Our first BBQ seminar was held on Friday 9 October 2009 at Payne's on Lamar. I thought it was a very nice beginning to what will hopefully become a longstanding Rhodes tradition.
The ribs at Payne's are served with a barbecue sauce that recalls the sweet and sour sauce that can be found at some Chinese restaurants. The ribs were tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. I thought they were delicious! Dry rub was not an option. The pork sandwiches were also good, though perhaps not to the same level as the ribs. The hot version of the barbecue sauce was not particularly hot. The beans were very good, with lots of pork in them. The cole slaw was acceptable, though a bit heavy on mustard for my tastes.
There were few vegetarian options (I know, I know, it's a barbecue restaurant), though our hosts kindly prepared a cole slaw sandwich for the two vegetarians in attendance. While the vegetarian sandwiches were not particularly tasty, our hosts' consideration was appreciated. Overall, the service was hospitable and friendly, though not excessively attentive.
Hot dogs and chips were the only non-barbecue options available for the barbecue-averse children in attendance.
The atmosphere at Payne's is spare, with uncovered dusty lightbulbs and plastic plants. The stove and refrigerator are akin to those you might find in a home. This gave the place a pleasant sense of informality and hominess.
We cashed out at $10 per person, which earns Payne's a rating of highly affordable in my book. Payne's is a cash-only business.
In attendance were Jonathan Fitz Gerald and his family, Michelle Voss Roberts and her husband Brian, Jeff Hamrick, Kendra Hotz, Ellie Bagley, Art Carden and his son, Tracy Lemos, Willie Hiatt, and yours truly (Eric Gottlieb) with family.
I enjoyed our visit to Payne's and will definitely return.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Oh no, my impression was completely different! While the experience of hanging out with people I know and getting to know people I just met was great, I was not a Payne's fan. Here's what I posted on my bbq assessment diary:
ReplyDelete"Payne's on Lamar
I just got back from trying Payne's BBQ with the Rhodes BBQ seminar. My reaction to Payne's is the opposite of my reaction to Cozy Corner--rather than being presented with a rib reflecting years of rib-smoking expertise, the ribs and even the coleslaw here seemed sophomoric, like something your uncle would give you. The texture was nothing special, the sauce was overly vinegary and out of balance (it was essentially vinegar and ketchup), and the coleslaw was basically cabbage mixed with cheap yellow mustard. The "hot" pulled pork sandwich wasn't hot at all and was mediocre at best. Comically, the vegetarian sandwich that someone in our party got consisted of bread and coleslaw with a bit of BBQ sauce on top--basically a mustard and ketchup sandwich. Needless to say, I will not be returning to this joint." **
Not to be a downer, but that was just my honest assessment...
Yikes, that sounded harsh. I think it's kind of comical how people can have such opposite opinions on BBQ. Another example: I seem to be the only person who is not into BBQ Shop. Maybe my tastes are just weird, Eric. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteI hear you on the criticisms, Tracy! Personally, I was in it more for the conversation than the food, and I thought we got a lot of decent food for $10, including tip. I agree with Eric that the ribs and beans were very tasty. The sandwich would have been better without the cole slaw. I normally love cole slaw, but wasn't a fan of theirs. Really wish they would have served beer, too! It was a fun experience, and I look forward to trying out other places on future excursions.
ReplyDeleteAn honest assessment is never a downer! I agree it wasn't the best BBQ I've had in Memphis. I thought the ribs were pretty good, though. The cole slaw was the worst part. The people serving us were very kind and did their best to accommodate the vegetarians among us.
ReplyDelete