Reviews for Boneheads

07/26/2021 - Ian
Some of my happiest memories of meals happened at Bonehead's.

Years ago (2002 to 2006 or so), I was in my late teens to early twenties working weekends and holidays as a ski instructor at Sugarloaf. My instructor friends and I could afford to hit The Bag or another on-mountain restaurant occasionally, but those were rare splurges. Most of the time, we'd pile into my Ford Escort and head north on Rt. 27 to Bonehead's.

The food was inexpensive yet always delicious. Gene, the owner (RIP), would see us pulling in, and greet us with a big smile. Gene was the kind of guy who said “How ya doin’” and genuinely cared about what you had to say in reply; versus those who say it in place of “hello” with no intention of listening or responding to how you’re actually doing.

He charged 80 cents or so for a small order of french fries...and there were so many I could rarely finish them. I'd get those fries along with a hot dog or two, usually a grilled cheese, and always a chocolate frappe. (Gene made frappes the right way...good quality hard ice cream, and plenty of it, plus milk. No soft serve. No fast-food style machines.)

We'd spend $5 each, up to $10 if any one of us splurged, not including tip. These are early 2000s numbers, but still. You got far more than what you paid for. Everything that came out of the order pick-up window at Bonehead's was superb. He probably could've doubled the price of everything on the menu, and still been reasonable and worth it. But he didn't. He just sold good food at affordable prices, hopefully with enough margin to make it worthwhile.

Gene would tell us various stories...adventures from his mail route from there to the Canadian border, the old days, or just what happened since we last saw him.

I had a Bonehead's bumper sticker on my locker in the Perfect Turn locker room. I hope that sticker is still there, almost 20 years later.

If I had a time machine, the first place I'd go would be just past where Rt. 27 winds by Flagstaff Lake to "Paws for a Snackie" as the Bonehead's bumper stickers Gene gave out said on them.