SoulFire Barbeque’s chefs fashion succulent entrees and sandwiches around tender cuts of hickory-smoked ribs, pork, and chicken accompanied to the table by classic Southern sides. Each day begins when chefs load the smoker with choice cuts of meat that spent the previous night marinating in dry rubs or special brines to infuse them with flavor and keep them juicy and moist. Pork shoulders, briskets, and ribs can spend up to 16 hours tenderizing in the grill, as the barbecue pros keep a watchful eye on each succulent selection, pulling it out just as the meat starts to pull away from the bone but before it has a total change of heart. Chefs then dress each dish in a choice of barbecue sauces from around the nation, from the peppery, vinegar-laden notes favored in North Carolina to the tomato-heavy flavors beloved in Kansas City.

While they soak up extra sauce with a side of house-made cornbread, diners can revel in the sound of owner Wyeth Lynch’s other passion––soul music. Lending an air of authenticity to the restaurant’s Memphis–inspired vibe, the sultry grooves are left on 24 hours a day at the request of the marinating meats, which take inspiration from the tender croonings of Al Green.