Phil doesn't mince words. He describes his barbeque as "real smoke. real slow. real good." That's his story and he's stickin' to it. And brother, he ain't lyin.'

Since good barbeque is a rarity in this city (and, in fact, in most Canadian cities), I was rip rarin' to go and sink my teeth into some of the smoky, slow-cooked goodness I'd been promised at Phil's Original BBQ. Always wanting to sample as much as possible, I decided immediately on the BBQ combo - with ribs, chicken and brisket, plus coleslaw and baked beans on the side. (Naturally, I shared this $20 feast with my dining companion, who added a side of fries to our already over-sized order.)

As expected, Phil's is the kind of food that insists you eat until your plate is clean, regardless of how full you get along the way. Every morsel on the plate was savoured before we put down our forks and cleaned our fingers with a sense of finality, accomplishment, and satisfaction.

However, although I enjoyed my own dinner, I couldn't help noticing that nearly all the other diners in the modest restaurant were ordering pulled pork sandwiches. Had we just missed out on Phil's signature dish?

I think a return trip is in order.

Phil's Original BBQ, 838 College, 416 532 8161