What’s better than a mouthful of crisp, salty fries? We’d venture to suggest a mouthful of crisp, salty fries, smothered in gravy and cheese curds. A great poutine is a Canadian rite of passage, but where does it best? We’ve scoured the country to find the independent venues that are dishing up poutine that’s truly out of this world. From side street sports bars to little Italy, we’ve investigated every square inch of this cold, cold country to bring you the best of the best poutine.
The Dragon Sports Bar, St George, Ontario
The whole menu at The Dragon Sports Bar is a cut above what you’d usually expect from, well, a sports bar. From homemade croquettes stuffed with jalapenos, cheese, and bacon to their famous three-tier quesadilla, the chances of you leaving hungry are slim! However, it’s the poutine that we’re here for.
The Dragon’s comes in four different flavors, buffalo chicken, pulled pork, classic, or bacon, tomato, and chive. The latter is our pick. Tomato seems a bit of a rogue addition to a poutine, but trust us, it works. The crisp fries are double fried then topped with a secret gravy, curds, crisp shards of bacon and fresh diced tomato. A dusting of fresh chopped chives on top brings an element of freshness, perfect for such a heavy meal. Take yourself along for the next big ice hockey game, you’ll find a friendly crowd and plenty of tips for those who enjoy betting on future NHL lines. We snagged a pick for the Panthers to beat the Oilers and were pretty surprised at the odds we managed to get. The crowd wasn’t bad either!
Utopia Cafe and Grill, Toronto
It’s not often we’d suggest travelling to Little Italy for a Canadian staple, but Utopia Cafe and Grill have mastered poutine in a way that few Canadian’s could have claimed to. It’s a budget friendly option and has lots of options for customization. One thing remains constant though – the fries. So often you’ll find that the toppings are the only thing that restaurants have in mind when it comes to poutine, but not here. The fries are hand cut, par-boiled, fried, dried, and then fried again. The result is a deep golden-brown fry that’s crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. This is then topped with your own selection, gravy and curds are, as far as we’re concerned, essential, but what comes next is up to you.
Crispy fried onions and bacon are a classic, but we enjoyed a serving of shaved lamb and another of tempeh bacon (complete with vegan cheese). It’s no surprise that these guys have been in the same spot serving up food for the soul for nearly thirty years.
Sneaky Dees, Toronto
So far, we’ve had a refreshing twist on a classic, and the ultimate fries. So now, it’s time for the gut buster. Sneaky Dees is iconic firstly for its musical prowess. Since 1987 this dive bar has been hosting acts, but alongside this they’ve also been pouring pints and serving up frankly filthy servings of their house poutine. The classic is great, it’s unadulterated beer-food. However, we’re suggesting the text-mex monstrosity – The Destroyer. This combines their classic poutine (fries, curds, and gravy) with guacamole, sour cream, jalapenos and onions. It’s filthy, it’s wonderful, it’s nachos and poutine all rolled into one. Two powerhouses of fried food rolled into one. It’s not pretty to look at, but that’s not what this venue is about. If you’ve got a hankering for hideous amounts of fast food, then Dees is – the – place to be.
Leslieville Pumps, Toronto
Our final spot is Leslieville Pumps. What began as a simple gas station morphed into a convenience store and finally a restaurant (though both the gas station and convenience store still remain)! This country-style joint serves southern style food in the East End. If you’re after a barbecue then this remains a great recommendation, but we’re here for poutine and poutine we shall have!
The fries here are hand cut and fried to crisp perfection. They’re served with a rich, dark gravy that feels as though it has a barbecue twang to it – though the restaurant can neither confirm nor deny. The cheese curds are local, and you get a choice of just three toppings, baked beans, pulled pork, or brisket. I’d go as far as to say that not having a brisket is a sin. It’s soft on the inside, beautifully charred on the outside and the perfect accompaniment to those deliciously naughty fries. With that said, in the interests of science, we tried all three. The baked beans are traditional and delicious, definitely not the kind from a tin. These have the unmistakable flavor of woodsmoke. The pulled pork too is just what you’d hope for, falling apart and with that barbecue treatment.
