Smokestak

Smokestak restaurant in Shoreditch is a #must for barbecue lovers and fans of upmarket street food by David Carter . A true rebel and experimenter, Carter previously worked front-of-house at Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's and Roka. 

Smokestak may just be the best BBQ joint in the neighborhood. The briskets and pastrami are melt-on-your-tongue juicy, and even the carrots, thyme, honey are roasted to perfection. A gigantic grill takes up almost half the restaurant; the other half is crammed with huge, wooden tables and benches. Discerning diners will appreciate the choice of Dickensian windows and surrealistic glass. 

Our London insiders say Smokestak is like an opera—about barbecue. Every bite is a rock opera in your mouth. Cast-iron kettles and sauce containers, huge distressed-wood tables, scores of iron details, fragrant smoke that fills the room down to the tiniest crack—. Even the cocktails here are A+. As of writing, the prices are still reasonable—between £4-7 for an entrée.

We recommend: brisket bun, pickled red chilli; pastrami; roasted carrots, thyme, and honey; mushrooms on toast, beef dripping gravy; thick-cut pork ribs, pickled cucumber; and sticky toffee pudding, clotted [ice] cream for dessert.

Cuisine: high-end street food.

Atmosphere: hipster.

The Crowd: creatives, hipsters, big-name restauranteurs, street art talents.

FYI: If the weather’s warm, grab a table outside.