This past weekend my better half and I decided to try Hogtown Smoke in the East End.
We LOVE BBQ! And Love (even more) smoked meats.
We had read quite a few reviews on this place and were really excited to try the good eats.
I called in my order - asked for take-away. The gal on the phone was super polite and friendly. All good!
Drove to the beach to get my food - reasonable turn-around time - about 20 mins from order to pick up. All good!
Arrived at the BBQ joint - went inside. It's cozy - wood benches; chalk board signs; barn board wood. It's comfortable and busy - even for a Sunday. I would be more inclined to dine in there say on a Monday or Tuesday - less of a rushed feeling (not from the servers but from the customers waiting to get in).
Picked up my take-away. I ordered the Wilbur (for 3-4 ppl). My Guy eats a lot of protein and this way, we were planning on having left-overs for the following day.
While we did have meaty left-overs (and the smoked meats/BBQ were delicious)..... sadly, the portions of the sides were an absolute JOKE.
You get 3 sides with the Wilbur ($68 + Tax). And apparently, the sides-portions are really just garnish. I ordered the 2 Slaws - Creamy Slaw & Purple Slaw and also the Corn Bread.
For 3-4 people, you get approximately 1 cup of slaw (purple and creamy each) and literally 1 corn bread muffin!!!!! And I am not talking even an unreasonably huge muffin (think Tim Horton's sized muffin). I am saying - like a muffin bottom!!!! For 3-4 people.
What a JOKE!
So, for about $70, I got meat. Which is fine - but I'd appreciate if the restaurant would let their patron's know, the sides are really just garnish and you should be prepared to order at least 3 more sides per person, if they want a meal (about an additional $15 per person). So your $70 meal is now over $100! And no drinks/cocktails are on that tab.
I am disappointed. Will I eat there/get take away from there again? Most likely not.
I hate getting hosed out of my money - especially when it comes to food. I am more than happy to pay for a quality product - I purchase a naturally raised cow every year from Grass Roots Beef in Owen Sound. Happy to spend a couple thousand on that - but at least that's meat for the year......
Thanks anyhow, Hogtown.