One Sixty City

Situated in between Liverpool Street station and Aldgate station in the City is a new smokehouse called One Sixty City. One Sixty City follows the opening of the successful One Sixty in West Hampstead and is the brainchild of Michelin-starred restaurateur David Moore, of Pied à Terre and L’Autre Pied restaurants and publican Sean Martin. As a huge BBQ fan and someone who’s had the pleasure to eat some amazing BBQ food, especially in Austin, Texas. I was excited to see what was on offer.

The science bit behind the food; One Sixty cooks everything at 160 degrees in a smoker which means everything they cook is low and slow, which basically means you will get really good smoked flavours with really juicy meat, that falls off the bone. I’m talking 8-hour smoked ribs, 14-hour pulled pork, to the 18-to 24-hour smoked brisket.

The restaurant is pretty large with a number of booths and larger tables. Above the booths you can’t help but notice the artwork. Each is a one-off piece which has been selected from artists in the local street art scene. Ours was a gun and I pretty much-loved the design and colours. The layout of One Sixty City definitely caters for the larger group of people who love messy food and like to wash down with craft beer or a good cocktail.

The beer menu itself has over 50 carefully selected craft beers, both bottled and draught as well as real ales straight out the cask. Cocktail menu is varied from the unusual Mezcal & Chilli Old Fashioned to the more traditional Cosmopolitans. If you get in there between 5pm and 7pm there are select cocktails 2 for £10. We ordered the rum sours and the margaritas, which definitely got our approval and both really complimented the smoked food that was to follow.

It has a small but precise menu consisting of a handful of starters, including mac and cheese, hot wings, rib tips and pig cheeks scrumpet. Paula and I decided to share the pork tips, which are basically the ends of the ribs. The meat fell off the bone, had a really nice glaze on and were topped with spring onion and chilli flakes. We both really enjoyed these and the portion was pretty large, that to be honest I am glad we shared.

The mains are split into three different sections, from the smoker, from the grill and mains. Paula and decided to try one from the smoker and one from the grill. The menu includes BBQ favourites like pulled pork, brisket, ribs and the more British dish, ox cheek.

I actually ordered the half ribs but ended up with up with the full smoked pork ribs served with slaw. The plate of food was an absolute beast, trust me I felt like I was in an episode of Man vs Food. The ribs were great and that comes from a person who is not a fan of eating from the bone, the meat again fell off the bone easily and had a great sweet but smokey sauce. I am not ashamed to say I struggled to finish the ribs, it was a very large portion, the slaw and pickles were a great side, but I wouldn’t have been able to eat chips with it which is I guess why they don’t serve it with them.

Paula went for the dry aged burger, as you know from our food reviews we are expert burger reviewers. The burger was stacked high with cheese, pickled cabbage, tomato and lettuce, it comes served medium but you can ask for something other and was cooked really well. Paula was worried it might be too chargrilled but it wasn’t at all. The burger came with fries and if you are a fan of Bloody Mary’s you will love the sauce.

We finished off with a glass of bubbly each from their wine and champagne list. There isn’t a dessert menu, but not sure either of us would have been able to manage any more food, so this was the perfect way to wash it all down.

We visited on a Thursday night and as you might expect being located in the business and banking area there were larger groups of business men drinking, if you prefer a quieter meal I would recommend maybe booking earlier in the week. It’s also good to know it is closed on weekends as you may expect with the area. All in all I would recommend and I am definitely am going to go back with my carnivorous friends.

For more info and to book visit www.one-sixty.co.uk.