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finally made it back to the Gtown Commissary after my first and last time here about 6 years ago! I wanted some good ol memphis bbq and was considering between this place and Corky's (coz i wanted hush puppies)...but ended up choosing this over corky's coz the one in Collierville isn't as good.
it was SO packed when we got there around 6. good thing there were only 3 of us so we didn't have to wait more than 30 minutes.
We got the 3 meats platter - BBQ ribs, pork shoulders, and chicken. we subbed our slaws with onion rings and got a side pig sticks (sweet potato fries)
everything was very yummy....chicken was a bit dry tho. the ribs was slightly on the saltier side but my mom, who usually eats less sodium loaded food than i do, thought it was just 10 points perfect. maybe California has changed my taste buds...the onion rings were nicely seasoned, the pig sticks were interesting....it's sprinkled with cinnamon and served with honey mustard as dipping sauce...I would've preferred if the fries were crispier...the BBQ beans were yummy as always :) and we have leftovers for tomorrow's lunch!
Its hard to say in a BBQ town who is the best, it really is. The Commissary no doubt is in my top 3. The wet ribs are wonderful. In my humble opinion, they have the best BBQ sandwich in Memphis, which is a tall order. The slaw is really good, the onion rings are some of the best I've ever had.
Parking can be a challenge, your best bet is at the church across the street. I'm not a BBQ nacho person, but my friends tell me they are some of the best at those...
The building is rather small, and its really old, one of the oldest in Germantown if I am not mistaken. Its right beside the railroad tracks, so it can get sorta loud and shaky when the train rolls by. A cool atmosphere.
If you want excellent ribs or a wonderful BBQ sandwich, go. Simple as that.
I grew up right around the corner from Commissary and of all the places to get pulled pork in the city this is far and away the best in the greater Memphis area. While the meat itself is cooked to perfection and is always just right -- what really pushes them over the edge of greatness is their sauce. For those of you either coming from out of town, or taking people out that are in town, do them a favor and bring them here over trendy Corky's. If they insist on Corky's just tell them to get it at the airport. I have also tried the dry rub ribs here, and they are probably average at best (at least for Memphis). Better to try the ribs at Rendezvous if your a connoisseur.
FYI, they do ship ribs/pulled pork/etc overnight via FedEx just like some of the other places. I have done this before to Vermont, and they only need a 2 day notice.
If you're a Memphian, you'll probably be a fan of Memphis-style BBQ. And, you'll probably have an opinion on which is best. Most of my friends love this place, and I'm inclined to agree. The folks running it are great, the food comes out fast, the portions are good, and the taste? Wonderful. What I really like is the atmosphere of the joint. Go. Enjoy!
As far as wet ribs go, the Commissary's are da bomb. For the total package, i.e. the deviled egg, potato salad, and the ribs, you cannot beat the Commissary. The ambience is great. The parking sucks, and this place does draw a crowd. But oh my are the ribs good. Tender, moist, and a delicious sauce.
The Commissary is not my favorite BBQ in Memphis, its actually not even my second favorite. That being said, my favorite places some would say are there least favorite and some would say are the only ones worth going to.
BBQ in Memphis is completely individual and the only way to know is to go and to eat there! Germantown Commissary has decent BBQ (I only order chicken BBQ when I go places, so take that into consideration), a good sauce, GREAT sides (onion rings are homemade, Deviled eggs if you love those), and their desserts are pretty tempting (Banana pudding). All of this at a VERY reasonable price! I think I had the 1/2 BBQ chicken dinner with two sides, a sweet tea and banana pudding for about $13 and left VERY full.
My main qualm was that my chicken was pretty dry (friend said the same for their pork) and that is needed a LOT of sauce. While we like to use a lot of sauce, we hate feeling like we HAVE to in order to make it more edible.
Service and atmosphere are great. A little bit sassy and very clean!
If I could, I'd give it 3.5 stars, but its not 4 stars in my book.
This one doesn't need recommendation from me. Its food speaks for itself. It is a local hangout place. That means it is the best. So any BBQ fan, that is the place to go. Don't walk, run! Period!
This was Stop #2 on the 2009 family Memphis-In-My-Mouth BBQ trip (from St Louis). This is an establishment in a little, old commissary grocery. It is rustic in the style of, old stuff hanging on the walls, but is not faked and is really pretty small and nicely cozy. It is in a nice neighborhood, Germantown. It was quite busy. We waited ~30 minutes on a Thursday night, but they move people through very well. Being busy could be an issue on weekends. Service was excellent and the entire staff was very friendly.
