I read a review (I thought it was here, but apparently not) by someone who said the smoked meat tasted like ham. Augie apparently uses a recipe from Smoked Meat Pete’s, which I’ve never tried. I’ve had smoked meat that tasted like tinned ham (Reuben’s on Ste-Catherines W.) but it’s not nearly as appealing as Schwartz’s, which is the standard (just because it IS).
As far as poutine is concerned, I wouldn’t cross the street for it, and Augie’s is in an inaccessible part of Berkeley (for we the car-free). But throw away the gravy and put the cheese curds on the side (they may be inedible, if they are anything like Spring Hill’s) and I’ll come RUNNING for QC quality frites. Augie’s is said to use “thrice-fried fries” in their poutine, so I’d hope they sell them naked.
Personally, I’ll wait for @Oliverb to weigh in before venturing to the Berkeley flatlands.
