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The Germantown Commissary
Category: Restaurants Barbeque Barbeque [Edit]
2290 S Germantown RdGermantown, TN 38138
(901) 754-5540
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 9 am - 9 pm
Sun 11 am - 8 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
97 reviews for The Germantown Commissary
Review Highlights
"I had the the BBQ nachos which were awesome."
(in 12 reviews)
"Good BBQ, but I especially love the deviled eggs."
(in 16 reviews)
"The pulled pork was tender and flavorful."
(in 35 reviews)
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97 reviews in English
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Review from Amanda C.
Memphis, TN
1/23/2012 ROTD 1/28/2012
Normally a restaurant that has long waits, horrible parking and cramped seating irritates me. The one exception: The Commissary.
I would wait for hours, park a mile away and sit in a strangers lap for THREE of their menu items. Yes, three. First: their BBQ nachos. Their BBQ, in general, I think, is the best in Memphis. Whether it's on a sandwich, by itself or on nachos, it is juicy and perfectly seasoned and probably something made in Heaven. Second: their potato salad. I can't even explain how wonderful it is. I use to go by and get a quart of it and eat it for every meal until it was gone (please, don't judge me). Third: their banana pudding. Banana pudding is one of my favorite desserts, and I have tried it in several places. The commissary takes first place!
Please ignore the long wait and the bad parking and the seating. You will forget about it once you taste the amazing food! -
Review from Jim R.
Nashville, TN
1/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
very cool.. tiny place with great bbq .. very nice .. out of the way place.
good luck on parking. -
Review from Matt S.
Rowlett, TX
12/27/2011
My family and I have been in Germantown every Christmas since I was born, and for some reason it took me 22 years of living to find this place. But dang, was it worth the wait!
There's nothing too fancy here, but it was all done right. The pork ribs had a good rub on them, not too overpowering, and tender while still being meaty. We also got hot links and pulled pork shoulder. The links were juicy and flavorful, and went well with the hot BBQ sauce (which was also very good). The pork shoulder was the star of the plate - it had a beautiful smokey flavor, and a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Apart from the meat, the coleslaw was creamy, and the baked beans were velvety and delicious. To top it off, we had some of their homemade banana pudding, and gosh-darn, it was probably the best I've had - chunks of banana, 'nilla wafers, not too sweet.
The service was classic southern hospitality, the wait wasn't too long despite the packed house (on a Tuesday no less), and the food was simple but classic, and done right. I'll definitely be stopping in again next year when I'm back in town for the holidays, and I'll make sure to get some of that delicious pudding to-go! -
Review from Laura H.
Olive Branch, MS
1/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
It was every bit a crowded as I expected, but it was worth the wait. We tried some tamales for the first time in Memphis...not too crazy about the ones we had here, but I have thought this was a wierd item to throw in with BBQ anyway. Love me some deviled eggs, so I thought it was awesome that you get one with your meal. The caramel cake is out of this world!!!! Seriously, a reason to pick this place over another BBQ place!
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Review from Eli W.
Covington, LA
1/10/2012
THE BEST BBQ in the Memphis area! I've eaten at every bbq joint in town and this is my favorite. Maybe it's the small building, maybe it's the friendly service, maybe it's the bbq, or maybe it's the banana pudding? I believe it's a little of each. Try it out! You'll love it!
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Review from Reed W.
Florence, AL
11/9/2011
The Commissary has become my official personal welcome to Memphis. When I come into town, i take 72 W from Florence, so unless I want to eat in Corinth or Iuka... well.. this is the spot.
And thank goodness it is.
It's small, but the service is excellent and the food comes fast. But who gives a damn if you have to wait? The BBQ is simply worth the wait.
Another thing that I love-- you can take your cups to go... and it's a good plastic cup with the Commissary logo on it. I know it's weird, but any restaurant that gives you plastic logo cups to go gets a +1 to start with.
