London’s Prairie Fire is lit

Finger-licking fire-cooked meat 

The signature style is slow-smoked cooking over a real fire, then finished with lashings of heavy-duty sauce. It’s an ancient art that combines a rub, a char and a smoke ring, to promote ultimate tenderness. You must try the classic smoked brisket sandwich; while it may sound like a humble dish, it travels a long journey and takes many hours to be ready to wrap your gnashers around. First, USDA-certified black Angus beef is flown in from the US, before arriving in London and being smoked over oak for a full 16 hours. It’s then drenched in the restaurant’s own tomato-based sauce with secret spices and molasses and served to customers with pride. 

Dishes, dust and dippers

What else can you find on the menu at Prairie Fire? Well, you can sample dishes such as hickory smoked wings fried and tossed in fire dust with a habanero mayo dipper; a beef hotdog, lying on a doubler of American cheese slices, topped with mustard, ketchup, pickled jalapeños, crispy onion and Caribbean hot sauce dipper; and smoked buttermilk fried chicken with a taco rub, house salsa, molten cheese sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion and tortilla chips on a toasted potato bun with a combo buffalo/bbq dipping sauce. 

For carnivores and herbivores 

Or if you just can’t decide which dish to order and are feeling hungry, get a Meat Sampler, which includes 100g of brisket, 100g of pork, spicy sausage, tangy slaw and BBQ sauces. But you don’t have to be a carnivore to dine here. Vegan and vegetarian food scores highly when cooked on the fire. Try some loaded fries topped with three bean chilli, vegan cheese, spring onions and a plant-based mayo dipper. 

Pit Master Michael Gratz

And it’s the dedication of the Fire’s own Michael Gratz which ensures everything that arrives on your plate is top-notch, both in terms of ingredients and presentation. When American Michael came to live in the UK, he found himself pining for the kind of artisanal smoked meats that he enjoyed so much in his hometown of Kansas City. So a little under a decade ago, he opened Prairie Fire, in homage to his favourite smoked meats, sauces and fixings. Now not only can you taste these flavours on the premises, you can buy the award-winning sauces to take home and meal-preparation kits to cook up a storm yourself (although nothing quite beats that charred real-fire effect). 

The Taproom

Prairie Fire isn’t only the home of smoky delights, it’s also a great place for a beer. Inside are 16 of the finest, expertly curated British and American craft taps, as well as a large range of bottles and cans — to which the team are continually adding, so you never get bored. Fittingly, you’ll find lots of premium Bourbons and all-American whiskeys, alongside a tempting range of tequilas, mezcals, gins and Soda Folk softs. And of course, there are all of the classic cocktails to help wash down your meaty meal.

Underneath the arches

The restaurant is tucked into the brick arches, with huge glass frontages creating an open and airy feel inside. Table bookings are also accepted for the outside seating area, tucked behind industrial-rustic planters and beneath a string of lights. Look out for special events; Prairie Fire loves to throw a party for the Superbowl and during the Christmas season. The brand has now launched at The Seveney in the east of the capital too and catered to events for clients including the NFL, Adidas, Red Bull, Apple and Nike. 

So if you’re in the market for some midwestern comfort food, book a table at Prairie Fire. You’ll find it in White City, adjacent to Westfield Shopping Centre and across from John Lewis — an ideal lunch stop during a day’s shopping. You can visit the restaurant every day from noon to 9pm (the Taproom is open an hour later Monday to Thursday and two hours later on Friday and Saturday nights).