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To quote Mr Bing; "Could there BE a neighbourhood less deserving of a gem like this?"
Before crossing the street from the Rosedale subway exit, you have to ask yourself "Is there a good chance I'll be hit by a slurpee swillin' Porsche driver?"
http://www.altgate.com...
I have been going to this place since it opened. The staff are amazingly nice, the proximity to the Yonge subway line makes it easy to do a lunch run from North York(!). The staff have told me the guy who opened this place is a retired lawyer and is basically running it out of love. No duh!
The quality-to-price ratio is off the charts. For $7.00 you get basically an entire meal that is top notch ingredients. My old standby is the slow cooked Brisket sandwich. People have opted for the pulled pork but my inner-mensch can't say no to brisket. Topped with their home made BBQ sauce, it is BUTTAH! It is so delicious and tender that jaw surgery out-patients can subsist on them.
As good as the brisket is, the grilled veggie sandwich is even better. The sharp hits of arugula with grilled eggplant melding with the chipotle mayo, is pure genius. Seriously, when was the last time you craved a veggie sandwich? Perfection.
mmmmmmm
I got super lucky the other day and stopped in on my way through Rosedale subway back to work after an appointment. I ordered, paid, and was handed a sandwich before I could put my change in my purse! All the other times I've come at lunch it's been a wait! Lucky day!!
I also must point out that one sandwich provides lunch for 2 days! That is how big this thing is. So that $7 extends a long way.
Delicious. I always get the pulled pork. Now that I've had this super quick experience, I'll be back sooner to try something different! Hope the speed lasts!
-Right across from Rosedale subway station
-About 7 spots to eat along the window inside, and at a small 2 person table, usually 3 tables outside if it's sunny out.
-Sandwiches are all good - hundreds of possibilities given the base choice + toppings + sauces
-The buns are always fresh- but they are big and do a lot of the filling
up
-There's a small park across the street...pleasant to get sandwich to go and sit over there.
-Out of the whole menu my favorite is:
the cold steak
charmoula mayo
red peppers
arugula
black camel bbq sauce
-veggie sandwich is the only choice for veg friends- but its good enough for them (lots of eggplant, usually).
The only problem with the camel outside of the cramped space- is the poor arrangement of taking orders/money/etc
Say there is a line of 10 people (out the door), and some clown at the front orders a latte....everything is held up an extra 4 minutes. If you're impatient like any normal person should be....it will drive you nuts. Get me my sandwich! They need to take like a first year management of operations class from seneca or something.
four out of five pats
patpatpatpat
ttyn
PAT.,
Listed in: Toronto's Best Sandwiches…
Just wanted to do a quick update because the last thing I tried at this place was simply awesome! It's their veggie sandwich made with grilled tomatoes, arugula, red pepper and eggplants. Add basil pesto mayonnaise to that and it's a match made in heaven! It might even eclipse their signature beef brisket sandwich (and this is coming from me, a guy who just loves meat). Everybody has to try it, seriously it's that good!
I don't think that I could add anything substantial to the eloquent and picturesque reviews of other… Read more »
I didn't want to write a review until I've tried a few sandwiches because I'll admit, the first one, pulled pork, was good but wasn't enough to inspire a review... since then I've been back probably 10 times, brought countless friends and colleagues, had enough sandwiches to fill up a loyalty card, got a free sandwich and then some. All this since May 11th 2010, when a friend and I couldn't get a table at the Globe and was looking for something in the area.
Favourite sandwich, pulled chicken with bbq sauce, chipotle mayo, chili red onions and grilled eggplant. Love that their toppings are reasonably priced, 90 cents! Unlike some other places where 2 toppings ends up being the same price as the sandwich. The pulled chicken is a great canvas for toppings and sauces really carries the sauces well.
I liked this sandwich so much I didn't order anything else for a good 2 months.
Today I finally tried the Brisket with bbq sauce, chipotle mayo, chili onions and arugula and it was amazing! Brisket is definitely meat front and center, everything else as an accent.
Brisket or Pulled Chicken, it'll be a touch call every visit from now on.
Pulled pork lovers don't despair, it's still good, just love the other 2 more.
Other tips... get a loyalty card, have them keep it for you, be prepared to get take away as they are usually busy and seating is limited, be prepared to get a little messy, play with the toppings and sauces as I haven't had one I did not like.
