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The first location of Punk's Backyard Grill, and what may one day be a regional or even national chain, is open in the new restaurant row of Westfield Shoppingtown. Punk's? Yeah--Punk's! Wanna make something of it? Punk was the beloved uncle of one of the restaurant's founders and his backyard was the scene of many great grilling parties. His namesake restaurant may evoke delicious memories for you too. They say "Punk is our presiding spirit. Someone who’s neighborly, warm and welcoming."

Punk's fits that slightly-odd class of being a casual or fast-casual restaurant but a few things make Punks different--and I think better than many other casual family restaurants. Punks actually grills your food to order at a big, flaming grill and then a server brings it to you on a real plate with real metal utensils, to your table which is set under an umbrella on a patio-like floor. If I could lift up he place and drop it in my backyard--I'd be all set....'cept for the pool.

When you enter Punks, you come to the counter to order. It's easy because they have large vertical signs at the entrance with the menu, unlike some other places where you can't read what's on the menu until you get up to the cash register. To the right of the counter is the big, monstrous grill! And you can't help but notice that there's a lot of people working there. That adds up to quality dining and service. In fact, Punk's says, "We believe that the best food starts with honest, quality ingredients. That's why our freezer is small, and our staff is large. From the aioli to the veggie burgers, we make most everything in house using only the freshest ingredients." It's true.

Before I get into the menu, a few words about the drinks are in order. There is beer. There is wine. But it's the gourmet sodas that sparkle. The serve-yourself fountain sodas are made with real cane sugar, not with yucky corn syrup and are delicious. You can choose birch beer, cola, creme soda or my favorite-black cherry, and they even come in diet, and they're caffeine-free. The sodas come from Boylan Bottling Co. Now you know that I loved the sodas, on to the food.

We're talkin' sandwiches and meat grilled on skewers to order. We're talking salads--not standard iceberg fare, but real salads with real mixed greens and a wine vinaigrette. When they bring it to you on your plate, it's presented like it's nouvelle cuisine. I'm not making this up. I got skewered shrimp with a tangy mango salsa and a salad. The shrimp were grilled (pardon the cliche') to perfection and the food looked like a dish you'd get in a fancy and pricey place. I had to look around to be reminded I was in Punk's Backyard. My son had skewered chicken with a slightly sweet, and slightly hot barbecue sauce. This very hard-to-please middle-schooler pronounced it to his liking and although at first he protested (what no french fries?), he even liked the macaroni and cheese side dish, made with real cheese and a beuchamel sauce.

Ms. CP enjoyed tender cubes of lamb skewered with herbs and a fine salad. In addition to the salad, entrees come with grilled pieces of flat bread. No french fries here! For dessert, we shared slices of key lime and pecan pie washed down with more sodas of course. The pie fillings are made on location--and you can taste it. Unlike many pecan pies which seemed based on corn syrup, this was based on lots of real pecans--with just the right kind of crunchiness, and not overly syrupy sweet. The key lime pie tasted equally fresh and had just the right combination of citrus "bite" and sweetness.

Here is a sample of other items on the menu: flat-iron steak skewers, veggie skewers, grilled artisanal sausage and of course burgers--and a veggie-burger, homemade with their own recipe. Five kinds of salad entrees round out the menu including Chesapeake Cobb and Thai Flank Steak. There are eight kinds of sides including Roasted Corn and Black Bean Salad, Sweet and Sour Cucumbers with dill. The folks at Punk's tell me they make the corn salad with fresh corn, no matter the time of year.

Punk's meats come from specialty producer Vande Rose Farms in Iowa and their take-out boxes are made from natural and compostable, sugar cane fibers.

Finally, a word about prices. Expect to spend more than fast-food of course, but less than you might expect considering the quality and freshness of the ingredients. Entrees run between about $7 and $11 dollars. Apparently, Punk's has already been discovered. We were there on a Thursday night and ran into three sets of friends, of all ages. It's already a neighborly gathering place--like Punk's Backyard--and why not? After all, Punk's serves up quality food and value in a pleasant setting.

On Thursday, February 19 from 5:30 – 8 p.m., Punk’s Backyard Grill hosts a grand opening evening with proceeds benefiting the YWCA of Annapolis & Anne Arundel County. Guests can enjoy a variety of Punk’s menu items, and a grilling package will be auctioned off to benefit the YWCA. There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony and brief remarks at the event by various local officials. Tickets are $45 per person and can be purchased by calling Emilia Poiter at the YWCA of Annapolis & Anne Arundel County at 410-626-7800, ext. 115.



To learn more about Punk's, visit punksbackyardgrill.com.

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