One Sixty City, Houndsditch, London

Marie Claire's Junior Editor visits a new city smokehouse...

There’s a definite spotlight on smokehouses in the city right now and, of all the new BBQ joints opening up around town, One Sixty is a real contender.

We all know that the hipsters love their pulled pork, but catering for a slightly slicker clientele at its Houndsditch location, the One Sixty menu is smaller and more considered than others, with experimental twists on those all-American classics.

Michelin-starred restaurateur David Moore (of Pied à Terre and L'Autre Pied in the West End) has teamed up with prolific London pub landlord Sean Martin for the venture, which started with the opening of One Sixty in West Hampstead last year and has proven so successful that a third branch is already in the pipeline.

The meeting of the two minds is plain to see on the menu – from David, a 14-hour pulled pork, 18-24-hour smoked brisket and 8-hour smoked lamb rump that melts in the mouth. From Sean, an edit of 50 craft beers sourced from around the world, attracting huge crowds in for after-work drinks on a Friday evening.

The most expensive thing on the menu the day we visited (it all changes quite regularly, so you’ll want to keep going back) was the 28-day matured grilled rib eye at a £21 - reasonable prices that make it an ideal place for a spontaneous meet-up with friends. They don’t do desserts, and we might rate One Sixty as a bar that does really great food, rather than a luxe restaurant destination. That’s certainly no bad thing, however, and is only testament to its buzzing atmosphere, dynamic staff and moreish menu of smokey hitters.

One Sixty City (9 Stoney Lane, Houndsditch, London, E1 7BH) is open Monday and Tuesday from 11am-11pm, and Wednesday-Friday 11am-12 midnight. Call 020 7283 8367 or visit www.one-sixty.co.uk.