Big Easy Canary Wharf

The Norman Foster Crossrail terminal at Canary Wharf has more than architectural prowess and sensible travel links to recommend it – it also has a Big Easy (the third site, following Big Easy Covent Garden and Chelsea) occupying a third of its top floor. With views stretching over the whole of Canary Wharf, the adjacent Crossrail garden and live music every night, it is a great place to drink in both summer and winter. To eat? There is an oyster and raw bar to keep it bang up to date with current fashions, as well as plenty of barbecue meat. They’re determined to do things in proper American style here: it’s not just the portions that are outsized, they’ve also installed three enormous US-built smokers. The restaurant also boasts a vast open kitchen and the biggest pit room anywhere in the UK. It may seem a bit excessive if all you want is a burger, but they’ve got a reputation for those too. 

Long known for providing hungry Londoners with gutsy BBQ soul food. Big Easy Canary Wharf brings the brand’s signature style to the heart of the financial district.

Here you’ll find a cavernous dining room that has been made to feel cosy somehow through the use of booths and banquette seating plus low-hanging lights, memorabilia-lined walls and plenty of warm wooden details. Come sunny weather – or clear winter days – there’s no better place to pull up a chair than on the 150-seater outdoor terrace.

With food spanning everything from bar bites and sweet treats through to boozy brunches and kids’ menus – there truly is something for everyone here. From the main billing, the stars of the show are the barbecue favourites and juicy fresh lobsters. Enjoy the latter as part of a lobster and prosecco meal deal which includes a glass of bubbles (or a slushy cocktail) plus your choice of lobster roll, whole lobster or lobster mac ‘n’ cheese. From the barbecue pit you’ll find all sorts of tempting serves. Kick off with smoky, sweet and sour chopped rib tips before moving on to Carolina pulled pork served with BBQ beans and house slaw. Elsewhere steaks, burgers and daily specials complete the line-up.

If you can’t quite decide what to have, leave it in the hands of the kitchen with the Bar.B.Q Blow Out platter. Made for four or more to share, this curated serve includes chicken, dry-rubbed pork ribs, Caroline pulled pork, Texas brisket, Texas hot links sausages, cornbread, beans and slaw, offering you a taste of all the best bits. At just £25.50 each, we’d call that a bargain.

When it comes to the drinks, the bar boasts an impressive spirits count of over 550, showcasing some of the best alcohol brands in the world. Either order one – or more – on its own or enjoy them in a frozen cocktail or grown-up milkshake.