Memphis Smoke House

Reviews

• Samantha S.

  star star star star_border star_border 29 October 2026

  We kicked off Memorial Day Weekend at Memphis Smoke House.  The slight drive out of town added to the restaurant's charm, which was already created by a small dining space decorated with a bunch of neat vintage soda pop signs.  
  
  The staff was really friendly, which also contributed to that welcoming where-everybody-knows-your-name kind of vibe.
  
  As far as the food goes, the pulled pork and baked beans were very tasty.  I would absolutely order them again.  The mac n' cheese was pretty good, though the top of the serving was a bit hard, like it was dried out.  I mostly picked that bit off to get to the good stuff underneath.  The cornbread was also very good, though it was Northern-style cornbread (sweet, and cake-like in texture--like a corn muffin--as opposed to the grainier, savory Southern-style cornbread).  I like both Northern and Southern cornbread, so this definitely wasn't a problem for me.  I will say that the ribs were a little dry (and not just because they were dry-rubbed and not drenched in sauce--they just didn't quite have that fall-off-the-bone tenderness).
  
  Also, they do not have fountain drinks (which means no refills), though they do have quite a selection of bottled sodas.
  
  All in all, we had a good dinner and would definitely return.  The food was a great value, as we got two big plates of barbecue and a couple of sodas for only $29.  Even though there are a couple of areas that have some room for improvement, our overall experience was without question a positive one.

• Otis M.

  star star star star star_border 24 October 2026

  I have been trying to decide how to review the BBQ here when I realized I was missing the point. Which is, this is a good old fashioned family-style roadhouse that also happens to have some excellent smoke cooked meats.
  
  Today my kid and I could have been in two different restaurants. He had a hot dog, fries and big vanilla shake. For me, a combo plate with ribs, pulled pork and two sides with cornbread. Everything had its own flavor identity and there wasn't a clinker in the bunch. I've decided I don't care for Mr. Ed's unusual mustardy slaw but that's a personal opinion; it's good that everything is made on the premises instead of spooned out of a tub.
  
  About the BBQ, it's pretty close to the best I've had in the cap district and definitely better than PJ's, the similarly themed spot down the road. The meats I love in Texas would be returned as burnt or too salty by local denizens; while wisely sticking to the middle of the road for his clientele Mr. Ed manages good smoke flavor and excellent tenderness and he has a nice cumin-y sauce and will bring hot sauce on request.
  
  I've always stopped in when on the way to or from somewhere so have missed the various special events, but watch for them. Mr. Ed is a bit of an impresario and also a packrat, as evidenced by the old metal soda fountain signs all over the place. Every now and then he has a yard sale where he brings out some truly strange stuff.
  
  Prices are fair. Bring the family here and you will all be well-fed and happy including your wallet.

• George N.

  star star_border star_border star_border star_border 20 October 2026

  A Groupon offer enticed my family to give this place a try. First impression upon arrival, "Roadside Stand" not a restaurant. However we came here for the food so, disregard appearance the food could be great. Menu, looks promising. Order food, Ribs, Chicken, Brisket, Slaw, and potatoes oh wait no baked potatoes tonight. So let's have the mashed potatoes, oops no mashed potatoes, we settled for Saratoga chips.
  