Cup or not, the Commissary is a 5-star spot. Best BBQ in the Mid-South. Don't miss it-- or get discouraged at the lack of parking. -
Review from Chris P.
11/4/2011
Galdern y'all. This place is delicious! The only negative I can think of is that parking is a little bit of a pain, but that means that a lot of people are there gettin' their grub on!
The pulled pork and beans were delicious, just perfect - the waitstaff was polite, helpful, friendly. My buddy had the banana pudding and loved it, but I just didn't have room for it.
Highly recommended! -
Review from kimberley a.
Collierville, TN
1/10/2012
The best bbq I have ever had. I love the small feel of the place too and the rich Memphis history felt inside. Staff is always courtesy and quick! Onion rings are to die for here!!!!
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Review from Linda A.
11/15/2011
We are barbecue snobs and tonight was our first visit to GC. I can't believe it took us this long to get there. We had the "ribs for two" and dang...they are hard to beat! Perfect texture, not at all dry, but not too greasy...they didn't even need sauce which is perfection to me. The cole slaw was excellent! At a lot of BBQ places I take a couple bites of the slaw or whatever and move it aside, but I ate every bite of the slaw. The deviled eggs were fun and we also had a side of pig chips and they were darn good too. Small place but we still got right in. The service was efficient and quick. I've been a big fan of Cozy Corner and Central BBQ but I think GC is better! Wish we'd had room for dessert but it just wasn't possible!
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Review from David H.
Germantown, TN
1/10/2012
Great local, old bbq joint. It's loud, crowded, and you will leave smelling like smoked pork. This is how bbq should be. Forget you Rendezvous!
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Review from Kyle H.
4/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
BBQ Nachos...Mmmm...After seeing some good things said about the pulled pork shoulder nachos, well, I just had to try them. Germantown Commissary is a little hole in the wall joint in a nice neighborhood, that used to be a General Store.
The Nachos didn't have much description, so when they came to my table with just chips, nacho cheese, bbq pork and jalapenoes, I felt like I had made a big menu mistake and should've gone for the ribs. That remorse quickly changed, as the pork was the best pulled pork I have ever tasted. Not a lick of fat in the whole dish and cooked to perfection. And whoda thunk they would go so well on Nachos?
Also, try the deviled eggs- probably some of the best I've ever tasted as well.
Service was incredibly sweet, and this is a nice place for families and friends, alike. I'm hoping to get back to try the ribs before I leave Memphis.Listed in: Nachos Nachos Nachos!
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Review from Paul A.
Plano, TX
7/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
This was the first BBQ place we visited in Memphis. Tried going to another spot first but was unable to get a parking spot. However, this one was on the list of the spots to try so here we were.
We got there about 8:40 or so on a Friday night and there was a very good crowd, but we (a party of two) were able to get seated right away.
The place has great atmosphere and the waitress was friendly (in a "it's been a long day" kind of way.)
We ordered pulled pork sandwich (her) and half rack of ribs for me. Her sandwich and sides were great. My ribs were not good at all. I can only guess that since it was late in the evening and they were getting close to closing time that these ribs had been sitting for a while. They sure tasted that way. Very dry and tough. Definitely not in line with what I was expecting from the reviews. I think this is not the norm.
But, I had the potato salad as well... now, I am a fan of good potato salad. This was not good potato salad, this was exceptional potato salad. I would venture to say it was the best that I have ever had.
Oh, and the sweet tea... gotta love sweet tea. So, in summary, I think I just missed on the ribs, but I would go back just for the potato salad and the tea.
By the way, my better half had the coconut cake. Suffice it to say we would go back for that too. -
Review from Ks K.
St Paul, MN
8/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
We had: Pulled pork sandwich, potato salad, Cole slaw, baked beans, coconut cream pie, banana pudding pie, sweet tea. It was good. Not the best BBQ we've had, but pretty darn good.
Very attentive service, seeing we were the only ones in there, before lunch, but lots of to-go orders going out. -
Review from Robert T.
