Marlowes BBQ Restaurant

Dinner at Marlowe’s BBQ was an enjoyable experience, and the locals at the bar kept me company.
The restaurant has a rich history and despite being a little touristy, they serve solid food. To my disappointment, they didn’t have draft beer, but I must say the bottled beer I was served was as cold as it could possibly be without being frozen!
I ordered the half rack of ribs with Cole Slaw and Mac & Cheese. The ribs were made with a Memphis-​style dry rub and were tender and smokey. I would have liked a spicy BBQ sauce on the side because I like my BBQ a little more wet and with more heat, but they didn’t have any sauce sitting out. I’m a big eater, yet I still couldn’t finish the half rack and sides. As for the sides they were above average and made for a satisfying meal.
The service was adequate and the atmosphere was lively. I decided to rate Marlowe’s with just 3 stars mainly because the style of BBQ is not my preference. If you like dry rub BBQ though, I recommend you give Marlowe’s a try.

The staff were super friendly especially in the little gift shop. I loved all the pink lights and decorations. I ordered the southern style chicken tenders with fries. The meal was average although the fries were limp and a little greasy. The sauce it came with was great. The grape Koolaid 3 olive vodka drink was disgusting (way too sweet) The lasagna was also just average and my friends burger came with pulled pork on top which she said had NO flavor.

Great place for lunch or dinner if you are visiting Graceland. Their pulled pork BBQ is terrific and the sides are quite good as well. Large portions at a reasonable price. The service is always good. I would not recommend the brisket. I’ve tried it twice and both times it was far too tough and not flavorful, so avoid it. Get the ribs, pulled pork or hamburgers and stock up on sides. Mac-​n-​cheese is great; slaw, mushrooms also great. My kids really love the pork spaghetti.
The atmosphere is eclectic BBQ joint. Not an elegant, white tablecloth place, but more friendly and comfortable. You will see a lot of tourists but also some locals there as well.

I’ll be honest, I don’t give a hoot about Elvis. I do give a hoot about eating at a place with good vibes, and top notch quality wet BBQ Ribs. This place covers my needs and makes the Elvis fans happy too.
I had a ridiculously huge rack of ribs. They were out of this world perfect. I’ve only had better ribs one other time in my life. The sides are pretty decent too but all I remember were the ribs. The interior is dimly lit with lots of xmas tree lighting to give the place a fun vibe. It kind of reminds of Barney’s in West Hollywood but not as noisy. The social atmosphere is perfect. There’s people, but there’s space for you to carry a decent conversation.
The staff are fast, reliable and helpful. There’s no messin’ around here. In my 4 day stay in Memphis (first time visitor), this was my favorite place out of the 10 awesome tasting establishments I visited while here.

I’m not a fan of smells like I’m dying in smoke and been there forever
And this is the place, it gets four stars for just the ribs and the free limo ride home, everything else was soso but hey, it’s about the bbq.

First of all they will come pick you up in a pink Cadillac. You just tip the driver. Food is excellent and you’re served a lot. Stop here every time we’re in Memphis. Must try the appetizer platter.

This place is not open at 11 as Unilocal told me. Big sign right on the awning, open at 4p.
Found out about this place from Guy Fieri and well gotta try it. You’ll see their pink limos that’ll pick you up to come here and the big of statue out front of a pig! They got a shop as well, selling their rub in a paper bag!
So to the food, if you want smokey ribs, this place you can taste the smoke! What else is great? The pulled pork is deliciously moist and is a definite must eat. The fried pickles are in spears and are delicious!
The décor could use a bit of an update. I wish their rub also came in a jar, but I guess if their thing is smokiness, can’t really sell that.
To drink, get the sweet tea.

Worth it for the pink limo service from the hotel. Food was surprisingly good. Nice staff.

