The perfect braai
Braai is the South African term for barbecue. Like all barbecues around the world, there isn’t a standard recipe. Just a bunch of people grilling meats and enjoying the outdoors. The difference in South Africa is that boerewors is more likely to make an appearance. Boerewors literally means farmer’s sausage in Afrikaans and Dutch. It consists of beef and mild spices and is almost always a long, thin coil. It does not have a distinctive taste.
Also like all barbecues, braai is a hit or miss affair. It can be exquisitely smokey or raw in the middle, overdone and dried out. I’ve had my fair share of bad braais in South Africa. Imagine my surprise when I came across this little eatery in Toronto that does a better braai than the ones I’ve tried in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Plan B is the only South African restaurant in Toronto and its menu is summarized by its signboard: burgers and braai. Everything is made in house. There is no pork—it is halal. On the occasions I visited, I saw South African customers driving from far outside Toronto to get their fix. A testament to Plan B’s quality and also the scarcity of South African food in the region.
The food
The choice basically comes down to burgers/rolls or braai platters. The braai platters come with at least boerewors, chicken breast, steak or lamb chop, and a side. The other variations add more meats and sides.
I chose the platter for one, with steak and bean salad as a side. I was skeptical about the small portion size but it ended up a satisfying meal.
Of course, the star attraction were the meats. All were perfectly cooked and seasoned properly. The steak had attractive grill marks on it; the chicken breast not so much, though it still tasted good. The steak was thin like a burger patty and cooked medium. Chicken breast isn’t an obvious choice for a barbecue since it has has little flavour and dries out easily. The char helped it in the flavour department and the chicken was still tender after sitting in the take out box. Of the three meats, the boerewors had the strongest flavour. It wasn’t anything exotic: just nutmeg, allspice, and pepper. Nevertheless, it was pleasant to eat without being cloying. The skin was crisp and the ground meat had just enough juicy fat. An excellent sausage.
The bean salad looked more like a bean dip. Delicious nonetheless. The thin gravy had citrus and herbaceous notes. Not oily. The dinner roll was standard. Much like a high-end fast food place.
For burgers and rolls, there are over a dozen options to choose from. If you can’t decide between burgers and boerewors, why not both? Mrs B’s Boerie Roll is a sly take on Mrs Ball’s apricot chutney, a renowned South African condiment.
Well, I went with a standard boerie burger. It looked deceptively small but the boerewors was definitely filling. The other ingredients were well prepared: fluffy bun, crisp lettuce, and oozing sauce. All of them played a supporting role to the signature sausage. The cookery on the boerewors was consistent on different visits. Casual food at its best.
I added a side dish of mielie pap. Pap is a (mostly) tasteless, white cornmeal mush. It is meant to be eaten with flavour-rich foods. I was excited to see it offered here. The only other places I know that have this are East African restaurants in Toronto, where it is called ugali. Unusually, it was topped with a tomato chutney. It was a smart move because the pap could now stand on its own. The chutney had mild heat and added umami to the bland pap. The texture of the pap was enjoyable. It formed small to medium clumps and was not compacted into a solid mass. This beats all the pap I’ve tried.
The place
For a small restaurant, Plan B manages to squeeze in counter seating, couple seating, and communal seating. The interior is bright, contemporary, and casual. Feels like a family-run burger joint. The cash counter opens up to the kitchen behind where you can catch a glimpse of the grill at work.
Verdict
Artisanal meats and boerewors. Flavoursome and superbly grilled. 9/10.
Practical information
- Name
- Plan B
- Rating
- 9/10
- Recommended dishes
- Braai platter
Pap with tomato chutney - Prices
- Braai platter for one and one side dish: $20.34 ($18.00 excluding tax)
Boerie burger: $14.69 ($13.00 excluding tax) - Address
- 2943A Bloor Street West
- Hours
- Tuesday to Thursday 1200h – 2100h
Friday to Saturday 1200h – 2230h
Sunday 1200h – 2000h - Date of visit
- May 2019, May 2020