Blues City Cafe in Memphis

Looking for Memphis BBQ!
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A neon sign with flashing forks is pretty irresistible! Especially when that sign is connected to a hopping cafe on the corner of Beale Street, in Memphis!

Highly Recommended
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Don and I were squeezing in as much as we could in less than a 24 hour period.   A quick view of Graceland through the gates and a peek at the Peabody Hotel ducks marching on the red carpet, were a couple of highlights.  It was a carriage driver named Bubba, who raved about Blues City and got our mouths watering.  

Perfect Interior
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It was late on a Monday night, so we got a table fast. I sat down and absorbed the surrounding walls, trying to identify all the original features.  I'm actually not sure what this was before it was Blues City Cafe.

Being a long time connoisseur of restaurant restrooms, I took special note of the curious restroom entrance. As a child I would have given an A+ rating for that playful, roof covered walkway to the bathroom!

Atmosphere
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I love it when you can see the cooking and hear the sizzle. I even like seeing the stacks of white plates, waiting to be covered in Memphis BBQ! And I do appreciate lots of entertaining signs for my reading pleasure!  

"Put Some South In Your Mouth!"  Now that's a good one.

Other Diners
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I love visiting a touristy location when it seems to be free of tourists.  The servers chatted with diners as if they were friends.  No one seemed like a first-timer, reading all the signs, like me.  There was one booth with a family, that I couldn't figure out.  I recognized the little boy with his parents.  A few hours earlier, the young tot had been a little VIP of sorts, wearing a 3 piece suit and  assisting the "Duck Master" at the Peabody Hotel.  I'm still curious about the boy and his parents.

Pork Ribs
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I wasn't ashamed to act touristy, when I asked our waiter to snap our photo.  His face and stance reminded me of Elvis, minus the good looks and charisma. Maybe it was his mumbling speech or the way he responded to my photo request... as if he'd been asked one too many times for an autograph. We may have had a dull waiter, but our full slab of pork ribs, beans, coleslaw and steak fries couldn't have been better!  Don hasn't stopped talking about those ribs.

Turnip Greens
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When I'm in a new world, I like to embrace the "When in Rome..." thing. So I ordered greens to have a sample of an authentic southern dish.  I was amazed at their buttery goodness. Never would I have guessed this would delight me like a comfort food.  

I ate more than a sample. I ate every bit!

Big Ole Slab
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This blurry pic barely gives you an idea of that slab of pork!  If Don had taken the photo a few minutes earlier, he might have caught a few more giggling faces, seated behind me.  For a short while, the table was taken over by staff, having a good old time while rolling up silverware in paper napkins. I wish I could have pulled my chair over to join them.  They seemed to be laughing at some pretty good stories! 

A Good Night on Beale Street
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We walked off our dinner on Beale Street and made a few stops at a couple juke joints to enjoy some Memphis Blues!  This photo of the nearly empty brick street might seem downright dull to some.  But I was pretty happy to enjoy a more peaceful evening... especially after learning we missed the weekly "Bikes on Beale" night, when the street is packed with motorcycles!

Lucked out in Memphis!