Just headed over to Black Camel to pick up lunch with coworkers. Super excited because it was my first time there. Ordered a pull chicken sandwich with their Black Camel BBQ sauce, chipotle mustard and chilli onions. Prices are fair and the sandwiches are huge. Like, HUGE. Sweet looking location, although a little small.
They have cool loyalty program: eat at the place 12 times and get a free sandwich with your choice of topping.
They've also noticed that people get upset when showing up the place and they're out of a certain dish. To remedy that, they opened a twitter account that's updated by the restaurant so customers can find out if the dish they want is still being made that day. So web 2.0, gawd.
I've taken two large bites out of this beast, and it's awesome. Chewy, juicy, a little tangy and still warm.
Follow @black_camel.
This place definitely isn't designed for vegetarians but they make a great veggie sandwich with roasted tomatoes, eggplant, zucchni. I recommend ordering extra toppings to fill up the bun - it's a bit skimpy otherwise. Great with hummus and a side of coleslaw.
It's a ridiculously delicious tasting sandwich.
I had the beef brisket which was melt in your mouth tender and juicy.
The tangy sweet BBQ sauce was awesome. The chipotle mayo and caramelized onions made the sandwich complete.
I'm not going to list all the available sauces and toppings. They have a lot. You can read up on them on their website.
Things that I didn't like so much:
* I wish my sandwich had a bit more sauce.
* There is not a lot of seating if you want to dine there.
* Slow moving line due to sandwich newbs taking their sweet-ass time discussing every possible sandwich combination in detail.
* There isn't (legal) parking in front of the place or on Yonge, so you have to find a side street. But it's located right across from Rosedale station, so it's uber easy by TTC.
* They can run out of sandwiches, so check their Twitter page!
I can't wait to go back and have another tasty sandwich.
Another camel stamp on my sandwich card, woo hoo!
This is located just at the brink of where suburbia begins on Yonge Street. The place is small and self-serviced. There are a couple of small tables and a few bar stools. It closes early (8pm) and has a sign indicating that it often sells out before closing (check their twitter for updates).
The pulled pork sandwich was very tasty. The bun tasted fresh, was very big and soft with a touch of chewiness. The pork was flavorful (lots of tomatoes?) and dripping with sauce. Unfortunately though, the texture of the pork in my sandwich was rather stringy - almost like the meat has been over-stewed. My advice is perhaps to visit earlier during the day. I went around 7pm on a Tuesday and the pork tasted like it had probably been sitting in a warmer all day. I'm quite certain that if you tasted it when it was just made, it'd be much more succulent.
I'd recommend NOT getting any of the additional condiments or toppings. They give you very little of these extras, so little that you can't really taste them. Might as well not pay for it. The only exception is the creamy horseradish, which was nicely strong enough to come through in the sandwich.
The pulled pork was not too bad overall and I would try to come back again to give it a second shot.
Hot damn, this is one badass beef brisket sandwich. Enjoy the juicy (and definitely not dry) meaty sandwich with your choice of sauces, and top off with an additional gourmet topping for a wee bit extra change. I mean, really, how can you say no to roasted eggplant atop your sandwich?
Sandwiches sell out as the afternoon progresses, so get there early, or for a wave of the future, follow them on Twitter as they update the "status" of their sandwich stock in realtime. It's perfect for a sunny day up in Rosedale where you can enjoy your lunch on one of the few tables they have setup outside the joint itself, or take it over to the nearby park to enjoy (if you can resist scarfing it before getting there).
I heard of Black Camel via Now's 'Best Burger in the City' article. I think. Either way, I came here ... TWICE. I did not want to give a verdict until I gave it a fair chance.
The first time around, I had the pulled pork sandwich with BBQ sauce / caramelized onions. My gut impression was 'WTH? What is the fuss? The lunatics ... such blasphemy!'. Ok, maybe that reaction was slightly on the strong side. But I take my food seriously and I just did NOT like it AT ALL. I found the pork stringy and porky. The latter means that I could taste pig and nothing much else ... I just couldn't find the cohesion between the pork / sauce / onions. Perhaps it was because I came fairly late in the afternoon ... and (maybe) the pork was left on the warmer for too long. I am not sure what it was. I just couldn't get into it. I have had smokey bbq food before where the sauce just made you want to lick your fingers and / or the pork simply melted into your mouth. This sandwich did neither.
