The Memphis King BBQ — Restaurant in City of Schenectady

Ok, so this is a very overdue review that I had promised the young lady that waited on me that I would do. First off the chocolate chip cookie that you gave me to try was amazing. Soft and gooey in the middle but crisp and buttery around the edges. It was amazing. Now for the food. I got an order of pulled pork, an order of the beef brisket, an order of the mac and cheese, and an order of the maccaroni salad. First thing I would say is to suggestive sell some kind of sauce to go with it. I was expecting at least a house sauce or something and got none. I did see that they sold different kinds of sauces but was a little surprised that none came with the food. I must have missed that. It could be a good upsell to your customers. A simple thing like that does not come with any sauce, would you like to try...."xyz" sauce its my favorite. Secondly, the meats came just wrapped in aluminum foil. As I was driving around this made it very difficult to keep from making a mess in my truck. I did a little search online and 100 aluminum dishes with lids are only $9.99. Making them only about 10 cents a piece. It might be a viable solution compared to just wrapping and serving in aluminum foil. The pulled pork was vey lightly smoked and seemed like it needed more seasoning. It did not have any salty taste and seemed under seasoned to me. The brisket however was amazing. It had great flavor, well seasoned and was sliced perfect for sandwiches. It could have been a little juicier but it had cooled a little by the time I ate it. So that could have been part of the reason. The mac and cheese was very cheesy and creamy. Not baked to death and dried out. As for the macaroni salad it was just average. There were spices that overpowered it and made it taste more like eating a vegetarian type salad. All in all I'd give it an 8 out of 10. Definitely worth a visit and trying all their options. The last thing I have to mention is the by the pound pricing on their meats. Many places charge $16 to $24 per pound on their smoked meats. The prices here are half that. So if you are looking for a good family meal that is easy on the wallet, this is your...

It was Monday, April 18, 2016. I just returned to work after a 2 week stay at home with a newborn. I had a meeting at work to discuss our summer picnic and food options. Someone mentions BBQ. I had heard of the Memphis King and heard it was good. Little did I know it was an understatement.

I went to their location, tucked away in Schenectady on Van Vranken, a location I avoid for the most part. I went in with the intent of being disappointed and to get some catering prices. I ordered the fairly priced lunch special: $6.00 Pulled pork or chicken sandwich, a side of either baked beans or coleslaw, and a drink. While I waited, I chatted with Bob, who runs the place about his business and other area "competitors". When I received my meal I went outside and ate my pulled pork sandwich in delight. The baked beans were full of meat and onions that were cooked and seasoned so well that I wanted more of them too. At the risk of going into food coma, I decided to just leave after my meal and go back to work only to return days later with my co-worker and her husband.

On my return trip I got my food to stay, and sampled every BBQ sauce in the place. The house special is my favorite. I also order the fried chicken thigh and sunk into a deep fried state of heaven. I would return.

I went back with a different co-worker who enjoyed their food as well and others who have ranted and raved about the "ends" only available on Fridays which you should order in advance of Friday to ensure you get some.

They close either at 6 or when they run out of food which apparently the latter happens 5 out of 6 days of the week.

Keep it up Memphis King. You have restored my faith in food in the Capital Region. No longer will I settle for Sausage and Pepper...

Barbecue fans like me enjoy the story behind the meat just about as much as they like the meat itself. I recently visited The Memphis King in Schenectady, NY (Yes, you read that right. Schenectady, NY) and enjoyed a great chat with the owners. I've never met a more passionate, enthusiastic young couple of entrepreneurs. In their 8 years of operations, first from their rented space to their now-owned space (they bought the building), they've grown the reputation and reach of their business.

And what a business it is! I sat at their single indoor picnic table, enjoying my tray of smoked goodness, while customer after customer rushed in to pick up their order-ahead dishes before closing time. Like many good southern barbecue restaurants, when the meat's gone, it's gone. So the locals have learned to order only what's available, and not fuss when their favorite dish is sold out.

For me, the order was smoked brisket (lean of course) and burnt ends (I always order them when they're available). Add to that a side of brisket-infused baked beans and baked mac n cheese. Pictured are just three of their nine sauce choices. Trust me. You'll want to try them all. Everything was delicious.

I could tell from my host's passion during our conversation that this was no ordinary barbecue restaurant. He'd clearly invested years of his life perfecting his craft. Everything on the menu is the result of experimenting with unique flavor profiles, combinations of ingredients, textures, and levels of added smoke. I deeply appreciate such passion.

So do yourself a favor. The next time you're passing through the Capitol Region of New York, stop in to The Memphis King and enjoy some barbecue...