Any good spots in Ontario Canada?

[J.Shaft]

The only place I have heard of is Phil's Original in Toronto, but I'm sure there MUST be something else out there.

Any tips??

Do I really have to cross into Buffalo??

[J.Shaft]

I have really been hungry for some good Que lately so I stopped by Phil's Original BBQ in Toronto last night.

As I hadn't been there before, I opted for the BBQ Combo (ribs, brisket, chicken) plater. First off... not a cheap meal.. $23 for the plate!! YIKES

When the food came out i was surprised at that they had sauced it without asking me (there is sauce on the table), but that said it was lightly covered so it wasn't too overpowering.

The Good:
- very hearty meal. Basically 1/2 half of ribs, 3 good slices of brisket and a good size chicken quarter
- Excellent smoke. The place has a great smell throughout and it definately comes from the food.
- The sides. The slaw had a unique taste that helped cut the sweetness of the sauces. I used as a palate cleanser. The beans themselves where obviously canned, but the chucks of pork found throughout added good smoke taste.
- The sauces were surprisingly good. The hot is decently hot (which i like) and the sweet and savory has a really nice spice mix that left me trying to place all the flavours.


The Bad:
- I wish they asked if I wanted sauce. Especially because the plate was crowded, I ended up with rib sauce on my brisket.
- Seemed to lack much of a rub. I enjoy that base flavour, and it was missing or just too mild.
- Food was too dry. Obviously in a restaurant setting you aren't going to get straight off the "que" moisture, but the ribs had little moisture and the chicken was very dry.


The Judgement:

I guess the main question always comes down to would you go back... and that answer is yes. I would likely avoid the chicken next time and try a few other items. My platter was expensive but there were lots of other options in the $7-15 range I would like to try.
I think this place is about as good as we're likely to find in Toronto, and if I'm in the area again I will stop in. As always, nothing beats doing it yourself.