#47 PAYNE'S BBQ SHAK - Robert Payne is The Hero We All Need

Look, there in the Shak!  It's a bird, it's a plane, it's my hero...Robert Payne! 

Robert and Penny Payne's Bar-B-Que Shak exists for one reason; he wants to make good BBQ.  Before they opened the Shak, Mr. Payne was a butcher and an employee of Butter Krust and his wife was an elementary cafeteria worker.  

I visited the Shak on a weekend brisket bombing run from Burnet to San Antonio to Lockhart. 

The RPPBBQ Shak, an unassuming collection of wood panels and a metal roof, has some of the most amazing food in the Burnet area. The Shak looks more like a kids clubhouse in the woods, made out of discarded sections of fence.  When I was younger, there was always a kid whose parents built them a playhouse.  It always looked like the Taj Mahal, despite the fact it consisted of castaway wood and random curtains made from kitchen towels.  

It looks like a strong wind would blow the walls down faster than you can shake a beef rib.  It's legitimately the definition of junkyard chic.

If not for GPS, we would have blown past the RPPBBQ Shak, given its location right after an intersection.  Luckily I slammed on the brakes and Steve McQueen'd my way into the only open parking spot.  I doffed my handy dandy pandemic mask to check things out.  There were picnic tables outside and, despite the cars parked nearby, it looked like there was plenty of room to social distance.  

We walked through the door of the Shak and were immediately welcomed by the Paynes.  This is a family run business...at least 4 of the five people working at Payne's were related to each other.  Why are they there?  Because Robert Payne wants to have a BBQ joint. I love this man!

That's the interior of the shack, comparable to a small kitchen.  The family of course, gives it a personal touch.  

Mr. Payne was on the right, standing behind a parade of crockpots filled with brisket, ribs, sausage and turkey. When you order from Mr. Payne, you are ordering from one of the most genuine pitmasters you will ever order BBQ from.  He made everything in each pot and he's happy to tell you what he thinks is best.  

I ordered moist brisket, jalapeno sausage, turkey and some sides.  While checking out, I spoke with Mr. Payne's daughter.  I figured that out quickly when I asked if she was Penny Payne...nope that was her mom.  She said the family owned a popular chicken restaurant in town, but after retiring, her father decided to open up a BBQ joint.  The Top 50 accolades from Texas Monthly were welcome but unexpected.  When Texas Monthly's BBQ editor stopped in they didn't know who he was but he loved the food so much he immediately came back in for seconds.  

I also learned that Mr. Payne was just waiting for the new Texas Monthly list to come out before making a decision about the future.  Seriously, what backyard BBQer doesn't want to know where they stand on the most prestigious beef lists in the country?  

Outside the Shak, we unpacked the banquet on the picnic table and dug in.  What a feast!  

Everything was excellent from the proteins to the sides.  I really liked the brisket too, which Mr. Payne smoked in a pit in front of the Shak.  

So let me get this straight:

• 75-year-old Robert Payne retired and opened a BBQ restaurant.
• His goal was to make great BBQ for the citizens of Burnet.  
• It was so good, it landed him on Texas Monthly's list of Top 50 BBQ Joints.  

This is an amazing story!  When he's done cooking, what will happen to the shack?  Who knows!  But this man must be recognized as the ultimate backyard, prize-winning barbecuer. 

Now do you see why he's my hero?  Thank you Mr. Payne for setting a high bar for all of us with dreams of BBQ dancing in our heads.