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T here was a time when good, dependable neighborhood res- taurants prided themselves on being impartially judged with much favor because of various assets … Among them … in no small way … was doing its own butchering … Because of this, many still give their customers the advantages of this sometimes lost art that also includes get- ting rid of unnecessary fat. Neighborhood restaurants like the Boneyard, Orchard Lake Road, south of 14 Mile, Farmington Hills, continue to pres- ent this important facet of customer sat- isfaction … Doing its own butchering by having a personal rib master who removes excess fattiness enables a restaurant like Boneyard of Farmington Hills to rightfully add this to its many avenues of consumer pleasing. The Boneyard eatery in Farmington Hills prides itself on barbecued beef ribs, etc., as they should be served … the right way … with low, little or no fat … and exactly the right size … The one-time former E. G. Nick's on Maple in West Bloomfield introduced its own barbecued beef ribs with a proud flourish but may not have had too much success … They had the taste, but the overly big beef ribs could not be handled with comfort because of their huge dimension … Boneyard of Farmington Hills is success- fully able to hew them in two for much easier holding … among a large variety of deli- cious ribs that have all been dry rubbed and slow baked for about three to four hours before being finished on the grill. Because of this, Boneyard has been able to properly add beef ribs to its list of barbecued items … Barbecued lamb ribs, pork ribs and numerous varied combinations. The Farmington Hills Boneyard, owned by Danny and Gail Djordjevski, has seating for about 170 guests … and hours of Monday-Thursday, 11-10; Friday and Saturday, 11-11; Sunday, noon-10. Although barbecued ribs are a mainstay at the Farmington Hills Boneyard, big sellers, too, like chicken are a hugely popular order with more than 10 options from which to select … delicious barbecued, roasted and broasted chicken, chicken whole and half, pieces, breasts, chicken tenders, etc. … Also, cheese fries, buffalo wings, salads galore, butterfly shrimp, lake perch, salmon, whitefish, scallops, burgers, many sandwiches … Even New York strip and charbroiled por- terhouse steaks … Being a family dining spot, it is significant, too, for the young- sters to have their own menu … with fish and chips, burgers, grilled cheese, chicken strips, legs and wings, ribs, etc. Boneyard of Farmington Hills is the kind of clean and whole- some neighborhood restaurant that you are so happy to appreciate at your convenience for the entire family or arrival of guests … dine in or carry-out … It is like a coveted standby you know is there … and are so glad to have. PERSONABLE GENTS now running the new restaurant in Great Lakes Crossing, second named Mex by Zack Sklar, Josh Humphrey and Jim Bellinson, are the same two fellows who operated the now-closed Au Cochon in Birmingham and its next- door neighbor, Edward Avenue by the same three owners… Au Cochon and Edward Avenue shared a general manager, executive chef, kitchen, etc. … General Manager Bill Butler is a fine former Las Vegas din- ing stalwart, and Executive Chef Mark Bararich is remembered from Tribute in Southfield and Rick Halberg's former Emily's in Northville … Au Cochon, which only lasted a year, combined both French and American menu selections … Edward Avenue served Italian food and also was open about one year. GOOD WAITPERSON DEPT. … She comes to your booth or table at Shangri-La Chinese restaurant on Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield … You say wai yew ("why you?") and she gives you her big smile in a major treat of wonderful service … Wai is in her 22nd year at Shangri-La following a stint at the former Wing Hong Chinese Restaurant and Tokyo Steak House in West Bloomfield. QUESTION & ANSWER DEPT. … "You sound like someone who has always wanted to own your own restaurant. If you did, what kind would you want to have? Or maybe you have already had one? If so, what kind was it? … Ernestine Melman. (No, Ernestine, I would be a terrible restaurant owner. I'm much too particu- lar. But if I did, it would be a good, solid neighborhood dining spot like so many fine ones today. I really mean that. Most neighborhood restaurants are getting to be so good now that it is almost unnecessary to go to far-off regions like Downtown Detroit, outlying areas, etc. … Unless, of course, persons work around there, are shopping or visiting in the area or just desire to try out a heavily hyped new res- taurant, etc. … It seems to be getting to the point where there is really little need to buck heavy traffic when many neighbor- hood eateries offer the same or better fare and numerous times at more reasonable prices.) OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT. … Here are a few that always went over big years ago in New York's Catskill mountains by great comics of vaudeville, and you never heard a swear word in their routines … Joey Bishop, Victor Borge, Woody Allen, Carl Reiner, George Burns, Mel Brooks, Alan King, Phil Silvers, Jack Carter, Rodney Dangerfield, Don Rickles, etc. … "The Harvard School of Medicine did a study of why Jewish women like Chinese food so much. The study revealed that this is due to the fact that Won Ton spelled backward is Not Now." … And how about one of the comics saying, "Someone stole all my credit cards, but I won't be report- ing it. The thief spends less than my wife did." … and the classic beauty, "She was at the beauty shop for two hours. That was only for an estimate. She got a mudpack and looked great for two days. Then the mud fell off." CONGRATS … To Georgia "Gigi" Fournier on her birthday … To Randi Brown on her birthday … To Paulette Koffron on her birthday … To Mert and Helene Robbins on their 58th anniversary. * Danny's email address is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net. Ribs As They Should Be Boneyard of Farmington Hills does ribs just right. Danny and Gail Djordjevski 42 January 5 • 2017 Danny Raskin Senior Columnist arts & life t h e b e s t o f e v e r y t h i n g 000000 Great references from previous clients. 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