Rendezvous Charles Vergos   

52 S 2nd St
Memphis, TN 38103
901-523-2746

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Don't be surprised when the rack of ribs that you just ordered arrives without sauce. Don't ask for any, either. The Rendezvous, which has been one of the city's least-kept secrets since its opening in a downtown alley in 1948, built a reputation by doing what everyone else in Memphis does well - pork barbecue - in its own unique way. Some BBQ aficionados swear by ''wet'' (that's with sauce) ribs, others claim that the sauce merely masks the flavor of the meat. Most locals like their BBQ served both ways, and when they're in the mood for dry ribs, only the Rendezvous will do. Not much in the restaurant has changed in the last 50 years. Young men in starched white shirts provide impeccable service, and the decor has remained ''cluttered'' '50s-era Memphis, with political and entertainment relics added throughout the years. - Andria Lisle