Little Smoke has taken over the Bad Egg site (although their brunch is still served on weekends) and turned it into a carnivore’s dream. It’s a cosy spot with dark wood, big knives and even bigger pieces of meat. The focus is on native and rare-breed animals, and there’s no set menu as the day’s offering very much depends on what’s been butchered over at sister spot Smokehouse. But you can expect a variety of lamb, beef and pork, from large tomahawks to smaller chops and fillets. And once it’s gone, it’s gone, which makes for a different dining experience every single time.
With all that meat listed up on the blackboard, and cuts slowly getting crossed off, ordering can be a little overwhelming, but the staff are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, so defo ask for recommendations. We went for a pork T-bone, a cut that you don’t tend to see on a lot of menus, and a faux fillet of beef. Both were perfectly cooked and deeply flavourful, with the pork managing to be both rich in taste and surprisingly light at the same time. As much thought has gone into the side dishes as the meat. Fries, greens and an excellent bone marrow mash are joined by more unusual veggie options. The burnt and crunchy sweetcorn with apple salsa verde and chipotle is sweet, spicy and completely addictive.
They don’t skimp on the puds either and whilst you might think you don’t have room for sticky toffee pudding, when it’s this good, you’ll find some. Guaranteed to give you the meat sweats, but it’s so worth it.
City Point, 1 Ropemaker Street, London, EC2Y 9AW
www.littlesmoke.london