in their cooking process and all we can say is OMG! Perfectly cooked, tender, very meaty bones and the flavor was amazing. They suggest trying them before putting any sauce on, which we did, and either way you cannot go wrong. They have Traditional and Hot, House made BBQ Sauce to fit your liking. We went on a Wednesday night about 6:30, it was very busy but we did not have to wait for a table. Our waiter Gino, has been there for 55 years, working for all three generations of the family. They offer Beer, Wine, Cocktails. Would absolutely recommend checking them out if your in Memphis. read more

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This place is OG stepping back in time in a good way, well done Rendezvous the atmosphere is great. Our service was really knowledgeable and friendly, quick service and attentive. The food, my wife's Brisket was 100% the best I've ever eaten. But anyone who knows their way around a smoker or grill pit knows there are so many variables. That said... my ribs were the worst flavor was just ok, they were dry hard and worse yet no meat on the bone. Very disappointing but sometimes that's how Barbecue goes. Now. What I didn't like were those soggy fall apart nachos I had to use a fork for. The pulled pork was tasty but the rest just was forgettable. Overall this place has potential just not the nachos. read more

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This place is resting on its reputation. Maybe it was an off night, but the ribs were tough and chewy. Not falling off the bone as it should be. The seasoning, a powder, was visible on top, instead of it cooking into the meat. Beans were the best part. Hostess scrolling on her phone, didn't even look up when we entered. The other waiters were very friendly and service was perfect. read more

Lovely experience. Two of us were promptly seated for lunch. Very efficient service. Lots of memorabilia (signed apron from Julia Child, various presidential photos, old kitchen gadgets...). Our food was served promptly. No frills. Fantastic flavor and texture on the meat. Looked like tourists and locals alike come here. read more

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Ok so we did end up coming here because it was literally a block away from our hotel and we were hungry and it would have been criminal to not do so. I was hesitant because the overall reviews on yelp aren't stellar but it does seem like a basic place to go in Memphis. The place itself is a cool spot. You can tell it's deep in history. I was very pleased to see some vegetarian options on the menu! At a famous BBQ place? GTFO. They didn't have to do it but they did and I appreciate it. I would have done the nachos but this was meant to just be a snack, after all. I get weak in the knees for red beans and rice and was very excited to see a meatless version of this on their menu. The red beans and rice was more soupy than I recall experiencing in NOLA. Aggressive on the celery seasoning. They threw some mushrooms in there which I can totally understand for the meatless cred but I hate mushrooms, so that really threw me off. They're very easy to avoid but it just wasn't worth it for me to finish. I can imagine a normal vegetarian who eats mushrooms would have no issues. GF ordered the small ribs and raved about the rub the entire time. I was fortunate enough that they put a few dashes of that delicious rub on cheese sticks they provided alongside my red beans and rice which was clutch AF. It really was quite good. There were no complaints from GF regarding some other shit i've seen in bad reviews about this place. This is a slice of history that shouldn't be missed if you like BBQ. The main appeal of this place is the setting in the old theater, which is super cool. The food is also delicious and tbh, enough of a reason to check this place out. read more

Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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Amazing service. Definitely feel the hospitality and kindness. Ordered a large stuck of ribs and pulled pork sandwich. For the sides, the beans and coleslaw. The meals come with were great. The beans were flavorful in their barbecue sauce with pieces of meat. The coleslaw was vinegar and well seasoned. Had a hint of spice - not sure what the seasoning was but we both thoroughly enjoyed it. We got the mac & cheese on the side. I can see why they're known for their ribs. The seasoning was very flavorful with a mix of sweet, salty, savory. The barbecue sauce was sweet and complemented the meats very well. We got the 3 inch Key lime pie for dessert but wouldn't recommend it. This establishment is very casual and no-frills. read more

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Fantastic- from the food to the years old decor,everywhere. Good service. Shared a large order of dry rub ribs. Came with beans & coleslaw. Added in some potato salad. Added in a pitcher of beer. Everything was great ! Back alley entrance leads to the quirky ambience. read more

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Food was delicious, ribs were tender and enjoyed that it came with a dry rub and it was up to you to use bbq sauce provided on the tables. There was hot and original house bbq (original was my personal fav). Smoked sausage was amazing a definite must try. Service was prompt and loved how we had pitchers of our drinks served on the tables. Truly felt like a welcoming family dinner. A hidden gem and must pit stop. Shout out to Calvin for taking care of us! read more

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Simply the best ribs in the business. Have been coming here a long time. Ever since I was a kid, an it's still always consistent. Excellent service and friendly staff as well. Lots of history here. read more

Very disappointed. I tried to catch a legit Memphis BBQ experience before my flight and I frantically did a quick impromptu search on Google and saw the raving reviews. It was between Rendezvous and Corky's. I wish I would have gone with Corky's and let me tell you why. Staff overall seemed very nice and my waiter was great! I ordered the pork ribs with brisket combo and it came with baked beans and slaw. My favorite dish turned out to be the baked beans. The pork ribs were chewy and very hard. I could have barbecued a softer pork rib! So disappointed by that, I didn't even finish my plate. I left several pieces of brisket and half of the ribs and just paid the check and left. I've had way better Memphis BBQ renditions in LA and even the mediocre spots in Kansas City outshines this place any day. Next time, I'll be sure to research a bit more extensively. I hope my meal was a one-off type of situation... read more

