Mississippi takes London

Seriously, is this the best okra you've ever had, or what?

Puddy (Seinfeld episode “The Junk Mail”)

My latest visit to a restaurant was to try Lockhart. A Southern cuisine stronghold in Marylebone, bright whites, rustic tables, yet nice and cozy. The kitchen is under command of Tatler's Restaurant awards winner for Best Rising Star Chef Brad McDonald.

Chilli Oil

Menu is enticing and gives a nice range of southern classics including shrimp and grits. We as usual went big, and got the grilled chicken oysters and the buttermilk wedge salad as starters. Both good, the salad was really nice, you just can't stop eating it, simple but tasty, the chicken oyster came with a nice sweet and sour sauce, sadly though the texture of the chicken was a bit rubbery.

Chicken Oysters

For mains we shared the fried chicken and the NOLA classic Sicilian influenced muffuletta. The muffuletta was really nice, good execution, sharp and salty flavours from the cured meats and the marinated olives as you expect. The sandwich was not as good as the one I had in NOLA from chef Donald Link in Butcher but don’t get me wrong it was really nice, and a nice addition to London's sandwich options.

Muffuletta time

Fried chicken was perfectly cooked, lovely flavour with perfect crispiness. That's how you want your fried chicken. We also shared the cheese grits and the highly recommended cornbread, top marks for both. The cornbread is baked to order, and the honey butter touch in it was just great.

Cornbread

Really nice meal, great flavours, the only issue was the chicken oysters texture the rest was spot on and perfectly executed.

The Lockhart

T: 0203 011 5400

American Southern Cuisine

Approx Damage: £31pp

Area: Marylebone

Borough:

Twitter: LockhartLondon

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A Laneway in Brisbane [On The Road: Brisbane]

The Laneway is a bar part of the Urbane, Sub Urbane, and The Euro family. The kitchen under the command of Alejandro Cancino, creating a high calibre bar cuisine. You will find bar relax food and nibbles, creative cocktails, candle lights, and a projector featuring a Charles Chaplin film. 

Laneway

Candle lights

The menu is simple dishes to share and a couple burgers. I went with a colleague and we decided to share a couple of the options. The first one was Parmesan, prosciutto and Gruyere croquettes. Amazing, great flavour, creamy, perfectly fried, not oily, crispy, just perfectly executed. Then some sticky lamb ribs, dry rubbed with fennel, mint and brown sugar in a yoghurt sauce. Really nice with good seasoning, some smoky and a spicy notes. 

Ribs

Moving on some southern style fried chicken, I love chicken and this one comes seasoned with 27 herbs with a chipotle sauce. Great flavour, perfectly cooked, the herbs gave a nice flavour to the fried chicken crust, just like an adrenaline rush. Finally some calamari dusted in smoke paprika spice mix with aioli. Good ending, nice seasoning and an extra punch from the paprika. 

Calamari

Chicken

Great place for drinks and quick bites in CBD. 

Word Wall

Lane reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Pothole” 

Jerry: What's this?

Kramer: Well, you know, those annoying little bumps on the lane-lines?

Jerry: Isn't that some kind of safety thing?

Kramer: Well, I had to pull them up if I'm going widen the lanes

Jerry: What the hell are you talking about?

Kramer: Ah, you know how in planes they got first class? More legroom, better ride? Well, I'm bringing that concept to mile one-fourteen

Elaine: How are you going widen the lanes?

Kramer: Well you black out lane-lines one and three, and a four-lane highway becomes a two-lane comfort cruise

The Laneway

T: +61 7 3229 2271

Bar / Quick Bites

Approx Damage: AU$30pp

Area: CBD

Brisbane

Twitter: TheLanewayBris

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