Introducing: Electric Mud BBQ, the raucous new barbecue joint from the owners of Grand Electric
Name: Electric Mud BBQ
Neighbourhood: Parkdale
Contact info: 5 Brock Ave., 416-516-8286, @ElectricMudBBQ
Owners: Colin Tooke and Ian McGrenaghan of Grand Electric
Chefs: Tooke and Benjamin Denham (Veritas, Grand Electric)
The food: Down-home but not particularly traditional Southern barbecue, including peanut-crusted ribs ($13.50), pork belly ($12.50) and “duck ham” (duck that’s prepared like black forest ham, $13.50). There’s also a crispy pig’s ear salad ($10.50), shrimp ’n’ grits ($13.50) and fried chicken ($8.50). Sides, at $3.50 each, include collard greens and spicy pork rinds, and for dessert, there’s soft-serve ice cream ($3.50) and banana cream pie ($5) served in mini mason jars.
The drinks: Cocktails include the Porch Crawler ($8), made with thai basil–infused gin, watermelon juice and lemonade, and the bourbon- and grapefruit-based Clydesdale ($8). There’s also beer on draught (including from Bellwoods Brewery) and by the bottle and can.
The place: Particleboard takes the place of the usual reclaimed wood here, with picnic tables, retro pin-up posters, cheesy shark heads and a giant stuffed ostrich rounding out the Parkdale kitsch vibe. Behind the bar is a record player on which Tooke and McGrenaghan spin loud rock music and outside, the patio is itching for nicer weather.
By the numbers:
• 30 seats, including picnic tables and bar seating
• 11 p.m. is last call for food (although the place stays open until 2 a.m. for drinks)
• 6 beers on draught, 8 by the bottle and can
• 1 mounted deer head, complete with antlers and a red toque
• 0 plastic payment options accepted—Electric Mud is cash-only
• 0 reservations
195081 Clydesdale ($8): bourbon with grapefruit juice, lime juice and agave nectar (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Electric Mud BBQ Introducing: Electric Mud BBQ https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-01.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/electric-mud/slide/introducing-electric-mud-01/ introducing-electric-mud-01 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
195082 Porch Crawler ($8): Thai basil–infused gin with watermelon juice and lemonade (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Electric Mud BBQ Introducing: Electric Mud BBQ https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-02.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/electric-mud/slide/introducing-electric-mud-02/ introducing-electric-mud-02 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
195084 Crack Rolls ($3.50): dinner rolls and butter whipped up with drippings from the smoker (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Electric Mud BBQ Introducing: Electric Mud BBQ https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-04.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/electric-mud/slide/introducing-electric-mud-04/ introducing-electric-mud-04 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
195085 Spicy pork rinds ($3.50) (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Electric Mud BBQ Introducing: Electric Mud BBQ https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-05.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/electric-mud/slide/introducing-electric-mud-05/ introducing-electric-mud-05 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
195086 Shrimp ’n’ grits, with ham hock stock, ham hock, huitlacoche and scallions ($13.50) (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Electric Mud BBQ Introducing: Electric Mud BBQ https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-06.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/electric-mud/slide/introducing-electric-mud-06/ introducing-electric-mud-06 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
195087 Duck ham ($13.50): smoked duck breast prepared like black forest ham, served with pickles (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Electric Mud BBQ Introducing: Electric Mud BBQ https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-07.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/electric-mud/slide/introducing-electric-mud-07/ introducing-electric-mud-07 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
195088 Southern fried chicken with pickles ($8.50 for two drums and two thighs) (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Electric Mud BBQ Introducing: Electric Mud BBQ https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-08.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/electric-mud/slide/introducing-electric-mud-08/ introducing-electric-mud-08 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
195089 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Electric Mud BBQ Introducing: Electric Mud BBQ https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-09.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/electric-mud/slide/introducing-electric-mud-09/ introducing-electric-mud-09 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
195091 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Electric Mud BBQ Introducing: Electric Mud BBQ https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-intro.jpg 656 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/electric-mud/slide/introducing-electric-mud-intro/ introducing-electric-mud-intro 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
195083 Owners Colin Tooke and Ian McGrenaghan, whose vision for the restaurant was inspired by a recent trip they took to the South with Electric Mud’s manager Chris White (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Electric Mud BBQ Introducing: Electric Mud BBQ https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-03.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/electric-mud/slide/introducing-electric-mud-03/ introducing-electric-mud-03 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
195090 Electric Mud takes over the space that formerly held Stampede Bison Grill (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Electric Mud BBQ Introducing: Electric Mud BBQ https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-electric-mud-10.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/electric-mud/slide/introducing-electric-mud-10/ introducing-electric-mud-10 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)