St Paul, MN
6/16/2011
Best bbq in the US. It could be disputed with Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous or Jim Neely's Interstate BBQ are better and you would have a case. It all just depends on your point of view. I personally like Walker Taylor's Germantown Commissary. I was raised on it. His sauce could have doubled as my blood for all the years that I lived in Memphis and Germantown ,from 1980-2005. You've never had a pulled pork sandwich as good as this. I have know idea what Mr. Taylor uses in his pits, but it's my favorite flavoring out of any of the BBQ places in Memphis.
If you like ribs, these are in the top 3 best in Memphis. I really can't remember if anyone else served potato salad in Memphis, but it was much better than anything you could ever buy from Krogers or get from your friend's mothers.(Still will admit my mother makes better potato salad, but i am kind of obliged to). The BBQ nachos are kind of the greatest idea ever when coupled with Mr. Taylor's sauce. Many people make BBQ nachos, but nothing is quite as good as the Commissary's.
To be honest though, in the thousands of times that I went there or got take out from there, most of the time I just ordered the pulled pork sandwich. It is that good. The fries are also top notch, along with the coleslaw.
Service is always kind and friendly. Something I miss after living overseas and up in Minnesota. It's just different. A lot of the ladies and gentlemen working at the commissary have been there for years. Parking, as noted by other yelpers, is at a premium. The restaurant seats like 100+ people and there are like 8 parking spots. It's kind of ridiculous, especially since G-Town police were always noted for their overzealous nature when dealing with driving/parking offenses. If you are not a local, have your family drive you, be prepared to park somewhere not so close, or go during non peak hours. Or you could always just do take out.
I miss the Commissary. I truly do. -
Review from Thomas O.
Memphis, TN
8/24/2011
I have wanted to try the Commissary for quite some time and finally made that trip today with my sister.
My standard approach when trying a new barbecue joint is to order the sandwich plate and a half slab of ribs to share with my dining companion. I have to compare both to rate it as to other places I have tried.
So two large sandwich plates with ribs it was. Our server asked pulled or chopped meat for our sandwich. I am used to chopped so I asked what he recommended he said pulled, so pulled it was. I will agree with RS. on this point. I think chopped would have blended with the sauce better.
Our plates came out very fast and my first thought was damn, to go boxes will be needed. This sandwich isn't large it's huge. Go for the regular unless you are a pig yourself. But it was good, very good. The meat was perfectly cooked. All lean and full of flavor.
The ribs were a disappointment. Cooked well, not fall of the bone tender, more al dente as I like to put it, and the way I prefer ribs. But they lacked of flavor. Very bland.
For sides we had the standard of beans and slaw. The beans were above average. The slaw was very fresh and good enough, but not outstanding. The deviled egg was a nice touch that we enjoyed.
Service was good and overall I would rate The Commissary as a must try. -
Review from Jon T.
Updated - 9/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Second visit and again, very good. Ms T and I spit a rack of excellent, smoky Memphis style ribs. They offer great, friendly service. It has been two years since our first stop-in here, but it holds true. I still like their style of potato salad. It is not sweet. Not many places make it like this. G'town commisary is worth the drive. We skipped the world's best coconut cream pie because we don't need it, but trust me, it is the best.
Listed in: Memphis Area BBQ
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/19/2009
This was Stop #2 on the 2009 family Memphis-In-My-Mouth BBQ trip (from St Louis). This is an… Read more »
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Review from Brendan W.
Strawberry, AZ
8/10/2011
A must for visitors to Memphis. The wait can be 30+ minutes. It is divided into two sides and is fairly small. You can grab a beer and hang out on the sidewalk during your wait. I wouldn't be surprised the servers are grandparents of the owners. Service is basic but the ribs and pulled pork clearly make the business. They smoke meats on site and is worth the visit. You can can order 2,3 or 4 meet platters, Chicken, Ribs, Pork Shoulder, and Hot Link. I've never had room for the desserts, but they are tempted displayed in the front case.
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Review from Blue M.
