Paola- The BBQ Shack

The BBQ Shack in Paola, KS.

At first glance inside “The BBQ Shack” in Paola, KS, it’s not hard to tell that owner Rick Schoenberger has a passion for “The Andy Griffith show”. At first smell however, you can tell that all the Mayberry décor is secondary to Rick’s enthusiasm for creating first class barbecue!

The BBQ Shack is the culmination of a dream that Rick, a former electronic industry worker, once had in the mid 1990’s. The dream started as a catering business in 1997 and then grew through several locations until it ended up at its present site just off of U.S. Highway 169 in Paola. Over time, The BBQ Shack has become a staple in the community, and as if achieving local fame was not enough, it can even boast that in 2007 it was featured on Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives” TV show.

Foley's Rib Plate

           

On my latest visit there I had the “Foley’s Rib Plate”. The main attraction of the meal was a set of 3 huge pork ribs, with my second choice of meat on the plate being pork sausage. The customary 2 sides I chose were fries and beans. The meat simply fell off the bones on the ribs, yet they were not overcooked one bit. The sausage, was melt-in-your-mouth good, and got even better when I put a hint of the hot bbq sauce on it. If you’re lucky enough to make it to The BBQ Shack, consider trying the “Atomic Buffalo Turds” (cored jalepeno peppers stuffed with cream cheese and marinated water chestnuts) or the “Kerosene Cucumbers (extremely hot pickles) to go with your main dish! 

- Mike