Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse, a surprisingly vegan-friendly barbeque joint on the Danforth
Name: Greenwood Smokehouse BBQ
Contact info: 673 Danforth Ave., 416-469-2270, greenwoodsmokehouse.com , @Greenwood_BBQ
Neighbourhood: The Danforth
Owner and Pit Boss: Warren DeSimone
The Food: DeSimone has been finessing his Southern barbecue recipes for over a decade. He sticks to the Memphis and Carolina schools of barbeque technique. That means slow-smoked pork, beef and chicken doused with a puckery, vinegar-based sauce (as opposed to Kansas City’s thicker, sweeter glaze). The treatment isn’t limited to meat: wood-smoked veggies feature in soups, chilis, stews and a vegan burger.
The Drink: Meat makes its way onto the drinks list, too: whiskey-based cocktails are infused with things like triple-smoked bacon and ham hocks.
The Place: Unlike some of the city’s sleeker smokehouses, Greenwood has an authentically woodsy, ramshackle feel. The walls are wood-paneled, and the decor includes rusted agricultural tools and wagon-wheel light fixtures.
The Numbers:
• 400 square feet of wood paneling
• 21 hours to prepare a batch of Memphis ribs (18-hour dry brine + 3 hours in the smoker)
• 3 woods used in DeSimone’s signature smoke blend: whiskey barrel chips, apple wood and hickory wood
• 3 caesars prepared by Christopher Johnson, who used to tend bar at the Calgary hotel where the caesar was invented.
• $3 shots of herbal Polish vodka and Honey Jack
257977 The restaurant’s name is slightly misleading: it’s actually located much closer to Pape than Greenwood (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurants/slide/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-02/ greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-02 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
257978 DeSimone inherited the bar’s antique stained glass lamp from his mother (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurants/slide/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-03/ greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-03 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
257979 Planks from an old wooden pallet were used to fashion the DIY-style wainscoting (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurants/slide/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-04/ greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-04 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
257980 DeSimone collected the vintage license plates on various trips around Ontario and through the Carolinas (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/food/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurants/slide/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-05/ greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-05 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
257981 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurants/slide/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-06/ greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-06 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
257982 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurants/slide/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-07/ greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-07 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
257992 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-17-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-17.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-17.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurants/slide/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-17/ greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-17 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
257983 Vegan mushroom burger with pineapple-avocado salsa ($9) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurants/slide/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-08/ greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-08 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
257984 Smoked brisket sandwich, served with fries, slaw and North Carolina–style vinegar-pepper sauce (or Texas chipotle sauce) ($10) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurants/slide/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-09/ greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-09 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
257985 Dry-rubbed baby-back ribs, available dry or glazed with Memphis-style barbeque sauce (it’s less sweet than the Kansas City variety) ($15 for half-rack/$25 for full) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurants/slide/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-10/ greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-10 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
257986 Smoked mushroom soup ($5) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurants/slide/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-11/ greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-11 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
257987 Stew specials rotate weekly. (This one’s loaded with smoked brisket and chorizo) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurants/slide/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-12/ greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-12 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
257988 The Big Smoke Caesar: Smoked pepper and chili-infused vodka, seasoned Clamato and Louisiana Gold hot sauce. Garnished with a cheese curd, a strip of triple-smoked bacon, a pickle, a smoked pepper and a lightly smoked shrimp ($11) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/food/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurants/slide/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-13/ greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-13 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
257989 Smoked Bacon Old Fashioned: Bacon and ham hock–infused whiskey, tangerine juice and bourbon-soaked cherries ($8) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurants/slide/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-14/ greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-14 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
257990 The pork-infusion process at work (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurants/slide/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-15/ greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-15 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
257991 A cocktail called “The Mayor” is a tribute to last year’s Taste of the Danforth debacle. It’s a mix of Gatorade and vodka ($4.50) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse Introducing: Greenwood Smokehouse https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-16.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurants/slide/greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-16/ greenwood-smokehouse-toronto-restaurant-16 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
Finally, there is a good restaurant in the neighbourhood.