Among the many heartbreaking news stories we're seeing throughout this Covid-19 era, the ones about longtime shops and restaurants being forced to shutter because of reduced business definitely hits hard. With commercial rent rates in Toronto already rising to brutal levels even before the outbreak, it's near certain that dozens more of these smaller independent eateries simply won't be able to afford to continue operating (take-out revenue can only go so far).
No neighbourhood, including mine, is immune to this. Here in the south-east a bunch of places have closed in the past few years and just remained vacant, giving stretches of Queen East near Woodbine something of a ghost town feel (especially on a cold night). It's safe but sad to predict the pandemic will force even more of them to close permanently in the next few months, and seeing as I am often hungry and inclined to go on a food quest or two... I've decided to spend some of my emergency government cash on trying as much local food as I reasonably can before it's too late.
Of course I'll do some kind of basic rating system I guess, but that'll be more a matter of personal connection/enjoyment/value than anything (a lot of these are different types of cuisine and I just don't feel like comparing quality in specific detail across those lines).
All right long winded intro over... lets eat.
(also disclaimer yes I am only getting take-out and going directly home, on my bicycle so as to maintain social distancing etc)
Hogtown Smoke
1961 Queen Street East
I've only lived in the Beaches for about five and a half years (where does the time go) and Hogtown was already here when I moved to the area. In that span I'd previously only been once before (for a brisket sandwich).
This time I was craving something with fries and loaded with other fixings... thus basically the monstrosity you see above. Their 'Stacked Fries' are duck fat taters, pulled pork, their coleslaw (more vinegary over creamy) topped with root beer baked beans, some cheese/gravy and a drizzle of a sweet-ish BBQ sauce.
The sharpness of the slaw is a bit out of place, but the pork, sauce and beans all work damn deliciously with the fries. Even though it wasn't super warm once I was able to dig in at home (it was a cold day and I live a ten minute bike ride away) the combination of flavours more than made up for that not optimal temperature.
It's pricey (about twenty two bucks after tax) though this particular item is meant to be shared. It was so much food in fact that I ate only about half of it initially, saved a bunch of the pork and slaw for future sandwiches, and then fried the leftover fries in a pan the next day and it regained most of its fresh crispy glory.
Straight up, their food is damn delicious. If you're into BBQ this is regarded as a top location in the entire city and the rep is well deserved. Their second location on Colborne (near King station) shut down around the time the lockdown began, so fingers crossed the original outpost can survive this awful storm.
Nostalgia Grade: N/A
Price Value: 5/10 (not exactly a bargain but the portions are sizeable)
Overall: 9/10
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