I've walked past Hickory's Smokehouse in West Kirby so many times, and each time, it looks buzzing and filled with plenty of atmosphere.
The iconic smokehouse is described as an 'American BBQ joint serving hickory-smoked and grilled meat' along with shakes, US beers and kids' food. My dad is a big lover of meaty dishes, so I thought it was only apt that we took a trip there for his birthday meal.
Located on Village Road, the restaurant has a lovely outside dining area which is perfect for milkshakes in the sunshine. As soon as I stepped foot in the restaurant, I was blown away by how busy it was for a Monday night.
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The atmosphere was lively, brimming with happy chatting families and loved up couples. I really liked the typical American decor, and the fact that there were TV's in some of the booths made my dad very happy - as he, naturally, wanted to watch the football.
The menu
Now, let's talk about the most important part - the food. Hickory's is known for its elite smoked meats, and I absolutely adore its menu.
It mainly consists of burgers, subs, different meats and combo deals as well as an array of different sides. Our exciting order consisted of the 'Hickory Wood Smoked Pork, Jalapeno & Cheese Sausage' for £15.50, the 'Southern Fried Chicken Burger' for £15.99 (double), the 'Bird and The Beast' burger for £16.50, and the 'Half Hickory Smoked Chicken' for £17.
All mains come with fries and gloriously creamy coleslaw, and the portions were pretty generous to say the least. However, that simply wasn't enough for us, and we decided to order a side of Poutine Tater Tots priced at £5.50.
For those who have never tried poutine before, I'd urge you all to do so immediately. Let's just say, I've never eaten a side before that tasted this truly delicious.
The verdict
Despite originally ordering the Hickory Smoked Brisket priced at £16.50, I was informed that there was sadly no brisket left, so I opted for the sausage. The waitress told me that the sausage was her favourite dish on the menu, and it was very easy to see why.
Firstly, the sausage was absolutely huge, filled with oozing cheese with a slight hint of spice. It was super juicy with an amazing smoked flavour and the creamy coleslaw worked so well with it.
The fries were a little on the salty side but they had a delicious crunch and once again, worked great with the coleslaw. The dish was definitely different, filled with an array of different exciting flavours.
For any burger fans out there, you definitely get your money's worth with 'The Bird and The Beast' burger - it was absolutely massive. It was stacked with beef, chicken and a crispy hash brown and plenty of cheese, although it would've been slightly better if the cheese was more melted.
The Southern Fried Chicken Burger was crunchy and juicy on the inside with a soft fluffy bun. My dad, who is the most fussy eater ever, particularly enjoyed his half chicken, and praised it for its smokey flavour.
As a whole though, the winning dish for me was the Poutine Tater Tots, which basically tasted like heaven. They were crisp and golden on the outside and delightfully fluffy on the inside with just the right amount of cheese.
Although cheese and gravy may seem like a bit of an odd combo to some, it was honestly incredible. The taste was unbelievable, and I could've eaten that side dish a whole main on its own.
Put it this way, the side dish made me want to go to Canada and try the real deal, considering it's a renowned Canadian dish. I'm obsessed.
If you haven't visited Hickory's in West Kirby yet, I'd highly recommend it. The food matches the amazing atmosphere, and it's a great place to try some proper smoked meats.
You can find Hickory's at Village Rd, West Kirby, Wirral CH48 3JN.
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