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 of Toronto'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