Great BBQ near Memphis

Folks,


Next time you are in the Memphis area and have a hankering for the real deal in BBQ, take a short drive north of Memphis to the little town of Mason, TN. You won't have to look hard to find Bozo's Barbeque. It has been there since the 1920's and it is not hard to figure out why. Get the "Bozo" sandwich for $4.50...more meat will fall off of it than most restaurants serve...available chopped or pulled. Onion rings are a must! There is no way you will have room, but order a slice of the pecan pie anyway....speaking of the real deal. Good Lord! Just a great place that puts anything in Memphis to shame.

Best.......John

I smell....advertisement!!!!

Watch,

then, he'll come back and insist he's not advertising, just a patron who enjoys good food. He'll post another 5 or 10 times and then dissappear- Mark my word!

Dale,
Your words are marked !

Here is RICK F's review in a July 2005 post. I tend to trust Rick's version. "Mason, NE of Memphis, is renowned for Bozo's. Don't bother."

quote:

Originally posted by Al-The Mayor-Bowen

Dale,
Your words are marked !

Al, truth of the matter is I could use some good BBQ right now.
I've lost about 20 lbs since I last saw you in Baltimore!

I'm down to 245 lbs and have at least 25 to go!

We could change that with one Friday night visit to the Moonlite... Come on Down!

quote:

Originally posted by wanderingjew

I smell....advertisement!!!!

Watch,

then, he'll come back and insist he's not advertising, just a patron who enjoys good food. He'll post another 5 or 10 times and then dissappear- Mark my word!

Mark this:-) I'll tell you one thing lad...I for sure won't be posting much if I get jumped on like that for an honest opinion.

I live over 100 miles from Bozo's....ate there for the first time about a month ago & thought it was great. The packed house told me that the local's agreed. I have zero connection to the place.

We all know what opinions are like. I make it a point to eat BBQ wherever I go & have eaten at hundreds over the years. I have been in the restaurant business and currently cook with a well known local competition BBQ team. The Barbeque-on-the-River festival in Paducah,KY is one of the largest in the state. This year over 100,000 lbs. of meat was cooked...our team did over 6000 lbs in 4 days which was the second most sold by any team. Got beat by a few hundred bucks. I do not consider myself an expert...but do have some clue. I advertise for no one.

In taking a back road to Memphis I happened to run across Bozo's...never one to pass up a BBQ joint I gave it a try. Not saying it is the best there ever was, but they have their act together and some signature dishes. It is worth a try for sure if you are in the area. My opinion...YMMV

Best......John

John, Your words are marked also !! We'll see if we get additional feedback on Bozo's in the future. Our token Minister- Rev. Rick was not much in favor of the place when he visited it last year.
If the comments about being an AD set you back a bit, you have to understand a common occurance here on this site is for an individual to make a post posing as a 'traveler' to sing praises of their business (a free AD so to speak) and then disappear into the mist of the net, never to be heard from again.
Had you posted several times in the past, then made the exact same post about Bozo's, I am sure it would not have brought back the wrath of the Rhode Island Wizard Wandering Jew). So keep on posting and establish yourself as a valid contributor as opposed to a wandering advertiser!

Meantime, Welcome aboard!

Al,
I understand completely and am mad at no one. In looking over my original post, I can see where one might easily come to the conclusion that WanderingJew arrived at. I assure you all that it was an opinion(that I stand by)and was not intended to be an ad.

I can agree to disagree with anyone and certainly welcome input from anyone who has eaten at Bozo's...who knows, maybe I was just there on a good day.

On a related note...I will never be a prolific poster on any site...and while I understand fully the problem with fly-by posters and free ads...I do not feel that there is a relationship between post count and validity of opinion.

As a regular traveler and confirmed food junkie this site is of interest to me. I have been receiving Roadfood emails for some time, but think this is my first visit since I signed up. I like the looks of it and will continue to visit/lurk. Might share an opinion from time to time...will try to be respectfull:-)

For WanderingJew....lived in Boston for several years in the 60's and 70's...had a good friend in Hope Valley, RI and have spent some time in your area. There is no doubt that you are hurtin' for a BBQ! However, I probably miss the seafood more than you miss the 'Que:-)

Best.......John

quote:

Originally posted by Relentless

Al,
For WanderingJew....lived in Boston for several years in the 60's and 70's...had a good friend in Hope Valley, RI and have spent some time in your area. There is no doubt that you are hurtin' for a BBQ! However, I probably miss the seafood more than you miss the 'Que:-)

Best.......John

No problem!

I'll trade you some whole belly fried clams for a rack of dry rub ribs!

quote:

Originally posted by wanderingjew

quote:

Originally posted by Relentless

Al,
For WanderingJew....lived in Boston for several years in the 60's and 70's...had a good friend in Hope Valley, RI and have spent some time in your area. There is no doubt that you are hurtin' for a BBQ! However, I probably miss the seafood more than you miss the 'Que:-)

Best.......John

No problem!

Buddy....you are ON...Lord do I miss those. Not possible to get good clams (Long Necks) around here. Or much else in the way of FRESH seafood for that matter. I spent last week in Destin, FL & had a lot of good shrimp & some fantastic oysters (Hunt's Oyster Bar, Panama City)...but no clams. Brought back Redfish, Flounder & Shrimp.

I have a full rack of the ribs in question vacuum packed in the freezer. How do you intend to get my clams to me:-)

A question for you since you are in the area. Back in the day some of the best seafood in Boston was at the old No Name on the waterfront. Best late nite fish chowder ever. Also, for many years the Watertown Diner was voted Best Breakfast in Boston...do you happen to know if they are still in business?

