It’s been a few days since Hickory’s smokehouse opened in Peterborough and finally I’m here:
It really was a job trying to get a table. I managed last night at 4.45pm for an early dinner.
The place looks fab with plenty of space, the amount of staff is big due to still going through training sessions and the smell when you walk in is divine. Hickory’s is all about bringing the taste of South Carolina and Memphis and Kansas City to the UK all from one road trip years ago.
Because they want to keep everything authentic the main smoker is manufactured and brought all the way from Missouri to the UK! The reason for that is they want to make sure that what Hickory’s owners tasted out on their America road trip is what you’re going to taste in every single Hickory’s smokehouse – from their ribs to their southern chicken, from their brisket to their steaks.
I had the privilege of having Jack take me around the kitchen and explain how everything works from the front team to the serving team, from the Head Chef to the desserts team, and right backstage to where the smokers are…. What a sight.
Travelling over 4000 miles their main smoker is huge. Sometimes they have to crane them in without the ceiling on there locations, luckily there was a door big enough for this one at Peterborough. Dark black and red hot, and on opening the door…the smell was absolutely amazing. Meat rotates in here for a minimum of five hours and once it’s tender, they know it’s ready… before that >> it’s not coming out.
The love of Hickory’s food is obviously in the taste, too not just the feel of the meat and with some Pitmaster ‘magic’ dust rub, it’s what gets you finger-licking and wanting more. Added to that is the wood they use in the smoker – oak to give a lingering burn and birch to give the flavour.
If you are a meat eater you’re going to love this place, but get ready because these dishes are huge- true American style. In my opinion, you can share most dishes because they are so big. I decided to order the southern fried chicken burger which had two huge fillets in it which were fabulously soft meat and a gorgeous coating. Filled together with cheese, lettuce, pickle, red onions and burger sauce it was seriously too much to eat and on the side I chose the skin on fries which again we’re just lovely. My husband doesn’t have a bun, but he had the Bird & Beast burger which includes southern fried chicken, prime beef patty, hash brown, lettuce, American style cheese, crisp lettuce, pickled red onions, pickles & house burger sauce – WOW!
As you wait you’re given a small bag of popcorn to nibble on. I decided to wash this down with an American orange soda (the lowest in sugar content) which was nice and large and hit the spot on this hot day as we sat at the Chef’s Bar (that’s right up at the kitchen).
Just a word of warning if it is a warm day, do not choose to sit at the Chef’s Bar because the heat does come out from where they’re cooking to where you’re sitting. Although I do add; it’s great to see the action and how much food is actually coming out of the kitchen, I would suggest sitting at a table. There’s plenty to choose from in the bar, different restaurant areas and there is also an outside – both shaded and not.
Was I full? Yes I was, but the look of those desserts coming out of the desert kitchen were amazing so I ‘had’ to try. Let me just add I did not eat all of it! The Campfire S’mores sharer comes with its own little wood fire for you to heat up the marshmallows on a stick, dip into chocolate and then put into the small biscuits. Did I die and go to heaven? Yes I think I did. This is definitely a sharing dish as I managed to eat just one. But I’ll be back for more or is that Smore!! (just a note about this dish – every one which is sold Hickory‘s donate £1 to Cash for Kids)
On top of that was a new thing I’ve never heard of which was frozen custard. It’s called a Hickory’s Fro-Co – believe me it beats Mr whippy hands down – You can either have it straight up or you can choose to have it with sweets and sauces. A great one for the kids.
We arrived at 4.45pm, the time to get food seemed slowish, but was well worth the wait and obviously all cooked from fresh, we left at 6.20pm.
My tab for 1 soft drink, 1 non-alcoholic beer, 1 chicken burger, 1 bird and beast burger, 1 custard ice cream and 1 sharing s’mores – £74.07 (inc £5.17 tip)
Take a look at their menu at https://hickorys.co.uk/menus/
#Peterborough #PlacesToEatInPeterborough #Hickory #SouthernCarolina #Ribs #MeatEaters #PeterboroughNewRestaurant #WeLovePeterborough
