“Cheers” may have been the fictional place where everybody knows your name, but its real-life counterpart just might be Big Bones Barbecue in Spanish Fork.

Granted, this being our first visit to the homestyle barbecue restaurant, nobody knew our names. Be we seemed to be the exception to the rule. At one point during our meal, co-owner Lee Banks pulled up a chair and sat down at a table next to ours and congenially chatted with the patrons there. Other customers were greeted by name as they entered the building.

And, in perhaps the best example of the familial atmosphere, at the latter part of our meal, as it approached closing time on a Friday night, a server brought out a plate stuffed with various selections of meat to a family at a nearby table. The waiter asked if the order was correct and the man at the table responded in the affirmative, noting that Banks had simply told him, “We’ll bring you whatever we have and just figure out a price of what it’ll cost.”

Seems like a great way to do business!

Did we mention the family atmosphere? It appeared to us that most of the workers in the restaurant on this night were family members as well — which only added to the down-home vibe.

We had printed off an online menu in advance, so we could peruse various options en route to the restaurant. After settling on a basic plan of action, however, we picked up a printed menu near the front and noticed that there were several discrepancies compared with the online menu. So we re-adjusted our choices and went to order at the front counter. There was also a handwritten menu on a board up front — and it was at this point we realized that it differed from the printed menu as well, with different meal and side options and different prices.

Just know that the menu on the board reigns supreme and is the most up-to-date option.

There were a variety of tables — all covered with picnic-style vinyl tablecloths that are typical in area barbecue joints — in the dining room, seating four each, with two rows of tables pushed together in the middle of the room for bigger groups. There were also several tables outdoors, which went unused on this particularly chilly evening.

Of course, the barbecued meats were a main highlight on the menu — but we found ourselves quite excited by the sides. For example, I could have made a whole meal out of the corn nuggets alone — which featured sweet corn in a creamed mixture inside of a nugget. Delicious!

The BBQ beans, with bacon bits, were excellent as well, and I also really enjoyed the cole slaw, which proved to be a good palate cleanser between various meats and sauces. The french fries, made fresh with a hand press, were a big hit at our table, and came in regular or sugar options.

As for the main courses, we enjoyed the ribs tips, barbecue chicken and a Texas Teaser sandwich — which featured a toasted roll that simply could not contain all the pulled pork it came stuffed with. Big Bones certainly does barbecue right — which we anticipated — and a lot more as well.

Big Bones Barbecue

Where: 934 E. 800 North, Spanish Fork

Hours: 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday

Prices: Entrees $7.95-$24.95 (five-meat combo)

Info: (801) 804-7547, bigbonesbarbecue.com