Dewey "Big Dad" Brown lived by a simple credo: "Do what you love, and do it better than anyone else." One of the things he loved most was perfecting his barbecue-sauce recipe with his grandson Shane Thompson. Many years later, inspired by Big Dad's motto and infallible recipe—a blend of the South's sweet tomato, tangy vinegar, and mustardy styles—Shane left his corporate job to pursue what he loved. That's how Shane's Rib Shack came to be in 2002, in a literal shack off Highway 155 in McDonough, Georgia.

Now, there are dozens of Shane's locations across the country. Their no-hassle, family-friendly settings attract diners in search of tender ribs, smoked chicken, and loaded baked potatoes. Another star creation is the Big Dad sandwich, in which thick, buttery slices of Texas toast enclose slow-cooked pulled pork smothered in the original sauce or honey, spicy, or Carolina-mustard barbecue sauce. Of course, no BBQ meal would be complete without sides, so Shane's Rib Shack offers Southern favorites such as mac and cheese, baked beans, cole slaw, fried okra, and Brunswick stew.