Having It Large At Big Easy Kings Road
Kings Road in Chelsea is synonymous with style, chic, and oh-so-enviable lifestyles. Less is more, unless you’re talking about bank balances or price tags on handbags, and so it should be. This west London street is iconic for all the right reasons.
So as we strolled past the boutiques and artisan cafes one Saturday lunchtime, we were bemused, and a little taken aback, to hear late sixties soul blaring from speakers behind a gaggle of giggling (and pretty tipsy) girls. Still, a bit of midday drinking never hurt anyone. And who are we to judge?
Our hunt for Big Easy, Kings Road’s recently refurbished American-style diner, had come to an end. We were here.
Entering from the cold, earmuffs were removed. Then quickly put back on, as the volume of the venue hit us once more. This is one noisy place. A bass beats through the floor and old style R&B blares through speakers. Serving staff shriek orders into the open kitchen, and customers talk louder and louder to get themselves heard by their neighbour.
But while the volume is that bit too high, the atmosphere is just right. This is no trendy Chelsea drop-in for hipsters, artists and models, this is a meeting place, a gathering haunt, for families, friends, and gigantic groups alike.
We were seated on a table for two, uncomfortably close to our neighbours – perhaps that’s why the music is so loud, to avoid any uncomfortable eavesdropping – and handed our menus by Nikki, our bright, bubbly and incredibly welcoming waitress. After detailing some dishes she went to fetch a signature ‘Margarita Slush’ for us – the best alcoholic crushed ice drink you’ll get for miles. We eagerly ordered a selection of starters – corn balls, potato skins, nachos and more – then relaxed into the mood. Big Easy is big on everything. Big on sound, big
on customer service and oh my, big on portions too.
Specialising in lobsters and steak – Saturdays offer a bottomless option with a bottle of Prosecco per person thrown in with a carnivorous feast – there’s plenty to choose from. If you like lobster and steak, that is. Diners tuck into their shellfish, ripping meat from every opening, and cracking shells left right and centre. The menu isn’t so hot on vegetarian options – offering just one dish of vegetarian fajitas – but then why would you book into a lobster and steak house if you we re veggie? (Answer – my companion wasn’t and had raved about the food, and cocktails, for months!).
The food was standard but plentiful, and served with a beaming smile by Nikki and her colleague Vincent. Waves of Happy Birthday rang round the room with alarming frequency – this is clearly a place to come to celebrate – and cheers came from rugby fans watching England in the bar area.
By the time our starters were finished we were regretting ordering a main course each, but managed to make a dent in both plates. We then shared a ‘lemon meringue sorbet’ for dessert – hefty scoops of lemon sorbet in a paper tub with a half meringue dolloped on top – along with another glass of wine each.
Service at Big Easy cannot be faulted, and nor can the atmosphere. It’s the staff that make this place. The food is filling, and tasty – in a fast food kind of way. There was no lock on one of the women’s toilet doors, which led to embarrassing viewings – either of or by – every time we visited, but they were clean enough.
One tip is to check what you actually get in a deal – there are different offers every day of the week, all representing great value. But bottomless may not actually mean bottomless – contrary to expectations having seen the tipsy group when we entered! – and there’s no warning if you start ordering food or drink over your ‘limit’. But it’s decent value if you keep you eye on things, and you certainly won’t leave hungry.
- Big Easy, 332-334 Kings Road, Chelsea. Nearest Tubes Gloucester Road or Sloane Square approx 15 minutes walk. For full menus and booking see bigeasy.co.uk.