Hershey, PA
4/30/2011
Oh how I love the banana pudding!!! I love it when I have to travel to Memphis because I always try and make it to the Commissary. The service is always fast and good. Seating in the Commissary is at a premium though:(
Another thing that I noticed and it just might be my failure to ask, there isn't a pulled or chopped chicken sandwich on the menu. You can only get an entire half BBQ chicken, but that's okay. The sweet tea rocks and so do the pulled or chopped pork and brisket sandwiches. I never really cared for the sides that they served but like I said the banana pudding makes up for it. -
Review from Richard S.
Cordova/Appling, TN
1/28/2011
My in-laws lived near the Germantown Commissary so, inevitably, one day during every family gathering was Commissary day. Now that they are gone I don't get my Commissary fix nearly often enough.
The Germantown Commissary has to be on everyone's short list of best BBQ in the Memphis area!
It's got limited seating and difficult parking but it's worth the effort - hint...come during the off hours.
Meat is consistently tender, flavorful and packed with smokey bbq goodness. Sauces are some of my favorites in town. Beans are a bit on the soupy side (at least they were yesterday) and slaw is sweet and perky. Had the pulled pork yesterday but probably should have opted for the chopped...means more meat-sauce interaction.
Damn...it's before 8am and I'm jones-ing for some Commissary right now. Wonder how BBQ nachos will go with Office Swill brand coffee? Think I'll pick up some BBQ Potatoes for me and the fam on the way home tonight. Awe-effing-some, I say!
Oh, and don't let me forget Banana Pudding...as if I could. -
Review from Trina V.
Chatsworth, CA
4/3/2011 1 photo
So we were driving from Virginia to California and I was feeling greedy, so Jun and I decided to try both Corky's and Germantown Commissary for lunch.
We had gone on a best bbq quest at North Carolina where we went to Backyard BBQ Pitt and Hog Heaven @ Durham plus The Pitt (the winner! try the combination plate) and Raleigh Times @ Raleigh, so it seemed only natural to continue the quest in Memphis even if it meant hauling a 10ft Penske truck with a car carrier in tow.
Well, because we had already wasted an hour at Corky's and stuffed ourselves with their recommended items on the menu, we decided to take the Germantown Commissary goodies to go. (I got some rubs and sauces to go, too! yeah!). So here's the deal... I'm not a food connoisseur and probably shouldn't be writing food reviews, but the fact is we did not eat this Germantown goodness until we got to the Sheraton (nice hotel btw) at Midwest City, OK a good 8 hours later. And because we didn't discover the microwave hidden in the laundry room until after we've devoured this manna from heaven, we tucked in the cold ribs and was surprised at how delicious it still was. The only con is kicking ourselves for not going straight to this place first to try it at it's finest... it could have been nirvana... but it's over now -
Review from Raymond B.
Memphis, TN
This place is classic Germantown. Gives you the ability to try the gritty barbecue shack that makes the southeast famous, all while being nicely sterilized. It's almost comical in it's simplicity: a "shack" looking building that has too many straight and plumb lines to be an actual shack, the edgy African American cooking and wait staff, the 'boss hog' character working the cash register, the speedy Hispanic kid doing the buss boy gig, and the timid white families waiting patiently in the foyer to sit and eat with their fingers ("but where are our wet naps?!" *gasp*) It borders on ridiculous with it's blatant stereotypes, but you know what? It works like a charm.
But, all that fun stuff aside, the food is incredible. Go with some BBQ nachos to start, two meat combo with chopped shoulder and a half rack, a budweiser, and you'll be a happy customer. 5 stars... they're here for BBQ, and they've got it down to a culinary and social science. -
Review from Erica B.