However, I was not deterred. I rarely give a verdict after only one try. So, I decided to return for the beef brisket the second time around. This time, I had the following toppings: chipotle mayo / horse radish / sautéed mushrooms. Boy, was I glad I did not give up so easily. The combination was superb IMHO. I needed the extra tangy zing from the horse radish. It just pulled everything together without being too overpowering (some horse radishes are just too strong for me). And the mushrooms were melty smooth and chewy. The bun was firm yet moist. The highlight was the brisket: it was smoky, tasty, and tender. I devoured the whole sandwich in mere minutes. And I promptly went up to the counter to get my loyalty card: god darn it, I will be coming back again ... and again ... and again. THIS ONE IS DELISH! Jackpot!!!!
BTW, the service was impeccable. My only recommendation is taking the sandwich out to the nearby park as there are only a handful of chairs in there.
Went here based on others' ravings. Possibly best BBQ sandwich north of Mason-Dixon Line.
If you like slow cooked meat: GO!!!
THE BEST PULLED PORK SANDWICH OF MY LIFE!!
To quote Dave O. you will have "happy belly" after eating here. The camel is a pretty nondescript place. The sign just has a picture of a camel and says "cafe" and "sandwiches". I have run past this little gem countless times thinking it was just some deli sandwich shop. WRONG!
This is probably the best kept secret of Rosedale. The pork is so moist and tender and the buns are perfectly balanced to melt in your mouth yet still be firm enough to keep from falling apart in your hands. For $7.00 with your choice of sauces and only $0.90 to add a topping this is a great deal.
The customer service is good too with the quirky barista/order yeller.
Listed in: ROTD's
I'll say right off the bat that my score is slightly unfair. My love is for the pulled pork of another, so when I walked into 'Black Camel' to taste what was dubbed "The Greatest Pulled Pork in Toronto", I was set-up for disappointment.
Hypothetically speaking, had I never been to 'Phil's Original BBQ', I may have liked the pulled pork at 'Black Camel' a little better. The sandwich was packed with meat and the sauce was pretty tasty on its own merits. However, I found myself dreaming, and wishing, for Phil's sauce with every bite, just to be sorely disappointed each time.
The bread had an odd taste to it, almost overpowering the meat at times, but there was more than enough meat to stop it from happening too often.
The service was quick, but the place is so small that the people ahead of me pounced on the odd free seat - forcing me to sit out in the cold. Again, I don't have a problem with this in some places, but knowing I could be in the warm confines of another was just another disappointment.
The sandwich was a little pricey as well. For the same cost, I could get a sandwich, albeit a smaller one, with a wonderful side of beans elsewhere. I was satisfied, hunger-wise, at the end of my sandwich, but I would have preferred to mix the palette up a little.
I don't see myself returning to 'Black Camel' in the future. I'm sure the people in Rosedale love it, but with the subway right there, I would much rather ride the rocket to 'Phil's'.
Oh my god... I would drive through a pack of cute, doddering grandmothers for a Black Camel sandwich!
It's that good... It's no less than the greatest meat-delivery system I can imagine. It might even be better than Bakesale Betty's, though the Camel has no analogue. Apples and oranges.
Having seen it's stellar reviews and realizing that it was less than a subway stop away, I walked down for lunch. I got the "impossibly tender" beef brisket with bbq, chipotle mayo and caramelized onions. I don't know how it was for the sandwich, but I'm pretty sure I came first!
The shop is small but clean, and they have lots of desserts and canned beverages there. You might be lucky enough to snag a table, but it's really a take-out joint. I have to go back and try the pulled pork and the seared cold steak sandwiches.
There is simply no other sandwich that can top the ecstasy of the Black Camel, you have to go there asap.
This small, almost no seating joint is right across from the Rosedale subway station exit. It's not well lit and as the photos show it's a dark exterior so you can quite easily miss it. I did.
Staff was friendly, picking up on they had a "newb" and let me figure out the menu in peace. I had the beef brisket with bbq sauce, garlic mayo, and onions. My beef brisket was extremely delicious. I'll say that much. The only down side is it's not a very big sandwich and it's $7. A big eater could probably slam two and that can be a pricey addiction. It would be nice if they threw in some slaw or something alongside the sandwich or upped their portion size.
