After arriving in Toronto with my sister late Sunday afternoon from a busy post-Christmas drive from Ottawa, neither of us were in the mood for cooking and we had virtually nothing in the fridge, so she and I agreed to do some takeout. Now, Swiss Chalet was an option (and she knows I've a serious weakness for the Chalet sauce), but when she also suggested The Stockyards, I couldn't resist trying this unique local haunt. Thank goodness my curiosity was well rewarded.
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| The Stockyards Fried Chicken in a take-out box, minus a drumstick, traded for one of my sister's smoked pork ribs. |
My sister had the Stockyards Fried Chicken before, so this time she ordered a half rack of ribs. That didn't stop me from ordering fried chicken for myself on my first trip to this small nook on St. Clair West a few blocks west of Bathurst. The buttermilk marinated fried chicken was fabulous and surprisingly felt less greasy than I expected considering its fried nature, still maintaining a crispy outside despite steaming in its own heat for ~10 minutes. The fall-off-the-bone ribs had a hint of smokiness to them, and its marinade was neither burnt nor overpowering the meat's own flavour. Trust me when I say that the chicken and ribs are worth the prices compared to some franchises that sell fried chicken and/or ribs at cheaper rates.
The next time I can swing by this place, I'd like to try one of its burgers or sandwiches. This is a small place, and no reservations are accepted, so if you can't get a seat inside, it might not be a bad thing to order take-out. Just keep focused on your driving or walking as the aromas waft past your nose.
Name: The Stockyards Smokehouse & Larder
Address: 699 St. Clair Ave. W., Toronto, ON
Cuisine: Contemporary, BBQ
Price Range: $10-$15
Accessible: Yes
Love it. Happy new year to you, and a great 2011 to all!
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