299 Roncesvalles Ave, Toronto, ON M6R 2M3, Canada
A Decade of BBQ in Roncesvalles Village.
Overall good service. Their bbq meats are delicious. Only that I wish their portions are a bit bigger. The sampler for two isn’t enough for two people. Of course it’s subjective but for the price I would expect a bigger portion. I really like the tips included price. All the restaurants should do the same. By the way the Cesar drink is wonderful.
The food was great here and although we were told the service is normally great, we waited far too long for our meals. In the end, they tried to make it right by comping the dessert and apologizing profusely - since they were training new staff. Kids eat free here on weeknights, and they put a kid movie up on a screen behind the bar.
I ate here a few months ago (May 2024) and forgot to leave a review but I have been thinking about it ever since! I had the weekday boxed lunch — the brisket sandwich is delicious, the fries were perfectly seasoned, and the slaw with dill is a total game changer. It’s also a great spot for people watching if you get a window seat. Highly recommend!
I recently visited BBQ Smokehouse, a great spot that's perfect for families and kids. The restaurant has a modern and welcoming atmosphere, making it a nice local hangout. What sets them apart is their unique take on barbecue—there's definitely something special about their smoked beef and chicken wings, which are incredibly moist and flavorful. The staff is friendly and accommodating, enhancing the overall experience. However, I did find the portion sizes to be smaller than expected, especially considering the price. For example, the full rack of baby back ribs felt more like a half rack compared to typical U.S. standards, yet it comes with a premium price tag. Overall, while the food is delicious and the environment is top-notch, be prepared for a higher price point and smaller portions. But if you're looking for quality barbecue in a family-friendly setting, BBQ Smokehouse is worth a visit
The service was excellent! Food amazing! We had the sampler for two. Ribs, Brisket, Sausage. Plus Caesar Salad and Wings. Definitely recommend this place. Also really great the staff are paid well at a living wage for working there.
Our server was very attentive and all the food came out quick and hot. There is also complimentary sparkling water and spiced popcorn! We got the sampler for two (total around $120 after tax). Unfortunately it was all a little disappointing. For our one starter we got the wings with their signature sauce. The sauce was really tasty, and the meat was tender but there was no smokey taste (although we could smell it). For our three meats, we got the brisket, back ribs and pulled BBQ pork. The brisket was cut thick and short instead of the usual long and thin. We didn't mind that but the meat was lacking flavour so we drenched it in the BBQ sauce left over in the plate. The pulled pork was not good, conversely it was swimming in sauce. The back ribs had good flavour but was tough and dry. Our sides were the Mac and cheese and cornbread. The Mac and cheese was okay, nothing special. The cornbread itself is dense but the accompanying marrow butter was very tasty. Overall, all the meats lacked a smokey flavour. Their BBQ sauces are tasty but not balanced on the different cuts of meats. We don't think we'll try again.
Had a great night out with a few fellow dad’s at Barque’s Smokehouse. We drank bourbon cocktails, ate copious amounts of bbq and just general kvetched about what it’s like to be a fully committed dad in 2024. The food and service were all great. I really like Barque’s approach to fair wages and it shows off in the wonderful vibe from staff around the dining room. The only slight problem I ran into was with the menu. There are so many interesting apps and sides that looked amazing, but we could only try so much. Ultimately we had to make some hard choices, all of which were great but left me curious about the things we skipped. Ah well, I will be back.
A hearty, super yummy plentiful salad with awesome, diverse and exciting unique flavors. I hauled a delicious Charred Broccoli Combo Salad for lunch which was spot on, really refreshing and I'd certainly recommend it. This joint was a dope grubdown, it'd be awesome if they had some additional options that are more tofu based for the veggie proteins. I also super dig and love the compostable packaging, game changing and solid ethics.
No smoke ring on the brisket, and dry. Definitely done hot and fast instead of low and slow. Sides are great, good beer on tap, the pork rinds are super tasty. If you ve had genuinely good BBQ from Texas and the south. This won t hit the mark. If you have no benchmark, you ll be fine.
Shout-out to Jordyn for great customer service :) She was super sweet and definitely made the effort to make our night super special even though it was pretty busy! Got the sampler for two and it was great! Not sure why there s some people complaining about the portion sizes but we got the wings, Caesar salad, Mac and cheese, ribs, brisket, and chicken and were stuffed after, we had to take some of it home! All good food :)
This is possibly the best smokehouse in toronto.
Aggressively mid-tier bbq. Let s start with what was good. The staff were fantastic, and knowing they work for a proper wage and no tips just makes their effort even more appreciated. We got the sampler for 2 which honestly should be relabeled as sampler for 1 hungry person or 2 ppl looking for a snack. Portion was incredibly disappointing. Again, starting with the good: we got the octopus appetizer and it was fantastic. Well seasoned, well cooked I would not have expected octopus of this quality from this type of bbq place. For the mains we go the chopped pork, the bbq ribs and the brisket. The chopped pork was good, all 3 forkfuls of it that we got. It was good, but nothing to write home about. The half rack of ribs had pretty good flavor, again nothing special. We got maybe 5 or 6 ribs with about 2 bits of meat each. The most disappointing was the brisket. 4 tiny little measly bite sized pieces, maybe about 1/4 the size of a normal piece from any other bbq joint. Brussels sprouts were good, fries were fries, garlic butter buns were soft and pretty good. Overall, as someone who likes to eat bbq and leave with a full stomach I cannot say I have any intention of returning here, especially with the other places in the city that offer more meat, better quality, for equal or lower price. Kid-friendliness: There were a few younger kids when we went so they had a cartoon movie on the television behind the bar (no sound).
My regular lunch spot in the neighborhood. The best Caesar salad and brisket you can get for an incredible price. Staff is always a good hang.