The food was a notch more tasty (meaning smoky) than Payne's. I had a combo plate with chopped pork, ribs and sausage. Pork was similar to Payne's, not quite as finely chopped and a bit smokier. Aunt Annie and Ms. T split a pulled pork sandwich, I liked my chopped pork better than the pulled. The ribs were also good, with mild smoke. They were tender, probably slightly dryer than Payne's, but not dry. The rub was tastier. The sausage was grilled and was OK. It was too finely textured for my preference, which tends to make it a bit mushy, but the flavor was good.
The potato salad was a reason alone to go back. It is the only place, on our trip that served potato salad and it was excellent. The beans were not much to talk about, could have been Bush's and that's not a compliment. Another regional specialty is tamales. These are not Mexican tamales. We had one at Germantown and it was drowned in chile sauce that would make a hot dog sing. The tamale was lost and was sort of pasty. I recommend looking elsewhere for tamales and letting GC focus on BBQ. I have had them in the rural Mississippi delta and know they can be wonderful.
Sauce was the best we had on the trip. I remember that much, but can't remember exactly why, I guess sweet and sour balance was good. May have to go back to check. Slaw was creamy style, decent, a bit too sweet for me, but my Aunt Annie liked it. The kicker was the coconut cream pie that was the best thing you can imagine. We bought a second piece that we ate later at the hotel. On your first visit, get the combo platter, you will eat it all and then will know what to focus on next time. This will be a definite return trip.
I recently went back to the Commissary for my 3rd time. I've had the ribs on a couple of occasions and been very happy with the flavor of their wet ribs. Service is prompt, restaurant seems clean and the ambiance is a bit kitschy. On my most recent visit I tried the pulled pork sandwich. It was pretty good, but a bit too dry. We had their homemade chocolate chip cheese cake and it was incredible. I recommend eating here and will be back
The Germantown Commissary definitely offers some unique dishes that other BBQ restaurants in Memphis don't offer. The two I can think of off the top of my head: deviled eggs & BBQ tamales. I'm a deviled egg fan, and the ones @ the Commissary are definitely tasty. I don't think I totally "get" the BBQ tamales, but they're tasty for what they are. Definitely interesting. The BBQ sauce is definitely quite good here & their ribs are delicious. The only food item that I got that I didn't really like was the Banana pudding - it wasn't bad tasting, but it wasn't good either.
Overall, this is my 2nd favorite BBQ restaurant in Memphis. My favorite is the BBQ Shop, but Germantown Commissary is a close second.
Other important info: their parking lot is really tiny. I think there's parking across/down the street as well and a few street spots right in front. I found it a bit of a hassle to park here.
After a weekend of wedding festivities, we had one last chance to get some decent BBQ- Corky's definitely didn't earn a second visit in my book, and so our friend took us here.
Verdict: In short, this place beats Corky's hands down. However given my brief taste of Corky's, that's not saying much.
We ordered the following:
1) Full slab of ribs- The meat was a bit on the dry side, and not quite fall-off-the-bone tender, unfortunately. :-p But the flavoring of the ribs was spot on...and teamed up with the 'spicy' BBQ sauce, made it a satisfying slab of meat. Score: 3.5
2) BBQ plate- the pork shoulder was done very well...no complaints. Score: 3.5
3) Chili Cheese Fries- Small plate of fries...but it was a great appetizer. Cheap cheese (likely Velveeta or something), but that's to be expected. Good chili. Solid. Score: 3.5
I'm just sad that Rendezvous is closed on Sundays. From what I've heard I get the sense that it's THE place...I guess it'll have to wait. But The Commissary is nothing to look down your nose at. This is a solid offering of good BBQ. Overall: 3.5
So Good Yull Slap Yo Mama!
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Sorry MOM..better run from my pimp hand. I was out in Memphis for work (seriously, the most I know about this city is that it's my man Justin Timberlake's hometown). BUT I did come to know that BBQ is all the rave here - I could scream if I saw another bbq rib by the end of the trip.
A coworker pointed us to the Commissary and like every other bbq joint in Memphis, it had a down home feel with wooden decor - felt like I was sitting at a picnic table. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich which of course came with the obligatory coleslaw and beans. The beans were really flavorful and everything had a good spice to it. It was more than enough for lunch...I would have ordered ribs but I ain't tryin to lick the sauce off all my fingers in front of my coworkers - gotta keep it kosher yo.
So that 5th star may come IF I'm ever in Memphis again and try one of the BBQ plates. And perhaps it'll be Justin who will bring sexyback and bring me those baby back ribs. Hey, a girl can dream right?!
We had to wait for over an hour to get a table. The 6 of us got split across two different tables due to the restaurants small size. No biggy! I had the the BBQ nachos which were awesome. Wish I could find this good food up north!
