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Phil’s Original BBQ, located on College Street just past Ossington, has a simple, respectable menu. Unfortunately, their food just doesn't live up to it. BBQ is a low and slow cooking method, which I love. When I heard that Toronto.ca voted Phil's top BBQ in Toronto, I raced over there to sample the ribs and meats. My companion and I ordered up the full rib platter and the pulled pork platter, both of which came with baked beans and cole slaw. The pulled pork platter was ok. (It’s very hard to screw up pulled pork.) The ribs were a St. Louis style side cut. Personally, I don’t care for the side cut, however restaurateurs love them because they are cheaper than the prized baby back ribs. For $22 we got half a rack of ribs (although they claim it’s a full rack) that came with boring baked beans and a pretty good side of fresh cole slaw. In fact, the cole slaw was the best thing we ate. Sadly, the ribs were flavorless and the sauce plain. We also tried Gloria’s Cahapas, a corn pancake with cheese, which was decent. But as far as BBQ goes, this place was mediocre at best. What was Toronto.ca thinking when they voted it top BBQ? I've had McRib sandwiches from Mc Donald’s that tasted better. Ok, that's pushing it, but come on people-- Toronto's Best BBQ?
I saw Phil’s Original BBQ on a Canadian Food Network program called Restaurant Makeover a week prior to dining there. Usually when a restaurant is on this show, it’s pretty much doomed. The show employs a designer and top chef from Toronto to re-do the decor and menu. Unfortunately, Phil didn’t add any of the delicious pescatarian recipes that the Restaurant Makeover chef offered up. And the interior design looks out of place, even a bit cheesy. There are birch tree limbs spewing out from the walls. Strange.
Overall, I would not waste your time or dime at Phil’s Originally BBQ. If you're jonsing for good BBQ you will have to wait a little longer. I know of a place opening up...
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