-
-
ekim256
Aug 10, 2010 10:26 PM
Well CH asked me to fix my previous post by copying and pasting my review rather than linking for pics. Sorry to "spam" (since people already saw it) but I figure I'd re-post so future pulled pork hunters can see for themselves...
I say that Sweet Smoke is the best that I've had so far - I really liked the smokey, citrussy taste of their pork, but that's a personal preference. Below is my review, if you want to see pictures: http://cookiesandtomatoes.blogspot.com/2010/07/sweet-smoke-bbq-grill-hunting-for-best.html
Located in a plaza in Oakville, I will admit that I was skeptical about Sweet Smoke. A great barbecue joint beside a Mr. Sub and Funky Thai 2 Go? In Oakville? Hmm.
Brightly lit and very clean, the interior looked newly renovated and ready for some hungry paddlers. We grabbed a table and were promptly given menus, which we scoured for the meatiest, tastiest sounding dishes. Paddling 20km during a 3 hour torrential downpour makes you hungry.
Sweet Smoke is both family-friendly and a good hang out, and the owner and the waitresses provided great service. After dinner, the owner was quite chatty and talked about how he slow cooked his pork and what he thought of his competition. It was a very relaxed atmosphere for a casual Saturday night dinner. They also serve homemade iced tea - sweetened, brewed tea which I found better than the bottled variety.
Grilled Portobello Mushroom Melt
Arugula, Oven Dried Tomatoes, Grilled Red Onions, Gruyère Cheese, Guajillo Aioli on Toasted Rosemary Focaccia
A generous helping of portobello paired extremely well with the gruyère. This is the same cheese that Biff's used for their crepes, and I must say that I am a fan! Although I'm not usually a fan of cheesy sandwiches, gruyère pairs very well with meat and vegetables, this sandwich being no exception. I especially enjoyed the toasted focaccia bread. Warm, "meaty" with mushrooms, and toasty - this was my second favourite sandwich!Southwestern Club
Hickory Smoked Turkey, Crispy Pancetta, Tomato, Greens, Avocado and Chipotle Mayonnaise on Ciabatta
We were surprised to receive this sandwich, because we only inquired about it but didn't actually order it (whoops). It didn't matter - we were so hungry that it was a welcome appearance so there was no need to complain or send it back. The smoked turkey was nice and juicy, the ciabatta was was buttered and grilled. I would have liked a bit more pancetta for additional flavour. Decent sandwich, but the mushroom melt definitely eclipsed this sandwich. Even though it was my least favourite sandwich of the night, it was still tasty!El Cubano
Pulled Pork, Shaved Smoked Turkey, Manchego Cheese and Quick Pickles on Sesame Seed Bun
Y-U-M! This was the best sandwich of the night. Smokey turkey, tender pulled pork, tangy sauce, and pickles was a great combination. Although it would probably be considered "nontraditional" for a pulled pork sandwich, I would have preferred it with the rosemary focaccia bread from the portobello mushroom melt and melted cheese. I liked the quick pickles quite a bit, I wouldn't mind ordering a side of them the next time I go in. The toasted sesame seed bun was soft & good, but wish it was a little more toasted - but the combination of the pulled pork and the turkey was heavenly so no complaints! Sammy win!Flat Iron Steak Burrito
Drunken Beans, Queso Fresco, Ancho Chile Salsa and Cilantro
Unable to find a great steak burrito in Toronto (tried Burrito Boyz, Burro Burrito, Big Fat Burrito and Burrito Loco) I felt like I was taking a chance ordering this. It came tender, juicy, and oh-so-delicious with melted cheese and great salsa. It was a good simple burrito, the meat was very well cooked - I wish it was jammed a bit more with veggies but considering that I wasn't at a burrito joint I can't expect to get a fat burrito. I wish there was a fast food burrito as tender as this...Mixed Barbecue Sampler
Hickory Smoked BBQ Ribs, Slow Smoked Pulled Pork, Cowboy Beans, and Jicama slaw
I came for the pulled pork, but when I spotted an item that gave you pulled pork and ribs, I was sold! The pulled pork was great - tender, juicy, smokey, and full of flavour. Everything I look for in pulled pork. While some might be turned off by the orange-coloured sauce, I happened to love the citrus flavour. If I could tweak one little thing, it would be the hickory flavour - more please!
