Name And Reputation

I guess it's a sign of the times. Either you cater to the discriminating patrons or feed them until they get enough. Like the middle class, just having large portions is no longer enough. You're either rich or you're poor. There's no in between. When it comes to restaurants, your food is good or it's not. If it's not that good, you better make it a buffet. The main thing Neely's ever had going for them was they gave you a lot of meat. But to me it tasted like smoked meat with a ketchup and vinegar sauce. A decent slaw. Eat some now, save some for later. It was like two sandwiches in one.

I am not an "aficionado" on BBQ or Steak for that matter, but I know what tastes good. Neely's BBQ just like  "The Butcher Shop" is closing after decades in Downtown Memphis.  Mainly because the food wasn't very good. The advantage to judging BBQ restaurants as opposed to steak. There is no such thing as an up scale BBQ joint. Cozy Corner or Rendezvous haven't changed and they could stand renovating Their success isn't due to marketing or hype. They just consistently have good food

What I think is the best BBQ in the city, a lot of Memphians aren't familiar with. I go into the trenches.   The best ribs in  the city are no longer in business. The proprietors of these establishments have passed. RIP Beasley's BBQ on Jackson Ave. and RIP Noels BBQ on 3rd and Peebles. But Cozy Corner on N. Parkway and The BBQ Shop on Madison are the best out there now. For shoulder" The BBQ Shop" and "Al's Tasty Burger Inn" when the shoulder is fresh.  Payne's makes good smoke sausages and links. I only had the Cornish Hen at Cozy Corner once. But I would rather have the ribs. Neely's name only comes up in one category. Their BBQ bologna is good, but TBBQS is better.

I haven't dined at enough different Steak restaurants to objectively compare.  But I have had some good and bad meals. I'm the kind of guy who would order a steak at a seafood restaurant. I have dined from New York City to Tunica Miss.  Some places I wouldn't even mention. So I think my recommendations are fair.. For the money, the best steak I ever had was between the old "Western Steakhouse" on Madison and "Bonanza" on Frayser Blvd. But they both are gone now. I  have eaten at "Folks Folly" and " Ruth Chris" a couple of times. Ruth Chris was okay, but I didn' t care for "Folks Folly"that much. Especially for the money. My best experiences lately were across the state line. Jack Binions at the Horseshoe and Limericks at Fitzgerald's are both excellent choices. Outback, Logans and Lone Star are hit or miss. Catfish Cabin makes a pretty good rib eye.

Seldom do you run into the owners anymore. You never met the owner of Ryans or Corkys. It's evident in their food. Up until he died, whenever you went to the Cozy Corner. Mr. Raymond was sitting right there by the door. He tasted what came off of his pit everyday. It was the same way at the Western Steakhouse. Every time I ever went there. I saw the lady with the big blond hair. Without someones name and reputation at stake. Like a lot of the other restaurants in this city. It just depends on the cook.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/oct/09/two-neelys-bar-b-que-restaurants-memphis-are-close/?partner=popular

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/oct/08/after-31-years-the-butcher-shop-to-close-its-on/