The mac & cheese, coleslaw and brisket is to die for! #ContestEntry
Amazing quality and real human warmth. Roncesvalles is so lucky to have a stellar restaurant with a loving neighbour vibe
My husband loved the brisket - in his words it melted in his mouth Service was excellent. Everything was very flavorful. Good vegetarian options considering its a smoke house. I mean really, comparatively its a cut above if you want to eat together and one is veg! Also the server was so kind and sweet because we were celebrating a birthday so thank you :)
Best brisket I ve ever had wowwwwwwwww. Dill slaw was unreal too
Love Barque and the offerings with the brisket as my fave.
We had the most wonderful dinner. The duck tacos were scrumptious. The caesar salad was one of the best I ever had - tons of bacon, very fresh romaine, and just the right amount of dressing. The shoestring fries were crispy and delicious. But the piece de resistance were the dry rub ribs. Yum, yum!
Disappointing. Cold average food .
Barque saves dinner! We picked up an amazing last minute dinner, whole smoked chicken, coleslaw, and dinner rolls for $25! Great deal and it was the yummiest meal! This deal starts at 5pm till they sell out! So stop by and pick one up! You won t be disappointed!
great service and atmosphere, food was unfortunately a bit disappointing
Waiters are so rude and never treat you well
Delicious amd great service
The food here is so good. My girlfriend took me here for my birthday and we had a great time. Will definitely come back!
We love eating at Barque , great food, nice staff. Highly recommended.
Great selection, friendly and attentive staff, quick service and lovely atmosphere.
Really really good but the portions are really tiny.
Had a little impromptu Thanksgiving dinner with my sister and her family tonight. The space is cute and clean with a smoky aroma (I would buy that scented candle, jussayin ). I was in the mood for something lighter so I opted for the branzino, it was light and fluffy while still filling and had a nice little kick of spice to it. The broccoli salad with pomegranate was great as well! Most impressive was our server Jayden. She was very attentive, always within reach but not at all pushy. Felt like she genuinely wanted to help us have a great experience, not rush us in any way. She was fantastic with my little niece, which was really nice for all of us and made us really happy to have picked Barque over other local options. Jayden really elevated the experience with her lovely energy and professionalism. We look forward to coming back, thank you Jayden!
The beef brisket was tender, delicious. Chicken wings, smoked chicken were very popular. My favorite was the charred broccoli salad. From Calgary Alberta.
Delicious!! cant say more, you have to try it.
Food is immaculate and our server was fantastic, but really disappointed by the host (short man with long brown hair) We were a group of 14 who were happy to wait/sit separately/work with whatever space the restaurant had. However, 4 of our group were turned away due to capacity and kitchen closing - but then 2 tables of 4 were seated afterward? He was really rude and unprofessional
3x average caesar cocktails each at $16 plus 6 smoked wings ended up $88 after tax. Definitely overpriced. Servers had attitude big time, girls were ok, but the male servers thought they were there from another planet doing us a favour, I am sure one of them was so stoned high, he could barely talk and walk, only a pretty face, which has mislead them to think they are above all.
Amazing experience. The staff was friendly and very serviceable. They were specially kind with the kid. The complimentary popcorn was an amazing started. The selection of meats was prime and the green beans were to die for. The octopus was such an indulgent craving. An amazing dinner.
Visited yesterday with my wife and 11 year old. My wife ordered the brisket meal, I went for the pork meal and my daughter decided on the kids tenders. It was an amazing all around experience from the atmosphere to the food and the service. I would highly recommend for families. Super friendly with amazing food isn t usually a bad combo. They are also good with allergies as an fyi
Wonderful dinner ! The brisket was to die for! Cant wait to come back ! We didn t get to try the peach cobbler as we had a late arrival 9pm but next time we will!
Nice
Good food even better service from Joel the fact they pay staff a living wage wasnt lost on me and encouraged me to want to tip more.
Non respect And welcome is not pleasant
Got the meal for 2 board and it was absolutely amazing! The wings with the house dry rub was amazing and the smoky flavor of the meat was perfect! Definitely will be going again and Dave is the best!
$48 burnt ribs and I could barely cut through the meat with my knife. Servers and the atmosphere was nice though.
My food was dry and over cooked (both main and side), others in my party had similar issues with their meat and sides being over spiced. Service and atmosphere was lovely, shame the price doesnt justify the average fare they serve.
Amazing food. We had the ribs and brisket and both were amazing.
Food was amazing. Mac n cheese, chicken tenders / wings, and the duck tacos were all amazing one of the best I ve had in a while. Service was amazing, very nice. Atmosphere was good. One issue. To much wasps. (Sit inside)
Great food, great service, family friendly, great lunch specials. Brussels sprouts that ll make people regret picking the fries.
Food is top-notch!!! Recent menu change was a shock.
Below average. Not as good as it once was. Caesar salad used to be sublime-now it is awful. The bacon was not as candied as it once was. The dressing had no flavour. It was just white. Mayo has more flavour. Popcorn was stale. The best part was the bottle of wine, the crinkle cut fries and the server. Wings and sausage were just ok-you know forgettable. Edit August 2024: even with tip included $48 for a HALF rack of ribs with one side is ridiculously expensive.
Love Barque. Great food. Great service. Every time.
Update: don t go for lunch on the reduced menu it is such a disappointment! this resto should offer full service and same quality food - not just takeout and self serve. Because of this lunch experience today, we will consider returning Hands down the best wings and brunch/lunch in the city if you re looking for high quality, smoked taste. Incredible!
The staff were all so friendly and welcoming. We sat on the patio and had a lovely time. Parking: There is paid and free street parking available based on the time of the year and day. Depending on the time of day, it may be harder to find parking spots open
Best smokehouse in Toronto.
Fun place, great food, fantastic service.
The most amazing BBQ we ve ever had - loved our service and the atmosphere
Best Barbecue in the City!
Loved the food and great service!
A gem in the area! Delicious food !
