I had read good things about Phil's Original BBQ in Toronto's west end
so I invited some friends to join me Friday for dinner. Five of us made
the trip across town. The place smelled fantastic, the service was
friendly and the appetizers were a big hit.
We ordered chachapas, they are corn pancakes filled with melted cheese.

Now to the main course. I ordered a combo platter for myself; ribs,
chicken and brisket. Sue ordered ribs, the other 2 guys ordered combos
and Olga ordered pulled pork. That covered all the bases.
The ribs were good, the best I've had at any restaurant in T. They had
a nice crisp bark, were moist and smoky. The sauce was served on the
side.
The chicked was bland. It had very little smoke flavour and was a litle
dry. I used it to sop up Phil's hot sauce. It is lemony and white
pepper hot.
The brisket was amazing. It was very moist and flavourful. I've got a
WSM and feel I make better ribs and chicked than what Phil's served but
I've never tried doing a brisket. Maybe I've been intimidated. I'm
definitely going to give it a shot this weekend.
The sides were excellent, beans and slaw. The slaw had a hint of
horseradish. I'm going to add a little to my next batch, it was a very
nice touch. The beans were sweet and fatty, just the way I like them.
Overall I'd recommend the place if you want to compare your results
with a pro. I'd say anyone with a decent cooker and some patience can
learn to do a better job for themself than you can buy at Phil's but it
was certainly better than the boiled/baked/grilled ribs you get
everywhere else.

Cam