Deadpool
Cluck, Grunt, and Low is Going to the Abattoir
It's pretty busy most of the time, the patio is fantastic in the summer, and (in my not so humble opinion) the food is quite good for the price. But after a relatively short run, the popular Annex southern BBQ joint Cluck, Grunt, and Low is going deadpool - perhaps as early as tonight or tomorrow.
Fans, be warned. If anyone wants one last taste of their favourite lip-smacking barbecued goodness, perhaps they ought to change whatever plans they may have already had for chow this evening, and get over there before it's over.
Nothing on their website indicates that they're closing, and when I called earlier today their voicemail gave no hints either. Then I got a hold of a staffer, who confirmed that it was true. She recommended that I call before coming, even tonight, because food may or may not be served, and the doors could close for good at any moment now.
When asked about the possible reasons the closure, she hinted that this isn't a recession story, but that "the owners just decided that they didn't want to do it anymore." The fact that quite some time ago they closed the Bayview & Eglinton location should have been a tell-tale sign that things were not headed a positive direction.
Cluck Grunt, and Low was one of those places that people either loved or loathed. The top vote-getter in our 2007 poll of best new cheap eats restaurants, it certainly had its supporters (and it definitely had its critics).
What will I miss most? Probably their (oh so delicious) Mac 'n Cheese... and the hearty pulled pork sandwiches. What will end up in its place at the prime Bloor & Walmer corner location? Time will tell, I guess.
Tip of the hat to blogTO reader Richard K, who gave us the heads up earlier this week after a waitress filled him in on the impending closure.
Discussion
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They changed their menu recently, and not for the better. It wasn't as good as the first couple of times I went there.
Also, nothing seems to stay in that location for long.
I gave it a shot one time, wan't that impressed to be honest. Maybe it was post menu changes that first poster talks about.
There was also one on Bayview south of Eglington, but that closed in record time.
this was, with memphis, my favourite bbq place. it's a sad day.
That is the location of doom - nothing lasts for more than a couple years at a time.
Long live Phil's Original BBQ!
the pulled pork sandwich was yum, i hope something equally artery clogging opens up in its place
it's true - everything that ever existed in that corner closed. i was surprised this place was open this long (not bc of the food i never been in) but because of that corner's track record.
That explains my experience Sunday evening - I went with some friends around 8:30pm and there was a hand-written sign on the door that said "closing early for some minor renovations". I thought it was a bit odd, but not out of the realm of possibility. There was a little bit of activity inside, and what appeared to be a few patrons finishing up their meals.
We dined elsewhere nearby, and when we left (around 10pm) I noticed that C, G & L was dark - clearly no minor renos had taken place. I guess they either ran out of food or figured nobody would care if they closed early since they were going dark in a few days anyway.
I was hoping to check out their all you can eat brunch soon. The menu looked great. Oh well....
I was quite surprised to spot this myself today.
I would love to see a good tapas restaurant in the area. Or a great brunch place. I wonder what it'll be.
Heartbroken!
Went there once and loved the pulled pork and beef brisket. Any advice on similar restaurants?
Maybe they got bitten by the Swine Flu scare.
the food was terrible.
tried it twice.
You want real BBQ?
go to Phil's.
no contest.
CG&L is terrible! Phil's is not much better.
The best BBQ in the GTA is up in Woodbridge (Memphis BBQ & Southern Rub Smokehouse) and from what I've read in Whitby (Buster Rhino). BR isn't open on the weekend so I haven't been able to go. Stockyards at Christie & St. Clair has gotten some earlier good reviews.
Depressing; I just ate there for lunch and I noticed a pretty downer attitude... this explains it.
The southern brunch was pretty good. They actually lasted quite a while... certainly made a better go of it than some of the really tragic predecessors in that space (Shakespeare's Cafe, and a really terrible Chinese food place come to mind)
DAMN!
I went there once, and it was meaty delicious...
As long as it doesn't become another sushi restaurant or something like that, it's fine.
I think I'd like to see a decent bistro of some sort.
Something bbq in nature at least.
Too bad anyway.
CG&L exemplified a style of BBQ that didn't do much for me but it seemed to have steady business (I'd walk by most days at least once).
With the summer coming it's certainly the perfect time for a new joint to capitalize on the ample patio space and garage doors.
-Great ribs
-Sides were way too small for the price
-Decor too bright
I went twice, liked it. Got takeout once - none of the food really travelled well.
Still gonna miss it.
Not a lot of good rib joints in town.
Phil's is okay but nothing special.
If anybody has recos of great places to get ribs PLEASE TELL ME
The food there went from amazing to average. I think the biggest problem with the place was consistency.
I'm gonna miss going there.
I ate there and thought it was pretty good.
There was an awesome bluegrass band playing called the Shinhackers.
The staff were really friendly too.
@lister on - Buster Rhino's is pretty damn good. Friday is rib day: $13 for a rack of ribs, side (go with the fries) and a drink. The killer is the in-house rib sauce.
oh noooooo i never got to go!
this is terrible....
Of all of this locations iterations, I liked the 'spicy house', or whatever it was called (pan-asian food) - their General Tao chicken was awesome... I wonder what this place will become next...hmm...
jonathan@blogTO
This place sucked. I live right down the street from CGL and I had the highest hopes when I first saw the sign go up. I tried really hard to like them but from their lousy beginnings right to their shameful end, CGL was destined for failure. They comped me so many dinners when they first opened due to cold food (they never even cooked anything on the premises) that I was surprised they made it past their first year. The last time I ate there, at the end of last summer, was right after their first (or was it the second) menu change. I was forced to get takeout so I could pack for a trip and ended up throwing 3/4 of my $20 ribs away because they were too salty even for my sodium craving taste. Jerrold, if you thought this place was good then that only augments my belief that BlogTO is the last place to go for restaurant reviews. The food reviewers on this blog must suffer from dysgeusia. Next you'll try and tell me that Sushi on Bloor is 'great'.
Hey Johnny,
I liked CGL. Never once did I have cold food or overly salted ribs served to me there. If you perceive my good fortune and liking of this one resto as reason to disregard over 1000 reviews (written by other people, no less), then that's your narrow-minded prerogative, IMO.
You should stick to photography, Jerrold. Checking the restaurant section, I see BlogTO has a favourable review of Aris Place on Roncy (written by someone else, no less). Eating their premade, frozen food reconstituted in last week's grease made me run for the can every time - not only to purge whatever I just put into me but also to shower off that nasty smell.
Agreed CGL is not real BBQ nor is it good. It is actually disgusting to anyone who has tried real BBQ. I would honestly rather patron Montana's. Toronto foodies arent stupid, they will know a real BBQ joint when one comes here. This is thanks to the power of chowhound and smart Toronto Palates. Highway 61 will be next on this list. Good Riddence.
Regardless of what you may have thought of this place's food, it's seems to be undeniable that that particular location has some kind of curse on it!
This location is almost never successful....For the past 5 to 6 years I have seen a quite a few resto concepts, managements, ownerships, etc...It would be funny if what survived was a sushi bar...lol...
Maybe it doesn't have good feng shui...I don't know, but this location is demon to anyone invested.
Food was produced off site in a production kitchen. Food was basically re-heated by the line cooks. Thuet consulted early on but was let go. Staff raided the fridges upon hearing of the closure. To put it kindly, there wasn't much care put into this operation.