9/25/2010 4 photos
Two words for you folks- Barbecue Nachos. TO die for. Seriously. This place is quite a drive for us, but we still have made the trip more times than I care to count, just for those damn nachos. The pulled pork that sits on top is divine. No, it is freaking perfection. The pork is juicy and tender, yet has the most incredible crispy bits strewn about. It's crazy delicious. It melts in your mouth. I'm not sure how, but the chips stay perfectly crispy even though they have a ginormous mound of pork and cheese on top. I've yet to try anything else. I cannot convince myself to stray away from these little gems of deliciousness.
I will say that this place needs to rectify their parking lot. It is a nightmare when it gets busy, and there aren't a lot of parking spots to begin with. However, I'll be the first to admit we've been known to drive around the block ad nauseum waiting for a spot to open up just for a plate of those frackin' nachos.Listed in: 5 Stars, Memphis BBQ!
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Review from Mike M.
Grapevine, TX
9/7/2011
I've tried many BBQ joints, and this is a joint, and this is the best. I've eaten at the touristy place downtown and would rather eat hear anytime. The menu is simple. Monday night is all you can eat rib night which is a bargain for big eaters. Buy some of their dry rub to use on the ribs you cook at home. It won't be quite the same, but the flavor is a nice reminder of where to stop next time traveling through through Memphis.
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Review from Seth B.
Birmingham, AL
Quite possibly the best BBQ I have ever had! It is consistently great every time, not just good, but let me emphasize...GREAT! The ribs are cooked to perfection and the chicken is phenomenal. I have always been too full to try them, but I hear the desserts are amazing as well. I will definitely visit again. Oh yeah, TRY THE BBQ NACHOS!
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Review from Phacops T.
Plano, TX
3/8/2011
3/8/2011
I must have gone on the night cook the forgot to take the meat off...
Reading the positive reviews - I went in with high hopes and had the pulled pork & ribs plate. The ribs were very dry and the pulled pork was also overcooked and very dry. Normally, BBQ ribs fall off the bone - but these were hard to separate from each other even with a fork. I was very disappointed... it was the worst BBQ I've had in years. Surely, their food must be better than what I got else the reviews would also be in the one to two stars. Oh, I also tried a tamale - mushy masa and meat... also poor. How could I have gotten such a bad meal when others loved it ???
In Dallas - they wouldn't last 30 days. -
Review from Bo B.
Cold Spring, NY
9/10/2010
When friends say they're going to Memphis, I take a long moment to step back, look them in the eye, and assess their readiness for Memphis's 2nd greatest natural resource: barbecue. Real barbecue. Not the Texas (beef over a hot fire) nor Yankee (something on a grill) definitions, but true southern BBQ as god intended it.
Once I've got a sense of what they can handle, I might steer them toward Neely's or the Rendezvous depending on if I take them to be a wet- or dry-rib person. If they're adventuresome, I send them to Cozy Corner. But if they are the special person who doesn't mind taking a trip to see and taste something otherworldly, I get out a pencil and paper and draw them a map to the Commissary, home of the best BBQ pulled pork sandwich ever invented.
The decor is cool, and the service friendly and REAL (talk to the people if they're not too busy). The tamales are great as well, but I don't order them. If I am going all the #$(&* way out to Germantown, I am getting a pulled pork sandwich. Or two. If I am going anywhere near Germantown (not likely on my infrequent trips back home), I still get me some Commissary pulled pork sandwich. Or two.
NOTE: this is no diss to any of the aforementioned restaurants - they're my favorites as well, and I actually prefer them for ribs. But for pulled pork, there is none finer in the known human realm. -
Review from Brian C.
Portland, OR
8/16/2011
Cool little place in the Germantown area, the people are friendly and the food is pretty good. On my first 2 visits I was very impressed with the pulled pork in particular - today for lunch I found the pulled pork a bit dry and not nearly as good as previous visits. Deviled eggs and side items are nothing special but overall you'll be happy with most of the main options at the Commissary and this is definitely more of a local place - just be prepared for limited parking and likely a wait.
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Review from Noelle V.
Memphis, TN
9/18/2010
If you're a pork/BBQ person, I'm guessing this is your heaven.
The place is unassuming and comfortable on the outside and in, and I love the location, right in Germantown.
