Top 5 Yank restaurants

You'll find a good atmosphere, good crowd and sound food at Joe Allen

10 April 2012

This is the week when a quiver of patriotic anticipation runs through those of our American cousins based in London, as we head towards their biggest bunfight of the year: the 4th of July.

In the US, this is an occasion for marching bands, a day off work and protein overload - so it must come as a bit of shock when the date slips past almost unnoticed in Britain. Given the unusual closeness of Dubya and Tony Blair, perhaps we should take a day off work to show our solidarity? If that plan fails, here are five American restaurants that won't let you down...

BODEAN'S169 Clapham High Street, SW4 (020-7622 4248). Mon-Sun £35***Bodean's is a cheery sort of place specialising in barbecued meat with meat and more meat. Their barbecue guru is Bryan Tyrell, who has twice been on the winning team at the World BBQ Championships. From Sat 2-Mon 4 Jul you can have a BBQ sampler plate of smoked chicken, ribs, pulled pork and sausage with two side dishes for £10. Add a bucket containing five bottles of Miller Genuine Draft beer (which is also on offer at £10) and you have the foundations of a 4th of July party.
CHRISTOPHER'S18 Wellington Street, WC2 (020-7240 4222). Mon-Sun (Sun lunch only) £75***Christopher's is a grown-up American restaurant, and the everyday menu always has a distinctly transatlantic ring to it. In celebration of the 4th (and running until Sun 10 Jul) there is a special Independence Day menu that features dishes such as avocado tamale with pulled BBQ pork, roast corn and hickory BBQ sauce; New England clam bake with Manila clams, chorizo and shrimp; or Missouri rub BBQ short ribs with corn blini, sweet-potato hash browns and French beans. Just the sort of food to pave the way for a big portion of strawberry shortcake with strawberry ice cream.

THE ARKANSAS CAFE

Unit 12, Commercial Street, Old Spitalfields Market, E1 (020-7377 6999). Mon-Fri & Sun £45

VILLANDRY
170 Great Portland Street, W1 (020-7631 3131). Mon-Sun (Sun lunch only) £65
***
Villandry is a bustling food store with a restaurant out the back. It is not an American eatery but, as it has an American proprietor, they make a real effort at Thanksgiving and on the 4th. In the food store, Yankophiles can stock up on such bottled delicacies as Hillside Orchard Farms Georgia Moonshine Jelly, Cowboy Catsup from the El Paso Chile Co and Fischer and Wieser Soppin' sauce. Meanwhile, in the restaurant, you'll find white-fish chowder, vegetable fajitas and Mississippi mud pie.

JOE ALLEN

13 Exeter Street, WC2 (020-7836 0651). Mon-Sun £55

Prices estimate the average cost of a meal for two with drinks

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