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Dining Guide

Payne’s Bar-B-Q Shak

Photograph by John Davidson

The brisket was smoky, peppery, and a little bit sweet. The outside slice had a pleasant crunch to the crust, while the meat beneath was moist and tender. This was brisket worth seeking out. The ribs were nearly as good. The meat came easily off the bone, the bark held plenty of smokiness, but they could have eased up a bit on the salt.

The first taste was impressive enough that we had to go right back in and get more.

City: Burnet

Cuisine:

Method: Oak and mesquite; indirect-heat pit

Pitmaster: Robert Payne

Price: $$

Rating: ★★★★

Address: 616 Highway 29 W, Burnet, TX, 78611

Hours: Wed-Thur 11-2:30, Fri 11-6, Sat 11-2:30

Phone: (512) 756-8227

Year Opened: 2011

Last updated: April 7, 2014

Reviews

  • Payne’s Bar-B-Q Shak (Top 50)

    By

    Hugging the edge of Texas Highway 29, Payne’s is a true side-of-the-road joint, a turn-on-your-blinker-half-a-mile-ahead, career-off-the-road-in-a-cloud-of-dust kind of place. Once safely inside, you’ll take comfort in the wood-paneled walls, shiny picnic tables, dainty window coverings, and hospitality of Robert and …

  • Payne’s Bar-B-Q Shak

    By

    Robert Payne has worked as a butcher in the past, and more recently for the Butter Krust bread bakery. His wife, Penny, was also in food service at a local school cafeteria. Three years ago, they both decided to retire …

  • Jim Drummond

    Absolutely the best barbecue I have had in Texas anywhere. The chopped beef, slice brisket and ribs are awesome, as is the sausage. The owners and staff are wonderful. Do not miss it!

  • William Burgess

    The best BBQ hands down in Texas. If you pass this place up, shame on you. You will not regret stopping in and having the best BBQ and wonderful friendly atmosphere.

  • Gary M

    No question, as good as bbq can be. Fresh spicy sausage is must have and the slow cooked, perfectly seasoned brisket could not be better. Choc pecan cake or cobbler are irresistible also. New hours, no problem, just keep it up and Thanks!

  • Berdie Sloan

    Great BBQ and the friendly folks are so helpful!! One of our favorite places to eat in the hill country!

  • My name is Matt Briscoe and I picked up your name from Will and Bridget McCoy over at the Texas Pecan Cake Shop and I was wondering if you might have some time to speak with me regarding some gift bags that I am putting together for some Hill Country Tribune events that we are hosting? These bags are for VIP guests such as political leaders from Austin and Wahington and national decision makers as well. These events are being held over the course of the next several months and I would like to see about creating some locally sourced gift bags for our VIP guests. If you would not mind dropping me a call at 512-586-4939 or email me regarding this request, I would appreciate it. Also, please feel free to take a look at our facebook page by searching Hillcountrytrib and thank you for your help.

  • Merna Kerss

    I stopped there a couple weeks ago, my first time in Texas and really my first Texas barbecue, it was like heaven, oh so good, tender, juicy, all sides were wonderful, I wanted to take up residence in Texas for easy access to this incredible tasty delite. I’m a Foody and this was the most fabulous I’ve tasted. I tried to duplicate the experience with a couple other stops, no contest

  • Joe H

    I tell you what, you don’t have to go far for some good TEXAS Bar-b-que. I live right up the highway and make it a point to dine in at least once a month, Robert, that’s some gooooddd eat’n. Glad you retired from your old job, keep making that good ole Texas Bar-b-que sir!! See ya next month!