Blue’s Smokehouse

Well, it was not what I was expecting! I went with some colleagues for lunch and I wasn’t thrilled with the prospect. The outside and inside décor look like a really terrible American low-​quality food chain and I wasn’t excited to try it.
But! We had the loveliest waitress, very attentive, very happy to walk through the menu and spot on. The guys had banana milkshakes and I loved that they came with little bright green curly straws — cute to see these manly men with their petite straws. The food was really lovely too. One colleague got the hot dog — it was incredible looking, enormous and slathered with stuff. I did think it would be impossible to eat with your hands, but he proved me wrong.
My chicken wrap was really tasty and nicely done, and the fries were delicious — possibly the best I’ve had in a while.
When one friend couldn’t finish his sausage platter with mac and cheese, the waitress cheerfully wrapped it up for him so he could carry it away. Nice!
The music was terrific, a great mix of old blues. So why oh why is there a big screen telly playing current music videos over the bar, complete with naked writhing women and gangsters? Shut it off — you’re ruining the vibe you actually got me to like.
Is it cheesy? Yes. But it’s supposed to be. And it’s good. But shut off that damn tv.

I’m on a business trip to London, being from North Carolina and US the last thing I thought I would find is good Carolina barbecue. I have to say if you are looking for some of the most outrageously good smoked barbecue pulled pork and smoked barbecue chicken done Carolina style, jump on a plane to Heathrow, and grab a black cab to this restaurant. It is some of the best barbecue I’ve ever had.