This is Memphis BBQ! First and foremost the food was incredible! I would say the brisket was the best. Like candy! The ribs were also great and if I were to critique one thing because I'm first world then it's because there wasn't much meat and a touch dry. Second of all, I've never had service like I did here. Not only was our waiter incredibly helpful and fast he also helped us save a few bucks. The food also took about 1 minute and 13 seconds to come out! The ambiance was also amazing with tons of memorabilia! A great experience! read more

Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous - Rendezvous Charcoal Pork Ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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The staff is very friendly and patient. We walked in on a weekday for lunch and were able to get a table quickly after descending the staircase. Their menu is straightforward and on the table. I opted to share a combo plate of ribs and pork shoulder. I really enjoyed the flavor of the dry rub. The sauces had two options of original and hot, both were very good. The walls are covered in Memphis items and classic signs. read more

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I was actually impressed. I've had a lot of BBQ and what I love is this place wasn't about the sauce and flavors. It was about the rub and meat. The dry rub was distinct and the lamb ribs were moist and didn't need any bbq sauce. The Potato salad was a little sweet to my liking and the star was the yellow mustard - vinegary coleslaw. It was delicious , different and just went well overall with the dry rub on the lamb ribs. We enjoyed a little red wine and it was perfect ! read more

Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous - Legendary Lamb Ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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Rendezvous lived up to the hype! The rib and brisket combo with beans, slaw, and toast was Memphis magic, but those dry-rubbed ribs over charcoal are the real showstopper. Kendall took care of us at the bar and made us feel like locals--professional, charming, and just what every out-of-towner hopes for. The world needs more Kendalls...and more ribs like these. A must! read more

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I've lived in Memphis 25 years and have been here a few times. I love Memphis BBQ but candidly I don't love this place. It seems the few times I've been here, its always because someone came in from out of town and wanted to go there. I'm just gonna pass next time. There are several great BBQ places but this isn't one of them The good : It's def a Memphis Icon. The atmosphere is cool... enter through the ally, a lot of history. The service is very good, fast, friendly. I actually love their coleslaw... so theres that. Cold pitcher of beer was good. The not good: /The food /The ribs were especially disappointing /Tourist trap Better choices : /BBQ shop /Central BBQ /Germantown Commissary /Bain / Cozy Corner ... just to name a few read more

You have to try the ribs! And buy some dry rub to take home. Friendly staff, Elvis' favorite place I'm told. Lots of history on the.walls. read more

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Vergos' Rendezvous is and has been a favourite of mine for decades. I went here for the 1st time in 1973. I've been returning for over 50 years! Their ribs are so amazing. Service is quick & friendly. The restaurant is still in its original location, in an alleyway across from the legendary Peabody Hotel! Great ambiance with tons of memories! I'm ready to make the hour drive right now! read more

Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

This restaurant is in an alley which makes it so cool!!! Very nice service. Gino was our waiter and he was funny and friendly. He suggested the 16 ribs which comes with Cole slaw and beans. I'm from Texas and WOW!! The ribs were dry rub and so delicious!!! The Cole slaw was so good I wanted more!! And I don't even like Cole slaw! lol. The beans were really good too! Can't wait to come back and try more! read more

Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous - BBQ ribs, slaw and beans - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

My boyfriend and I were in Memphis Tennessee to visit Graceland. A friendly local guided us away from the usual tourist traps towards Rendezvous for Memphis Style Barbecue. Firstly, it's located halfway along a side alley adjacent to The Peabody Hotel. Secondly, the restaurant is located downstairs in the basement of the building. The decor is utterly fascinating, we wandered around all of the separate rooms studying pictures, recognitions, maps, posters, autographed pictures and really cool artifacts like a French Army helmet from World War I, farming tools, swords, knives and too many other items to list. Our server had been working there for fifty four years and was so friendly and was happy to chat and answer our questions. The food was great, I opted for a small portion of ribs that came with a really delicious side of coleslaw. And my boyfriend had a salad topped with barbecued chicken which he really enjoyed. Our server recommended the key lime pie and pecan pie for dessert. Both were individual and small sized but just the right size. The price was also really good value. We hope to return to Rendezvous one day in the future. Definitely recommend read more

We have heard so much about the Rendezvous we had to try it. The location is in a basement of an office building. It does look like in the travel/food shows. We ordered the beef brisket and pull pork plates. My husband normally does not like slaws but he enjoyed their vinegar slaw very much. There was almost a pound of pull pork in my order. Having lived in Texas for 6 years, we could not help but compared their brisket to central Texas brisket. My husband really liked it. The only drawback was the dry rub that was sprinkled on the meat. It made the meat spicy and the wonderful taste of the meat was kind of lost. But overall it was a good experience for us. Glad to have tried their food finally. read more

The service was terrific. The food was some of the worst and most disgusting BBQ that I have ever had. The ribs were tough. The chicken tasteless. The beans were terrific. The slaw was ok. Truly wanted to vomit before leaving. NEVER AGAIN! read more

Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous - Ribs and chicken. Awful and disgusting. - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee