Tom’s Barbecue has spent decades turning an old neighborhood grocery-store site into a beloved Memphis stop, pairing patient barbecue traditions with a deeply personal welcome.
Founded as Tom’s Barbecue and Deli in 1982, the Getwell Road restaurant carries forward a local story that began when the original building operated as Taylor’s Grocery in 1950.
The result is a memorable, meat-forward destination where hickory wood, charcoal, generous plates, and friendly conversation give visitors plenty of reasons to return.
How Toms Barbeque won locals’ hearts
Tom’s won affection by making its food with a sense of history rather than treating barbecue as a quick transaction.
The property began as a family-built grocery store and gas station, so the address already held neighborhood memories long before barbecue filled the air.
Tom Stergios purchased the property in 1982 and transformed it into Tom’s Barbecue and Deli, beginning a new chapter for the longtime corner.
His Memphis barbecue training met influences from his Greek background, creating the Mediterranean flavor the restaurant says remains part of its identity.
Adam bought Tom’s in 1995 and helped grow it into both a local favorite and a destination for travelers seeking Memphis barbecue.
With 30 years of experience cooking and serving at this corner, Adam has given the restaurant a durable sense of continuity.
The kitchen’s approach is deliberately patient, with meats smoked for hours before being finished over hickory wood and charcoal.
That two-stage preparation gives the menu a compelling range, from pork shoulder and rib tips to brisket, beef ribs, chicken, turkey, and catfish.
Locals have also found a place that extends beyond a quick lunch, thanks to pickup, delivery, catering, call-in orders, and seating for larger in-store gatherings.
The restaurant’s cheerful “Where Friends Meat” motto fits its promise that guests are treated like family.
Its big-screen recognition helped spread the word far beyond Memphis, including appearances connected to Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, The Best Thing I Ever Ate, and Triple D Nation.
Tom’s also earned third place at Guy Fieri’s live showcase during the 2024 South Beach Food and Wine Festival, a notable moment for a restaurant rooted in one Memphis corner.
Still, the lasting draw comes back to the fundamentals: carefully prepared barbecue, substantial portions, and the kind of familiar service that turns first visits into regular habits.
Food Highlights
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Pork Rib Tips: Short, meaty pieces cut from spare ribs and served as a filling plate with two sides and a drink, making them a direct route to Tom’s barbecue specialty. 🍖
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Baby Back Ribs: Succulent, meaty ribs served with two sides and a drink, especially appealing for diners who want a classic rib dinner. 🔥
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Beef Ribs: Very large, meaty ribs that showcase the restaurant’s beef offerings and hearty barbecue style. 🥩
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Beef Brisket: Tom’s smoked-and-grilled beef option, prepared for guests looking to branch out from pork while keeping the barbecue focus. 🌫️
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Pork Shoulder Sandwich: A high-piled deli-style sandwich that connects Tom’s barbecue menu with the building’s earlier grocery-and-deli heritage. 🥪
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Smoked Turkey Leg: A smoked poultry choice served in a plate format of two sides and a drink for a substantial alternative to ribs. 🍗
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Volcano Fries with Pork: A meal-sized fry creation loaded with pork, cheese, jalapeños, hot sauce, barbecue sauce, and ranch for diners chasing a more playful, fully loaded order. 🍟
Atmosphere
Tom’s has the relaxed, lived-in feel of a long-running neighborhood restaurant with a genuine welcome at its center.
The original grocery-store history, the “Where Friends Meat” motto, and the restaurant’s family-minded message create a setting built around conversation as much as barbecue.
It feels designed for locals, road-trippers, group meals, and anyone who appreciates a friendly stop with serious smoke in the air.
Bottom Line
Visit Tom’s for its long Memphis history, hickory-and-charcoal barbecue method, broad selection of pork, beef, poultry, fish, and loaded specialties, plus a friendly, family-minded atmosphere.
Its Getwell Road location also makes it an easy stop for a substantial Memphis meal.
Address: 4087 Getwell Rd, Memphis, TN 38118
📞 (901) 365-6690
🕔 Open Mon–Sat, 10:30 AM–6:3oPM | Sun, Closed