What do you get when you team up two local bagel shop owners with a South African barbecue chef? In this case, you get Boneyard Grill, which opened at the beginning of July. Owners Ephraim Dloomy and Michael Sherkin are the team behind Bagel World, while chef-owner David Badler comes from Al’s Grillhouse in South Africa. The three of them teamed up to bring barbecued meals to Thornhill, something they thought the area was missing.

The concept: A casual upscale restaurant with a focus on ribs and other grilled grub. The beef is lean top sirloin; chicken is grain-fed and the wine list features mostly local selections. The interior is decked out in dark leathers and woods. If you’re thinking about firing up the barbie at home, the restaurant also has a butcher shop where you can pick up fresh meat, like the 12-ounce New York steak ($14.95). Takeout is also available.

The hood: Thornhill, near Bathurst and Centre, in the spot that used to house The Butchers.

The eats: With a name like Boneyard Grill, it would be hard to imagine a menu that didn’t centre around burgers, ribs and steak. In fact, even the salads are a carnivore’s delight, served with an unexpected combination of chicken and steak. For starters, the onion brick appetizer ($7.95) is a standout. Unique to Boneyard Grill, the dish features a brick of onions, breaded and fried in a mixture of beer and flour. Another newly-created selection is the Juicy Lucy ($12.95): a behemoth of a burger, weighing in at 10 ounces, stuffed with cheddar and sprinkled with chips. On average, mains go for $20-$25. If you like the Boneyard Grill’s signature barbecue sauce — described by Dloomy as sweet, with some kick — you can buy a bottle for $6.95.

The owner’s favourite: The full rack of ribs with fries and coleslaw ($22.95).

Published on: Jul 28, 2011