Returning for its sixth year, The BBQ Club by Jimmy Garcia is back in its prime position on the Southbank, and it’s tasting better than ever.
The concept is simple — a six course feast with a focus on sustainability. In reality this means ingredients are super seasonal and locally sourced, or even homegrown where possible (you’ll find a herb garden on site!). Each riverside table comes with its own Big Green Egg, with one element from each course cooked in front of you (don’t worry, they do most of the hard work for you).
Priced at £59 per person, we left absolutely stuffed to the brim, so we definitely feel like it’s good value (which is more of a rarity these days!). In addition the bill includes a small £1 donation, which ensures a tree is planted on your behalf, making your visit carbon neutral. Even the menu itself is printed on eco-friendly seed paper, just plant it for your own garden of wildflowers.
We tucked into deliciously charred sourdough bread served alongside a creamy homemade feta dip, and “trimchi” — a zero waste take on traditional kimchi, using up kitchen scraps — which is more delicious than it sounds.
Thankfully it was asparagus season when we visited, so we were treated to a great big brunch on labneh, before a scallop in its shell turned up for a grilling.
There’s everything you’d expect from a BBQ — chicken (here served with vibrant wild garlic aioli and coal-fired crispy leeks) and a bone marrow and beef cheek “doughnut” (essentially a mini burger). Partial to a skewer? Here it’s served Japanese-style with slaw. Just like your regular BBQ, right? Hardly.
We were intrigued to see how they’d tackle barbecuing dessert but barbecue they did. The most decadent Wild London honey and lavender panna cotta was topped with sea salt shortbread, raspberries and caramelised figs, before being finished with edible flowers, for the ‘gram.
If you’re not organised enough to book a table, they also offer street food, and you can even rent the whole shebang out for private parties. But personally, we think it’s the ultimate date spot, for when you feel like being tourists in your own city. Super fun!