Fantastic neighbourhood restaurant! Delicious food, and such good treatment of our kids as well! We appreciate the friendly service every time we enjoy a meal here!
Great good, super attentive service. Can t wait to come back!
Smoked duck blueberry pancakes were
Great food and professional staff
Barque is the first place we ate when we moved to Roncesvalles in 2018. The food, service and experience has been consistently excellent since then, and it has remained one of our favourite places. We have also discovered, as our family has expanded, that they welcome children and make a real effort to make eating at a restaurant with small kids an easy and enjoyable experience for all. Take your kids, let the servers and staff bring them playdoh and crayons, and you can actually have a conversation with your partner.
Have eaten here many times and most recently came to celebrate our anniversary. Food was amazing, service was great. Can t wait for our next visit.
I havent been in years but this place deserves a great review. Service was amazing, best wings Ive ever had hands down, and I eat a lot of wings.
One of the best places to get BBQ in Toronto. Great people and service is just the cherry on top!
Ordered food for my team of movers a few weeks ago. Food was devoured quickly. Good comments all around. Next time we re doi g another job in the neighborhood we ll be sure to order from them again. My guys can be particularly fussy.
Good lunch specials Sliders, brisket & pulled chicken sandwiches. Food
Staff is so sweet and approachable. Food was really good except i wish the cornbread was a bit more to it. Food
The service was lovely, and the food (although i only got this terrible photo) was amazing. Our server was super nice, had great recommendations. If you re in roncy, i d absolutely recommend coming here, and i ll definitely come again!
Unique genre of cousine that is not easy to find and they do it extremely well. Highly recommend this restaurant.
Steve and him team were amazing! Food was very tasty, we ordered the Meet Meat Platter so we could try all the delicious barbecue and we did not regret! It was my husband s birthday and Steve helped me with the surprise cake. Thanks Steve and team!
Amazing staff, very professional and efficient. Dietary restrictions: Dairy free Kid-friendliness: Kids menu, crayons
Friendly service from the fellow at the bar, food portions are big, so take a good appetite. Good selection of rotating craft beers.
I have referred many friends to Barque s Boxed Lunch Menu. I cannot say enough about the quality food (Brisket Sandwich | Caesar Salad) and the value proposition. I honestly think it s under-priced for the happiness it brings to my tummy.
I ordered 6 JUMBO chicken wings and they were 6 shriveled mini chicken wings and 1 wing was considered 1/2 a wing as it was missing the 1 bone. Also, it was written under the section that included a salad which I confirmed with the server that it was included. They charge me extra for the salad and told me that if I read carefully, the wings were excluded. This was VERY misleading and the server shouldve comped me as she clearly told me I could choose any salad as part of the included salad.
I liked the place, excellent service and very friendly, they explained to me how to choose the dish to share for two people and I loved that they were adequate portions to be satisfied, my favorite was the duck tacos
Great place, great and friendly service and really good value (we had the 90$ meat platter for two people which was more than enough portion-wise). Everything was very tasty and the brisket was the star for everyone (we were with another couple who got the se platter with different meats so everyone could try everything). After the brisket, the chicken was great and the pulled pork too. Very good fries as a side!
So bad environment so racist dont know how to behave with peoples really dont like it .
this is the worst place ever visit , no sense not even good hospitality and even they are racist they dont know how to behave properly with the customer.
worst place ever to eat didnt like it. Also racist .
Had a great experience here! Ive been wanting to try this place out for a while and it didnt disappoint. We got the brisket benedict and double smashed onion burger. You could tell everything was made in-house and was super fresh. Their shoes tong French fries were fried to perfection and had a great seasoning that made me keep grabbing for more. They have a fair selection of beverages and they pay their staff a living wage, which is so great to see. The staff themselves were extremely friendly and welcoming. It wasnt too busy when we went to they were very attentive and the food came in a reasonable amount of time. Ill have to come back for the dinner menu but overall it was an excellent experience.
Really good. The only heads up about this place I would say is book a reservation. It gets busy, and due to the nature of the food, sometimes they run out of one or more things (Which is standard for BBQ places).
Fantastic food and very helpful customer service from the catering department. Our team loved everything our only regret is not trying everything on the menu! Thanks again!
No BBQ before dinner service. Ordered a sandwich without the bread and was charged substantially more than the sandwich (with the bread) cost. Perplexing business plan. Staff are wonderful and accommodating.
Strongly suggested! Food, price, atmosphere, and the service are all spot on! Their brisket is fire! Food
Great food and great atmosphere and service. We had the sampler for two and it was excellent. Great portions and flavor. Broccoli salad was super good.
Absolutely delicious. Great vibe. Definitely will go here again.
I have been coming to Barque for years and have always loved it. It is one of the most professionally run restaurants I ve ever been to, and the food is outstanding. The service is just incredible they pay a living wage so the employees are fairly compensated and not fighting over shifts and I ve never been to a more family-friendly place, which is just perfect for Roncy. The newly launched lunch special is an insanely good deal, $15 INCLUDING tax and tip, so really more like a $10 special when you factor that in. In 2024 that is very well priced lunch, especially given the quality of the food, service and atmosphere of the restaurant. A fantastic restaurant that I and my family enjoy very much!
Great place for brunch.
Best BBQ in the city by far. Great experience from staff to food. Go!
This place has the best sides Ive had with BBQ
Smoked Chicken Wings + Omelette Du Jour + Double Smashed Oklahoma Onion Burger @ Barque Smokehouse Was heading to High Park to see the sakura blossoms and stopped by this establishment for lunch. Barque offers a special brunch menu during the weekends. The omelette of the day had horseradish in it but was also quite sweet for an omelette. The burger had two juicy beef patties stacked on top of each other, bathed in melted cheese and their in-house BBQ sauce. It came with pickles and the flavor harmonized perfectly with the BBQ sauce. They also serve a Beyond Meat version for the veggie lovers. The smoked wings were quite dry and felt overdone, but they gave us an extra wing so yippie! One thing that stands out about Barque is their tipping policy: NO TIPS PERIOD! They literally disable the option in the POS machine. I thought the machine bugged out and when I asked about the tips, they replied that they support a living wage policy over tipping. They also have a very generous kids-eat-free special during the weekdays that allows not one, but TWO kids to enjoy free BBQ per adult. Kudos to them! Vegetarian options: They offer beyond neat burgers. Kid-friendliness: They offer kids meals and kids eat for free deals.
