Fat Louie's BBQ (Keele & St. Clair)

[Jacquilynne]

I randomly ran across this trailer in the Rona parking lot today while running an errand in the area. I say this with the huge caveat that I am not a BBQ expert or even all that experienced with BBQ, but I thought it wasn't that bad. Ribs seemed pretty smokey and had some tooth to them. Pulled pork maybe could have used a shot of something -- more sauce? better sauce? salt? -- but was okay. Fries were excellent -- not that they're the thing to judge a BBQ place on, but I really liked them.

[dmartins123]

Went there on Saturday afternoon and had the pulled pork sandwich, brisket sandwich, and some rosemary fries. Everything was really tasty. Perfect bread for the sandwich. I wish they piled more meat on the pulled pork...nice smoke rink and tasty bark. I could eat a platter full. Also, they were out of coleslaw.

Funny enough, I briefly told them I heard about their truck on Chowhound and they were like, "Huh???".

Anyway, will be back to try other menu items.

[disgusti]

someone finally did it
someone finally figured out how to make good BBQ in this city

brisket is great, smoky, just the right amount of fat, on a great (homemade?) bun with slaw

ribs have bite and remind me why I don't eat ribs 95% of the time they're available (because they're not nearly as good as these ribs)

fuck a ribfest, Rona parking lot it is

[C mac]

You sold me on the ribs. I was really curious to know if they compared to ribfest ribs cause I love the ribs there. I'm going to give them a try. I was going to head out to the ribfest at pickering next week but maybe I no longer need to make those far drives to get my hands on good ribs in this city.

[kwass]

Has anyone been since they've re-opened?

[Yongeman]

Not yet, but I did receive a 25%-off coupon for joining their Facebook page.

[kwass]

Nice!!

Let us know once you've been.

[00CP]

Yes, I went on Sat. afternoon and I believe his kids were running the truck. Had the brisket sandwich and it was delicious. And apparently my request earlier in this thread was answered as they have a coleslaw on the menu now as well. Sadly the pulled chicken is gone.... it was good!

[kwass]

So disappointed to hear that they dropped the pulled chicken from the menu. That's what I was looking forward to trying :(

[Jacquilynne]

I stopped by this afternoon and had the brisket and an order of chili cheese fries.

Not in love with coleslaw -- I feel like it lacks flavor. It's a nice bit of crunch on the sandwich but as a side, it's meh.

The chili did not lack flavor, or at least not heat. Yowza. I pulled what looks like an entire chipotle en adobo out of the box, though, so that is probably why. I imagine that was supposed to be cut up a little finer and distributed a little more evenly.

Still, burning mouth and all, it's nice to have them back.

[Yongeman]

I really enjoyed the brisket sandwich that I had tonight. Not a bad deal for $6.50. I had it in a combo, so something like $11 for sandwich, really good fries, small coleslaw and drink. I'll be back to try the pulled pork sandwich.

[kwass]

Now we need someone to try the pulled chicken :)

Oh wait...I forgot that they dropped it. Don't know where my head is!

[Yongeman]

Anyone know when/if these guys are going to reopen this spring?

[Jacquilynne]

May 1, according to their Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/FatLouiesBBQ

They haven't written a status about it themselves, but they've answered a couple of other people who asked.

[Yongeman]

Thanks. I did go to the FB page, but must have missed that reply. Maybe it'll feel like spring when they finally open.

[Jacquilynne]

It wasn't super obvious because of the way Facebook treats people who post on businesses' pages -- I just made a lucky click and found it.

[Yongeman]

Thanks for not making me look like a FB novice, Jacquilynne.
; )

[Jacquilynne]

Given how often Facebook utterly changes the way they display things, I think we're all rendered Facebook novices every 3 months or so.

[Yongeman]

Ha ha, true.

[ylsf]

Thanks, and thanks for bumping up the thread Yongeman. Definitely will be back again this year. Only managed the one time last year if I recall correctly but wanted to go more!

[C mac]

I messaged them and yes may 1 is the target date but nothing in stone.

[Jacquilynne]

New update on the FB page says the 9th now:

https://www.facebook.com/FatLouiesBBQ...

[C mac]

That's only 7 days away. Woot! Woot!

[kwass]

Everyone's raves about this place have me dying to try it. Forgive me if this has already been answered, but are they only open weekends or everyday?

[ylsf]

Last year the hours were 11-6 everyday, as per a post by Jacquilynne buried up above... Would love to see bit longer hours so I could stop by on my way into Toronto more often :)

[kwass]

Me too! A 10:30 opening would be perfect! Thanks ylsf.

[FatLouie]

Hey Yongeman,

This is the Fat Louie's ChowHound account. I just want to confirm that we will be reopening at the Rona on May 9th. We're just getting everything together now.

I also want everyone to know that we pay special attention to the comments on this forum. Its really helpful to be able to read your comments and criticisms of our food. Thanks a lot you guys!

[Yongeman]

Hey 'Fat Louie',
Nice to talk to you. Looking forward to visiting y'all in the next week or two. Cheers.

