BBQ in Kentucky and Tenn.
 

I'm headed to Tennessee tomorrow and while there I'll be visiting Nashville and Memphis, and points in between. I'll also be in Owensboro, Kentucky for a couple days. Can anyone recommend some great BBQ spots in those spots? I know there are a ton, that's why I'm looking to narrow it down :)

To get great bbq, head south west until you hit Texas . . . lol

I am told that Corky's and the Rendezvous in Memphis are good.

Let's see... in Memphis, you'll have quite a few choices, that's for sure.

Rendezvous is wonderful, especially if you are a fan of dry rub ribs. But go early, the wait can be pretty long sometimes on the weekends.

Another great place in Memphis is Central BBQ. There is one on Summer Ave. and one on (you guessed it) Central Ave. in Midtown.

Interstate BBQ is another one that is on most people's "list" in Memphis.

Corky's is good too, but it's not just a Memphis thing. There is (at least) one in Nashville (Brentwood Area) and there is one in Jackson, TN (which is on I-40 between the two... so if you're looking to hit up somewhere on the road, it'd be a good place to stop).

In Nashville, the Loveless Cafe (at the end of the Natchez Trace) actually has very good BBQ. It's about a half mile from my parent's house, so we go there a good bit.

If you are north of Nashville, Centerpoint BBQ is AMAZING. It's on Gallitan Rd. at the edge of Goodlettsville & Hendersonvile.

Another good place in Nashville is a little take-out place called Whitt's BBQ. There are quite a few of them around town. A little different, as they have a thin, vinager based sauce.

And if you are south of Nashville, you can try Corky's (as mentioned) in Brentwood and there used to be a place in Franklin called Herbert's BBQ. It was great, but I haven't been there in a few years and I'm not sure if it's still there are not.

Sorry for the long list... believe me, I definitely DID cut the list down. I guess that's what I get for growing up in Nashville, going to college in Jackson, and now living right outside of Memphis. Hope it helps!

You have no idea how hard I was trying to think of the name of the Loveless Cafe last night! I heard about it through AOII Silver. Silver, we miss you!!!

I don't like Rendezvous, and I don't knonw many people from Memphis that do either.

Corkys, A&R, Cozy Corner. Corky's Memphis is by far the best of their locations.

Moonlite is the very famous bbq place in KY, but all you'll have to do is say 'bbq' once you get there, and that's where the cabby will take you.....i have no opinion on whether it lives up to its reputation, but its the one everyone claims to be the best....

This might be a little late for your trip, but Moonlite is absolutely the best BBQ. They are in Owensboro... :) My family would always go there when we went to visit my great-grandparents. And now you can order it online. :)

Corky's on Poplar in Memphis is the original...everything they have is good! I like Rendezvous, and so do most of my Memphis friends, but they don't necessarily want to go downtown everytime they want Q. Gridley's, if it's still there, is another good one, and Interstate had great pulled pork. Memphis is full of great BBQ places!

The Verdict
 

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! Unfortunately I didn't get to read most of them until just now, but maybe they'll come in handy for the next time I visit. We ended up asking some locals (and bf's family in Owensboro) for suggestions and that worked pretty well. In Nashville we went to Jack's, which I thought was great; in Memphis we went to Rendezvous, which was good; and in Owensboro we went to, you guessed it, Moonlite. Must say I wasn't a big fan of the Moonlite. But that probably has to do with the restaurant's set up...its main draw is its buffet, which is what pretty much the whole dinner crowd does. I'm just not a fan of buffets, so maybe if I had gotten a sandwich off the menu I would've been happier. I just didn't see what the big deal was. They did have great mashed potatoes and peanut butter pie, though!

After this little bbq tour, I can now confirm that the place in my hometown that my family always goes to - which is owned by a family from Alabama - has great (wet) bbq.