The menu boats meat, meat, and more meat in various forms of dress, including BBQ, as well as burgers, ham sandwiches, and a good amount of sides, including baked beans, cole slaw, potato salad, BBQ nachos, and more.
I went for a chicken sandwich, and it was pretty good.
You have to love a place with deviled eggs. Yum. -
Review from Jennifer H.
Little Rock, AR
8/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
These people know what they're doing!!!!
Maybe the best BBQ I've ever had--real smokey/wood flavor, fall off the bone tender. But the pies... lord. Giant meringued monsters of goodness. So "homemade" I'd be surprised if they didn't mill the flour themselves. -
Review from Nolen G.
Canton, MS
9/17/2010
I have been looking for some Memphis BBQ I could give the full 5 start to.
I am not a huge Memphis BBQ fan since living in Texas...just lost the taste for sweet sauce and sweet beans.
I took the time out of my schedule yesterday to stop in and see what the hype was about at The Commissary.
I ordered a 2 meat plate...pulled pork and ribs. The portion was HUGE and the service was fast. My pork came with sauce on it....that is normally a foul, but the dark sauce was perfect. I added some of the spicy sauce ot it and it was off the hook. I ate about 1/3 of my portion.
Ribs were nice. Plenty of meat. I made it through 1/2 of my slab. They are served dry which I like. Hot sauce and they were completely perfect.
Beans were great, not too sweet.
I ordered 2 Boss Man salads to go....chicken and chopped pork.
These were the biggest salads I have ever seen. Tons of great veggies. I could EASILY have ordered one to split and still have had some left over.
Atmosphere and great food. Service with a smile. How can you beat that? -
Review from Jolynna M.
Memphis, TN
9/15/2010
What's not to love about the Commissary? They have some of the best barbecue in the area and I love eating here any chance I get.
My favorite things on the menu? Barbecue and more barbecue. The pulled pork sandwich is loaded with tender meat and smothered with cole slaw. I then like to further smother it with their signature sauce, which I think is some of the best anywhere. It's a perfect marriage of flavors - not too much sweetness, and not too much spice.
I also highly recommend their tamales. The plate comes with 4 tamales, chili and cheese, slaw and a deviled egg. I love their deviled eggs by the way. For dessert, try their famous banana pudding. It's the real deal, made homemade from scratch and it's delicious.
And here's a nice tip for you hearty eaters. On Monday nights they have all you can eat ribs for about $23. -
Review from mike l.
Burbank, CA
Updated - 11/1/2010
Back at Germantown Commissary for another round. Ate here twice on the last trip, including a catering they did for a meeting I attending.
Also on my way back home I ordered some shipped and it was delivered the day after I got back to LA.
Not cheap, but well worth the amazing taste and portions.
Commissary, I'll be back soon!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/8/2007
Best BBQ ever!
Every time I'm in Memphis on business I'm sure to bring home enough of their tasty… Read more »
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Review from Eric K.
Memphis, TN
9/22/2011
Best sandwich in town. Ribs are smoked well but are a little fatty, best desserts of the bbq restaurants, try the banana pudding, sauce is excellent, service is fair, neat ambiance of the historic grocery store.
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Review from Rachel P.
6/2/2011 2 photos
Yum, yum, yum, yum! The food deserves five stars...It pains me so, but I have to deduct one star for service. If half stars were at my disposal, I would give The Commissary 4.5.
As other Yelpers have stated, the Germantown Commissary (an old fashioned general store until 1981) is a small building where seating and parking are both at a premium. Be prepared to park creatively during peak times, and be prepared wait outside for a table. They also do a BIG takeout business, for what that's worth.