I'd probably be back if these suckers were $5.
Good sandwich does not feel assembly line made like Subway which is a last resort after being diagnosed with Anemia.
The prices are bit high but given the crowd who lives around, negligeable issue. the only thing that was odd was the owner at the till. He is extravagent, weird and treats people in a funny way sometimes. Camp as a Christmas tree and that adds to the flavour I guess. Go early as does not have much left after peak lunch time.
Excellent!
I had the pulled pork sandwich with bbq sauce and chipotle mayo. Delicious!
Better than some joints that will cost you 4 times as much.
Nowhere to sit however: just a counter and a few tables on the sidewalk.
So get your food to go; take it home; open a shiraz and enjoy.
OK- update needed. I have been coming to the camel now since its inception (on adelaide) over 5 years ago, HOW i managed to overlook the seared steak on the menu I DO NOT KNOW! but I am forever grateful for the girl ahead of me that ordered it for not for her I never would have uncovered this gem of a sandwich. Succulent, Cold (yes cold) seared steak, so damn good, what I enjoy about it is its light-ness in comparison to the beef brisket (great, but heavy). Try it, with tomatoes charamoula and mustard. hmm
Im only back in Toronto 3-4 times a year, but I ALWAYS make it my top priority (before family and… Read more »
Below is my rating definition.
* = Don't even bother going
** = Nothing out of the ordinary
*** = Pretty good stuff
**** = Outstanding
***** = It's basically 4 stars but they do it consistently
This review is for their beef brisket sandwich.
Made a visit yesterday after hearing all the rave reviews about their sandwich. I love my sandwich and every time I hear a good beef brisket or pulled pork sandwich, I'm there.
Anyhow, I would give this 1.5 stars, but since there's no half star, I would round it up to 2 stars.
The good:
This place has all the hidden gem ingredients: small boutique-liked, obscure location and long line up.
The bad:
First of all, warm meat on cold bread is a big turn off. It's like putting hot tomato sauce on a bed of cold pasta. Meat is tender but lack in taste. For all you southern BBQ enthusiasts, the beef doesn't come in sliced form, rather it's completely shredded. Not the southern tradition, but it's okay since we aren't in the south. Their home-made BBQ sauce is acceptable but is nothing to brag about.
Overall it's a disappointing sandwich. For the same price, I would head down to Lou Dawg instead.
Great little "secret" cafe serving up tasty sandwiches right next to the Rosedale subway station. I tried out their pulled pork sandwich and it was heaven...I felt like I needed to crawl afterwards as I was incredibly full.
The sandwiches seem expensive but once you realize they give you 3 hours of fuel it becomes cheap.
Nice place. Nice folks. Nice pulled pork sandwiches. Nice variety of toppings and sauces. I wouldn't go out of my way to get here, but it beats having a Subway sub.
Cozy little spot just across from the Rosedale Subway Station and one of the best Slow Cooked Beef Brisket Sandwiches I have had...anywhere... Service is fast and efficient, and the sandwich comes dripping wet with your choice of great condiments...I am a big condiment fan, so I suggest the Basil Mayo Pesto, and Horseradish, topped with sautee'd mushrooms and cheese if you want to get decadent...comes on a good sized Kaiser and plenty of Beef...it's almost tough to finish the whole thing...almost....
There was no lineup and I managed to grab a seat at one of the wee tables inside. I had the pulled pork sandwich with chipotle mayo and sauteed onions. It was very tasty, but it was hardly the best sandwich I've ever tried. I'll likely try others and perhaps my rating will change. i thought the best thing about the place was the really relaxed sense of family. I'm not sure if all the staff are related, but they sure acted like they were as comfortable and easy with each other as could be. It made for a very pleasant atmosphere.
Listed in: Restaurants
I remember the first time i bit into a Black Camel sandwhich.
I literarly had to put down my sandwhich, pause and actually take a second to embrace how good the fusion of flavours as well as the texture of the beef brisket actually was.
This is a very simple cafe that offers 5 sandwhiches of which two are their specialties: Beef brisket and pulled pork. I dont eat pork but i must say, the beef brisket sandwhich here is one of the best sandwhiches that i have ever had in my life. With that said, i've been told that the pulled pork is even better than the beef brisket and so i imagine that's good as well!
