Best Ribs: Charles Vergos' Rendezvous in Memphis

As a former vegetarian, I've never had ribs before. One of the reasons I stopped being a vegetarian was specifically for situations like going to Memphis. Sure I can get my fill of collard greens (though they have ham hock in the stock so I wouldn't have eaten them before), black eyed peas, and mac n' cheese, but those are just side dishes to the locals. Meat is king.

Before heading to Memphis, I did all kinds of research on where to get the best ribs. Memphis and ribs is like salad and Berkeley. A few places kept popping up: Central, Payne's, Interstate, Cozy Corner, Gus', and Rendezvous. Once in Memphis I asked a local shop owner near the Lorraine Motel where to get the best ribs. He confirmed Rendezvous whose website says, "Not since Adam has a rib been this famous."

You enter the restaurant from a semi-dark alley in downtown Memphis. The waitstaff has been working there for decades and they don't have time to socialize and butter you up for dinner. You order what you want and it comes to your table in less than ten minutes. You eat it and you like it. The ribs are dry rubbed with their special seasonings, served with a mustard coleslaw which I now prefer to its mayo counterpart.