A Summer Night-In
As a barbecue-loving man, I couldn’t have found a better place to live.
Memphis, internationally known for its barbecue, has just as many BBQ restaurants as there are opinions about which of those restaurants are the best. When I’m looking for good BBQ in Memphis, I don’t care about the restaurant’s logo, its website, or its Yelp reviews. I’m looking for an old smoker that’s seen as many years as it’s operator–a simple no-nonsense menu that shoots you straight like the cashier, and (perhaps most important) an all-meat “sampler” option on the menu that will give you the meat-sweats.
Well, the BBQ-gods have smiled on me. Cozy Corner brings you all of the above and more. Though nationally representative of Memphis BBQ, Cozy Corner is (somehow) mostly unknown to the Memphians I’ve talked to personally. This is a tragedy of tragedies as it is literally listed in the popular book 1,000 Places to See Before You Die! While trendy restaurants will try to recreate this original Memphis taste, they often fail miserably. If you want the real thing, you’ve got to go to the place that has been around since the 70’s, survived a fire, and has recently been inducted into the BBQ Hall of Fame. Listen to this interview with co-founder Desiree Robinson for some quick history.
On their website they boast that, “We’ve welcomed thousands of people from around the world for decades to enjoy our food and our authentic Memphis experience!” In my opinion, their sausage and chicken serve as excellent side dishes to their ribs. Trust me, you will never want to eat a vegetable again after this. Ron Swanson would be proud.
During the pandemic, in addition to their great food, they have been doing an excellent job at taking all necessary precautions. Their website says, “Cozy Corner is here to help provide good, delicious meals during this challenging time, and the health, safety and overall well-being of our family, and yours, is always our top priority. We have adjusted our hours of operation and are offering food on a stop-and-grab basis only.” They respect adequate distancing, wearing of masks, and are only allowing to-go orders. The venn diagram of safe and savory lands Cozy Corner right at the center.
To cap off the summer with a great night-in, I’d strongly suggest washing your BBQ down with one of the many great drinks offered by Wiseacre. Then, with a full belly of Cozy Corner, cozy up on the couch with your family and enjoy some of the gourmet popcorn from Poparoos. Their “popping kitchen” is located directly across the street from Cozy Corner on North Parkway. They have several Memphis-inspired flavors and (what seems like countless) other options available.
You couldn’t have a better night-in than this in Memphis during our unique time in history. Enjoy!
Pop-A-Roos Gourmet Popcorn is the perfect way to round out a movie night on your Memphis Summer Night-In.
Photos via Cozy Corner & Pop-A-Roos
