An Old Restaurant Favorite Is Reborn!

The other night my father came to visit and we decided to go out for dinner. I was trying to think of somewhere the kids might enjoy and possibly somewhere dad hadn't been. That's when the Pickle Barrel Inn in Willis came to mind! It's quite possible that many of you have never heard of the place; The town of Willis is small enough that if you blink quick you'll miss it...

We drove into "town" and discovered a "Now Open By New Owners" sign. "OK" I though, "As long as they still offer the Pickle Barrel's famous pickle chips, that's good enough for me..."

The new restaurant was called Boneheads Bar-B-Que (The owner told me her husband has always called everyone "bone heads" hence it was a fitting name) was the same local favorite inside. Apparently I missed or had forgotten that the Pickle Barrel closed a year or so ago, and Boneheads Bar-B-Que only opened a few weeks earlier. Good thing too.

What's nice about the interior of Boneheads is first and foremost the historic significance of the building and it's antique furnishings. It is also said, that the building has several spectral occupants too... The complete history is available to read during your dining experience, so I wouldn't want to spoil that now, however is short, the building has been around since the late 1800's and has functioned among other things as a stage coach stop, train depot and general store!

You can eat inside, they do have a bar and they have a beautiful enclosed porch (which wasn't opened yet for the season!). The food was just as wonderful as it has always been although the restaurant instead features, a few salads, burgers, and Bar-B-Que of course. The best thing is, THEY STILL HAVE THE PICKLE CHIPS!!! (If you've never eaten a pickle chip it is a wonderful crunchy fried pickle served with cool dipping ranch!)

Willis is located in South east Washtenaw County and is convenient to Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti Township and Belleville, it is a wonderful historic area and well worth the short jaunt to eat at Boneheads Bar-B-Que - Check it out!

Boneheads Bar-B-Que

734-461-9250

10256 Willis Road

Willis, MI 48191

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by Tammy Mayrend