Frank Vernon
“Every city has its strange dish that locals love and outsiders don't understand. In Memphis, that's BBQ spaghetti. Once you eat ours, you'll understand why we're proud of it.”
Frank Vernon has been the driving force behind The Bar-B-Q Shop on Madison Avenue for three decades, turning a small Midtown BBQ joint into one of the most respected names in Memphis BBQ. Vernon is best known for perfecting BBQ spaghetti — a dish he elevated from a simple pulled pork pasta to a refined, deeply smoky masterpiece. His Dancing Pigs sauce has become a Memphis icon.
Philosophy
BBQ spaghetti is not a gimmick — it's Memphis history on a plate. We take it as seriously as our ribs because this dish is part of who we are.
Technique
Slow-smoked pulled pork folded into a scratch-made tomato-BBQ sauce that simmers for hours. The spaghetti is cooked al dente and tossed with the pork-sauce mixture until every strand is coated.
Recognition
- Memphis Magazine — Best BBQ Spaghetti (multiple years)
- Food Network — Featured Restaurant