Pig Out

Set in Knightsbridge it's fair to say that the Chicago Rib Shack's American-style eatery is a tad out of place. Giant portions and a classic steakhouse layout are a far cry from the minuscule portions of food which are more likely to be moved around the plate than actually eaten.

This, it seems, hasn't pleased too many critics as they turn their nose up at the heart-attack inducing meat fest. But do the clientele mind? Hardly likely - when we show up mid-week the place is buzzing with couples, families and even a single man working his way through a full rack of ribs alone.

There is a time and a place for gourmet cuisine and there is a time and a place for pigging out.

Now I'm a pretty healthy eater so I was, if I'm honest, a little worried about the size of portions and general lack of healthy options that I would find on the menu. My eating partner had fewer concerns about calories so we played a kind of good cop/ bad cop game with our food. I would attempt to get the healthiest options on the menu while he would get the opposite. Well, that was the plan.

So, for starter, I went for the stuffed avocado, he went for rather messy barbecue wings. The barbecue wings were tasty, sweet and juicy and oh-so American while my 'healthy' avocado came covered in cheese which I obviously did not scrape off and leave on the side.

For main I went for a grilled fillet of beef which came with crunchy fried potatoes on the side which I was planning on avoiding. My partner in crime went for a full rack of those famous ribs which I quite happily tried several of going with the: if you didn't order it, it doesn't count mantra. The ribs were so juicy it was wrong and the sauce mouthwateringly good and so messy they probably get through more tissues than any other restaurant in London.

The steak was a pretty decent effort too with my medium rare chunk of cow satisfying my red meat craving. Unfortunately, even better were those crispy potatoes which I'd had absolutely no intention of eating.