Let me get the ugly part of our visit out of the way, so we can move on to the good stuff. On our recent visit, we sat at our table for 19 minutes before we were approached by a server to take our drink order. I realize you have to expect a different standard of service at places like this sometimes, but this was a little ridiculous. Once our server finally stopped by to take our order, he repeated it back to us incorrectly about three times before he got it ironed out. I heard this occur at more than one surrounding table. Maybe he needs to start carrying a note pad. Our food took an exceptionally long time to come out, and we had to flag our waiter down for drink refills throughout our meal. I will say that we are out-of-towners, so I can't comment on whether this is a typical occurrence or if perhaps they were just having an off night.
The saving grace...the food! On this visit, we started out with the BBQ nachos. They were quite good. I didn't find them to be of the "last meal on earth" caliber than other Yelpers have described, but I did enjoy them, and I would get them again. It helps that they were only $4 and change! For my entree, I ordered the BBQ plate, which came with pulled pork, potato salad, baked beans, a yeast roll, and a deviled egg. Additional deviled eggs could be added for 30 cents a piece. The pulled pork was tender and flavorful...no fatty pieces, no tough pieces. Melt in your mouth consistency. I found the mild BBQ sauce to be a nice accompaniment, and I didn't need a ton of it because the pork was so flavorful. The potato salad was just the way I like it- very creamy and simple. The baked beans were sweet and tender. The deviled egg was a tasty addition, and the yeast roll was soft and hot. I stole a rib from my fiancee's plate, and I thought it was delicious- smokey and tender, and easy to separate from the bone. Maybe I took the best one off of his plate, because he stated that these were not the best ribs he has ever had- but based on the one I tried, I would not hesitate to order them. He's not a big rib fan, anyway, so what does he know? We finished our meal with a piece of coconut cream pie, which was delicious. It reminded me a bit of a chess pie, topped with a big, fluffy meringue, and toasted coconut.
My only gripe with this place (besides the questionable service) is the pricing. It seems inconsistent. $4.25 for the BBQ nacho appetizer? Sweet! $8.65 for my entire BBQ plate, including two sides, a deviled egg, and a roll? Awesome! $16.95 for a two meat plate?? Wait, what?? Something is out of whack. I realize that you can select ribs for one of your two meats, which understandably bumps up the price, but my gripe is that if I want, say, pork and chicken, it's still $16.95. Not a good deal. If you are going with your honey, I would suggest that one person orders the BBQ plate and one person orders the two meat plate, and then you can share the "third" meat. It's a ton of food, I promise you won't go hungry!
All in all, this was an enjoyable meal, and we will add it to our rotation of Memphis restaurants. -
Review from Raleigh M.
Raleigh, NC
Gtowns finest.
On the racks of ribs : the flavor/texture is a solid A-. To improve, they need to remove the membrane and the ribtips.
Just my opinion.
Beans: B
Cole Slaw: C
Potato Salad: A
Deviled Eggs: B+
Forgetting to remind me or give me napkins or silverware to go...
D
At least point me to the stack, man. -
Review from Rich J.
Rochester, NY
7/7/2011
This was the only place in the Memphis area we had time to try, so I will not judge "Memphis barbecue" as a whole based on this. Good ribs should be moist and sliding off the bone. Their ribs were dry, chewy, and not especially meaty. It might be blasphemy to say -- but the ribs I've had in Rochester, NY were worlds better.
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Review from Dane K.
5/8/2007
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. -
Review from Andrew T.
7/9/2010
This was sort of an ancillary stop on our way to another restaurant for dinner - we didn't get BBQ here, just an entire coconut cream pie, and a side of potato salad. Just the essentials.
The coconut cream pie is very good - by volume, probably 75% coconut, with tons in the pudding filling, a layer nicely browned on top of the meringue, and more in the graham cracker crust. Might have been over-hyped for me, but it was darn good.
As for potato salad? I'm not much of a potato salad guy, but this was tuned to my taste. With little or no onion, and no egg, it's as close to something I'd like as I'll ever get...but I'm just not a potato salad fan, no matter how hard I try. Oh well. -
Review from Larry M.
Austin, TX
4/17/2007
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. -
Review from Misty C.
Cordova, TN
7/6/2007
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!
