The Rendezvous, founded by Charlie Vergos in 1948, started out as an 80 seat tavern serving ham and cheese sandwiches. When Charlie cleaned out the basement beneath his diner, he discovered a coal chute and started a barbecue legend. The coal chute gave Mr. Charlie a vent for his considerable talent over the grill. He developed a unique seasoning fusing his Greek heritage with spices he enjoyed from New Orleans. The ribs aren't "wet" but they aren't "dry" either; the ribs are tender & juicy and come dripping in the basting juice and sprinkled with Rendezvous seasoning. Mr. Charlie was a collector and hung antiques, memorabilia, and artwork on the walls. This, along with a soulful jukebox, lively waiters, and aromas from the kitchen helped him to create an atmosphere unequalled in the city of Memphis. Today, the restaurant is run by Mr. Charlie's three kids, but the ribs still taste the same as they did in the beginning. If you want to eat like a local, start with a pitcher of beer & cheese/sausage place and soak in the atmosphere.

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