Top Toronto pitmasters launching new barbecue restaurant this weekend

There's a new barbecue restaurant opening in Toronto this weekend, and it's helmed by two of the city's top pitmasters.

When two of the top Toronto talents on the local barbecue scene join forces, there's bound to be some smoke. The type of smoke that renders brisket juicy and makes ribs fall off the bone, that is.

That's exactly what's going down at the intersection of Dupont and Christie as Golden Horseshoe BBQ, the lovechild of 24-year-old barbecue savant Andrew Golden and Carbon Bar Executive Chef Kris Hansen.

The pair are setting up shop in the former home of an oft-bemoaned Popeye's location in a historic building in The Annex, transforming it into a semi-quick-service spot with a collection of enormous smokers in the parking lot.

A Depression-era bank building that has since been home to a revolving door of various concepts, the space, paired with the team of Golden, who made his name running pop-ups at local breweries, and Hansen, makes for a perfect popularity storm.

Still, despite the power team and the near-perfect location, the process of getting the restaurant off the ground — a large part of which has been documented on the restaurant's Instagram page — has been anything but smooth sailing.

"We found this place coming up on a year ago. If this process has taught Kris and I anything, it's patience," Golden explains. 

From build-outs to inspections and setbacks galore, Golden Horseshoe has been a labour of love, indeed, but one that promises to be well worth the wait, particularly for the members of the community who, Golden says, have supported him and Hansen throughout the entire process.

"We are so grateful to be in such a fantastic community, and look forward to serving all the folks that have stopped by and wished us well," he says.

The setbacks are little more than dust in the wind now, as, at long last, Golden Horseshoe BBQ prepares to officially open with an epic grand-opening party on the weekend of Saturday, Sept. 13 and Sunday, Sept. 14.

The restaurant will be open, Golden says, from 11:30 a.m. until they sell out both days, but he also gives us the inside scoop that the restaurant will be soft-opened on Thursday, Sept. 11 and Friday, Sept. 12, during those same hours, if you want to be among the first to sample all the smoked goodness.

Expect all the classics, such as smoked brisket, pork ribs, burnt ends, and a rotating selection of sausages, alongside burgers and pulled pork sandwiches, as well as staple sides served from a quick, casual counter.

Golden Horseshoe BBQ is located at 657 Dupont St.