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Smoke's Poutinerie
Categories: Restaurants Vegetarian Restaurants Canadian (Traditional) Vegetarian, Canadian (Traditional) [Edit]
490 Bloor St WToronto, ON M5S 1X8
Neighbourhood: The Annex
(416) 588-2873
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 11 am - 11 pm
Thu 11 am - 3 am
Fri-Sat 11 am - 4 am
Sun 11 am - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
16 reviews for Smoke's Poutinerie
16 reviews in English
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Review from Ranell B.
2/22/2012
It was definately not good for you but it sure was yummmy. Open late & a long line that moves fast= 2 thumbs up. Fries drenched in any topping you could imagine. We chose an array of cheeses with bacon and beef. The cheese didn't clump and was very stringy and flavorful. (drool)
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Review from Laz C.
Toronto, ON
1/24/2012
The appeal of Smoke's is the array of poutine toppings on offer, what is not appealing is the poutine itself. In full disclosure, I'm from Montreal so I am consciously trying to suppress the 'snob factor' in my review. I also ordered the regular veggie, which I'm guessing (based on taste), is not their specialty.
From the top. I had to wait for what seemed to be an excessively long time for gravy and cheese to be applied to french fries. Is it just me or should this not take all but one or two minutes, as opposed to ten? And what's with the cameras all over the place? I always find that level of surveillance unsettling since it suggests that management is mistrustful and overbearing on staff. The counter staff are actually the only reason I'm giving the place two stars, they were friendly, competent and ..well, that's about as much as I expect from fast food service.
On to the poutine. I find $6+ to be pretty steep for regular, which is essentially "small". I might have been able to let this go if the poutine had made up for it but the gravy was beyond underwhelming: bland, overly sweet, kinda gross. On top of that, or maybe below(?), the curds weren't all that fresh and nary a squeak could be heard. The fries didn't exactly steal the show either, there was nothing 'bad' about them but I didn't have any "mmm, these fries are delicious" moments.
I knew going in not to expect the blissful poutine of my Quebecois yesteryear, but my only hope is that Smoke's does not become the standard for Toronto. -
Review from Alan W.
Toronto, ON
1/21/2012
It's not as good as I last tried it at their Adelaide location, but still good.
This time I was smart enough to order the regular size instead of the artery-busting large size. I had the Hogtown, which had caramelized onions, mushrooms, sausage and bacon. It was the perfect combination of ingredients. I wished the fries were fried a little more so that it wasn't so soggy and limp when it was swimming in the glorious sea of gravy.
This location had a limited amount of seating and there are no washrooms (you will need to use the Starbucks next door). -
Review from Simika K.
12/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
The traditional poutine here is ok but it's a little bit too salty for my taste. And it doesn't leave me with that stuffed but I'm craving the gravy-soaked, cheesy potato goodness that I associate poutines with. Which is a bummer, because I really really do love poutine, so I kind of missed having that coma-inducing awesomely satisfied feeling I do after having a good plate of poutine.
I have to say though, in terms of variety - this is a really good option. Their cheeseburger poutine with a cheese sauce is a delight.
This particular location is well-situated, right next to Bathhurst. Service is quick, and efficient. -
Review from Chris P.
10/11/2011
I do enjoy myself a good poutine now and again. I really shouldn't be eating the stuff as it is all fatty and with my dairy allergy cheese doesn't always go over so well, but we're all allowed our guilty indulgences, right???
On my walk home from work one night I passed this brand spankin' new Smokes locaton and thought, hm I've got me a hankering for something salty and greasy, I'm going to try out Smokes and see what the buzz is all about.
How can I put this lightly?
The poutine here is bloody awful. It is in fact beyond bloody awful. I mean, ok poutine isn't a dish that is ever going to be visually stunning on presentation, however Smokes has somehow managed to make it look like a congealed-road-kill-esque mess with overly disgustingly salty gravy, unmeltable squeak filled cheese curds and fries so dry they rival the Sahara.
As David Lee Roth once said----Never Again.Listed in: 1 Review A Day For Every Day…
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Review from Edwin A.
The poutine originates from Quebec and is a simple dish consisting of three ingredients: fries, cheese curds and brown gravy.
This dish has grown in popularity over the years and one can find it offered at many restaurants including the big fast food chains. Smoke's is a stand-alone business franchise based on this very famous Canadian dish.
Since it's rather simple, it's critical to get every ingredient right. For me unfortunately I find their gravy a bit too salty, a little bit too thick and uninspiring tastes like it's all artificial flavoring.
Fries were okay when fresh -- they were cut and had skin but they didn't taste that crisp. Cheese curds were fine though I have found no difference to any other cheese curd I've had before.
Smoke differs by offering a variety of types. Pulled pork is quite popular same with Montreal smoked meat.. when I passed by today they had special Thanksgiving Poutine with Roasted Turkey Stuffing, Baby Green Peas and Cranberry Sauce. Not my thing but gotta say that's clever and original. :)
One comment on this Bloor St location the interior lights are hella bright! Please dim them. It makes me not want to eat here cause I feel like I'm under a human french fry lamp! -
Review from Reynold P.
