Like many on the east side of Hamilton County, I mourned the loss of Bones’ Smokehouse to the East Brainerd Road widening project a couple of years ago.
“Progress” had bulldozed one of my favorite sources of dry-rubbed ribs with a little different spin. Over the summer, Bones’ reopened closer to the Gunbarrel Road end of East Brainerd Road (and closer to me) in the former space of a sports bar at Stratman Crossing.
Because the interior’s so new, I didn’t get the telltale whiff of hickory smoke when my wife and I walked in on a recent Tuesday evening.
It smelled of fresh-cut lumber and new paint, but there were some hints of hickory coming from the 12 or so tables of diners who were eating barbecue like they were on a mission.
We united with them in the task.