Food & DrinkArts and EntertainmentAmerican CuisineMemphis, Tennessee

Meet The Inventor Of Memphis-Style Dry-Rubbed Ribs

Meet The Inventor Of Memphis-Style Dry-Rubbed Ribs
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The claim to fame at Charlie Vergos Rendezvous in Memphis is an impressive one: founder Charlie Vergos is the man singlehandedly responsible for inventing the Memphis-style dry-rubbed rib, now one of the state’s most iconic foods.

The place started as a basement sandwich shop below a restaurant called Wimpy’s, and thankfully, both the stellar ribs and the chill, speakeasy vibes have stayed the exact same from the ’50s.

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Follow your nose to the alley across from the Peabody Hotel (you literally can smell the smoke!) and down the stairs, and you’ll find a raucous crowd of longtime locals mixed with young people looking to have a classic Memphis experience. And you’ll no doubt get it — though the restaurant is now run by Vergos’ three children, the dry rubbed-ribs are as rich, complex and juicy as you want them to be.

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Arts and EntertainmentAmerican CuisineMemphis, TennesseeMemphis Group
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