Beloved Toronto BBQ pop-up is opening a real restaurant next month
Starting with just a small smoker in a backyard, Toronto Texas-style craft barbecue pop-up Crosstown Craft BBQ has had community members waiting for the official opening date of its first brick-and-mortar, and it's finally almost here.
After much anticipation, owner and Pitmaster Rueben Silva has announced that Crosstown Craft BBQ's juicy briskets and saucy ribs will be yours when its doors to its first brick-and-mortar open on Nov. 7.
Crosstown Craft BBQ began as a pop-up in East York back in April 2025, when Silva created the company as a way to share his passion for authentic craft barbecue. It quickly grew into something bigger than he could have ever imagined.
With pop-up drops that sell out in hours and a growing cult following on Instagram, Silva knew it was time for the next chapter: bigger smokers and Crosstown's own space to call home.
"We’ve spent so much time setting up pop-ups, loading equipment, smoking meat, and serving people in temporary spaces. Now we get to put down roots and build something for the long term," Silva tells blogTO.
Silva describes the process as one that has been exciting, stressful, and rewarding, noting that he feels a lot of gratitude towards everyone who has worked behind the scenes.
Silva's got a lot of things planned now that he has a physical space he gets to dig his nails into. The new space gives him a new ability to get creative with the menu.
Every day the restaurant is open, customers can expect new dishes, giving them something to look forward to throughout the week.
Weekends are where things really get exciting: Fridays will be the day of Crosstown Craft BBQ's beloved smoked beef cakes, Saturdays will be for massive beef dino ribs, and Sundays will bring the team's new smoked and seared picanha.
As exciting as it is, a lot of hard work has gone into the business, and Silva isn't one to shy away from where its success came from.
"I want people to understand that this didn’t happen overnight. It started with pop-ups, a lot of hard work, and a community that kept showing up and supporting us. Every customer who came out to a pop-up, shared a post, or told a friend about us helped get us to this point." Silva says.
To celebrate the opening and give back to the community that's supported them, the team at Crosstown Craft BBQ has planned giveaways that will run alongside opening festivities.
Silva looks forward to welcoming back the community that has helped him get Crosstown Craft BBQ to where it is now, and is excited to welcome new customers who may be discovering Crosstown Craft BBQ for the first time.
Crosstown Craft BBQ will officially open its doors on Nov. 7 and will be located at 51 Comstock Rd.