The ribs however, were a little on the dry side but they still had a nice smokey flavour that I enjoyed. They weren't too dry, but I've had better.
The beans were tasty and saucy but the slaw was just slaw - I later learned that many people top their sandwiches with the slaw. I would've tried it if it occurred to me!Cake and Shake!
Blackout Cake with Dark Chocolate Pudding, and Vanilla Bean Milkshake
The chocolate fiend in me was definitely satisfied with this rich, moist cake. Creamy chocolate mousse layers nestled between dense cake was a great way to end the meal. If you like frothy and richly-flavoured milk shakes, you will love this. Mmm...If you're looking for a savoury sandwich, Oakville's Sweet Smoke Barbecue & Grill is worth a visit! Friendly service (although we did accidentally get a sandwich that we didn't order), warm meaty sandwiches, and a bright interior made this a great place to grab a bite. Their desserts look quite tasty, so if you are in the area and feel your sweet tooth itching you can get your fix here with tarts, cheese cakes, and cookies.
Yummy dessert selection in the display case. There were also jars of cookies above!Overall, I had a great experience at Sweet Smoke's Barbecue and Grill. If you're passing through the area, swing by and grab a sandwich (they do take out)! Their pulled pork is juicy, tender, and sweetly flavourful. Better than Lou Dawg's and Reggie's in my humble opinion. Black Camel does not smoke their version, which I feel is key to a great pulled pork sandwich...however it all boils down to personal preference. While a little pricey for a sandwich that doesn't come with sides, the pork is so good that I would definitely order it again. I have yet to try Beer Bistro's Berkshire pulled pork sammy...so stay tuned, Sweet Smoke may be dethroned!
Pics: http://cookiesandtomatoes.blogspot.com/2010/07/sweet-smoke-bbq-grill-hunting-for-best.htmlPS now Phil's BBQ is on the hitlist, thanks Poppi! Also this is quite belated but I just saw that Lou Dawg is on today's Dealfind for a few more hours: http://www.dealfind.com/toronto
Erin =
)http://cookiesandtomatoes.blogspot.com/-----
Beer Bistro
18 King St. E, Toronto, ON M5C 1C4, CABurrito Boyz
218 Adelaide St W, Toronto, ON M5H1W7, CABlack Camel
4 Crescent Rd, Toronto, ON M4W1S9, CABig Fat Burrito
285 Augusta Ave, Toronto, ON M5T2M1, CASweet Smoke Barbecue and Grill
3420 Rebecca, Oakville, ON L6L6W2, CAFunky Thai 2 Go
3420 Rebecca, Oakville, ON L6L6W2, CA -
PoppiYYZ
Aug 10, 2010 05:39 PM
I've eaten Pulled Pork all over the south and make a pretty mean pork shoulder with my own Arkansas BBQ sauce myself (in my own smoker!). Anyway, I thought Phil's BBQ at 838 College (near Ossington) was pretty darn good. It's for real and I haven't had any better in TO.
-
-
I have been a Black Camel devotee for years! Pulled pork is tender and juicy, and perfectly paired with mushrooms/ oinions/ Charmoula (sp?), bbq sauce, arugula, & cheese. The tender bun holds up the hefty portion of pork and toppings without being too much carb. The pulled chicken and beef are also magnificent - but the pork is the best.
The staff is friendly, attentive, and swift to assemble these meaty masterpieces. Make sure you get your Camel Card stamped at each visit, so you can earn your way to a free sammy. I'm on card #3 (^_^)-----
Black Camel
4 Crescent Rd, Toronto, ON M4W1S9, CA -
miketoronto
Jul 2, 2010 10:56 AM
only tried Black Camel, and it rocks my world every time. Just caramelized onions and bbq sauce. Maybe some pecorino. Whoever they buy their rolls from, I need their number. Love their pulled chicken and brisket too.
A hefty pricetag, but always an unforgettable sandwich.
-----
Black Camel
4 Crescent Rd, Toronto, ON M4W1S9, CA -
pinkprimp
Jul 1, 2010 01:31 PM
The Reggie's pulled pork is always recommended by the cashiers whenever I ask for a recommendation but both times I've tried it (about half a year ago, back when I ate meat!), the pulled pork was stringy and tough and not very flavourful at all...I much prefer The Stockyards and Black Camel.
