Red Dog Saloon

Hoxton Square has gentrified considerably since Red Dog Saloon first opened, but the restaurant itself has kept its identity fairly consistent: American barbecue, smokers running on wood imported from the US, and a menu built around long, slow cooking rather than quick grilling. It sits right on the square, moments from Old Street station, in a room that leans into diner-meets-honky-tonk styling rather than anything precious.

USDA brisket, served with candied jalapeños and slaw, is the dish most reviewers single out, alongside North Carolina-style chopped pork finished with a vinegar sauce that cuts through the richness properly rather than just sitting on top of it. Buffalo wings and Nashville hot chicken cover the fried side of the menu for anyone not committing fully to smoked meat, and the burgers get loaded generously rather than served as an afterthought. Ribs and pulled pork round out the smoker’s output, and portion sizes across the board lean towards generous rather than restrained.

Milkshakes come up repeatedly in reviews as better than they need to be for a barbecue joint, and sticky toffee pudding anchors a short but solid dessert list. The bar side of the operation is taken seriously too, with a decent bourbon selection alongside the more expected beer list.

The room runs late, open past midnight most nights, and downstairs turns into more of a bar-with-a-DJ atmosphere as the evening goes on, which is great if that is what you are after and less great if you booked expecting a quiet dinner. Asking for an upstairs table or booking earlier in the evening is the practical fix for anyone wanting to actually hear their table.

Portions are large and pricing sits mid-range for London barbecue, fair for the quantity of meat you get. Staff are consistently rated efficient with larger groups, useful given how often Hoxton Square parties end up spilling through the door here on a weekend night, and it has held its ground as a genuine neighbourhood fixture even as the square around it has changed considerably, seeing off newer competitors along the way while keeping much the same menu that built its name in the first place.