Marlowe's Ribs & Restaurant

“Graceland-area rib landmark with a bottled-sauce legacy”

Marlowe's Ribs has been a fixture of Whitehaven barbecue since 1976, sitting on Elvis Presley Boulevard near Graceland, complete with a pink-limo shuttle that has become part of the show. It is a South Memphis landmark built around one thing above all: a proprietary sweet-and-tangy sauce good enough to bottle and sell nationally. That sauce defines the wet ribs, which cook until they practically melt off the bone under a glossy, tomato-based coat. Beyond the racks, the BBQ shrimp is an unexpected pleasure, the pulled pork stays juicy off the pit, and the sweet potato pie is the closer worth saving room for. Its proximity to Graceland makes it a natural stop on any Memphis pilgrimage, and the ribs earn the detour on their own, no Elvis connection required to justify the plate.