  Food arrives in 15 minutes, no bad but we didn't see any real evidence of cooking going on, no smell of food no signs of a chef, odd. When the food arrives we all try the slaw, dry slaw, little dressing and less flavor. Disappointing but we move on. Baked beans, good flavor. Saratoga chips, ok. On to the "cue" Ribs smoked with dark rub but the barbecue sauce was just poured in a glob in the center of the ribs. The sauce was not cooked on the ribs. To me if you are going to put the sauce on the ribs you baste it on during the last stages of cooking. You dont plop it on like a condiment afterwords. The barbecue sauce was odd, definitely some flavor but it had a quality that was more like chili sauce than barbecue. Doneness, very good fall of the bone done. Rating on a 1-10 , I give it a 4. We make better ribs at home with TJs commercial sauce. Brisket, I was expecting freshly hand sliced, barked edged, hot and juicy brisket, What I got, slices of brisket that were clearly sliced on a meat slicer about the thickness of sliced cheese. The brisket was presented in a pile that was all folded up on itself. The signature pile of sauce was poured in the middle of the pile. Flavor, DRY, and it had that re-heated taste that steak gets after being reheated, you know the flavor when you taste it, not good. This presentation was clearly reminiscent of steak-ums! At about this time the gentleman who took our order stop by and asked how everything was. I asked him if he really wanted an honest answer. The look on his face said no, but he said go ahead. I told him that the beans were good, the ribs ok and the brisket, tasted and looked as if it was re-heated. He stated that due to business levels the food was cooked in the morning and re-heated for dinner. My suspicion is that leftovers from the day before were included in that re-heat process. Just my guess based on the flavor and texture. The gentleman offered to bring me something else, I said sure I would like to give the pulled pork a try. When he delivered the pulled pork it was also presented with a glob of barbecue sauce on top of very dry looking pork. The flavor of the pulled pork was blah but it also had that unmistakeable hint of re-heated meat. Two bites and I was done.
  
  My wifes barbecue chicken was ok but it too was dry on the inside. Nothing to write home about. Overall the over arching theme of our meal was re-heated food with minimal effort put into the presentation. I am glad we had the Groupon to offset the cost but even so, I left feeling very disappointed.
  
  If I was to compare Mr Eds Memphis Barbecue to Dinosaur Barbecue here is how it rates  Dinosaur = 9 and Mr. Eds = 2 and I hate chains! I had very high hopes of finding a gem on the off beaten path but what we found was off tasting food, prepared with no attention to detail.
  
  Save your money give Mr  Eds a pass until things change

• Sabrina O.

  star star_border star_border star_border star_border 11 October 2026

  I wasn't going to write a review after our disappointing experience, but after reading another review that said it was "some of the best BBQ in the capital region", I felt compelled to save people from wasting their time here.
  
  First of all, if you're looking for the best BBQ in the capital region (and possibly the northeast), go to Dinosaur BBQ in Troy. End of story.
  
  As far as this place goes, it's mediocre at best. I get that they don't smoke every day, especially since we were there on a weekday, but if you're going to serve reheated food, it can't be a dried out, small "half rack" of pathetic looking ribs.  The ribs were so small with very little meat on them. Thankfully we had a Groupon, otherwise the $15 for the ribs would have been ridiculous. I had a pulled pork and a beef brisket slider, both luke warm and not that great. Beef was fatty and chewy. Both regular and jalapeno mac and cheese were so bland, they were inedible. They were both cheesy enough, but I don't know what kind of cheese they found that tastes like absolutely nothing. The baked beans were ok...no better or worse than what comes out of a can. I think the cole slaw and corn bread were the only positives of the meal unfortunately.
  
  To add insult to injury, we decided to get ice cream and were yet again disappointed. Their hard ice cream is just Hershey's garbage, so it was expected to not be that great. However, we also ordered a butterfinger "flurry" (I forget what it was actually called) and it tasted like the butterfinger had been in the freezer for about 3 years. The soft serve was also forgettable.
  
  Overall, please don't go here expecting good BBQ. I'm sure their hot dogs are fine, but it should end there.

• gwyn d.

  star star star star_border star_border 6 October 2026

  got the groupon and went today with my parents...it was so glorious all week (80s in march!) and i was inspired by the idea of moist, flavorful bbq whilst sitting in the sun at picnic tables.
  
  i should have readjusted plans and/or expectations when the day was 50s and grey, but i was already in ballston spa, so we forged ahead.
  
  the next bad sign was the smoker sitting dormant when we pulled in.
  
  inside was cute...covered in retro tin signs for soda/ice cream with an old school juke box.
  
  the food was reasonably priced with big portions, but we suspect we were served yesterday's bbq. it was all fairly dry and seemed like it had been reheated. (my mom's food was kind of cold.)
  
  we've all had good bbq in various places down south. this didn't even come close to measuring up to the TX bbq i had in houston (or even lubbock.) it was definitely edible, though, and i wouldn't mind giving it another shot sometime when it is more likely to be fresh and hot.