BonaPit Grill and Smokehouse on Harlem in Palos Heights, IL
I told J as we were eating dinner, it’s a good thing we don’t actually live in Chicago. Every time we go home, I gorge myself when we go out because the food is so damn good!
J and I were at one of her friends house catching up with them when dinner rolled around. They ordered pizza from a place I’ll probably blog about next time we go home. They encouraged me to try a slice and a slice ended up being two and a half. It was delicious. We didn’t eat because we had plans to meet her parents at a BBQ place in Palos Heights.
BonaPit (not Bon Apetite) is located on Harlem near 122nd Street in Palos Heights. J’s mom said there used to be a fancy, white tablecloth restaurant in the building and that was the first thing we noticed. BonaPit doesn’t look like a BBQ joint. The floor was a wood planked floor, but the tables, walls and ceiling all looked like we should be sipping wine over candlelight.
We showed up around eight on a Friday night. At most places in the Chicago area, you’ll probably have to wait for a table. Being right after Christmas and foggy, people must have chose to stay home. There were quite a few people in the restaurant, but there wasn’t a wait. We were shown to a booth along the front wall near the bar right away.
A bus boy came over with water while we looked over the drink menu. A waitress came over for our order. J and her mom both got a peach margarita while her step dad got a Miller Lite. I wasn’t in the mood alcohol and was odd man out ordering a Pepsi. She came back with drinks and gave us a few more minutes to look over the food menu.
BonaPit Grill & Smokehouse in the Chicago south suburb of Palos Heights, IL
The menu is more than a BBQ joint. Sure, they have the typical BBQ dishes, but there are also a number of sandwiches, salads, wraps, and steaks. Both of J’s parents ordered the Brisket dinner which is what they usually get at BBQ places. They got their choice of two sides. They had eaten there before and knew the place was good. Both meals were huge and served in plastic baskets with butcher paper in what is somewhat more of a traditional BBQ joint. They didn’t say much, but this was a return visit for them.
I ordered the pulled pork sandwich. That shouldn’t be much of a surprise to anyone. I got my choice of potato chips or fries. I got the fries. Coleslaw was served on the side. The sandwich was huge. The pork was delicious and there was just enough sauce put on top of the meat. They didn’t drench the meat, but the didn’t leave it dry either. The sauce was a delicious sweet sauce. Not the best sauce I’ve had in Chicago, but still delicious. The fries were fresh cut, but a little soggy. I told J I have no self control. I had two pieces of pizza just an hour ago then I hate a huge pulled pork sandwich and fries. The food is so good and I just can’t say no. I know that these are things I can’t get in Mid-Michigan and I just don’t want anything to go to waste.
J was odd man out on food. She ordered the buffalo chicken wrap. It was a typical buffalo chicken wrap, but they added red, green, and yellow peppers which J loved. What she didn’t like was the wrap which was the garlic herb tortilla. She said it didn’t really work with the buffalo chicken. She also got the choice of fries or chips and she chose the homemade kettle chips. She really liked the chips. They were fresh out of the fryer and dusted with Parmesan cheese.
Our bill was just under $80, but everyone except me had two alcohol drinks which I think is a pretty good price considering we had a lot of food. I was thinking it was going to be higher with the drinks. BonaPit is a really interesting place. It’s a little more fancy than the roadhouse you usually think of when you think of BBQ, but they don’t try to be a fancy place. They achieve being a good BBQ place in a fancy building.
Mid-Michigan Dining 
We live in Palos Heights and love BonaPit. Very friendly, family atmosphere and good food. Next time you’re in the area and want to try some of the most delicious fall off the bone ribs try Billy Boy’s (not far from BonaPit). It’s not a fancy restaurant, just your corner Greek restaurant with some sit down tables or carry out but you will have the most tender, meaty ribs that you can eat without getting your fingers dirty! Along with your ribs you get a large order of fries and two big pieces of garlic bread. We compare everyone’s ribs to Billy Boy’s and no one comes close.
Two strikes your out! We were introduced to Bon A Pit by my brother in law who
really loved this place. We went to dinner and everything was great! One week later
we brought friend’s of ours for a bite. I had a coupon for a free appetizer. We had
our dinner and paid for it not realizing they had charged us for our FREE APPETIZER.
Then I purchased a $50.00 gift certificate for my brother in law. I paid cash and was never given a receipt. I really did not think anymore about it. Then my brother in law
went to dinner with my sister. The waitress swiped their card and told them it was only
for $16.60. What a joke. They told her there had to be a mistake because they knew
I paid $50.00 for it. I called the manager as soon as they told me about this. I said how do you sell somebody a gift certificate for $50.00 and only put $16.60 on it?
His POOR reply was they recycle their gift cards and perhaps the wrong amount was
put onto the card. REALLY??? I thought perhaps the employee put the remainder in
his pocket!!! Regardless what type of business are you running ? That is two times
I have been ripped off by this establishment. Needless to say we will not be back. And if you happen to purchase a gift certificate I suggest you have them swipe it right then You may end up with a zero balance!!!