Slow-cooked meat has exploded onto the London restaurant scene recently. With a plethora of Southern US-style eateries popping up to sell pulled pork, it’s a food craze that shows no signs of slowing down. This all means that there’s stiff competition for new restaurants serving up this kind of food but the quality here is certainly high enough to keep punters coming back.
Tucked back from the main street in a small courtyard with a few other venues,
Lazybones is ideally located just a minute’s walk from Farringdon station, and easily accessible from the City or the West End.
A rather unsuspecting outside appearance gives way to a vibrant interior: a large, open space with casual wooden tables and a striking grey and yellow colour scheme that pervades everything from the chairs to the bar and the quirky graphics lining the walls.
Stylish, eccentric and fun are the immediate – and lasting – impressions of Lazybones. All of this comes second, though, to the appealing waft of marinated meat which strikes as soon as you walk through the door. The music’s loud, the place is full and the décor quirky, offering with it a small peek into semi-authentic American suburbia.
“Just to warn you, it does get messy here”. If you’re also given this warning while placing your order, take note: this is no idle threat. Food here is greasy, sloppy, simple and heavy, served like an upmarket fast food joint with no pretense and deliberately little care for presentation. This is proper American diner grub, and if that’s what you’re in the mood for, you won’t be disappointed. The meat is slow, the pork is pulled and the menu is pleasingly simple, and scribbled up on walls as well as on paper menus.
Wings, hot dogs and pulled pork sandwiches make up the bulk of the menu, and each are well worth a try.
Don’t expect to have room for a dessert. This place is all about the meat, and you get the impression that both the starters and desserts are afterthoughts to the main event. However, if you’re particularly in the mood for something sweet, there are usually a couple of options from which to choose. Likewise, while being a meat-eater here certainly helps, it’s not a no-go area for vegetarians. Though falafel wraps and three bean salads are about the extent of it.
Lazybones markets itself as a cocktail bar as well as an eatery, while the beer selection is also definitely worth a try with a wide range of craft beer such as Moosehead Pale Ale, Dixie or Lonestar, and all are reasonably priced.
There’s a time and a place for joints like this. If you’re after a romantic evening or a something formal, you’re best advised to try elsewhere. For great meat, a few beers and a laid-back evening, Lazybones knows exactly what it’s doing. The recent surge in popularity in this kind of spot means Lazybones is just the latest in a stream of venues offering this kind of thing but it remains a solid and enjoyable bet in this part of town.
| Unit 5, Cowcross Street, Farringdon, London, EC1M 6DQ | Transport: Farringdon tube |
| Telephone: +44 020 7250 3336 | Opening Times: Mon-Fri 11:00-23:00, Sat 17:00-23:00, Sun available for private hire |
| Email: info@lazybones.uk.com | Website |
