Churrasco of St. Clair
Churrasco of St. Clair has been serving up rotisserie cooked chicken and Portuguese specialties since 1986. It's a no-frills take away counter that offers excellent value for fast take away, delivery and catering seven days a week. It also happens to be home to some ofToronto's best barbecue chicken.
Behind the counter, the charcoal grill sizzles and the rotisserie oven slow cooks Maple Lodge chickens, which come out crispy-skinned but succulent and tender inside. Whole BBQ (or grilled) Chickens go for just $10.79 (take that Swiss Chalet and your $21 equivalent), but the most popular single serving order is the half chicken combo that comes in under $8.50 with a choice of any side.
Roasted parisian potatoes and rice with peas are on display in a glowing red hot table, but there's also a fryer in the back if french fries are prefered. Luckily at lunchtime the Mixed Green and Caesar Salads ($3.59/sm or $5.29/large) are offered in combos as well. Made fresh daily they're served with housemade dressings that have proved so popular they've been bottled ($4.99/355ml).
For me, the only obvious criticism to be made of the place is the meager portions of hot sauce they dole out, which, in my opinion, should be ladled from a bucket as gratuitously as requested. For the best value, I already know to skip the 65 cent miniatures and just go for the 20oz cup ($1.93). One or two tiny cups will come with your order (depending on its size), but those are never enough.
Coated in a patina of poultry smoke, the well-worn interior is the telltale sign not only of Churrasco of St. Clair's longevity, but also, its popularity. There's a handful of counter-top stools tucked into a nook behind the soda coolers, but eating here is akin to slumming it, so I stick to take-out and walk over to the nearby Wychwood Barns.
Open from 9am until at least 8pm daily.
Photos by Jesse Milns