The Bar-B-Q Shop

The Bar-B-Q Shop

1782 Madison Ave, Memphis, TN 38104, USA
Memphis
Open

Influencer Reviews1

About

The Barbecue Shop is the restaurant credited with inventing barbecue spaghetti, one of the most unusual and distinctly Memphis dishes in American food. The dish was created in the 1960s by Brady Benson, a former railroad cook who ran a restaurant in South Memphis and had a love for both barbecue and pasta. Benson was recognized by the Kansas City Barbecue Hall of Fame as the originator of barbecue spaghetti. The restaurant became a gathering point for figures from the Stax Records music scene, including producer Willie Mitchell and artists connected to Al Green. The recipe remains a closely guarded secret, with the owner noting that the process can be shown at its beginning and end, but never the middle.

The Visit

At The Bar-B-Q Shop, the reviewer dives into the legendary barbecue spaghetti, a dish that merges Southern barbecue with Italian pasta. The experience is described as both bewildering and delightful, with perfectly cooked noodles drenched in sweet and savory barbecue sauce. The restaurant's rich history and inventive spirit shine through, making it a must-visit for anyone seeking Memphis's most iconic and controversial eats.

What They Ate

Barbecue spaghetti (spaghetti noodles with barbecue sauce)

Quotes

"Barbecue spaghetti. Where does that come from? So it comes from a guy named Brady Benson. It was around in the 60s."
"It's like a spaghetti bolognese went on holiday and then just got lost in a smokehouse and just thought, you know what, I'm just going to stay here. I'm not going back home. I love it here."
"$15 for that whole plate of spaghetti with pulled pork in it. That would feed two people."

Our Reflection

The Bar-B-Q Shop offers a window into Memphis's inventive culinary spirit. Barbecue spaghetti is a dish that challenges expectations, blending the familiar comfort of pasta with the bold, smoky flavors of Southern barbecue. The reviewer's surprise and curiosity mirror the dish's reputation as a local legend. It's a testament to the creativity and history that define Memphis cuisine, making The Bar-B-Q Shop a destination for adventurous eaters and food historians alike.

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