Toronto, ON
10/7/2011
When it comes down to Poutine, I'm a traditionalist. I like it plain.
Squeaky cheese curds, hot brown gravy, good fries and that's it. I like mine with the curds slightly melted so the hot gravy is very important. I also like my gravy to be beef based more so than chicken gravy. Just a preference.
So what did I think of the traditional poutine at Smokes? It was alright.
It wasn't as flavourful as I expected to be. I wanted rich gravy and a lot of cheese curds, both took a leave of absence.
I also tried the Indian inspired poutine, forgot the name of that one. It was alright too, just the traditional with a hint of curry. I've had better butter chicken poutine.
Overall, Smokes is a good place for a late night snack/meal after a long exhausting night. The variety is there and it's filling. Although some can get a bit pricey, choices are what keeps em' coming back for more. Last, don't lean on the chalk board wall, it's hard to get it off your clothes... Fail. -
Review from Paige M.
8/18/2011 5 photos
When I visit my friend in Canada, there are two things I want to eat: ketchup chips and poutine. Hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio, where poutine is a rarity, I was ecstatic to pass this shop while browsing Toronto.
Smoke's is all pountine and only pountine. It goes much further than the traditional gravy and cheese curds over fries. There are 25 different kinds of poutine served up here, including varieties with beef, chicken and vegetarian. Overwhelmed with my selection, I asked the clerk what she recommended: Nacho Veggie Poutine. Hand-cut fries topped with mushroom gravy, cheese curds, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, and jalepenos.
It was beyond delicious and left me craving another variety. My friend had the traditional poutine, which I sampled. Of course, it was fantastic as well. I liked Smoke's so much, I made a list of what I'd like to try on my next visit to Toronto:
- Curry Chicken
- Pulled Pork
- Montreal
- Italian Deluxe
- Prime Beef
- Veggie Deluxe
If that's not overwhelming enough, I can also mix and match ingredients from the menu to create a custom poutine. Amazing! I wish Smoke's would venture down to The States, perhaps to Cincinnati. You'd be a success here, and I'd be your most frequent customer!
Cost per person: $6 - $10Listed in: Canada, Eh?
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Review from Andrea H.
6/23/2011
Food is a serious problem for the homesick Montreal exile.
Although our hometown hosts Michelin-rated establishments , that's not what hits the reptile brain. No, it's the holy trinity: bagels, smoked meat, and poutine. Fifteen years ago, the Canadien errant would just have been out of luck. Fed-Ex and good friends back home could satisfy the bagel and smoked meat cravings, but poutine needs to be hot and fresh, and the few Toronto establishments that attempted it submitted attempts so inadequate that the ex-Montrealer knew better than to bother.
That's changed now that poutine has inexplicably become a Toronto trend - but Montreal purists should beware. Toronto poutine may be a worthy dish on its own merits, but it probably won't satisfy yearnings for La Belle Provence.
Smoke's poutinerie is a case in point. It offers many variations on the classic dish - chicken, pulled pork, guacamole. Their fries are very good: made of Yukon gold potatoes, soaked overnight, cooked so they're crisp but not greasy. They use real, fresh cheese curds from Quebec. The gravy is carefully-balanced, home-made, and tastes of fresh herbs and real meat stock. If you had never had a Quebec poutine before, you would probably deem this significantly better than what's on offer at Lafleur's. Objectively, it is. But if you're a homesick Montrealer, it just isn't quite right.
The curds are fresh, but they're too small, and there should be more of them (ideally, a forkful of poutine should be a glutinous mass you can barely lift out of its grease-soaked container.) But the real problem is the gravy. It's good gravy. I would love it on turkey or a hot chicken sandwich. It just isn't quite right. I don't know what makes real poutine gravy taste as it does - probably some horrible combination of unhealthy chemicals and a life-threatening amount of fat and salt. Smokes's isn't it.
Oddly, the most authentic poutine I've had in Toronto is at Stampede Bison Grill in Parkdale, which uses vegetarian (!) gravy. Smoke's makes a good poutine, has friendly staff, offers good value, and is perfect for the bar-goer who needs a good concoction of carbs, grease, and salt to soak up the evening's alcohol. It just won't satisfy the Montrealer fixated on home.Listed in: For homesick Montrealers
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Review from Rachel L.
Toronto, ON
6/6/2011
Smoke's is a very, very welcomed addition to the Annex. It's part of the ever-expanding Smoke's family and they pretty much struck gold by opening shop at Bathurst and Bloor.
There's a great variety of meat options and three veggie choices (traditional, supreme, and nacho) and all of the packaging is eco-friendly. The supreme comes with mushrooms, onions, and peas (so good!), and the nacho comes as you'd probably imagine it (salsa, sour cream, guac, jalapeños for the unimaginative). Check the menu for the meat options, you won't be disappointed.