Greta food and no tips. 10/10 no notes.
The lunch menu was solid! The kids burger was amazing according to my son! The sandwiches and sides I had are superior! We tried the Affogato (ice cream with coffee [decaf] ) and it was 10 out of 5
What we ordered for takeout, and our thoughts: - Competition chicken thighs: so good!! the rub and flavour is so delicious - Smoked chicken wings, nashville hot sauce: these were really good too - Smoked beef brisket: i love this so much - Baby back ribs, barque rack o bama bbq sauce: really good - Shoestring fries: great BBQ seasoning - Caesar salad: unfortunately, this was our least favourite item. the lettuce leaves were dry when we got them. that aside, the dressing was pretty good though. We ll definitely order from here again. Barque has a pretty good reputation and their food always meets expectations and more!
Food and service were great! They provide complimentary popcorn and sparkling water. It s also all inclusive in the sense that there is no tipping which is refreshing.
Always a superb dining experience.
Yummy Kid-friendliness: There is a whole kids menu yummy Food : 4/5 |
Very good choice of meats and barbecue foods. The vegan options are also very good. The cabbage chips were a very unique dish. The food is absolutely delicious. The service is excellent and they are very accommodating for any choices that you need.
Spot on BBQ.
Wen there for brunch. Food was good! Love that restaurant is paying their servers full salary and you dont have to be stressed about how much tip you should be paying. Will definitely come to for dinner next time.
Everything was perfect! Thanks for fitting us in.
Incredible service and great space, great spot for families with young kids.
The service here is amazing! Staff pay the upmost attention to you. I love that they re paid fair wages here. The chicken tenders are CRISP, chicken wings are flavourful, by far my favourite were the baby back ribs. The brisket, pulled pork and sausages, even the pickles were delicious. The food and service is great, will be coming back soon.
Food is delicious, service is amazing and the atmosphere is just right! Also, very accommodating for anyone that has a gluten allergy. Highly recommend! Food
Everything is so good, service is excellent and they even gave my pregnant wife some free BBQ sauce
They dont take tips. Kids eat free on week days (check their website for full details). Kids get actual playdough to play with and take home. The bathroom has a changing table and they are on the main floor, not downstairs. Probably one of the best non chain restaurants to go to if you have kids. Food is tasty and prices are comparable even though they pay their staff enough they dont need tips. I wish more restaurants followed their lead. Kid-friendliness: Kids eat free on school nights. They get playdough they can take home. Complementary popcorn. Crust was cut off from the grilled cheese. Changing table in the bathroom. You can tell the people who run the place have kids. Perfect spot to bring the family.
Mac and cheese was a surprising standout. The sausage and ribs had amazing flavour. Best of all this is a no-tip restaurant and the service was awesome.
Very nice smokey smell flooding the restaurant and great service!
UPDATE: After I posted this review, the restaurant owner reached out to me to apologize for the way we were treated and confirmed that he will be taking steps to ensure that this doesnt happen again. I appreciated his outreach and I am confident that he is committed to ensuring a higher level of service at the restaurant moving forward. --------------------------------- Ruined our Father s Day! We made a reservation for our family (two adults and two young children) for Father s Day dinner. We requested a seat on the patio in the reservation, as we have a high-risk child and can t eat indoors. We showed up for our 5:00 reservation right on time, and had to wait in line as they were just opening. When we got to the front, the host acknowledged that they had our reservation for the patio, but told us very brusquely and unapologetically that the patio was now first come, first served and they had just seated the family in line in front of us (who walked in off the street with no reservation) at the last patio table. Because they had just opened, there was no chance of another table opening up on the patio in the next few hours at least, so they turned us away. The host literally just rudely dismissed us and told us to leave, without even trying to come up with a solution, or apologizing that they hadn t bothered to tell us that we may not be able to get a patio seat, even though they had taken the reservation. We ended up wandering around with two hungry, cranky, and heartbroken kids for over an hour, trying to find any other restaurant that had seating open on their patio on Father s Day, which of course didn t exist. Finally gave up and got McDonald s. Despite having had several great meals at Barque before, after this horrible service, we won t be back again.
Went here for brunch and was so happy with the food and excellent service. Need to come back for dinner too! Full video on IG
Came to try the sampler for 2 and it was great portions. Love their drink menu. Staff is incredibly hospitable. Returned the next week for the full sized menu and was not disappointed. Will be back to try the platters.
A neighborhood gem. Great BBQ and a fair wage restaurant to boot.
I walked in to pick up my online Uber order they asked to bring the bag I have 3 orders I can t bring them bag, ofter explained I went back i bring then bag and a got food other that they given 1 star rating. After saying hello, the host asked me if I had a bag. My first thought was, wow ronce sure is eco friendly. After I replied with a no, I got a harsh we have a no bag-no food policy. It took me a second to realize he assumed I was an Uber driver because I have. Which is awkward, but if I have to suffer some racism for good BBQ Ill do it.
Wow! Incredible service and food! Wings, brisket, and Mac n cheese were our faves but everything was awesome! Everyone working there was super friendly and special shoutout to our awesome server Johnathan. We ll be back again!
