Payne's Sandwich Shop and Soda Fountain — Restaurant in Scottsboro

OK, I loved this place. My wife is from Scottsboro and has told me since we met that Payne's is the place to go for ice cream. Well, she's not wrong. I held out for 16 years. But, since I had to deliver some of my homemade CBD lotion to a store on the square and I was by myself with time on my hands, I figured, "why not?"

I walked in (note: use the front door, not the side) and was immediately greeted by a bubbly blonde teenager (maybe very early 20's, don't kill me, I'm not great at guessing age). It was good bubbly, not this put-on fake bubbly some uses while rolling their eyes about you when they get out of sight. No, this young lady was pure delight. I explained that this was my first time even though I'd been to Scottsboro countless times. I could tell she smiled behind that mask as she welcomed me to their shop. I asked if they had any burgers and she explained that they only made sandwiches and that they still used an old soda fountain. She explained the menu - telling me her favorite and others favorites...

I settled on an Italian Sandwich and a Buttered Pecan milkshake and let me tell you......

That milkshake was the absolute BEST milkshake I have ever had.

The taste: Look, I'm a Blue Bell guy from way back. In my humble opinion, BB can not be beat. I don't know what brand ice cream Payne's uses but it's as good or better. At least in a milkshake. This shake was not just delicious, it was creamy and rich as well. You just can't find that trio anywhere. Shakes are usually one or two of those things, but not all 3. You could tell the fat content was way up (which, trust me, is a very good thing in a milkshake). There were no ice crystals in it which made it extremely smooth with an amazing mouth feel. The pecans made it hard to drink but I knew that would be the case when I ordered it. Ever tried to suck a pecan through a straw? No? Well, it's hard. I ended up taking the lid off and drinking it that way. Speaking of pecans, they weren't super tiny. In fact, they were rather large, delicious pieces.

The Italian Sandwich was really tasty.

The taste: I didn't have extremely high expectations for the sandwich when I ordered it because, well, I don't know - I just figured it'd be a regular sandwich. I was wrong. Some may say "it is" just a sandwich; but, there was something about it that set it apart... All of the ingredients were super fresh. The meats were very flavorful (unlike a lot of deli meats nowadays). The lettuce was fresh and crispy with not a single brown spot. And the bread... It was a sub roll that was so fresh it almost melted. Overall, for me, it was a 10/10!

The ambiance in the shop was really cute. Hand painted walls contained pictures and facts about Scottsboro and the founders of the town and the shop all over them. The employees were ALL so nice, kind and helpful. Again, they're the type of folks that are truly kind to their core.

There were two older ladies eating in the booth next in front of me. While I didn't hear their conversation, I loved listening to them speak to each other. Their sweet giggles and demeanors just made my day. That, and the fact that my 1st Payne's experience was so wonderful, I thought I'd do something nice so I took care of their meal.

Folks, this little shop has been doing this for over 150 years. They were recently featured in either Good Housekeeping or Southern Living, I can't remember which. No wonder they're so good at it. They've had plenty of time to figure it all out - and figure it all out they have.

Thank you, Payne's, for a wonderful lunch. I will definitely be back as often as I can. The milkshakes alone are absolutely crave-worthy and I can't wait to enjoy another one.

To the employees... Thank you for a great experience. Your attitudes along with your servant hearts are refreshing. You can tell you ladies enjoy helping others. Keep up the great work. Owners, please give them a raise. They truly deserve it.

To conclude, if you've gotten this far, take the time to visit Payne's. You owe it to yourself. You will NOT be...

I came here once years ago just for some ice cream, but had a chance recently to come back and actually have a real meal here. It's simple food, but the place is fun, and the sandwiches and treats sure are tasty!

The restaurant feels like a step back in time to a diner or, well, a soda shop. It's on a cute corner of downtown Scottsboro. There are a few tables out front if you'd like to eat outside.

It's a little crowded inside, at least when it's busy, as it was when I visited. There are a couple of booths and tables and then lots of seats at the soda/ice cream bar. Orders can be placed at the register in the back near the kitchen, or at the bar. I hung out at the bar to watch the waitstaff make their amazing ice cream creations. It seems like they do a lot of carryout here, too.

Menu has mostly sandwiches, chicken, shrimp, and egg salads, and hot dogs. Sides are very simple pasta salads, chips, potato salad, etc. If you need variety, you'll certainly find it in the ice cream. Lots of flavors, and lots of ways to eat it: sundaes, splits, shakes, and more.

I ordered a BLT with chips, a sweet tea to drink, and I finished it out with a treat to myself: an "Elvis" sundae! The BLT was yummy, on nicely toasted bread, with fresh lettuce, ample mayonnaise, and mostly-crispy bacon (only one small part of a piece was a little rubbery for me). Small hiccup in the delivery -- it came out in a to-go container when I wanted to stay and eat. So I wound up eating my sandwich out of a plastic box, lol. Not a big deal though. Sweet tea was delicious and refreshing and the waitresses were swift with refills.

They got a little backed up by the time I ordered my sundae, but I enjoyed watching them work on the other shakes, splits, etc. I noticed they were using Mayfield ice cream, which I think is very yummy. Sundaes here are 1.5 scoops of ice cream and two toppings. The "Elvis" is made with vanilla ice cream, banana slices, and peanut butter drizzled throughout.

It felt like a large serving for one person and I wound up not finishing it (though if I'd skipped lunch I certainly could have), so bring a friend or come hungry for a treat. It was a delicious sundae, though, with the peanut butter layered perfectly throughout. I wasn't sure I'd like it a ton with the vanilla (I generally prefer chocolate), but it worked fabulously! I do wonder if you could sub another ice cream flavor if you wanted though -- peanut butter + banana + chocolate sounds great to me, too!

I definitely hope to return for another treat...

Food and service were outstanding, and enjoyed the old-fashioned soda shop atmosphere. They had a few vegetarian-friendly options on the menu, and I ordered the southern pimento cheese. The waitress admitted it wasn't homemade but assured me that many customers still rave about it, and I wasn't disappointed in the least! The sandwich was substantial, delicious and filling, with fresh green leafy lettuce and ripe tomato, which I could hardly believe since it only cost $4. I finished with a generously scooped ice cream cone and spent a grand total of $5.50. My ominverous boyfriend had the Broad St. Dagwood, a multi-layered sandwich that he enjoyed just as much. Both waitresses were the epitome of southern hospitality. As we were leaving, 10 mins after closing time, a lady stepped in the door to ask if they could still order food, and I was shocked to hear the response, "It's ok, I think the grills are still hot, let me go check!" Indeed they were, and the ladies were invited to sit down at a booth and order. The waitresses seemed GENUINELY HAPPY to oblige! We also happened to overhear that they'd been slammed all day from an event that was held downtown, so I don't know how they managed to keep their mojo, but they certainly...