Outback BBQ, the Latin-inspired smokehouse known for its whole-animal butchery and flame-led flavours, has fired up its first long-term kitchen residency at The Hawke Pub, Victoria Park.
Led by rising star, chef Lewis Simmons, Outback BBQ serves a menu rooted in Latin American open-fire cooking traditions – blending the rustic asados and parrillas of Argentina with the smoky taquerias of Mexico, reimagined through a modern London lens.
It follows a string of successful pop-ups at JAZU in Deptford, Peckham’s Montpelier, and The Great Beyond Brewery in Shoreditch, following a stint refining his craft under celebrated chefs Martin Anderson and Curtis Bell of London’s ‘From the Ashes BBQ’.
Inspired by his travels through the taquerias of California, Lewis’s ethos celebrates the primal energy of cooking on fire, the depth of flavour it creates, and its communal spirit at the heart of so many cultures.
Each dish is simple, slow-cooked and lovingly attended to, paying homage to quality ingredients – resulting in plates that are honest, well executed and made for sharing.
Outback BBQ works with local and independent suppliers to sources rare and traditional meat cuts, as well as fresh fish from local Victoria Park Village fishmonger Jonny Norris.
Lewis masterfully harnesses fire in every dish – from smoking cream for desserts to slow-smoking meats and charring vegetables for depth and complexity.
Standout dishes include a smoked lamb birria taco – braised in chillies, onion, tomato beer and spices, then dressed in an Italian-style salsa Verde. Other highlights include seven-hour smoked pork belly ribs with hot honey, grilled seasonal fruit and chilli pickles; Cuban-style mojo pollo; and smoky burnt corn ensalada. The house dessert – “a love child of banana pudding and Basque cheesecake,” – is already a firm favourite.
On weekends, expect fish specials, premium steak cuts, and traditional smoked meat roasts on Sunday with fruit cobbler, as well as seasonal variations and rotating tacos. Midweek menus (Wednesday–Thursday) feature condensed offerings and excellent-value deals.
The drinks list features craft beers, curated wines, premium spirits, and mixers – plus a now-legendary house Bloody Mary. Prices range from £5–8 for snacks and sides, £15–25 for mains and £8 for desserts, with sharing platters under £50.