After 10 years, this is still one of my favourite bbq places in the city. Love the new menu with my new fav: - corn soufflé (so many flavours!) And old favs: - shoestring fries - 299 rub wings (prefer them over the honey garlic as it s very well seasoned and crispy!). The honey garlic could use a bit more garlic and I think if a local honey was used would be a nice twist! But there are so many good local honey selections to choose from ! Will be tricky. Tip: if you get the samplers, adding a dessert is just $5! Loved that surprise at the end and the affogato was incredible. Maple ice cream is such a nice touch with a strong espresso. The biscotti is house made too. It s not very sweet or hard, if you re used to sown other drier biscotti s. It reminded me a bit of corn bread :) Miss the peach skillet dessert and the corn bread at brunch. Huge fan of the living wage, sparkling water on tap, and the colouring sheets. Looking forward to my next visit! Thanks team. Ps. Noticed the ketchup and mustard rubs are back on the table! Missed it last trip.
This place is such a homely experience. They pay their servers a livable wage which means tipping is 100% optional. And most importantly the food is incredible. We always go for the honey garlic ribs, chicken tenders and Mac n cheese. And we are never disappointed. It s a pricey affair but well worth it since I m not smoking anything at home
I ve been in the neighbourhood for a while but had never been here because people always told me there were no vegetarian options. I went tonight because of the January vegan specials I saw on social media and I was very impressed. There were so many vegetarian and vegan options even on their regular menu. I really enjoyed the food I got (sweet potato wrapped in yuba, charred broccoli salad, coleslaw and a blueberry crumble) and thought it was reasonably priced. Service was really great too - they offered to take coats, free sparkling water, no rushing you and to our surprise-tip was included. I m looking forward to going back for brunch :)
I am SO impressed with this restaurant for how family friendly they are. I took my husband here for his birthday brunch. I called ahead of time to ask if there was a seat where they could accommodate our stroller nearby due to having our newborn. They reassured us it was not an issue. Our seat was perfect upon arrival. They really know how to look after their littlest customers. Our toddler was entertained with play-doh (he got to pick his own colour) and crayons. The kids menu had great options. The staff were all attentive to refill our coffee and water, plus making sure we had everything we needed. The food was great and if youre a fan of dill pickle, you need to try their slaw. Its amazing! I had to do a diaper change, and they even had a diaper genie in the family bathroom along with a step chair for the kids to reach the sink. Its all these little things that make a difference to make parents lives easier and make us feel like we an still go out for nice food and enjoy our family time. Thank you Barque! * Side note: When I paid, there was no tip option. I asked the server and apparently tip is included into the cost of food and your bill. I just wanted to take sure they got a tip because our experience was amazing and we will return again :)
Oklahoma burger is a must try!
Tried this place out with some friends and split the platter and it was so delicious! All of the offerings were cooked well and seasoned to perfection. My faves from the platter were the brisket and the pulled pork. Sooo good! We chose the coleslaw, brussel sprouts and mac and cheese as our sides - they were all great. The drinks were also great. Super cute atmosphere and was stoked to hear that they are a fair wage establishment. Love to see it. Definitely recommend this spot for reeeeally good BBQ! They also have gluten free options which is a plus for anyone that needs it!
Great service, delicious food, workers also get paid a living wage. Lovely restaurant.
Delicious BBQ And I recommend Cesar salad Friendly service and Good beer. Its good to make a table reservation!!!
Some friends of mine treated me to a fantastic meal, here at Barques Smokehouse. :D We combined 2 sets of the Sampler for two combo, 2 types of wings (which were so good, I ate them before getting a picture), got 2 huge plates of 2 types of BBQ pork, 2 types of chicken, and 3 types of half rack ribs, along with 2 sets of appetizers-- pimento mac&cheese, and Steakhouse Mushrooms. I also washed down the meal with some excellent non-alcoholic beer this time, the Partake pale ale. Lastly as a Belated Birthday celebration, we shared some type of in-house made, mixed chocolate brittle, that really hit the spot! I highly recommend this place for meat lovers, if you can manage to grab a reservation there. We had to get one right at 5pm to be able to get in.
This place is stellar. The vibe is great, and the food is greater still. Steve was a great server. He provided excellent guidance for the menu and the cider options that they had. Definitely would go there again
Great BBQ for Toronto
Dined in for the first time yesterday (we usually order). Such phenomenal service and the food was unreal as usual. They even brought out a birthday dessert and candle for my brother. Strongly recommend.
Food was excellent, enjoyable atmosphere and the service was so friendly/attentive/fast. Couldnt have asked for a better birthday dinner. Great spot!
I wish there were more businesses like Barque. They serve great food, make great cocktails and theyre here for the neighborhood. Kids dine free with the purchase of an adult entrée on weeknights which makes dining out for parents less daunting and more affordable. Their rubs are also great to take home. Please support these guys. Theyre amazing humans.
I ve been to Barque many times and wanted to leave a review after an especially great experience last night. We had a large group and Barque was perfect, the sharing style platters worked out great and everyone loved all of the food and drinks. I didn t catch our servers name but he was fantastic, helping us figure out what to order and was very kind and attentive! Thanks for making our holiday meal so special!
I wanted to edit my previous review when I gave 1 star due to bad service. The owner reached out and make it right, waived the payment and we went again, leaving the place gladly. Appreciate the care to customers.
Veeeery tasty meat
been a loyal customer for many years. very disappointed. portion size is 1/2 of what it used to be. 188$ for 4 people still hungry. will never order again
excellent place - fantastic food and service. will definitely be back! also want to call out that this business pays their staff properly so they dont harass you for a 25% tip just for bringing you your food. this is how its done - take note, all other restaurant owners!
Amazing food and great experience. Dietary restrictions: Great for gluten free folks Food : 5/5 |
Great presentation on the food, nice and relaxing environment and staff are friendly and helpful with food knowledge
Service was attentive and non intrusive. Food tastes great and the Caesar was good. Soothing music as well.
Very nice food and service. We ordered the sampler and everything they served had flavor
Easily the Best burger in Toronto.