The bun is soft on the inside (to the point that it acts as a sponge and soaks up the juices from the actual sandwhich) yet firm enough to keep together until your very last bite.
Black Camel offers the perfect variety of sauces and toppings for these sandwhiches (shown below) and you can tell that they have been very selective with everything on the menu and that they only use the highest quality of products in their foods. Their BBQ sauce is phenomenal; it is homemade and the one thing i get on my brisket every single time!
Be sure to note that due to the long preperation process of the meats (3 days if im not mistaken), they can and often do run out of sandwhich meat hours before closing time, particularly on a nice day. If you're coming in from far, you might wanna call in advance to make sure they're open and that they actually have meat. Also note that this place seats no more than 10 people inside, and maybe 6 outside so its not best to go to with a large group unless you're okay eating out at a near by park.
Also, dont take a date here...unless you plan to woo her with a face full of BBQ sauce and a shirt painted with colourful memories of your first BC sandwhich.
Its about a $10 sandwhich that will fill you up and hit the spot every single time! When people ask me for a hidden hidden gem city, i point them here! Enjoy...just try not to tell everyone!
Yes, the pulled pork sandwich is all that it's cracked up to be. A genuine "food lude." Clean place. Friendly service.
I went to the Black Camel for the first time on the weekend with a close guy friend and he was definitely right when he said the following:
"IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A SERIOUS MEAT SANDWICH, BLACK CAMEL IS THE PLACE!"
Located off of Yonge near Summerhill, this little hole in a wall is meaty heaven! First of all, their specialty is meat sandwiches and they serve the following meats in a pulled, shaved type form - Beef, chicken and pork.
The meat is put into a soft hamburger bun with your choice of sauces.
The sauce options are the following:
- Basil Pesto Mayo
- Chipotle Mayo
- BBQ Sauce
- Hummous
- Spicy Sauce
I got the pulled chicken sandwich on a bun with basil pesto mayo and hummous and it was soooooooooooooooo delicious!
Honestly if you are in the mood for a "serious" sandwich, check out the Black Camel!
The line-ups just prove it is worth the wait and the drive to try one of these yummy gems.
Delicate strands of succulent slow-roasted pork!
As more and more fast food joints open up, less and less of them are focusing on some of the tastier meals that take time to make such as pulled pork (my favourite sandwich). I've been up and down Yonge Street numerous times and never even knew this place existed. After hearing about this place on the internet (they are even on Twitter as black_camel to tweet about remaining stock of their wares) I decided to stop in. A very small shop with only a few stools and two tables outside during the summer. Nice small menu of things such as pulled pork, briskets, chili and various sandwich specials. If you are in the Rosedale area, this is the perfect stop for lunch or dinner.
Go here if you want a tasty pulled pork or beef brisket sandwich! For $8.00 tax-in. Only seating for 10 people or so! If you're on the subway, you can run from and back to Rosedale station quick. Sandwiches are a little runny, may not be the best for walking and eating.
Incredible sandwiches!!!
I'm still on that mission for the best BBQ/pulled pork station, but it's proving to be a difficult task.
Black Camel is reportedly THE place to go for a hot, moist sandwich, oft discussed by food bloggers across the GTA. It certainly corners a market here for BBQ slow-roasted meat lovers, and I will raise my hand and agree that it's a juicy good, meaty sandwich. Kind of like an upscale sloppy joe.
The best thing about this place are the different kinds of toppings available for the sandwich -- everything from moroccan mayos, chili-roasted red onions, arugula (yeah, none of that iceberg lettuce, you plebes), and sautéed mushrooms. For a meat lover, this place is incredible, and I wish I didn't seem like a huge road trip to get there.
However, having said that, it is by no means the best pulled pork, nor the most flavourful BBQ sauce I've had. The potato chips are a bit pricey here, too, so if you need that extra carb boost, I suggest grabbing your sandwich and going down the street for cheaper accoutrements, and then sitting your butt down in Ramsden Park to finish the deal.
Listed in: Toronto: Meals under $10! (And…
Toronto, ON
Neighborhood: Dufferin Grove
Toronto, ON
Neighborhood: Rosedale
Toronto, ON
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