[00CP]

Excellent news. I look forward to stopping by after my workouts like I did last summer. The pulled chicken and pork sandwiches are fantastic, any chance you could add in a coleslaw to the mix this year? Your sandwiches topped with a fresh slaw would be amazing

[ylsf]

I haven't been back since my post in this thread but I am always thinking about it :) Has it closed down for winter or still running?

[Yongeman]

It's not in my area, so I can't help you with your question, ylsf, but '...I am always thinking about it..." is a pretty good sign.

[Jacquilynne]

I drove by there the other day during the day and didn't see them, so I'm guessing they have. But I wouldn't take that as 100% confirmation of anything.

[ylsf]

Thanks,

Usually I don't care about companies doing "social media" but is is instances like this where it would help... I am not interested enough to track them down via telephone number but it would be nice to have an "update" and if there is a plan to return to the same place next year,etc.

If you happen to see them back please do post, much appreciate your original rec!

[bobinken]

From Fat Louie's FaceBook page.....

Fat Louie's is closed for the year! Thanks everyone for a great season!

[ylsf]

Great thanks, I didn't even know they had a Facebook page! Looks like they added it in September. I remember trying to find info on them during the summer and not coming across anything. Glad they have a page of sorts for basic info now. I guess I should have searched again though :)

[ylsf]

Thanks for the rec Jacquilynee. A real "chow find" in my books.

I had the pulled pork sandwich and fries. Good value/ great taste/ nice service. I definitely will be back to try it out in the future. I took a bit of a detour to go on the weekend but it was worth it.

The Pulled Pork has a bit of different seasoning, like "italian" seasoning. I really enjoyed the flavour.

[00CP]

I'm glad you made the trip :)

[ylsf]

For those like me that don't know the area, here is the address of the Rona store:
110 West Toronto St
Toronto, ON
M6N 5B7

I recalled seeing the Home Depot in the area but didn't remember seeing a Rona so I checked it out so I know for next time I am in the area.

If anyone can confirm the hours that would be great. Assuming the same hours as the store?

[Jacquilynne]

I think maybe they're only open during the day, or possibly into early supper hours. I'm often at Home Depot, Canadian Tire or the Metro around the corner in the evening, and I've never noticed them before, so I'm guessing they have their signs put away by the time I usually drive through there around 8 or so. I can swing by later and ask them, though.

[00CP]

I'm going on a limb and saying that for weekdays during the summer he'll be open lunch/early dinner hours. I know for sure he's open until at least 8pm on Fri & Sat, and open lunch/early dinner hours on the Sunday. Hope that helps.... wish he was open for some after-bar eats!

[Jacquilynne]

I asked today, and he said 11-6 every day, so maybe opening til 8 is just an occasional thing?

I tried the smoked chicken sandwich and the chili cheese fries today, and both were excellent.

Some more photos:

Chili Cheese Fries
Smoked Chicken Sandwich
The menu board
The smoker from the back
The trailer

[Davwud]

This is a much better picture of the sandwich. Easier to tell it's a bun.

DT

[00CP]

I love how often you visit this spot :)

Thanks for the update/correction on times!

[C mac]

The chili cheese fries look great!

[00CP]

I've eaten at Fat Louie's a couple times now, every time the 'Q has been solid. There is a trailer with a smoker out back, and he uses charcoal as the base and hickory as the flavour. So far I've tried both the pulled chicken and pulled pork sandwiches, and I have to disagree about the sauce comment above. The pork doesn't need to much sauce tbh, and comes topped with fresh chopped onions. The pulled chicken is great, straightforward smoked and then slathered in his BBQ sauce. For 5$ a sandwich, in a Rona parking lot, the BBQ is top notch.

[Jacquilynne]

I'd sort of forgotten about the onions, as I don't like onions, so I picked them off. It may be that they provide the extra dimension I felt like the pulled pork was missing.

I reheated my pulled pork fries today with a little extra salt and some goat cheese, and it's fabulous. Well, the fries aren't fabulous, but day old fries are never gonna be fabulous, that's just the way of the fry. They were fabulous yesterday when I ordered them and that's what matters.

[00CP]

Did you get the sweet potato or the rosemary (I think they were rosemary?) fries?

[Jacquilynne]

They were just ordinary fries, with pulled pork and BBQ sauce on top. I had ordered the chili cheese fries, but they were out of chili.

[Davwud]

The extra dimension the pulled pork was missing may very well be slaw. Lots of places serve slaw on their BBQ sandwiches to help balance the sweet and rich of the pork and sauce. I would tell them right away to hold the onions.

Is it stuffed into a pita??

I notice they use side ribs. That's a very good sign.

DT

[Jacquilynne]

No, it's in a bun, though I think the bun is maybe half of a larger loaf. I just took the top off and moved it to the side for the photo. Slaw would be good on the pulled pork sandwich.

[ylsf]

Interesting, thanks for the post. Guessing the trailer is the smoker? Did you notice what kind of smoker they were using?

[Jacquilynne]

Sorry, no idea. It was there on the back of the trailer, but I don't know anything about smokers so I don't know how to tell you what you might want to know.

I say trailer because it was built into something like a fifth wheel RV, with an enclosed section inside with coolers and fryers and such and then a back porch where the smoker was. The whole thing is one piece but it would need a pickup truck to move it.