Went to Barque with some of my best buddies tonight, we had a terrific meal. The brisket is my personal favourite but I d never turn down the wings or ribs ;). Very friendly and welcoming service as well.
This place was recommended from some friends in the neighborhood and it did not disappoint. Fantastic spot with great service and even better BBQ. Our server Taylor was great, and gave wonderful recommendations. I split a sampler platter and it was perfect for the 2 of us. The Brussel Sprouts are a must try. Will definitely be going back.
This place is becoming a favourite of mine. Firstly, the food is amazing. I dont think I have had something on the menu I have been disappointed with and they have platters for 2 people and for bigger groups so you get a great sample of the array of options The service is great too, from taking your jacket at the door, giving your kids play doh and just generally being very welcoming. The first thing you get is a little bucket of nicely seasoned popcorn and an offer of still or sparkling water (no extra charge for sparkling!). These set the scene for a more relaxed enjoyable setting to enjoy the food. So many places nickle and dime these things. But most importantly and this is something I would love to see more of is they pay their employees a good wage for their great work and there is no tipping options on machines. This is so refreshing and hopefully a sign of where we can go as a community in the future!
I ubered ribs from here. The ribs were old, cold, dry and hard. I dont understand how they send that to a customer. I paid 56+ for the ribs, unacceptable. I dont understand either how they have high reviews here and on uber eats. Hard to believe the reviews are not bought.
Just a very cozy place for a great meal. Sampler was a great option for our group of 4 ladies, gave us the variety of choices for gluten free or no pork situations, while others could still enjoy those options. Corn soufle was fantastic, we all loved it, like a corn chowder and fritatatta were made into one. For desert we shared a blueberry ginger crumble that came with maple ice cream. You could taste ginger, yet it was not overpowering the berries - just perfect. They were happy to experiment at the bar and mix something not the menu. I had a mezcal ginger beer cocktail with lime juice.
Really great meal here on Monday. Kids eat free and our 16 month old loved the fries brisket and ice cream!! Still dreaming about the Mac and Cheese and Ribs. Cornbread also amazing. Thank you for a wonderful evening.
The taste combo for two was bit pricey but overall we had a pleasant experience, very friendly family-like vibe
Marni provided great service and she was very kind and helpful!
We went to Barque the other day with my girlfriend and her brother, we went with no expectations and I can tell you, we were blown away. The food, the service, the vibe... Wow! If you are looking for a great BBQ smokehouse type of place this is IT. The food is in-cre-di-ble, we got the shared platter for 3 (its usually for 2, but they were so nice to make it for 3). If you get the wings you have to try the rub 299, it is absolutely out of this world. The mac and cheese, the chicken, the ribs everything was just so delicious and very high quality. The service was excellent, waitress recommended some wine to go well with our dinner and also recommended according to our taste - fabulous. Thank you for the great time, really appreciate it! Will definitely come back for more! :)
5 stars because there is no more .... Arriving at this restaurant thanks to Google reviews so I take the time to do the same. What an evening perfect service gargantuan meal. A treat
very tasty food. Good service!
If youre in the area and want to have some barbecue, this is the spot to go! Ambiance - 4/5 - nice vibe to come with a friend or two and have some barbecue! Service - 5/5. Our server was very sweet and checked up on us a lot, had a nice smile and really just made me leave the night saying, she was so nice and had such great service! What was also noteworthy is that tip isnt required at this restaurant - the machine doesnt even have the option. Although, the food is a bit pricey, so that probably makes up for the no tip, as the servers are paid full wages. Food: Overall - 4/5 Cornbread - 3/5. Tasted good, but nothing Id say you must order. Beef brisket - 4/5. Tasty and soft, with a nice sauce. Would recommend it!
One of the best bbq joints in town
Picked at random and was very positively surprised. Food was good and nicely reparered, service was extraordinary and prices in the low end.
My 4 year old son and I had the loveliest lunch again here today. The service is always so friendly and thoughtful and the 299 rub wings are incredible! Love that they also support all staff with a living wage! You re the best and we re so lucky to have you in our hood :)
DELICIOUS FOOD!!! Each and every dish that we ordered was amazing. Brisket is highly recommended.
Food was great! The service was outstanding, very warm and friendly. Thanks Marni for a fun evening!
10/10 - some of the best bbq in the city. Service was exceptional. Food : 5/5
Horrible service. It took more than an hour to have two sandwiches ready. We were with two kids and they were hungry. Ridiculous.
The food was delicious: I had the chicken and the sauce on the thigh was terrific. We sat on the patio and it was splendid. The staff were friendly. The inside was dark and noisy; I imagine eating inside would not be as enjoyable. So visit soon and sit outside.
We were a walk-in party of 2 on a Saturday Eve and could be accommodated on the bar. The service was attentive, polite, and quick. The portions were a little small in our opinion (brisket and BBQ fries), but the quality of the meat was high. We would definitely re-visit to try their wings and ribs!
Did the sampler for 2 for $96 and was pretty disappointed by the portion sizes/value. The best item we tried were the chicken wings, the other items fell a bit short and we probably wont be back. However, the service was attentive and the restaurant itself was nice.
Okay, honestly, some of the best food I have ever had. Please, get either the brisket or the pulled pork. Its amazing. The service was fantastic. I took home some of the spices. 10/10. I cant wait to go back. *chefs kiss*
Some people expect bbq places to bring the heat, but Barques also brought the warmth in the form of exceptional and thoughtful service. For those who don t know, they are proud provisioners of living wages for their service staff, and it shows. Our waitress tonight whose name I am so sad to have forgotten was one of the most delightful people I ve had the opportunity to be served by. She was genuine, funny and so thoughtful. Her presence, and the loveliness of the other staff we got to interact with, plus the added bonus of truly excellent barbecue will turn me into a neighbourhood regular in no time. Thanks for the A+ experience! Will rave about you all forever. (For those interested in more food thoughts, we shared the smoked wings (juicy as all heck), dill pickle slaw, brisket and charred broccoli salad. Their lemon pepper rub for the wings are not artificially lemony, and their house bbq sauce is Smokey and full-bodied. Brisket was tender, and they elevated my love for slaw with the added dill punch. Broccoli salad is always a winner too. Bon apetite)
Hands down best ribs in toronto!