Regards......John

I'll trade you some whole belly fried clams for a rack of dry rub ribs!

quote:

Originally posted by Relentless

quote:

Originally posted by wanderingjew

quote:

Originally posted by Relentless

Al,
For WanderingJew....lived in Boston for several years in the 60's and 70's...had a good friend in Hope Valley, RI and have spent some time in your area. There is no doubt that you are hurtin' for a BBQ! However, I probably miss the seafood more than you miss the 'Que:-)

Best.......John

No problem!

Buddy....you are ON...Lord do I miss those. Not possible to get good clams (Long Necks) around here. Or much else in the way of FRESH seafood for that matter. I spent last week in Destin, FL & had a lot of good shrimp & some fantastic oysters (Hunt's Oyster Bar, Panama City)...but no clams. Brought back Redfish, Flounder & Shrimp.

I have a full rack of the ribs in question vacuum packed in the freezer. How do you intend to get my clams to me:-)

A question for you since you are in the area. Back in the day some of the best seafood in Boston was at the old No Name on the waterfront. Best late nite fish chowder ever. Also, for many years the Watertown Diner was voted Best Breakfast in Boston...do you happen to know if they are still in business?

Regards......John

I'll trade you some whole belly fried clams for a rack of dry rub ribs!

I don't know about the Watertown Diner.
The No Name is still in business. Some say the quality has gone downhill, however I think it's just as good as ever!

BTW, the clams might be a little soggy by the time they get to you!

Well, I certainly screwed up the "quote" part above. Hopefully it is understandable....would swap ribs for clams any day. I think I miss-spoke on the clams & said Long Necks (too many of those last week) when in fact I think they are called Little Neck clams. Correct?

John,
What happened to SkinHeads in Paducah? One day it just disappeared. It used to be a roadfood standby on our trips down to the Railroad shops on 'Photo-Opportunity' trainwatch expeditions.

If you head a bit further South in TN (to Lexington)...Just a short way off of exit 108 (I-40) you'll run across one of the best BBQ stands we have found in Western TN. HAYS SMOKEHOUSE. Dennis Hays runs a good business and it is a real kick to sit and discuss the ins and outs of the business with him after 'checking' his smokers in operation. Read the review on this site about the place. Some other local places have received attention recently...I'll try to find the info and direct you to them.

quote:

Originally posted by Al-The Mayor-Bowen

John,
What happened to SkinHeads in Paducah? One day it just disappeared. It used to be a roadfood standby on our trips down to the Railroad shops on 'Photo-Opportunity' trainwatch expeditions.

If you head a bit further South in TN (to Lexington)...Just a short way off of exit 108 (I-40) you'll run across one of the best BBQ stands we have found in Western TN. HAYS SMOKEHOUSE. Dennis Hays runs a good business and it is a real kick to sit and discuss the ins and outs of the business with him after 'checking' his smokers in operation. Read the review on this site about the place. Some other local places have received attention recently...I'll try to find the info and direct you to them.

Al,

"The Breakfast House of the South" a.k.a. Skinheads has been closed for several years. Not sure that I trust my memory as to exactly why, but I think it had something to do with the age and health of the owner. It certainly was not due to lack of business. A couple of operations have been in there since & it re-opened again (third time) last week as TLC Barbeque. The new owner at least has experience in the restaurant biz and I expect will make a go of it. Open for breakfast and lunch.

Feel free to send along any recommendations in W. TN as I travel the area from time to time & am always looking for a good place to eat. Anything will do as long as it is not a chain.

Here's a link to another thread that is running beside this one...Check the Knockem Hill BBQ post by Poverty Pete. Pete lives in Nashville and is quite knowledgeable about the S W Kentucky & Tennessee area.
http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12347

Gentlemen, I am following this exchange about my favorite subject (good "que") with great interest. Keep it up!

QFan
Bonita Springs, FL

Al...I noticed that you made a reference to the Moonlite in another post/thread...maybe this one. Too lazy to look... Are you by chance from Owensboro? Wouldn't eat any of that sliced mutton would you?

John,
I'm a bit further up the river...not far from Corydon Indiana. I can hear the slots of "Caesar's Boat" if I have the windows open in the summer.
We like the Moonlite BBQ a lot. Thats 99 miles from me but it is the restaurant of choice for us to take visitors who come from 'Other places'. Pat Bosley one of the new generation of Moonlite Family has taken very good care of us when we had family and friends in attendance. Last February we had a roadfood gathering there with 50 foodies joining the fun.
We do enjoy the Mutton 'Que, but must admit that the Pulled Pork and Ribs score higher with us.

Long ago I had a good friend in Owensboro & made the pilgrimage to the Moonlite on a regular basis. Still make a point to go if I am in the area...it is a great restaurant. They are of course famous for the mutton. I have been told that they are the largest retail outlet for mutton in the United States. Don't know if that is true or not...but you will not find me blocking your way to the mutton as I am not a fan. They have too many other good choices, not the least of which are the Fiddler Catfish...and the dessert bar takes a back seat to none.

All this is making me hungry...better get back in the kitchen and tend to the chicken & dumplings.

Pat Bosley told us at the Roadfood get-together that they Were the top seller of Mutton (Not Lamb). It is an acquired taste that is apparently a big deal in the Owensboro area. I try some each time we go, but Like you find other items on the BBQ Bufet to be more to my liking. Combine some of the Pulled Pork and Ribs with the Catfish you mentioned, both Whole and Fiddlers, and we enjoy the Fried Oysters on the Friday nite menu too.
As I said on the Clarksville, TN Thread, I like the Catfish at the Riverview Restaurant a lot! Great location on the Cumberland River!!