Back in May, we reported on an upcoming barbecue joint, Hardys: A Hogtown Brasserie (its name a riff on Toronto’s pig-farming past) that was setting up shop just a few blocks west of barbecue stalwart The Stockyards. On Friday, the restaurant had its grand opening and we stopped in to check it out.
Inside the restaurant, the front dining room features a large brick mantle with a faux stag’s head and floating shelves that hold books and other knick-knacks. Partway through the restaurant is the bar, fashioned with slender sanded tree trunks. The back has a hoedown feel, with barnboard walls, an alcove for live music (it was jazz on the night we visited) and centrepieces of wildflowers in antique bottles and jars.
On the meat-heavy menu are barbecue classics, made in the kitchen’s industrial smoker (apparently, Toronto Public Health thought a homemade 55-gallon oil drum wasn’t quite legit). The southern-style pulled-pork sandwich with sweet mustard barbecue sauce ($11) is braised for seven hours. The whisky-glazed smoked chicken (quarter chicken $11; half chicken $15), meanwhile, is brined twice for extra juiciness. There’s also a smoked burger ($10) that uses organic, grass-fed Belted Galloway beef and, of course, house-smoked ribs, served with jalapeño cornbread (quarter rack $12; half rack $18). For sides, there are crispy ale-battered onion rings ($6), jalapeño cornbread ($3) and house-smoked mac-and-cheese ($6) with aged white cheddar that’s been smoked for over 24 hours. For extra indulgence, it’s served with optional pork loin that’s been braised for seven hours, diced, then fried until caramelized ($3 extra).
The drink menu focuses on beers and hard liquor (eight brands of whisky) and less on wines and cocktails. The handful of Ontario craft beers on tap includes Nickle Brook’s Green Apple Pilsner ($7), Maple Porter ($6.50) and Belgian White Wheat ($6.50), as well as offerings from Spearhead,Muskoka, Flying Monkey and Steamwhistle.
The menu is a collaboration between owner John Hardy and French-trained chef Trevor Bedard, formerly a private caterer who has worked at Lucien and Globe Bistro and staged at Auberge du Pommier and O&B Café and Grill. With two southern barbecue joints now within shouting distance of each other, we fully expect to see billowing clouds of apple wood and hordes of hungry diners on St. Clair West.
As a food nut and Torontonian-living in the southern US, can’t wait to come home and test this barbeque place and put it to the test !
I was there on Friday too and I will say what the reviewer didn’t mention: The food is AWESOME!!! Fun atmosphere, great service, and delicious, delicious food. Save room for dessert, if possible, the bread pudding is divine!
Regina Phelangi: Awesome.
And yes, I have to agree. I’ve only been while they were still serving their ‘soft’ menu, but everything we tried was truly excellent. Can’t wait to check out the complete menu!
Living in the area i tried on friday – yay more bbqy goodness. I love the stockyards, and after trying friday i love hardys. the benefit of hardys is seating over the stockyards. both will become regular spots for me. St. C W will become BBQ Central.
I went on Friday as well, with a large group, and the food was awful. I’m hoping this is just first day jitters, but it was probably some of the worst food we’ve had in a long time. All the meats were dry, the ribs were oddly grainy, and the buns were horribly boring. Only good things on the menu (and we tried everything) were the onion rings (I would return just to eat those again) and the mac & cheese.
I went there before the opening last week (it was Wednesday, I think the owner had a soft openeing from the start of Auguest) The menu had only 2-3 items on there, but the Onion Rings and the Mac N Cheese are really awesome. And the Brisket….dear me..soo good
Honestly, sometimes I think people just like playing the contrarian. Perhaps they think that by doing so, it suggests their palates are superior to those of us rubes. To make a blanket statement that the food was awful…some of the worst you’ve had in a long time? For shame. I might criticize the decor – ceiling tiles, really? – and the burger was just good (not awful, that’s for sure), but the pulled pork was moist and flavourful, not sickly sweet, and the sides were excellent. Easy with the hyperbole.
I agree with all of you (except for Gayle)! The food is delicious and yes the menu is still small but considering the owner is under 30 I can’t wait to see what else he comes up with! The mac & cheese is amazing, so are the rings, oh, and those ribs!
I went there on the grand opening Friday and I had a great time. The decor was amazing (representing a hog farm with stars on the ceiling and everything), very unique. As I went with a group we all shared the different tastes and it was all fantastic – the chicken, ribs were so soft and full of smoked flavour, the corn bread side was my personal favourite. The beer selection was also uniquely Torontonian local brewery, some of which I haven’t heard of before and it complemented the food very well. I’m planning our next visit.
I live in the area and was anticipating the opening of Hardy’s all summer. We went in for dinner the first week, just before the soft opening and were not disappointed.
We had the ceaser salad with pork tenderloin, mac and cheese, pulled pork and a burger. Our server was friendly and knowledgable, she recommended beer to go along with our mains and described the dishes we were interested in ordering in full detail. The only issue I had with the food was that the cornbread was a little dry for my liking. However, I returned within a week it had been changed up, and is now moist and delicious.
I am not surprised there have been a few hiccoughs over the weeks, it is a brand new restaurant. What is more important to me as a guest who has been back several time since, is the owners dedication to the local: craft breweries, natural ingredients, and organic beef. The food is great, but it’s this philosophy and heart that keeps bringing my business back. This city could do with more small businesses like Hardy’s.
Second time at Hardys. First time we had the onion rings and I had a burger, she the poutine. Poutine is far too salty, sadly. The burger was great with caramelized onions. Great beer.
Yesterday, I had the brisket and she the burger with greens. I have to say, it was wonderful. I am so sad that there weren’t that many people. It’s reasonably priced (Brisket 13$ with friends + 7$ Nickelbrook stout, amazing beer).
Great atmosphere, good music, nice decor, friendly staff and great food. Had a great date yesterday there. St Clair W has a great restaurant with this little “Brasserie”. Give it a shot.