Cherry Street Bar-B-Que

Barbecue restaurant · South Riverdale ·

Cherry Street Bar-B-Que

Barbecue restaurant · South Riverdale ·

Slow-smoked meats, Texas brisket, St. Louis ribs, patio dining

Information

275 Cherry St, Toronto, ON M5A 3L3, Canada Get directions

@michelinguide

48,244 Postcards · 8,023 Cities

"Its red neon sign shines like a beacon, as this 1920 building – which was once a bank – now sits proudly isolated in the middle of a massive waterfront construction project, but step inside and you immediately feel cocooned in its warm-heartedness. It was pitmaster Lawrence La Pianta who brought the barbecue traditions of the American South to Hogtown; after years of competing and judging with the Kansas City Barbeque Society circuit, he knows his way around a broad range of tastes ranging from Texas-style brisket to St. Louis-style ribs. Lightly charred wings and snappy, finely spiced sausage links are sleeper hits. Everything is smoked on the patio inside a redesigned shipping container. Stopping by on a weekend? Be aware that meats are likely to sell out." - Michelin Inspector

https://guide.michelin.com/en/ontario/toronto/restaurant/cherry-st-bar-b-que

Cherry Street Bar-B-Que

@michelinguide

48,244 Postcards · 8,023 Cities

5 MICHELIN Guide Spots that are Super Bowl Friendly

"For a taste of Texas outside the Lone Star state, this local Port Lands favorite brings the barbecue traditions of the American south to Hogtown. Pitmaster Lawrence La Pianta displays his years of competition and judging experience with the Kansas City Barbecue Society circuit through a myriad of techniques and flavors including Texas-style brisket to St. Louis-style ribs. And if you plan on stopping by during the weekend, prepare to come early as the meats tend to sell out." - Kevin Chau

https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/article/dining-out/michelin-guide-super-bowl-restaurant-s-big-game-dining-out

Cherry Street Bar-B-Que

@michelinguide

48,244 Postcards · 8,023 Cities

2022 Toronto MICHELIN Bib Gourmands

"After years of competing and judging with the Kansas City Barbeque Society circuit, Lawrence La Pianta knows his way around a broad range of tastes, from Texas-style brisket to St. Louis-style ribs. Lightly charred wings and snappy, finely spiced sausage links are sleeper hits. Everything is smoked on the patio inside a redesigned shipping container and saucing is kept to a minimum." - The MICHELIN Guide

https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/article/michelin-guide-ceremony/2022-toronto-michelin-bib-gourmands

Cherry Street Bar-B-Que

David L

Google

I was really hyped up to try the barbeque here - I've read and heard tons of great reviews but honestly the experience fell quite flat. We were seated on the patio and ordering was self-service, which honestly is a real pain especially for such a large sit down restaurant since the line up to order could take really long during peak hours. We ordered the Three + Three Sampler (we chose beef brisket, pork ribs and pulled pork), the Large Sampler which came with more brisket, baby back ribs, pulled pork, wings and sausage, as well as two orders if the riblets. Came up to about $200. The food looked incredible when it came out and portion wise, more than enough to feed 5 people, but the flavour just wasn't there. The beef brisket just felt too lean, dry and just overall lacking flavour. I wish it had been seasoned more or served alongside a sauce. The pork ribs were dry and felt overcooked, and the pulled pork felt cold to the touch and didn't really feel pleasant to eat. The wings and sausage were pretty good though, and definitely the highlight were the BBQ Pork Riblets which were excellent, but those were really the only good dishes. Even the sides of mac & cheese, sweet mash and fries were meh. The cucumber salad was just flat out not good. Maybe at one point in time Cherry Street was a place worth missioning all the way out to Toronto's port lands for but, I've had much better barbeque elsewhere in the city. Disappointed.

Dev A.

