Cowboy Grill brings a taste of smoky, bold Texas-style BBQ to the Castlefield Design District.

Between bites of slow-cooked brisket, hearty sandwiches, beef burgers, and glazed ribs, this fast-casual eatery invites diners to savour the taste and traditions of BBQ culture.

Owner Sean Samavati gained inspiration for the joint during his years spent travelling abroad honing his culinary skills. In Texas, he experienced the art and mastery of grilling and smoking. With Cowboy Grill, his vision has always been to fuse Texas-style flavours with influences from other international cuisines.

The cozy space lends well to the concept. Straight out of a Western film, it has a rustic, ranch-style design with warm natural woods. I was wishing I'd worn my cowboy boots for the occasion. 

For those dining in, there's a cozy indoor seating area just past the kitchen, and while the weather is still warm, an outdoor patio complete with umbrellas and string lights is also available.

The menu is quite extensive (think Cheesecake Factory), with numerous breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. 

The Oven Hot Mortadella ($8.79) comes with sliced mortadella, pickles, tomatoes, onions, smoked cheese, lettuce, and pesto mayo, all on a plain croissant. The loaded sandwich can also be upgraded to a combo meal with two crispy hashbrowns.

One item I was eager to try, was the Cowboy's Grill Burger ($19.79). This signature offering features a 6oz grilled Angus beef patty topped with smoked bacon, melt-in-your-mouth brisket, smoked cheese, pickles, jalapeños, sliced red onion, and aioli.

This meat-forward burger truly packs a punch, and I found the smokiness flavour well-balanced. The patty was juicy, with a delightful char from the grill.

It comes with a side of fries, and you can't go wrong pairing it with a refreshing glass of cold beer ($9.50). 

A family-friendly favourite is the Spaghetti and Meatballs ($19.79). The portion is quite generous, and I appreciated the meatball-to-pasta ratio. 

I would describe it as a classic Italian-American plate, finished with a thick red tomato sauce and a heavy sprinkle of parmesan cheese. 

In contrast, the Schnitzel Cordon Bleu ($27.79) dinner leans towards the pricier side. The chicken cutlet is pounded thin and coated in a crispy breadcrumb exterior, topped with ham, Swiss cheese, and a drizzle of chipotle mayo. It comes with a side salad and fries.

The dish is simple - the chicken is tender, and the fries are crisp, but I'm not sure it lives up to the price. 

An item that is worth ordering is the Cowboy's Grill Smoked Plate ($38.79 per person). At a place called Cowboy Grill, you'd be remiss not to sample as much BBQ as possible. The smoked plate features a variety of meat - which is, after all, the defining trait of the Texas BBQ experience. 

The platter comes served on a wooden board infused with smoke. There's St. Louis pork ribs, beef brisket, crispy chicken wings, pulled beef, and smoked sausage. The signature deep smoky flavour comes thanks to the in-house smoker. 

"We slow-cook everything to perfection, letting the smoke infuse into the meats over several hours, just like they do in Texas," shared Sean regarding the cooking process.

The meat is seasoned simply with salt and pepper, then finished with their in-house chipotle and BBQ sauces.

My favorite bites were the dry-rubbed beef brisket and the smoked sausage. I wish the sauces had been served on the side so I could better appreciate the individual flavors of the proteins, but it was undoubtedly a meal worthy of a cowboy.

"Cowboy Grill was inspired by the rugged, independent spirit of the cowboy, which mirrors the heart of Texas BBQ," Sean told blogTO. "Cowboys are known for their hard-working, no-nonsense approach, and that’s the same philosophy we bring to our food."

Cowboy Grill is located at 85 Kincort Street.