Last Thursday opened my eyes to just how delicious pulled pork can be! This was because I went to Duke’s Brew and Que which is an incredible deep southern inspired restaurant and brewery based down in Dalston. The menu offers a wide range of different ribs from free range pork, smoked over hickory and apple cherry wood to Irish beef from county Moneghan. If you can’t decide what to go for there is Duke’s Greatest Hits (BBQ Platter) which consists of One Beef Rib, Pork Rib and Pulled Pork. Served with coleslaw, pickled red onions,  BBQ sauces & Texas Garlic Toast.

I had a good ol’ look at the menu a couple of times before heading down and was convinced I would order ribs but as soon as I saw the burger whizzing by me I knew I had to have it. Pulled pork in a big brioche bun served with chips and red onion, it had to be a winner. And it most definitely was! The last pulled pork burger I had was from the Wenlock and Essex which was a beef burger with pulled pork on top and although absolutely delicious I think Duke’s Brew has knocked them off the top spot!

Craig meanwhile went for the platter. At just under £25 it’s quite pricey but it consisted of so much that he struggled to finish it. The meat on the pork rib fell off the bone and was his favourite, however the beef rib, whilst humongous, was a bit tougher from the fire.

The atmosphere and friendliness of the staff made the experience that extra bit special. When deciding on what drink to go for our waiter came over and offered a tasting menu where you can try the different types of beer and ale. The best one was the chilli and lime as it was a lighter ale with an extra kick.

Although full from the mains I could not leave Duke’s without trying a dessert. Two were calling out to me but if we were only going for one we knew it had to be the peanut butter and chocolate tart with honeycomb and praline ice cream. This was insanely delicious. I am such a chocolate and dessert lover and recently when dining out I must admit I’ve struggled to find a dessert that has wowed the taste buds but this dessert once we managed to break into it (be warned it’s a bit of a beast to cut into) was full of flavour, absolutely addictive and left me wanting more. The peanut butter and chocolate worked incredible together combined with the popping crunchy texture of the ice cream. I recently made Lorraine Pascale’s peanut butter slabs which I loved and this dessert reminded me of those but not as rich. We shared the dessert and after I loved it so much I was tempted to get another but the swollen belly I had two hours after was probably a telling sign that one was enough.

I would highly recommend Duke’s Brew and Que if you’re in the mood for some proper american influenced food. The laid back vibe and superb service ensure you’ll have a great night, just make sure to leave room for dessert!

Video of Dukes brew & Que