Google

I’ve passed this spot countless times and decided to give it a shot today! It was a Thursday evening and got served INSANELY quickly. Ordered the sample platter (3 meats + 3 sides), and it was out within 10 minutes. Brisket, which they’re best known for, was decent - but unfortunately quite cold 😔. It tasted good, but if they had used a couple minutes so it felt piping hot, that would certainly have helped. The sausage was nice, I basically polished it off. The spare rib I got on a whim, but I’m so happy I did - it was by far my favourite. I got a double order of fries and the coleslaw. The slaw was average, and the fries were good too! I get the impression the fries come frozen, they didn’t have an “in-house” energy to them. Overall, it was a good portion for the price, staff were super warm and friendly, and it was a nice spot. Can’t say it’s the best BBQ I’ve ever had, but worth the trip if you’re in the area.

Maggie G

Google

Tried Cherry Street Barbecue for the first time and as someone who’s never had Texas BBQ before, I was pleasantly surprised. The brisket and cornbread were the standout favourites for me flavourful and tender. The mac and cheese and ribs were solid too (wish there was more bbq sauce) My boyfriend loved all the proteins, so it definitely hit the spot for him. Service was great, but the seating/setup is a bit unusual since it’s self-serve and you order at the front, which was a little confusing for a first visit. Overall, a tasty experience, maybe not something I’d rush back for but definitely worth trying at least once.

Google

Absolutely outstanding BBQ. Probably the best I've had in the city. The brisket was perfection. Nothing could be improved on it. Spareribs also excellent. I think the chicken could have been cooked slightly more though. We got the trio sample platter which was perfect for two moderately hungry adults. It could also be good for one SUPER hungry person. The sides could have been a bit larger though. You get three of them but they really are just taste samplers more that full sides. Friendly staff too!

Bob L.

Google

A group of had dinner here on a weekday. Service was professional and friendly. The server understood immediately when I asked for the pork products to be separated in the platters. Seating was a bit crowded inside as it was a bit too cold to sit outside anymore. The brisket was amazing followed by the pork ribs. The other fare of pulled pork, sausage, wings, etc were good, but not at the same level as the brisket. The sides were pretty good also.

Charlie S

Google

I am not personally a fan of American-style BBQ myself, however, Cherry Street Bar-B-Que is one of these spots that I certainly do not regret visiting. It is located in the Port Lands which is currently undergoing redevelopment, so it isn’t the most accessible spot. However, it’s got a wide range of beer options, and some of the best BBQ I’ve had. The BBQ sauce wasn’t too sour and it’s right on spot, and the meat was mostly tender. The portion was good, too - it wasn’t exactly budget food but it wasn’t pricy either. It also has a order-at-counter style service where the food gets delivered to your table. The patio is super nice in the summer, where you’d see many local cyclists stopping by and getting a bite. In a nice summer day, you’d have CN Tower right in your line of sight - with some cold beer and BBQ, that’s proper summer life in Toronto! Taste: 4/5 | Service: 3/5 | Value: 3/5

Miss W.

Google

We keep coming back here for one reason: the excellent BBQ. The dry rub on the beef brisket and ribs is flavourful and very tasty. (Don't forget, burnt ends are a Sunday exclusive!). The staff are pleasant and we always enjoy our time here, whether it's the busy summer season or the quieter winter months. However, a fair warning about the facilities, the washrooms desperately need an upgrade. They are tiny, outdated, and generally poorly maintained. Come for the great meat😋 try to avoid the restrooms 😄

Ed B.

Google

As an American visiting Toronto this week , BBQ was not on my list of things to do. I travel the US to eat BBQ with friends. My favorite is Joes KC in Kansas. However, just WOW regarding the food here. It was a last minute decision for me and 2 friends and a 20min can from downtown. The 3 of us are the Cherry Street sampler for $170 and the plate was clean at the end. The brisket literally melted in my mouth. The sweet tangy sauce on the ribs was awesome. They had a slight crisp edge and fell off the bone. Third was the pulled pork tied, thin pulls, perfectly cooked and then the home made sauce with the chicken and last the sausage. We ate it all. Great selection of ciders too. I was so excited to find this gem (I’m sure the locals are saying “duh” reading this. Super friendly staff, great service and on a warmer day great outdoor seating. Well done Cherry St BBQ team.