Love Barque, all employees are so friendly and the food is always amazing. 10/10
Loved the patio and the fantastic salad and brisket sandwich.
Cocktails here were amazing. We got the sampler for 2 and everything tasted great. The ribs were a little small but brisket was yummy and sausage was flavourful. Charred broccoli wasnt as charred as I would have liked but the salad and its dressing were pretty good. My husband was really impressed with the Mac and cheese and could not stop talking about it. Will be back solely for the jumbo chicken wings with the 299 rub. Oh the peach cobbler a la mode was insane too, I felt like I was on drugs because it blew my mind. The vanilla ice cream on top paired so well with the warm treat. We came for a celebration and were treated with gifts- a very meaningful gesture. Our server Marni was attentive and super friendly. Love the hip and also family friendly vibe. Theyve got a patio too. Too bad they close at 930 or we would have gotten more cocktails. Oh the mezcal margarita was so good! This place was a bit out of the way for us but Im so glad the good reviews held up. I will definitely be back soon.
This is a must in Toronto! You have to stop by and try the crazy-amazing food they serve! Brisket and tater tots were over the moon! The owner is a wonderful man and the staff is warm and attentive to your needs!
Such a lovely restaurant. Ive never been somewhere with such genuinely happy staff. The food came out extremely quickly and was extremely good. Really recommend the corn and the brisket. This place is also baby friendly, and they dont ask for a tip thanks to their living wage strategy. Kid-friendliness: High chairs and they offer crayons. Also the staff were very friendly and interactive with our child.
Hey there! I just had to share my amazing experience at Barque Smokehouse. My friends and I recently had the Meet Meat Platter, and let me tell you, it was an absolute feast for the senses. The combination of smoked brisket, baby back ribs, chicken thighs, chopped BBQ pork, smoked farmer s sausages, and BBQ pork rinds was like a carnivores dream come true. Each bite was a burst of flavor that left us wanting more. But thats not all! The sides were equally outstanding. The caesar salad was fresh and crisp, providing a refreshing contrast to the rich meats. The street corn was a delightful twist, and the fries were the perfect golden and crispy companion. And lets not forget about the grilled herb butter cornbread it was like a warm, savory hug in each bite. The ambiance of Barque Smokehouse added to the experience, creating a welcoming and cozy atmosphere that made our meal even more enjoyable. If youre a fan of exceptional barbecue and a variety of mouthwatering sides, Barque Smokehouse is an absolute must-visit. Our evening there was filled with laughter, full bellies, and unforgettable flavors. Cant wait to go back for more!
Without a doubt the best barbecue spot in Toronto (if not the GTA) - the quality of the meat is phenomenal (freshness, texture, tenderness, and most importantly taste) the spices & rubs are super flavorful. Its almost a ritual to visit whenever its someones birthday. My favorite is the Brisket & chicken wings - super juicy. Further, they pay their staff a fair wage in order to not charge tips; you feel good eating and you feel good supporting a business doing good for its staff. Well done Barque team - looking forward to many more meals in the future.
Fantastic all around. One of our favourites!!
Incredible service and food. Also, so great to know that the staff are paid a living wage. Really sets this place apart!
Great little BBQ place thats been around for awhile now. Amazing pulled pork, tender BBQ chicken and the sausages were a favorite. Spent my birthday here with family and the service was attentive. They pay a living wage to the staff, which is great. Prices are higher as a result. My only gripe was that the wine was $64 for a bottle that LCBO sells for $21,95. Extortionate!
Amazing smoked BBQ, with service with a smile by Barques happy full-waged staff. Fully appreciated this restaurant in their amazing food, leadership, ownership and service!!! Thanks for helping us celebrate my friends birthday today with the fabulous complimentary peach pie with maple ice-cream!!! Will be back soon!!! :)
Absolute knock out of a bbq joint! Food there was amazing! Good value too! The service was beyond anything and I knew Jason loved meeting new people, I personally hope we can get Jason again as our waiter! Im very excited to return once again, maybe get a few drinks and have another good time! Extremely recommend checking this place out!
It is rare to find a restaurant that does not charge tip because pay a good salary with benefits to its employees, and this is one. The food quality is also amazing. I would definitely come back. Food
This is a very good BBQ place in Toronto. We ate the 3 person meal that was very very good. The meat was excellent and so dose the side dish. Deserts were also good. The service is very good and polite. The beer is from some local distilleries that is very good. A very good BBQ style restaurant. We took the trio route which was really excellent and allows each diner to taste many dishes The starters were great, smoked duck tacos and smoked chicken wings in sauce. For the main dish we took pork ribs, smoked brisket, and smoked pork, side dishes broccoli salad and Caesar salad both were excellent. For drinks we drank beer from local breweries which were simply excellent, especially the IPA. For dessert we took the 2 desserts of the place, a peach pie with a scoop of maple ice cream, and a milk chocolate bar with bitters and caramel. The service at the place was courteous and excellent. Definitely a recommended restaurant to visit if you are in Toronto. I will definitely return on my next visit to the city Parking: On the street based on available space, it was definitely not complicated Kid-friendliness: On Monday children eat free of charge according to a childrens menu which was excellent Wheelchair accessibility: there is
$50 take out brisket and a side. We were in the area for an art opening and after past visits to the neighbourhood I made the point of visiting. I also wanted to support the business. We tool a take out because it was late. Brisket had a nice balance of sweet and smoke, Mac and cheese abit dry but balanced flavours. The portions were adequate for one serving but the bill was around $50 basically overpriced for the amount of food, and anyone living in Toronto now. Service was great. Would I return -no because the value was not there for me to justify the price. I hope maybe they will do combos that maybe be better priced otherwise I do not see this business model sustaining- loss for neighbourhood.