Tried 3 places, this was the best. My friend had a job interview so I offered to drive down with him from Ohio so we could sample some ribs. I had written down the famous rib places from watching shows on Travel Channel(Rendezvous, Corky's, Interstate) and had intended to go check those out. However, after spending time reading reviews on here and other places, we changed our game a bit. After eating at two different rib joints Saturday, I woke up Sunday not at all wanting to eat more ribs. But after talking about it and deciding to start out with a salad first, we made the trip out to Germantown based on the great reviews. We arrived for lunch and were seated right away. The only salads on the menu come with meat on them, so we ordered and split the BBQ Pork salad(def. big enough to split). There was more than enough pork on top to make a sandwich out of(picture #8). The lettuce was basic chopped iceberg with some tomatoes, cucumbers, etc mixed in. The salad is nothing special and their dressing choices are limited, but I really needed a salad before eating more meat. The pulled pork was tender and tasty, but I didn't taste much smoke. We then split a rack of ribs which had 12 bones(picture #7). If you're not used to or in to dry ribs, these are the kind of ribs you'll like. I don't know if they're really "wet" ribs. They weren't served with a layer of sauce, but whatever glaze or sauce that is applied during cooking is nicely caramelized and makes a great bark. The ribs were tender, except for the ends which were practically jerky. We applied a light sprinkle of their dry seasoning and dug in. Very tasty, and if you're used to ribs that have sauce and/or noticeable smoke flavor, you'll be very happy here. The slaw and beans were nothing special. Your drink comes in a souvenir cup which was nice.
I had the jumbo pulled pork sandwich served with beans, slaw and deviled egg. It was my first pulled pork sandwich, so I didn't have anything to compare it with. However, it blew my mind! Actually, it was 'So Good Yull Slap Yo Mama!' The commissary uses pork shoulder and pull off big chucks for your sandwich. The bun is fresh and dry. Slaw and beans are served on the side. The pork is extremely tender!! And you must have the the slaw in the sandwich for more flavor. The BBQ sauce was good, not overpowering. Beans and slaw was great too! FYI, free refils for soft drinks. Good service.
As a true southern girl who's lived in TN for the last 28 years, I'd have to say that this is by far the best BBQ I've ever had.
Best sandwiches, best ribs and even the best baked beans. Yum!
Unlike some folks, I do consider tasty barbecue something worth jumping up and down about...it's one of the "small, good things" (per Raymond Carver) and my budget has a lot more room for small good things than for large things of any quality.
For non-Germantown residents, the Commissary is well worth the trip to the Land of Lawn and Sign Ordinances. (Plus, any place that proudly features University of Memphis memorabilia in this UT-riddled area automatically wins my affection.)
I ordered the half slab of ribs, which was nearly as long as the "slab for two" that our dinner partners shared. The ribs were really top notch--very tender and well seasoned. Notably, the ribs didn't seem to rely on either dry rub or excessive sauce for their excellent flavor. We also ordered the "2-meat" combo, which in our case included pulled pork shoulder and BBQ chicken--both tasty (ribs and sausage are also options for the 2- or 3-meat combos). As a previous reviewer noted, sauces are available on the side--mild and hot (we had the mild, but one of our party tried the hot and then quickly reached for his beverage). All of our dinners came with slaw (very tasty), beans (also good), half of a deviled egg (nice bonus), and a sort of roll/bun (unremarkable, but harmless in light of how good everything else was).
We also ordered a piece of caramel cake to go...definitely real caramel icing, and the cake had at least 3 or 4 layers, so the icing was plentiful.
I really liked this place, AND it's open on Sunday! Jesus *does* eat ribs on a Sunday..
Good BBQ without the fuss of waiting an hour for a table. Cute, classic oldie atmosphere but not dumpy (apparently a commissary was what they called "general stores" in commissary, and that's what this used to be... hence the antiques and the name).
They serve deviled eggs with just about every meal (in addition to the usual slaw and beans), somewhat bizarre but good!
The onion rings were so frail I didn't realize there was any onion in them.. Sausage cheese plate was a little skimpy on the sausage, but yummmmm yummm.
Unlike other places (Rendezvous), they seem to leave some of the dry rub off and leave it to you to sprinkle put it on the ribs/cheese/sausage/etc.. definitely do this, it makes it a TON better! The ribs were very good... People I went with said it was the best pulled pork (shoulder?) sandwich they've ever had. Eat it up.
If I could give an INFINITY star rating, for ANYTHING, this would be it.
I grew up on this commissary's BBQ.
