Big Smoke BBQ at Whole Foods Market Kensington

Whole Foods Market’s flagship store in Kensington has redesigned its first floor to introduce some new restaurant “venues” and create more space for eat-in customers.

I paid a lunchtime visit today and was really impressed with the spacious and efficient feel of the dining area as well as the food that was on offer. I was particularly interested in the new Big Smoke venue. This new BBQ venue has its own smoker (with some at-the-pit experience by North Carolina born head chef Michael Weber).

I had a big ole plate of the Big Smoke’s pulled pork replete with coleslaw and cornbread. One meat and two sides for just under a tenner seemed fair enough, especially considering the copious amounts of meat (almost couldn’t finish it all) heaped on my plate. Other yum stuff they serve includes ribs, brisket, Chicago hot link sausages, rotisserie chicken and more. It’s worth noting all the meat is of British origin and produced with a high level of animal welfare. They’ve got good sauces too. The tomatillo avocado sauce intrigued while the Kansas City BBQ sauce pimore than met my standards.

If I lived nearby I would be rejoicing. As it stands, I’m on the other side of town. But I definitely can see myself dropping by for more of the same or to try something else from the smoker … or maybe even a slice of pizza …

Beyond the BBQ, the renovated first floor has four other new dining options (along with the already well established eateries such as Saf and Shabu Shabu). There’s Wok Street for takeaway Asian street food, Bowls of Goodness for “greens, grains and beans,” Cantina Mexican for yep you guessed it, and Mama’s Pizzeria for some really nice looking pizzas available by the slice.

Whole Foods Market Kensington is located at 63-97 Kensington High Street, The Barkers Building, W8 5SE.