Modern Halal Steakhouse | BLACK OX BISTRO

Black Ox Bistro
Location: 1780 Markham Rd.
Access: Parking available
Price: $45 per person
Blogsters' Rating: 3.5/5

This was my very first time at a halal steakhouse and it was not bad at all. I dragged my friend here with an invitation and we both didn't know what to expect as the owner told us that we will be served a selection of their customer favourites that included mocktails, appetizers, entrées, and desserts. A menu was still provided for reference, but it would be best if there was actually a menu so that we would know what our next dish will be. Anyhow, we sat back and relaxed as they roll out their customer favorites.

The first thing brought to us were these virgin drinks to freshen up from the hot summer day. I loved the presentation of these drinks, especially the gradation of the Raspberry Mojito - from clear to red to deep ruby red.

The Raspberry Mojito was made with raspberry, mint leaves, lime, and soda water. It was very refreshing and rejuvenating, especially on this blazing hot day.

On the other hand, the Pina Colada was rich and smooth. Garnished with a slice of pineapple and crushed nutmeg, the ratio of the pineapple juice and coconut cream was perfect, which made this Pina Colada exceptionally good.

Black Ox Bistro Drink Menu

Next up was the Shareable Platter, which consisted of five different appetizers offered by B.O.B. - Buffalo Wings, Deep-Fried Mac N' Cheese Bites, Roadside Sliders, Beef Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers, and Spinach Artichoke Dip with Flat Bread.

The Spinach Artichoke Dip with Flat Bread was by far my favourite. The dip was very cheesy, and the spinach and artichoke flavours were very distinct. The baked Parmesan flat bread took this dish to a whole new level.

I was a little disappointed with these mini burgers. The patty was not juicy at all and did not have much taste to it. Plus, there was no sauce in the burger, which made it extremely dry to the mouth.

To my surprise, the Jalapeño Poppers were not hot at all. They were de-seeded and stuffed with cheddar cheese and wrapped with beef bacon. Nothing can go wrong with that.

The buffalo wings were average. The skin was crispy, which I did not expect as most of the time the chicken skin turns soggy before the dish is served. As per the menu, the wings were supposed to be served with a Blue Cheese dip, which did not come with ours. Now that I look at this picture, it seems weird to have carrot and celery sticks without a dip.

The Mac N' Cheese Bites were bland, although the Sriracha Herb Dip adds a little flavour to them. This was my least favourite dish of the night.

Next up was the Meathead Platter, which immediately put us in awe the moment we saw it. So much food!! We couldn't wait to dig it.

The BrazillIan Churrasquiera Wings were tastier than the buffalo wings. They were baked and tossed in a house sauce. I wouldn't mind having these wings for the rest of the night.

The Top Sirloin Steak was perfectly cooked. It was so tender that half melted in my mouth.

The Gargantuan King Rib was the highlight of the night and was the best rib I have ever had. The server told us that it was marinated for at least 12 hours the day before. The meat was extremely tender and smooth, and was quite filling as well. The coleslaw was a great compliment to the rib as it freshen up your palette.

The chicken fingers were crispy, however it was very dry and not juicy enough. The mash potato tasted a little weird to me because it was kind of sweet, which was different from the usual savoury mash potato that I am used to. 

The Brisket Potato was very similar to the Mashed Potato Topped with Chicken Fingers. The brisket was dry as well, but this potato tasted better with cheddar cheese.

Lastly, we had Creme Brulee and New York Cheesecake as our desserts. They did an amazing job on the Creme Brulee. There was a thin layer of hard caramel on top which was not too sweet. The custard was very smooth and rich. I could have this everyday for dessert =) 

I'm usually not a big fan of New York Cheesecake because I find them too rich and mostly just cream cheese. B.O.B. did a good job on balancing that by incorporating pomegranate coulis into the mix. The sourness of the pomergrante made the cheesecake less filling. We ended up finishing both desserts and left with a full stomach.

 Black Ox Bistro Dessert Menu

The venue was modern and comfortable. They even have booths on the side for a more private dinning experience. Also, a large party room was located on the left side of the restaurant, which can fit more than 100 people. I would definitely come back for more dishes. B.O.B. is a great restaurant. It was my pleasure to be invited to try out some of their new dishes on the menu.

That's it guys!

Janet