-----
Black Camel
4 Crescent Rd, Toronto, ON M4W1S9, CA›2 Replies-
-
re: madhatt
I had the same experience at Reggies and items were missing - major ingredients like cheese were forgotten or wrong. I asked for swiss but got goat cheese there once! Service there is super friendly but there's a 420 issue which isn't so good for getting orders correct. I much prefer a savoury pulled pork to the sweet stuff so this didn't work for me at all.
My friends rave about the pulled port at The Parliament House. The quality of the meat is excellent but too sweet for my tastes.
My fave in the city was at Cluck, Grunt & Low but alas it clucks no more.
-
-
-
Lou Dawg's is delish. I love Black Camel but it's not smoked. Stockyards also has a good one. But I think my fave in the city is at Beer Bistro.
›12 Replies-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
re: MeMeMe
I dunno... one of the first pulled pork sandwiches I had was that $14 one at BeerBistro and while I liked it, I just wasn't impressed. Kinda pricy for what you get. And overly sweet for my taste.
I've since made fantastic slow-cooker pulled pork at home and every time it's been great results with relatively little effort.
Been following this thread and will have to try out some of the suggestions to check out if there is something better than what I can make at home.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
duckdown
Jun 29, 2010 07:07 PM
Sweet Smoke in Oakville, Blue Sage in Mississauga, Buster Rhino's in Whitby, and Paul & Sandy's in Etobicoke are my usual picks per city.. I might be leaving someone out
-----
Buster Rhino's
2001 Thickson Rd S, Whitby, ON L1N, CASweet Smoke Barbecue and Grill
3420 Rebecca, Oakville, ON L6L6W2, CABlue Sage Catering & Event Management
980 Eglinton Ave E, Mississauga, ON L4W1K3, CA›5 Replies-
re: duckdown
PoppiYYZ
Aug 12, 2010 05:39 PM
Thanks for the list Duckdown. Stopped in at Busters on my way back to Peterborough today. Soft tasty tender pork, light smoke, and loved the original sauce. Very good sandwich. Just wish the bun was a little crispier, but definately be stopping here again.
Tried a bite of the brisket too and it was equally good.
I've been to Phil's Original BBQ at 838 College really liked his pulled pork. It had a heavier smoke flavor which I generally like.
-----
Phil's Original BBQ
838 College St, Toronto, ON M6H1A2, CA-
re: PoppiYYZ
duckdown
Aug 12, 2010 11:29 PM
The thing about Buster's, or anywhere else that re-heats the pulled pork or lets it steam in a hot tray, is that it loses that smokey essence once you start re-heating it..
What I mean is, if you got to Buster's at a time where the pork was coming fresh out of the smoker, I bet it would be beautifully smokey.. but if there's nothing freshly made, and they make the re-heated packets, it's not as smokey. But this isn't a gripe against Busters -- it happens with everyone, I've found
I'm with ya -- smokier is better :)
PS: Buster's also has great fresh cut fries! Surprisingly (and sadly) becoming rare to find. Paul & Sandy's does too. Blue Sage does not
-
-
re: duckdown
PoppiYYZ
Aug 25, 2010 01:46 PM
Thanks again Duckdown. Stopped in at Blue Sage. Nice clean place with good selection. Pulled pork sammy was very tasty. Very tasty indeed. I really like slaw on a PP sandwich. Ain't cheap ($11 and change with one side) but a definite west end destination.
Next stops, Sweet Smoke and Paul & Sandy's...
-
re: PoppiYYZ
duckdown
Aug 26, 2010 07:39 AM
Hi PoppiYYZ! Thanks for the comments and feedback -- I am glad you enjoyed Blue Sage! This is one of the places that gets very little mention of when others are discussing southern style BBQ on the boards, I almost tend to think of it as a hidden "gem" at times, since it seems to always be quiet when I'm there. The food has always been good to me on every visit, so I do hope the place gets some recognition.. As with any place, my one gripe would still be the amount of smoke in the product (I say bring it on), but it is definitely not for everyone..
Let us know what you think of Sweet Smoke if you ever make it there -- it's more unique than any other pulled pork sammy in the GTA, especially since it has an orange-infused BBQ sauce.. But oh man, it's delicious. Gotta try their Cuban sandwich too.
Cheers :)
-
-
