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Churrasco of St Clair
Categories: Restaurants Portuguese Restaurants Barbeque Portuguese, Barbeque [Edit]
679 St Clair Ave WToronto, ON M6C 1A7
Neighbourhood: Wychwood
(416) 658-0652
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Alcohol:
- No
9 reviews for Churrasco of St Clair
9 reviews in English
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Review from Jonathan S.
York, ON
12/21/2011
For years I've heard of a magic land of chicken,where rivers of spicy sauce cascade over golden potato hills and valleys of fluffy rice.
Sadly, I had thought this poultry El Dorado to be forever forbidden; it's a tiny joint with no seating and, so I believed, no delivery option to sate the hunger of the car-free.
Thanks to a few well-positioned reviews on this very site I learned that Churrasco of St Clair does in fact deliver to my 'hood, and my days of soggy, flabby Swiss Chalet are behind me.
So let's open up the takeout containers, shall we?
We are two. We order dinner for four, for we are hungry and the star of the show is all lean protein and veg. The dinner comes with a large soup (good broth, tonnes short round pasta, and soft meat torn from the bone), salad (a bright garden salad that's faultless except for refrigerated, mealy winter tomato), rice and roast potatoes, portuguese buns and of course the bird itself. Three thimbles of peri-peri sauce accompany the lot. We anticipate leftovers.
There are just some culinary truths that no matter how hard you try, you cannot avoid. One such truth is that crisply roasted chicken skin just doesn't travel well. It's well-seasoned and patches retain that delicious flaky-sticky saltiness, but much of the bird's dermis has gone limp and slack as it steams waiting to be eaten.
The bird arrives cut into eight. It's a bit smaller than expected, and apparently very top-heavy. White meat and thighs are generously portioned, but drumsticks are tiny. I didn't know Dolly Parton raised chickens. The meat itself is tender and delicious. It has cooled since arrival, as we worked through our soups and salad. Piping hot, it would be crazy addictive. The sauce provides full-throated heat and smoky depth. I save the unused portions (my dining companion is spice-averse) and it paints every meal for the next day or two.
Of the three forms of starch, the little roast potatoes are the best of the lot. I gravitate towards the most-cooked; golden and unctuous, they're a great foil for the chicken and a perfect contrast to the salad. The rice is pleasant but undermined by overcooked, superannuated peas. The bread finds new life in a Portuguese version of an egg mcmuffin the next morning. Fried egg, more peri peri sauce, bliss.
Churrasco of St. Clair has long been on my local resto bucket list. I can cross it off, though I'll be keeping the delivery number on my refrigerator.
P -
Review from Sheila B.
Toronto, ON
1/20/2011
I know this used to be one of the best in the city but seriously it's not up there anymore. Reviews from the earlier 90's adorn the wall like a faded beauty queen.
We were unfortunate to be in the neighbourhood on Monday, I really wanted to go to the stockyards but they are closed on this day. It was so cold and we did get parking so we hiked it over to CofSC.
The order:
2 half chickens on the grill w/potatoes rice, & fries
2 buns
2 pops
$26
The chicken was overcooked and dry. Not hot to taste and small like a cornish hen. The rice was bland, tasted like dirty dish water. Potatoes were good in a mushy way. Fries well they are deep fried frozen jobs, only thing that was hot. If it wasn't for the smothering of hot sauce nothing would have had flavour.
The place needs a good cleaning and the two prep "girls" in the back should watch their conversations while people are eating. -
Review from Jing K.
Toronto, ON
2/18/2010
I remember the first time I ordered from here - 6 yrs ago when we first moved into the neighbourhood. And it was good. And it is still good. And every time I nom I always think, why do I ever bother with Swiss Chalet? (Especially when it is sooo much closer to home. [After I finish reviewing all my neighbourhood haunts you will probably be able to triangulate my exact home location.])
