I showed the Stockyards Smokehouse and Larder to my colleague Ed and he seemed to be as enthusiastic about the joint as I am. Hopefully he will be able to enjoy several lunches proximate to his workplace in the near future. Definitely, the Stockyards Smokehouse is one of those places that takes every aspect of its business seriously. It tries to do a small number of things exceedingly well. There are homemade sauces and drinks along with top quality ingredients. For example, the in-house spicy dipping sauce and the garlic aioli are very flavourful. The personal service that is friendly and excessively helpful. The restaurant also aims to be as eco-friendly as possible.
The porchetta sandwich was garlic aioli and rapini is a very unique item. The pork loin and belly is smooth and succulent, flavoured with garlic and fennel. The aioli gives the sandwich welcome creaminess and the sautéed rapini adds a nice fresh texture. Served on a baguette in a cast iron skillet, it impresses many; it certainly won Ed over. Apparently, it’s also the hostess’s favourite menu item. The shoestring fries are a perfect side order for one seeking to indulge themselves.
One minor complaint about the beef brisket sandwich is that it lacks a small bowl of jus for dipping. The beef is tender with a subtle smoky favour but it is a little dry relative to the porchetta sandwich. The sautéed onions contribute sweetness without overwhelming the sandwich and making things too messy.
When especially hungry or training for a competitive eating contest, the fried chicken basket is worth the wait. The batter is crunchy although the rub could contain more spices. On its own the chicken is fine but when partnered with the salty fries, cole slaw, and hot sauce it is very delicious. Underneath the batter, there is plenty of moist chicken meat to go around.
In recognition of the rising popularity of the restaurant, the T.T.C. constructed a dedicated streetcar line along St. Clair so riders can get to the Stockyards Smokehouse as quickly as possible.