Ribs were awesome
Beans were the best. Only complaint was our waitress she was slow and forgetful.
This place is full of Elvis stuff

This place did not exactly look promising. I am happy to say that I was wrong! The parking lot smelled like BBQ heaven. The décor was all Elvis, I mean he did eat there.
Pulled pork, ribs, brisket and the green beans were all superb! I am writing his review hours later and am still full of all that saucy goodness.
They have a little shop with Elvis merchandise, which is much cheaper than at Graceland, and the guy behind the counter was exceptionally nice. Truly, best BBQ I have ever eaten.

We wanted to try some Memphis BBQ and this joint does it up right.
Ribs and chicken were unlike anything we had ever had… very smokey. You could tell this wasn’t microwaved food.
Can’t say I loved the taste, but I liked it and realize that my palette isn’t as sophisticated as it could be.
Worth a try for sure.
Servers were nice, but a bit slow because of a large crowd.

Great BBQ. We ordered the 2-​meat combo with the brisket and chicken. It was big enough for two, and we had leftovers the brisket was flavorful and juicy with a good mix of both lean and fatty brisket. The chicken was delicious cooked with the sauce and it is very moist. Sides we had baked mac & cheese, the corn fritters, and delicious dinner rolls. Great Southern Sweet tea on our server Fred was very helpful

Loved this place. It’s some serious BBQ. I wish I had sampled more of the sides, but I went with what I know and love. Ordered the combo appetizer platter — fried green tomatoes, friend pickles, chicken tenders, and corn fritters. I had the half rack of pork ribs with fried okra, coleslaw and baked bean and my friend had the pulled pork with coleslaw and baked beans. It was a fried food frenzy — don’t judge. The fried green tomatoes were just like my grandma used to make and I was in heaven — I may have gone back the next night for more. The fried dill pickles I could have lived without, but that’s just me, I’m not a fan of kosher dill pickles, but my friend loved them. The chicken tenders were HUGE, and very tasty and the corn fritters were pretty tasty too.
The ribs were amazeballs, y’all. They were meaty, and tender, and smoky and finger lickin’ good. The fried okra was good, but I would have liked it if the breading had been a little crispier, but I ate all of it, so obviously I wasn’t that bothered by it. The coleslaw and beans were pretty standard fare. I only had a small bite of my friend’s pulled pork, but I’m going to say it was pretty darn good because he had very little to say once his plate arrived.
This isn’t a fancy place, in fact it’s pretty kitschy and it’s been around a while with few or no updates to the interior. It’s a casual restaurant that has some bomb food. So if you ever find yourself walkin’ in Memphis, make sure you stop in at Marlowe’s — you won’t be disappointed.

I found this gem from Diners, Drive ins, and Dives. Was there by myself during the week and they were still pleased to seat me at a table. The waiter was very attentive and friendly with everyone. Seemed he knew all the locals by name.
The brisket was phenomenal. So tender with a great pink smoke ring. Sauce was flavorful but not needed. The meat stood on its own. Sides of bread, okra, and cole slaw made for so much food I couldn’t finish it all.
The atmosphere was a little touristy but it is right next door to Graceland so what can you expect? At least they had evidence of an Elvis sighting!
The food is definitely worth the price!

FRED IS AWESOME!!! LOL… I had to start my review off by boosting about the incredible service we received from our waiter Fred. There is even a sign that says, «WELCOME TO MARLOWES YOU GET FED WITH FRED.» The atmosphere is so great. You can even view memorabilia of many things that represent Memphis. The tables are wrapped with different articles on Memphis sports history. There is even a gift shop located inside!!!
I ordered the half chicken with cole slaw and beans, and my hunny had the chicken tender meal. Everything was to die for!!! The chicken was smoked to perfection!!! My husband thinks their slaw tastes like KFC’s cole slaw, which that is a good comparison. For dessert, we shared the banana foster dessert (hot krispy kreme donut underneath hot drizzled peanut butter, two scoops of ice cream, and whip cream). They should invest in mobile chairs, so that people don’t have to walk to their cars.

