Tops Bar-B-Q — Restaurant in Millington

TLDR; I'd consider the extra few minutes to find another nearby Top's. Food, ok. Service, ok. Atmosphere, ok. Cleanliness, concerning.

Food: I got brisket fries, loaded. I felt they skimped a bit on the brisket. Fries were soft, which when paired with sauces basically makes fry shaped mashed potatoes. I couldn't really pick the fries up without them falling apart. Typically, you'd want them on the crunchy side so it can stay together with sauce. The mac was likely some sort of boxed macaroni. It didn't have much flavor either. Take a look at the hot sauce. i don't know what is in that hot sauce bottle, but it isn't Louisiana hot sauce. I added a picture for comparison. Food was placed on some paper, which ended up falling apart and sticking to my fries. To avoid eating paper, I sacrificed some of my fries...

Service: The service wasn't bad, but it wasn't good. Nothing really notable with their service.

Atmosphere: Immediately I see their ceiling vents and the massive amount of mold/dirt in and around them. Pretty much all of them looked like this. I can only imagine how much of this stuff is falling/blowing into the food. My table had food crumbs on it, but perhaps it just got over looked.

I personally won't be returning to...

To the person complaining about slaw on the sandwich, are you even southern? It's absolutely 100% normal for BBQ restaurants to put slaw on the sandwich and it's good like that. Weirdddd Okay so my review is that I was the only person in line, and I made a very simple order. A combo with a sandwich, fries, and drink. I'm asked to pull forward, which is weird because no one ever pulls up behind me? Anyway the lady brings my food, and is like so you ordered the combo with the coke? I said yes, she said okay and went back in. NEVER came back out with my drink, and never said thank you. Why don't fast food workers EVER say thank you anymore? I was no longer at the window, so I was just awkwardly sitting there for several minutes waiting on my drink which never came. I know some people would probably go back for it, but you never know what people will do to your food when you complain these days. Anyway, no salt on fries. Sandwich carelessly made upside down. Something off about the slaw. Maybe they used miracle whip or put onions in it or something. Whole experience was pretty subpar to mid. My family owned a hole in the wall BBQ restaurant most of my life growing up and I know good BBQ....

I don't know if it was just this Tops, or if was all of them but for a few months, it seemed they changed their recipes. From their slaw to the beans, and even the pulled pork tasted different for a time. I was really disappointed and stopped eating at Tops. That was a hard choice I had to make after eating Tops for many decades.

However, whatever the case may be, my most recent visit proved that Tops is back on top! #1 BBQ in Memphis and surrounding area. I didn't try the slaw last visit but the BBQ and beans are now back on the original recipe that I expect from Tops. TBH, the new slaw recipe was terrible, and I mean deal-breaker bad. I hope you also have switched back to the original recipe for the slaw, as you seemed to have done with the beans.

You know the old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Thanks for going back to the old recipes.

My only complaint is they seem to be skimping on the bbq sauce at this location. Even with going back to the old recipes, my last few Jumbo combos were too dry and not enough bbq sauce. Seems like a minor training issue. I'm going with 5 stars in the hopes that my next visit earned...