The place is small, as it took over Chippy's old stomping grounds, and it seats about six or so people and has standing room for another six or so. It's more of an in-and-out place, which is perfect for a drunken walk home. Besides, you're eating poutine, it won't kill you to walk it off anymore than the poutine would kill you itself.
On opening day there was free pop for everyone and I was so glad to encounter such friendly staff. To say that I will be a regular is an understatement. -
Review from Tracy W.
Toronto, ON
11/9/2011
The scene wasn't pretty. I rolled out of bed one hungover morning (ok, early afternoon) and seeing the cupboards empty, I decided to get dressed and further pollute the system with something awful. Cue Smoke's Poutinerie.
Hailing from an awfully small northern town, I'm familiar with the cuisine of our fair sister province. I even pronounce it properly, if that adds to any cred. So, I deem myself a fair judge of a good poutine. This, unfortunately, did not add up to expectation. Maybe if the visit went down the night before, this would be a four star report. But, alas, Smoke's, your poutine did not hit the mark.
My first visit with this line up was sometime ago, while, after a long day of hustling art in Trinity Bellwoods park one fall, I spotted their chip truck parked not far from my tent. On this occasion, my needs were only just met. This second visit, I can hardly say the same. After hobbling home, I landed, fork in hand, ready to dig into some dirty poutine, ripe with pulled pork, a fine sampling of cheese curd, and gravy. And so I did. Amongst my digging about, I was hoping to find the sort of poutine I've been missing since having moved here to Toronto. I hit the bottom corner of the carton, dissappointed. The potatoes were a little undercooked, the gravy, a little bland, and the whole ordeal, a little underwhelming.
I tossed it out.
And, then I had a nap.
Not exactly an ideal afternoon, however, there is always next time.
I don't think I'll be back.
And, so? The hunt continues. .. -
Review from Anabel L.
Toronto, ON
11/22/2011
let them eat poutine
:Various:
No this is not the first time I'm trying Smoke's. Smoke's and I go way back - since the first on Adelaide.
It's not the Quebecois poo-tin I love, it's the downright dirrtttty honkey-tonk, smack-ma-face kind. I love that too.
They've taken the traditional ingredients to great poutine and added calorie crazed ridiculously good toppings like bacon. I love bacon. I love bacon so much I think Canada needs a new holiday - National Bacon Day so that friends and family can gather to eat bacon following a moment of silence to remember the pig.
Over the weekend, after a messy but classy night with my sister, we popped into the Smoke's on Bloor. She had never tried it.
It was busy in there - they called number 264 when we entered. We were number 292. But they were as speedy as could be and apologized for the wait. I didn't mind the wait. I forgot about it, right after he passed me my two boxes.
We shared the bacon poutine (shocker), and the chipotle pulled pork (a personal favourite).
I couldn't tear my sister away from the poutine. She loved it.
In the name of bacon. A-men. -
Review from Jessica D.
Toronto, ON
6/7/2011
The newest addition to the Smoke's family is now open for business, and I expect to stumble in after a night at the bar several times in the near future.
However, today I am sober. I ordered myself a bacon cheeseburger poutine, which I had never tried, but I wanted something really over the top. I wanted something that would prove the Smoke's hype and convince me that poutine NEEDS indulgent toppings like bacon, beef and two kinds of cheese. And I'm sad to say, this poutine acheived neither. I'm actually kind of wishing I just went for the basic model, instead of ponying up with extra meat.
Thing is, there's so much bacon. I just feel like I'm eating a bacon-fries moosh. The ground beef is a little lost in the whole mix, really only adding some filler and a bit of texture. There were two types of cheese and at the start they glued the mound of fries and meat into a delicious looking hill of sustenance. But after the top layer was eaten, the cheese was lacking (a total no-no on the poutine scene, am I wrong??) The gravy was alright, but I think I'd go for their brown gravy next time (I suspect they put peppercorn on this bad boy). I don't have anything bad to say about the fries, they're really just the victims in all this.
As I said, I will probably go again, but I think I will have to rein in my expectations and try something else on the menu. -
Review from Denise S.
7/3/2011
Great new location for late night munchies after dancing/concert-going! Although the long list of options (including nacho, cheeseburger, pulled pork and others) is tempting, I still keep coming back to "The Traditional". It's $7 for a large and that's enough for 2-3 hungry peeps. I wish there were more cheese curds, but otherwise the poutine here is pretty satisfying! It gets crowded, but the line moves fast and efficiently. They will take your order then give you a number. Seating is limited, but in the summer, it gets pretty hot in there anyways, so my friends and I would usually just take it to go. There is also a huge blackboard on one of the walls, so you can doodle while you wait for your number to be called.
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Review from Molloy J.
Toronto, ON
2/15/2012
Poutine I got was shit, I ordered a large, it had a small amount of sauce on the top but every fry underneath was dry as a bone.
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Review from Greg B.
7/25/2011
Four stars for taste, price, and selections, but 1 star for the restaurant ambiance and seating. I'm new to the poutine scene, but this Smoke's was a perfect introduction!
