Tops Bar-B-Q
| Address: | 1286 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38104, USA |
| Phone: | +1 901-725-7527 |
| Site: | topsbarbq.com |
| Rating: | 3.4 |
| Working: | 8:30AM–11:45PM 8:30AM–11:45PM 8:30AM–11:45PM 8:30AM–11:45PM 8:30AM–11:45PM 8:30AM–11:45PM 8:30AM–11:45PM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 10
A
A Private User
When I lived in Midtown Memphis in the late 90s-early 2000s (Hai Cooper-Young!) This was my favorite place to stop for pork shoulder barbecue. I would get a Jumbo Combo, with beans and fries for $5.25. If I recall correctly you could also choose potato salad or slaw with your combo, but I liked the beans since they would toss in bits of cooked shoulder in too. Memphis style shoulder sandwiches include slaw on them, so be forewarned if you hate cole slaw. No idea if thats done anywhere else. I like their barbecue sauce. It has a vinegar tang to it and is not hot or overly spicy. I recall making sure to order extra. I wish it was available online or something. Parking is behind the store, in a small lot. Expect lunch and dinner rushes if you are in a huge hurry, but even when there were folks waiting in the lobby the ladies there would get me out of there in 10 minutes at most. There is plenty of eat in dining if you like, but I would just motor back to my place, eating french fries in my car. Tops does catering too, and I would use this store over any in town for the basic shoulder sandwich. Corkys shoulder is bland compared to Tops, and Germantown Commissary restaruants sandwiches are smoky and tasty, but very overpriced. Tops does a top notch job at an excellent price. I had tried some of the other locations around town, but this was THE one I went to time and again. I really need to make it back to Memphis and I might make this in the top two or three stops... If you are curious, just give in and go. Its not perfect. But it was so good.
A
A Private User
I cannot for the life of me figure out why this place is getting good reviews. I have eaten at many Memphis BBQ joints, and this was without question the worst BBQ I have had in Memphis, and I would go as far as possibly the worst BBQ I have ever had anywhere. I know I am picky about BBQ, but this was awful. Perhaps it was the Union St. location and maybe others are better, but I doubt it. I had Pork and Brisket, and they were both terrible. Didnt like the BBQ sauce either. The cole slaw is average, the beans were the highlight, as they were some of the better baked beans I have had. The other highlight was the service and price. The counter was very friendly, and the price was low, which should have been my first clue. I got what I paid for. I will say that the locals coming in were all ordering burgers, and the burgers did look decent. If you go to this place, skip the BBQ, and grab a cheeseburger instead. One more note on the BBQ, I am almost certain it is steamed or something, definitley not smoked.
CT
Ctopher Jon
There is only ONE /#1, TOPS Bar-B-Q so far that i,ve discovered. That is on Poplar Ave near Whole Foods. This store is a beat or two behind that one. as unfortunately my fries were not fresh while the burger-sandwhich was tolerable. I asked for xtra- mustard (double- spread) along with all the toppings. I received a small dap of mustard with barely fresh toppings. For 1st class burger-tasty!...TOPS on Poplar near Mendenhall (or Whole Foods) always makes me perfect fresh sandwhuch and fries according to my slightest whims. It IS worth the long lines Every Time!! This place is fine if your only chioce is Burger King or Mickky-Ds and you do want to taste your meat grilled beyound the assembly line concoctions.
CH
CHARLOTTE LEVY
Walked into the store and saw a number of violations. The cashier was handling money and food not once did she wash her hands. The cooks real unsanitary. One cook dropped a top on the floor she picked it up and threw it away. I thought she was going to change gloves NOT!!!! She kept on cooking.... One customer asked one of the cooks to cut her sandwich in half. The cook complained rhe whole time about cutting it for her. I also witness one of the cooks waste some barbecue sauce on her glove. She proceed to suck it off that gloved finger and continue to cook without changing her gloves out. I can imagine what goes when Im not looking. Will I be buying anything out of there???? NO!!!
KE
Kelli Yarbrough
My son and his girlfriend and my fiancé and myself just ate here and my son had the regular BBQ sandwich his girlfriend had a regular cheese burger and my fiancé and I had our usual single cheese burger with BBQ and sauce and though they had no clue what we were talking about when Aaron and I were explaining how to make our sandwiches I have to say they made them to perfection!!! Everyone that works at this location on Union Ave are so friendly and they joked around with us and just made what was supposed to just be an ordinary meal with the family, they made it fun and everyone in the restaurant was having fun!!! Not just great cooks at this location but also great atmosphere!!!
EU
eugene perkins
Price point is the only thing here worth writing about. Slab of ribs (dry at that) $15.99. The were slightly below average. Homemade BBQ sauce horrible! Pulled pork $7.99/lb was a disaster and the beans were right out of the can. Enter this place at you own risk you have been warned. The staff was nice but I got it to go. Now there is another BBQ place less than 2 miles in the same area..they wanted $24.99 for a slab of ribs. . But you get what you pay for. I am not upset just giving my personal opinion
A
A Private User
Ate here about 6 weeks ago, while driving through Memphis from GA to KC. They start serving BBQ at 0830 AM. Now thats serious BBQ. Very good, one of the best--but you must be used to southern style BBQ. So good, I ate one there, got one for the road to eat later. Ate that one in Springfield, MO, by the side of the road about 6 hours later. Great food, great prices, very authentic, no frills place to eat. If you want white linen and false asthetics, like JD below, this place is not for you.
KA
Kat Morris Murals and Graphic Design
Its all about the sauce... This place is like a diner with typical sides... And if you like the taste of mustard added to everything, youll prob love it. Prices were reasonable. Service at the counter was good. But... Some of the meat was dry on our pork shoulder sandwiches, and Idaho Pig. The slaw was very more mayo and mustard than cabbage... I couldnt eat it. It is convenient to our hotel, but we wont be back.
CL
Clark Kent
My girlfriend and I had the pulled pork sandwich and half rack of ribs. Very disappointed in the food. Worst bbq Ive had... Ribs were over cooked and flavorless. Sandwich was dry and flavorless. Bbq sauce was even worse than the food... Maybe we caught them on a bad day but it was a Friday night during the Memphis in May bbq fest 2016. I rarely review anything publicly but the food here was not good at all.
CH
Christina Talley
Awkwardly stood at restaurant until staff finished their conversation to take our order. Cost 36$ for two rib dinners, which is probably on par, however, I would rate this meal as a 2 out of ten...Van de Camp beans, grocery store cole slaw, and I would swear the ribs were boiled not smoked or grilled. So very disappointed as we drove about 5 miles out of way to eat here.
