The Rooster Rotisserie and Grill is a beloved barbecue chicken joint, now located in a new neighbourhood.

After a devastating fire forced the original Bloorcourt location to shut down in 2021, a second restaurant opened in December 2023, just a block away from St. Clair Station.

Raj, the owner of the franchise, describes the move as a slow process, emphasizing the difficulties that delayed the new location's grand opening.

He claims that pricing was a particular thorn in his side. Having been closed for more than two years made it difficult for him to figure out how much he should charge for menu items.

Another obstacle on the path to reopening was the location itself. While the original Rooster was a well-established takeout spot with a dedicated following, the name is all but unknown near Yonge and St. Clair, making it difficult to attract new customers.

Luana, the manager, echoes Raj's sentiments: "On Bloor, people appreciate Portuguese food. Here, there's more of a salad bar vibe. It's a bit more bougie."

Nevertheless, the Rooster's relocation has been largely well-received. Raj recounts many pleasant interactions with returning customers, as well as a few friendly conversations with new ones.

One memorable encounter occurred a few weeks after the restaurant had opened. A woman walked in with a potted plant, which she then placed on the counter. She told the staff that it was a gift, then left.

"She bought it from the shop down the street," says Raj, pointing us in the direction of a local florist. "She wanted to welcome us to the neighbourhood."

In order to satisfy its new audience, the Rooster has expanded its menu to include a wider selection of salads. It has also cut down on its Greek offerings, as a result of a change in management.

However, many popular dishes from the original location are still up for grabs.

For $16.95, you can get a Whole Rotisserie Chicken. This huge bird puts Swiss Chalet to shame.

Not only is it larger and juicier than other, comparably priced chickens, its crispy skin is also coated with a variety of fragrant Portuguese spices.

The Roast Beef Sandwich ($9.95) is one of several sandwich options, all of which come on a crusty white bun. Tomato, lettuce and mayo decorate a well-cooked slab of roast meat.

It's nothing fancy, but it will definitely hit the spot on a cold, rainy day.

Salmon Filets can be ordered a la carte ($9.95) or as part of a combo ($17.95). We opted for the latter, which came with a side of rice.

The salmon itself was seasoned with lemon and rosemary, giving it a light but distinctive flavour.

Though Parisienne Potatoes ($6.45) are primarily a side dish, they impressed me almost as much as the mains.

Their dual textures — crisp on the outside, tender on the inside — combined with their buttery taste makes it almost impossible to stop snacking on them.

Rounding out the menu is the Tricolour Fusilli Pasta Salad ($6.45), made with kalamata olives, tomatoes, onions, pesto and olive oil.

This dish stands in sharp contrast to many of the other items: slippery instead of crunchy, tangy instead of spicy.

Though it would be easy to dismiss it as incongruous with the rest of the menu, I found the juxtaposition quite interesting. The pasta salad ended up being one of my favourite dishes.

Though Raj and his staff remain hopeful that the Bloorcourt location will one day reopen, the team seems content with their current set-up.

"We feel really welcomed," Luana declares. "People are really excited about the healthy options."

The Rooster Rotisserie and Grill is located at 1395 Yonge St.