Shawn's Craft Barbecue

Shawn's BBQ opened in Culpeper thanks to the foundation that had been built with early supporters. The Warrenton location followed in 2015 and Fredericksburg in 2019. In the end, the secret to great barbecue isn’t much of a secret, Shawn said. Get the food right, and the customers will come. Except, as he learned from his mom’s catering business, serving food is also about serving a piece of yourself to others. Shawn’s Smokehouse BBQ is a family affair. Wife Magdalena—or “the real Shawn” because of all she does in the kitchen—and his five children all contribute their own flourishes to his barbecue story. Shawn’s name might be on the restaurant, but his entire family is invested in what it means to be the local spot for great barbecue.