Like many Memphians/Southerners - BBQ is like a fine wine...there are always subtle changes in cooking and the sauce, and when you find something that makes you see Jesus, all other BBQ will pale in comparison. Germantown Commissary is the Chateau Margeaux of 'que.
From age 7 to present, I've eaten here, whether it was a walk to my backyard general store to a flight from overseas.
The service hasn't changed, nor has the speedy efficiency of the kitchen and counter peeps, the incredibly tough parking almost on top of the railroad tracks, the acoustics challenging any conversation given the number of framed signed photos of local and national celebs singing the q's praises....
Anything is a good choice, the slaw, the baked beans, the deviled eggs...
The ribs are of course, incredible
But it's the Jumbo Pulled Pork sandwich - Pulled pork, with slaw, topped with BBQ Fritos, smash the shit together - that makes you wanna smack the Great Mama.
"Pretty good BBQ, but amazing spicy BBQ sauce..."
Before I moved to the Memphis area, I would totally understand the statement 'it's just friggin' bqq!'. Six years later... uh uh! No way! It's not JUST bbq... it's muthaphuckin' awesome bbq! Here at the Commissary, you get the best of everything. The shack, the rumbling of the shack when the train goes by, the all-Southern service, the neverending crowd... and of course, the "so-good-yull-smack-your- mama" food! Not only 'coz it's walking distance from my house - not that I would walk (DUH!) - but if I wanted to, I have the choice lol... but it's my favorite bbq place in the entire Memphis area.
If you love pork - this is the place to come; even tho' they've added turkey, tilapia... whatever - be a local and order the true mccoy, PORK! Get some pig chips to start with some beer... or sweet tea... then get some nachos, bbq sandwich or ribs. I like the fries here... they 'pour' the dry rub over it and it's t-a-s-t-y! Come hungry! I never have space for dessert but maybe you're a bigger bottomless pit then I am lol :)
Best BBQ ever!
Every time I'm in Memphis on business I'm sure to bring home enough of their tasty ribs to last me for at least a week.
Good BBQ, but I especially love the deviled eggs. The desserts are pretty good too.
What can you say more about the Commissary? Food is great, service is good, prices are wonderful.
Try the Pig Chips.
Good BBQ. I am not a big fan of memphis BBQ but they do a good job. I allways did take out here. I had one dry rack of ribs, probably better at lunch i think it had been sitting in the warmer too long.
Clearly I'm not alone in loving this place. The place is a little small, so expect a wait if you're coming for dinner when everyone else is. The servers don't always provide the best service, but you always have plenty to drink, and they've never messed up an order or forgotten anything, so I don't mind too much. The BBQ is perfect! I always split the BBQ nachos and onion rings because both are so incredibly amazing. This is always a stop whenever I come into town.
Best BBQ east of Perkins. The chicken is great but go for the shoulder and the Ribs. The rib meat is so soft and spicy I almost pulled a 'Rick James' with the wife. (she is a mother) Also, try the $2.25 banana pudding. This place is a must on any Germantown tour.
It is a place to jump up and down about. Just look at the business this place does. Good ribs and good portion size. The pulled pork is nice and tender. The BBQ chicken is very tasty-a nice alternative to the pork. The BBQ nachos are wonderful. The BBQ potato is a great meal in the winter. I love the onion rings- a better bet than the fries but that's just my opinion. The Brunswick Stew is a hearty meal. I did find the tamales to be a bit dry. No delivery but quick pick up/take out service. The parking is definitely lacking! The restaurant is a bit small for large groups of say 10 or more.
I think I found one of my new favorite BBQ place in the metro Memphis area. This is a pretty bold statement considering the area's reputation for this particular culinary specialty. The restaurant itself has a homey, locals-only feel. It has the ambiance that chains like Cracker Barrel try to create with wooden floors, antique signs, etc. The ribs are fabulous...the perfect texture and taste. The sauce is on the side in two varieties: mild and hot. I preferred the mild since I don't like to burn off my taste buds. However, the ribs didn't really need too much sauce since they are flavorful enough. I split the slab for two dinner consisting of ribs, slaw (very good, and I'm normally anti-slaw), baked beans, 2 deviled egg halves (yummy), and a roll. I would definitely recommend saving room for dessert (or taking it to go). Sample the multi-layer caramel cake for an authentic taste of this Southern specialty. Service is friendly and prompt. Dine where the locals dine for BBQ. Go to the Commissary.
Some of the best ribs in town, even though the sauce is strictly on the side. Not Memphis-style dry ribs.
hey, it's friggen bar-becue, it's better than the Rendezvous dump mainly because it's in the suburbs of Germantown, but it's not anything to jump up and down about for god's sake, it's a BBQ joint !!!!
Memphis, TN
Category: Steakhouses
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