jastor's Profile
Stockyards BBQ
After reading the review in Now, I just had to go and find out what the fuss was about. I still don’t know. Toronto’s Best Barbeque is a pretty big claim. I went at lunchtime. There were about six people there, including us. They also did about five or six takeout orders while we were there. I had the porchetta sandwich with rapini and fries which is kind of pricey, coming to $14 altogether. I also had their iced tea. I like my tea without sugar but for some reason, even though they make it in-house, they fill it with sugar or syrup or something. The sandwich was really great, although I wouldn’t recommend it if you don’t like fat because the meat was almost 50% fat. Luckily I like the stuff. The fries were run of the mill, I saw him pour them from the freezer bag, which surprised because the menu says fresh cut. Maybe they were fresh cut before McCain’s froze them? My friend had the pulled pork and onion rings. They reheated the pulled pork in a frying pan right in front of us. I guess it’s better than that boil in the bag catfood my girlfriend once brought home from Buster Rhinos out in Whitby. The pork was okay, but not very smoky. The barbeque sauce was pretty good, a nice tang to it. The rings were pretty good but I think frozen as well.
My biggest surprise was that the pulled pork was the only bbq item they had available, since they were out of the chicken (it was only lunchtime – chicken takes two hours to smoke). This was a surprise since they call themselves a smokehouse. They do ribs and chicken, but the menu says Friday nights only. The cook said that they were going to try to have barbeque on Tuesdays as well but there was no guarantee as to when. So in reality I guess it’s a smokehouse one day a week, and a pretty good burger and fried chicken joint the rest of the time.
Service was poor but very friendly. I thought this was because it just opened and wasn’t fussed about it but then they told me it’s been open six weeks now. My sandwich came first. At first I waited but it was getting cold so I began eating. When I was half way through my friend got his order. I got my fries near the end of the meal. The drinks also arrived half way through. The screwed up an order for one of the other groups as well.
Still wanting to check out their barbeque, I went back last Friday for the real thing. I figured since they only have it one night a week I better get there early. So I aimed for 6:15 after leaving work. Traffic was bad and I got there at 6:30. Waited in line for about 10 minutes. Only to be told they were all out of barbeque, except for one dried out looking little riblet in the window. Apparently they start serving it at 4 pm, not Friday night as advertised. So I still don’t know if it’s any good but it should be. Anyone with a backyard smoker can make good barbeque in this manner, selling it for a couple of hours out of a smoker. It’s much harder to make barbeque when you have to have it ready to serve at any time over an 80-hour week like the much-maligned Phils. Maybe I’ll go back some day and try it but I'm in no hurry.
Caplansky's and beer
I agree with Lister that the orange peel from Great Lakes could be perfect. I took a tour of their brewery recently and tried it. What a great summer beer. It's hard to find in bars and only available in the summer. Another good choice if you find the orange thing weird is the new Summer Ale from Granite. It's got a hint of fruit but at heart it just a good beer.
Good food on Father's Day?
You mention a place "that my father will eat at". Are you suggesting he's a picky eater? If so, be careful at Le Select. I love the place, I've been going off an on for years, but beware they have a lot of traditional European food that many Torontonians find weird, such as Steak Tartare, pork hocks, beef cheeks, etc. As I said, wonderful place, great service and usually very good food. If you want a buffet that will please everybody but costs a bundle, try the King Eddy.
Anything good near Massey Hall?
I go to Superior all the time and really love it. The ambience is good, the wine list is amazing and the food is above average (though not perfect). Kind of expensive. I also agree with people on the Beer Bistro, great beers and food, nice little patio off the street..
