Another BBQ joint [Smoke BBQ House on Harbord]

[air621]

This one on Harbord. Hopeful. Skeptical.
http://www.thegridto.com/blog-post/fo...

[pourboi]

A review on Dine.to from Jan 31: http://www.dine.to/profile_features.p...

Highlight: "where is that elusive barbecue-smoked flavour? Stephen Hawking could have made these."

Does not seem like things are improving too much....

[Davwud]

Wow!! That's pretty telling

DT

[ylsf]

Thanks for the link. Instead of reading the review, click the "play" button above and listen to it. Alan Vernon is funny.. I love when his ads turn up on Newstalk 1010 and when Mike Bullard makes fun of him.

[Googs]

It's unfortunate you can't click on his name to read more Alan Vernon reviews. Though high-whistling whiny, it's really funny.

[terrycar]

The Tunnel , a rotisserie chicken & rib joint was featured on the last season of You Gotta Eat here & the food looks and probably tastes the same as it did when I was last there twenty years ago- totally unmemorable.

[ylsf]

There is a "profile" of this place on BlogTo. Pics don't make the food look that appetizing. Meat looks tried out based on the photos which matches other people's comments here and there:

http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/smo...

[Davwud]

Based on the picture the pulled pork is sauced. Fail. The ribs look steamed and paltry. Fail.
At least, in the pictures.

I may give this place a go someday but I've not seen or heard anything that makes me think they know what they're doing.

Also, I didn't realize Windsor was a respectable BBQ city.

DT

[Googs]

So far as I can tell, bbq is the ONLY thing to eat in Windsor. (standing by, waiting for butt to be kicked.)

[LexiFirefly]

Pizza, eas pizza.

[Davwud]

I liked Bubi's. The sauce was great.

DT

[plug]

forgive my ignorance but how did Windsor come into this thread?

[ylsf]

The comment was related to something the author said in the BlogTO profile about the chef coming from Windsor . To quote "Chef Tony Gallippi hails from the respectable BBQ city, Windsor, and delivers the complete package of smokehouse essentials"

Curious to know what BBQ places there are even in Windsor. I heard about this place called Tunnel BBQ, but, don't even know if it is still in business (saw some posts before about it possibly closing down, but, they still seem to have a website, etc: http://tbqwindsor.com/ . Anyway, off topic for this thread really.. maybe someone should create a "windsor bbq" thread :)

[Googs]

Marketing Directors who Me Too instead of Next Big Thing shouldn't be Marketing Directors or Restaurateurs.

[tawnyport]

Dry baby back ribs. Thick bark. Not cut. Had to pull apart. Too Fatty Texas Style Brisket. Vinegary Coleslaw. Dull Baked beans. Small order flavourless Sweet Potato Fries. No beer & wine menu. Bill came with price different from menu price. IMHO Best BBQ in Toronto is still in Whitby. At best a 5 out of 10. Passing a 3 day course does not make you a BBQ chef.

[meatnveg]

Care to elaborate on the food a bit more?
how does it compare to other places that are not a 2 hr drive (maybe it's shorter when on a high horse?)

how vinegary is vinegary? i happen to like vinegar

[Davwud]

Isn't this the place that was advertising they hired a "Certified Master Smoker"??

DT

[ylsf]

Close, I think the owner/chef said he was a Certified Master Smoker

[pourboi]

according to post city.com the master smoker certification is bestowed by the electric smoker manufacturer after completing their THREE day training couse!

[Davwud]

That's awesome. Learning BBQ takes years and years. Not 3 days. I've been at it 12 years and still have some things to learn. I wouldn't feel right opening up a place with my knowledge.
Wow.

On another note, I drove by today. Was wondering about stopping for lunch. They didn't look open. Nor closed either. It was hard to tell so I kept going.

DT

[ylsf]

Thanks for the heads up that this spot is open now.. There was some talk about it in another thread before (Openings thread I think)..

BTW... a more descriptive title would help next time :)

EDIT : hmm... I just read the comments on that GridTO article... I think I will wait a few weeks before checking this place out (i.e. wait for other CHers to try it first :) )....

[hungryabbey]

Thanks for posting! I drove by the other night on the day to dinner, made a mental note to look into it, and then forgot the name lol well, here's hoping.