Like Julianna B. I prefer the rotisserie over the grilled chicken. The combo sizes are generous and best part is that it still tastes great reheated the next day. The sauce is tasty and is available by the jar. Still haven't figured out how to exactly replicate the churrasco chicken at home, but the sauce sure helps!Listed in: Eat, Drink, St. Clair West
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Review from Sam G.
Toronto, ON
10/4/2010
Last night I got a bbq chicken right off the rod just as it finished cooking, awesome! Was also impressed that the staff managed the line up so that when people came in they knew how long they'd have to wait for a chicken (rather than telling them when they got to the front of the line.
I also had the grilled chicken once but prefer barbecue although I will try the grilled again at some point. -
Review from Julianna B.
Toronto, ON
4/23/2009
This little hole-in-the-wall is another neighbourhood institution. You regularly see fire trucks or police cars pulled up, and a line of burly guys coming out with bags of chicken.
I'm a Churrasco of St. Clair heretic, which is to say that I prefer the rotisserie to the grilled (shields head and looks around nervously). I find the grilled too greasy for my tastes. The little potatoes are terribly good, and the dressing they give out for their salads is deliciously salty. The caesar comes with big salty chunks of bacon, too. My husband loves the spicy sauce passionately.
Their pre-wrapped chicken sandwiches are okay, but suffer from comparison with the ones done by the churrasco place in the south St. Lawrence market. The Churrasco of St. Clair ones have big hunks of chicken the sauce can't moisten sufficiently, and I've found pieces of cartiledge, which grosses me out hugely.
They've started doing fries which are entirely edible, if not anything I'd skip the little potatoes for.
NB: it's warm in the winter and brain-meltingly hot in the summer. I look at the cooks working over the grills in what must be 35+ heat and wonder how they survive the day.Listed in: Best food near Wychwood
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Review from Junaid U.
Toronto, ON
5/27/2009
As you pass by this restaurant, you cant help but be drawn in by the wonderful aroma of BBQ chicken. Having grown up with Nando's as a part of my weekly diet, i felt compelled to find the best portuguese chicken this city has to offer.
Churrasco of St Clair has a reputation of being one of the best portuguese chicken take out joints in the city, and that's what i plan to elaborate on.
After going in with some really high expectations of this place, i can vauge that the grilled chicken here is off the hook! It was flavourful, crispy on the outside, and nice and tender on the inside. The hot sauce was good...not nandos good but definitely a great addition to your meal!
While there isnt much (if any) real seating here, there are some really nice parks close by to grab some take out and make a mini picnic. My only real pet peave with this place was that the rice kinda sucked...and for me, that sorta killed half the experience of being able to really enjoy the chicken. Being a brown kid, the rice/roti (some sort of bread) component makes up half the meal with any meat n veggies...n that's why this place wasnt really for me. The potatoes were pretty good but i wouldnt go on to brag about them.
If i lived in the area, i could definitely see myself grabbing just the chicken from here on a regular. If you do go, dont forget to get some custard tarts for dessert...no diggity...no doubt! -
Review from Alex D.
York, ON
9/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Sure it used to be better and is now over shadowed by its popular neighbour Stockyards; but stockyards only sells its chicken 3 days a week and doesn't have the awesome piri-piri sauce.
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Review from Eric J. R.
2/20/2009
3-1/2 would have been ideal, but 4 stars might have been possible if they didn't regularly run out of grilled chicken. The BBQ is fine and all, but the grilled is so much better it's a wonder that they offer 2 kinds at all.
That being said, I've been going here for years. The little potatoes are really to die for, but unfortunately for my family they are not vegetarian friendly. The Portuguese corn bread is also really good, and saves from having to travel to kensington to the bakery.
Pick up extra hot sauce, they never give you enough. And if you really have to get the grilled - then call ahead to reserve. -
Review from Dallas H.
12/1/2009
If you like chicken, you'll love this place. It's really just a take-away spot. Owing to its increasing popularity, prices seem to have risen faster than the rate of inflation during the last few years.