If TENDER SUCCULENT PORK BBQ is your thang, then Marlowe’s is for you :) but be warned — PORTIONS ARE HUGE!!! Sides are meh, so feel free to forgo them and just concentrate on the meat, which is AWESOME!
Blasterz has the pork ribs which were cut thick and slow smoked to succulent perfection. Noticing all the trophies for Best Whole Pig and Best Pork Shoulder IN THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS we ordered the shoulder, which was juicy, flavourful, and needed no sauce at all.
The plates came with rolls that were too dense and oily for our taste — what we really wanted were slices of soft white sandwich bread. Now THAT would have been perfection.
Bonus for Elvis fans: the King actually used to come eat here. His home is just a mile away. Marlowe’s has a ton of genuine Elvis memorabilia to look at, an Elvis gift shop (which also sells their rib rub) and Elvis music on eternal loop.
Need a ride? Call for their famous pink stretch limo :)
Marlowe’s was a kitschy fun place, but the best thing about it was the exceptional pork BBQ. They deserve every award they have won.

EXCELLENT ribs! Dry rub, of course, and no liquid sauce on the table. I am sure they have some (somewhere) if you need that, but these ribs needed nothing at all. Really some of the best I have had. I see posts on here about being in a sketchy area of town, and not a very diverse crowd. We experienced just the opposite. I felt the area was fine, and never felt as though I was in danger. The cliental was extremely diverse, and everyone was at ease and enjoying themselves.
We saw this restaurant was rated on Diners, Drive-​Ins, and Dives, and that it was one of Guy’s favorite places. Sometimes when a TV show comes in, the owners change the way they do business and try to match what they think the public wants. Per the owner/​family of the restaurant, they do not plan on changing the way they do business. Their model works for them, and they are very pleased with the comments and feedback they get from their customers. They are still true to themselves, and continually serve amazing food, and great sides. Also, the kitchen was SPOTLESS when I peeked in the other day.

I don’t see what all the hubbub is about. Memphis style ribs just aren’t all that great. I will say the corn fritters here are the bomb!
But, the ribs were average, the green beans had to salt and peppered beyond health and though not bad, the ketchupy BBQ sauce wasn’t all that great.
It’s more a kitch spot for tourists in my eyes.
Now, the staff was fine and the folks stacked up around the bar made me feel like I was in a modern cheers taping. It’s a regulars joint and that makes it cozy.
I wouldn’t go out of my way but I’d swing in if I was hungry with a friend that had never been.

Many I speak with about this place doubt it because of its location, whether it’s the neighborhood or that it’s close to graceland. Don’t let either deter you. Its not a tourist trap like rendezvous and the food is amazing! You must order the brisket, fried pickles, and the catfish. I love this place because the sides are great along with amazing bbq. Some places around town have ignored perfecting their sides, like mac n cheese, green beans, fried corn, and potato. The bbq baked potato is huge and tasty. This is one of the most fun places to eat that just happens to have some of the best bbq East of the Mississippi. They’ll even pick you up for free in the pink limo! The gift shop is cool and affordable for great Elvis and Marlowe trinkets.

I’ve driven past Marlowe’s countless times wondering what lied within but never stopping to see. At the urging of some friends I stopped by recently for drinks and a salad.
Loved the interior décor [heavily Elvis influenced of course] and our server was great, however I got the wrong dish. I really wasn’t that hungry but I ordered something because everyone was eating. I requested a smoked turkey salad which is not a menu item but they consented to replace the chicken in the chicken salad with smoked turkey. The salad itself was huge [dare I say gargantuan] but the turkey tasted like regular turkey meat with maybe two or three bits of actual smoked turkey thrown in [or perhaps the ‘smoke’ didn’t make it all the way through the entire turkey]. It wasn’t bad, but wasn’t what I was expecting. The next time I visit, I’ll definitely try the ribs or the shoulder.
All in all loved the atmosphere and I recommend a visit especially if you are in the Graceland area. See if you can get the pink Cadillac limo to pick you up or take you for a spin :)