Spotlight on... Hickory's Smokehouse Chester
Kathryn Otto visits the best for a family-friendly barbecue spot by the river with smoked and grilled meats, shakes and cocktails
Growing up in Chester, Hickory’s Smokehouse has always been a staple venue to go to when celebrating a special occasion or if you were looking to get involved with the excitement of American Football by watching the Super Bowl or to just stop and have a drink whilst walking by the river.
So when family came to visit, this was our excuse to visit Hickory's and take a look at the recent refurbishment with the new River Room and Cinema and to see if Hickory's new look and extension had changed the experience.
Well, we can say the experience was better than ever! We were warmly greeted by the hostess outside, who introduced us to our server, who showed us to our table, where we were swiftly served warm popcorn to enjoy whilst we browsed the menu.
We couldn't decide what we wanted, as literally everything on the menu is appealing and not food you can commonly find anywhere else. The family decided on The Smokehouse Platter, with Southern Fried Chicken In A Basket, and, of course, a side of Mac ‘n’ Cheese, a staple must-have when visiting Hickory's.
Whilst we waited for the food, we had a wander around to take a look at the new River Room, which is a fabulous glasshouse extension. It's such an excellent addition to the restaurant as light floods in, and of course the views of the river are stunning.
The Cinema is another great improvement and one which the kids loved. I feel this is such a great idea, as it offers parents a chance to enjoy their meal whilst the kids are entertained – such a simple idea that makes a massive difference to your experience.
Our food arrived, and it was so good; everyone had a different favourite. The kids loved the Mac ‘n’ Cheese (as always), my partner John adored the Texas-style, grain-fed beef brisket on the meat platter, and I enjoyed the Southern Fried Chicken. The next time we go for a walk by the river we will be visiting, just so we can order those again! We ordered far too much as always, so the team kindly boxed what we hadn't managed to eat for us to take home.
For dessert, the little ones shared the Cookie Creation, which was quickly and quietly enjoyed, whilst John and I opted for a cocktail each. The Rum Fudge (which was a Bayou spiced rum with rich fudge, butterscotch sauce and topped with custard cream) and the Watermelon Spritz which was a refreshing Absolut Raspberri with Aperol, fresh watermelon, apple, raspberry, lime and charged with lemonade. Both were delicious, and had we not eaten so much, we could have stayed and ordered more!
The team at Hickory's made our family visit so special. James is an absolute credit to the company; everyone in the team genuinely wants you to enjoy your time there. This, along with fabulous food and possibly the best location in Chester, makes it one of our favourite restaurants to visit.
We noticed they offer brunch, which, along with the Southern Fried Chicken and cocktails, gives us yet another reason to return!
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