Smoked Brisket
The reason the smoker exists. Ask if it has sold out before you sit.
Barbecue · Summerhill
Big Crow
A back-alley barbecue patio in Summerhill that only really works outdoors
BarbecueSummerhill, Toronto$$Details being confirmed
The review
Big Crow is a back-alley grill behind Rose & Sons's old Dupont address, and it is essentially a patio with a smoker. On a warm evening it is one of the most enjoyable places to eat in Toronto; in November it is a rumour.
Brisket is the reason the smoker is there — ask whether it has gone before you commit to a table. Grilled corn, charred and over-buttered, is the side that causes arguments. The whole grilled trout is the quieter order and frequently the better one.
Honest notes: it is almost entirely outdoors, so the weather makes the decision for you. The good cuts sell out. The season is short. Go in July, go early, and sit under the lights.
What to order
Grilled Corn
Charred hard, buttered heavily. The side everyone fights over.
Whole Grilled Trout
The quieter order, and often the better one.
What works
- One of the best patios in the city
- Real live-fire cooking
- Unpretentious for the postcode
What doesn’t
- Almost entirely outdoors — weather decides
- Popular cuts sell out
- Short season
Verdict
Brisket if it is left, corn regardless, outdoors in July.