Highly recommend for a great time with friends & family - simply a gem in Ronsv - tipple star service, atmosphere and staff! Jason is simply one of the best servers in the six
Amazing breakfast options (the dunk pancakes tho), exceptional service and no tip. Highly recommended.
One of the best family restaurants in Toronto! They have a great school night special where kids eat free Sunday-Thursday. The ribs with the house sauce were the highlight.
Barque Smokehouse delivers not only superior food quality but an exceptional dining experience. Our server was so passionate and attentive that we almost mistook him for the owner. His vivid descriptions of each dish added to the delight. Though prices may seem a bit high, the surprise was that gratuity is already included, making the experience truly worthwhile. A gem in the culinary scene!
Great cozy restaurant with solid food and very welcoming staff. Family loves to come here. Thank you to Dave who helped me out on a busy night when I was in a bbq bind!
Been here a couple of times, always good. The ribs and brisket are great, Caesar salad very good too. Only downside were the fries. Seemed like they were from Cavendish Farms. Next time Ill try one of the other sides. The Charred Broccoli Salad looks interesting. Service really good, staff works as a team.
I walked in to pick up my online order. After saying hello, the host asked me if I had a bag. My first thought was, wow ronce sure is eco friendly. After I replied with a no, I got a harsh we have a no bag-no food policy. It took me a second to realize he assumed I was an Uber driver because I have dark skin. Which is awkward, but if I have to suffer some racism for good BBQ Ill do it. Which leads me to the food. It wasnt worth it unfortunately. The portions are small. The dinner for two was really a dinner for one. Which admittedly would of tasted better without the racial assumptions. I used to recommend this place, what a shame.
Great food, *fantastic* service! Much appreciated! Recommend the Chopped BBQ pork, smoked farmers sausage, Nashville chicken, BBQ fries & caesar salad.
Just went to Barque for the first time yesterday - its pretty close to me so I was excited to be trying out what would hopefully be my regular BBQ joint. Unfortunately, the experience for my and my friend was pretty disappointing. The good: great atmosphere inside and the service was very good, no complaints here at all! The bad: the portion sizes were ridiculously small for what you pay. Me and my friend ordered the $90 sampler for two and as soon as I saw it come out, I knew we screwed up coming here - I could have easily eaten it myself. Four tiny slices of brisket, small chunk of ribs, one sausage, etc. Also - all of the meat was overcooked. Finally, we asked for BBQ sauce and was charged $3 for it - what BBQ place charges for BBQ sauce?! All in all - nice place, but probably the worst value in recent memory and certainly worst BBQ Ive had in TO - I really cant figure out why other recent reviews could be good, unless these peoples are happy paying that kind of money for so little food, or I just went on an off-night. Either way, I wont be coming back.
Both the food and the service was great. It was worth driving over an hour to dine there.
I recently dined at Barque, and I must say, it was a delightful experience. We started with complimentary seasoned popcorn and were pleasantly surprised when they offered sparkling water at no extra cost. Our server was friendly and informative, guiding us through the menu. We got the Meet Meat Platter which is a great value considering the amount and variety of food you get. The macaroni, cornbread, BBQ fries, and garlic Gai lan were all exceptional, but the cornbread stood out with its deliciously salty buttery goodness. The ribs were sticky, sweet, and had a nice pepper kick. The fries were thin, crispy, and perfectly salted, while the broccolini had a mild flavor and was cooked to perfection. The mac and cheese was creamy with large elbow noodles and a crispy top. The sausage had just the right level of saltiness and a thin, crispy casing. The chicken had a sweet and flavorful taste that we enjoyed. To top it all off, the peach cobbler was delicious, especially with a scoop of ice cream. Its worth mentioning that the staff is paid fair wages, which is a great practice. My only complaint is that they could have been a bit more attentive, especially when it came to checking on us for dessert, water refills, and the bill. Overall, a great place with mouthwatering food and a warm atmosphere.
Very good place to go with kids! As well the staff is super friendly
I know most reviews dont start with this but.. our kids LOVED the kids menu. It was basically mini versions of the BBQ menu but slightly changed so they will like it. The mac n cheese, ribs and chicken was destroyed by the kids. The ice cream at the end was a perfect portion also, so no hyped up kids afterwards ;) As a bonus, the kids menu was free. The food was amazing, we will be back for sure. One other thing that we appreciated, the bill included service so tipping is not needed.
All around 5 stars. I was being complicated but they still acomidated every request. Staff was excellent, they entertained, served and playfully mentioned history of company and structure! Food was great! One of the best bbq places in the city.
The service was great and everything was delicious.
This restaurant is very expensive. I saw half rack ribs for $40 and I dont think I have ever seen that much money for even a full rack at other restaurants. We ordered a chicken 2 ways meal for $34. The expectation was that it would fill two people. This was the description smoked chicken thigh, pulled chicken in carolina bbq sauce, creamy coleslaw and your choice of side. I thought the pulled chicken meant additional chicken. Instead, we got a SINGLE chicken thigh. A tiny container of coleslaw that was made with dill. It was not creamy in the slightess. I did not enjoy it. The mac and cheese we chose as a side was the portion side for one person. They threw in a complimentary popcorn, which I didnt care for. Aside from the coleslaw the chicken and mac tasted decent but I wouldnt order from here again.
Fantastic food, good service.
Good food. No tips on the bill which allows me to order +1 round of drinks instead
Heaven for meat-lovers, although they do have a few veggie options.
Friendly service, amazing food. Clean bathrooms, lovely atmosphere. Ill be honest I think the pulled pork is a little too sweet but thats just me. Mac and cheese is top tier. Would love to come back!