A BBQ chain place that I hope we get someday!

I know of the anti-chain vibe on this forum,(myself included). But while we were in Memphis, TN over Christmas; my parents took Colleen and I to Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Que on Germantown Rd., just a few blocks down from Corky's(which I feel is WAY overrated).
I must say it was some of the best Q I've ever had at a chain. I do like Smokey Bones, but mostly because of the frequent buy-one get-one free or $10 off coupons. The Q there is just OK but what they are doing at Jim 'N Nicks is truly something else. Everything is scratch made and the BBQ items I sampled had a very nice smokey balance and were moist and tender. Also their pimento cheese was the bomb. AND it was fairly in-expensive to boot. If you are travling and see one of thier locations I would recommend them with out hesitation.

http://www.jimnnicks.com

I've never been there but I was in Memphis, TN over the summer & I must say that the B.B. King's house band did the best damn non-Prince Purple Rain EVER!

We ate at the one in Murfreesboro, TN a couple years ago and thought it was very good. I like the smoked chicken and collard greens and my husband likes the ribs and pulled pork. Oh yea and I almost forgot the jalapeno cornbread (I'm not sure if they still have it or not) but it was good!

I would definately second the motion for one to come to Louisville or better yet E-town!

Dan - Give me a year.
we are toying around with a bbq joint idea for 2011 schedule.

Coming back from the Panhandle on Sat., we stopped at the one in Birmingham, just off 65 on the west side (Oxmoor). We stop there each trip south. Pulled pork.
There was one in Baytowne in Sandestin, but it moved east to the Grand Boulevard area - that is all chains.

Chain BBQ - hrumph. These two words should never coexist.

OK, that's not always true, but Corky's IS overrated. Is Rendezvous still in Memphis? That's some damn fine Q.

Dan, pick up a copy of Smokestack Lightning - great book about BBQ and its history and evolution. Very entertaining read.

Chain BBQ - hrumph. These two words should never coexist.

It can be done...but usually not for long and very rarely with any consistancy.

OK, that's not always true, but Corky's IS overrated. Is Rendezvous still in Memphis? That's some damn fine Q.

I've enjoyed really-REALLY good "Q" in (of all places) the Interstate BBQ in the concourse at the Memphis airport. Jim Neely himself was tending to business the last time we were through there, I almost bowed.

Dan, pick up a copy of Smokestack Lightning - great book about BBQ and its history and evolution. Very entertaining read.

To that I would add: Peace, Love and BBQ by Mike Mills and Big Bob Gibson's BBQ Cookbook by Chris Lilly.

BTW, so has anyone caught "Pitmasters" on (I think) TLC ? We've never competed against Myron Mixon but everyone I've talked to on the BBQ circuit thinks he's an ass hammer and he sure doesn't do anything on TV to dispel that opinion.

While before the holidays I would have agreed that Corky's lost something and Rendezvous & Interstate are still great, I now have a different world view:

If you happen to be in Memphis, get in your car, fill the tank, and drive 7 1/2 hours west to Driftwood TX (20 miles SW of Austin) to eat at the Salt Lick BBQ. We went between Christmas & New Year, and I thought I was in heaven! On a Zagat scale of 0-30, the decor got a 1 (only the banquet areas were open, as the restaurant itself was being cleaned), the service gets a very generous 3, the sides get an 18 (adequate), and the combo plate of ribs, sausage, and brisket gets a 78.

BTW, I also feel that Smoke Stack Lightning should be required reading at any decent school in the country!

I keep my smokestack lightning bedside for nice dream seeding