Walk into Park Level at Crossrail Place and the smell hits you before the neon signs do. It’s that heavy, sweet, oak-smoked aroma that feels entirely out of place in the sterile, glass-and-steel hub of London’s financial district. You’ve got bankers in Patagonia vests rubbing shoulders with families who’ve trekked in from Essex, all for one reason. Big Easy Canary Wharf isn't just a restaurant; it’s a massive, 400-seat beast of an establishment that tries to transplant the soul of a Gulf Coast crab shack into the heart of E14.
Honestly, it shouldn't work.
Putting a sawdust-on-the-floor barbecue joint in a building that looks like a futuristic spaceship is a bold move. But since it opened, it’s been one of the busiest spots in the Wharf. Why? Because sometimes, after a ten-hour day of looking at spreadsheets, you just want to eat a lobster with your hands and drink a frozen margarita the size of your head.
The Atmosphere: Industrial Grit Meets Wharf Glamour
If you've been to the original Chelsea location on King’s Road, you know the vibe is cramped, dark, and intimate. Canary Wharf is the opposite. It is sprawling. The ceilings are high, the ductwork is exposed, and the terrace offers views of the skyline that make the overpriced cocktails feel a little more justifiable.
It’s loud. Don't come here for a first date if you’re shy or if you actually want to hear what the other person is saying over the live blues band. The music kicks off every night, and while the quality of the musicians is genuinely high—mostly delta blues and southern rock—it contributes to a sensory overload that defines the Big Easy experience.
The design team really leaned into the "maritime-meets-industrial" aesthetic. You’ve got copper pipes everywhere, massive spirit vats that actually house the bar’s 500+ varieties of whiskey, and a lighting scheme that feels perpetually like golden hour in New Orleans. It’s a stage set. A very expensive, very well-executed stage set.
That Massive Terrace
One of the biggest draws—especially during those two weeks of genuine British summer—is the outdoor seating. It wraps around the building, tucked under the iconic lattice roof of the Crossrail Place garden. It’s one of the few places in Canary Wharf where you can get a decent breeze and a view of the water without being stuck inside a shopping mall basement.
The Menu: Barbecue, Boozy Slushies, and the Lobster Obsession
Let's talk about the food, because that’s where things get divisive. Big Easy Canary Wharf leans heavily on its "Pitmasters." These guys use huge J&R Wood Fired Ovens—shipped over from Texas—to smoke meat for up to 18 hours.
The menu is a sprawling document that can be intimidating. If you’re a purist, you go for the Barbecue. If you’re there for the "Gram," you go for the lobster.
- The Royal Barbecue: This is their flagship platter. You get ribs, pulled pork, chicken, and brisket. The brisket is usually the litmus test for any BBQ joint. Here, it’s consistent. Is it Franklin Barbecue in Austin? No. But for London, where "authentic" BBQ often means "dry meat with sugar sauce," it holds its own. The bark is decent, and the fat rendering is usually spot on.
- The Lobster Deal: They claim to fly in fresh lobsters from Nova Scotia multiple times a week. You can see them in the tanks by the entrance. The "Limitless" deals are the big draw here. On certain nights, you can get bottomless shrimp or chicken and ribs. It’s a gauntlet. It’s messy. You will leave feeling like you need a nap and a green juice.
- The Vibe on Sides: Don’t skip the pit-smoked beans. They’re thick, loaded with burnt ends, and probably have more calories than a standard salad. The cornbread is sweet—maybe too sweet for some—but it serves as a necessary sponge for the vinegar-based sauces.
The Bar Scene
The bar is a destination in itself. They have one of the most extensive bourbon collections in the UK. Seriously. If you’re a whiskey nerd, you can find some rare Pappy Van Winkle or George T. Stagg hidden away if you’re willing to pay the "Wharf Tax" on a pour.
But most people are drinking the slushies. The "Bebop-a-Lula" and the frozen margaritas are legendary for a reason. They’re dangerous because they don't taste like alcohol, but after two of them, the walk back to the Jubilee Line feels significantly longer than it actually is.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Pricing
There’s a common complaint that Big Easy Canary Wharf is overpriced. It’s an easy target. However, you have to look at the "Daily Specials."
This is the insider secret. If you walk in on a Friday night and order à la carte, you’re going to spend £60-£80 per person easily. But if you go for the weekday lunch specials or the specific nightly deals—like the Monday "Big Shrimp" or the Tuesday "Steak and Lobster"—the value proposition shifts. You can get a massive meal and a drink for under £30. In Canary Wharf, that’s practically a bargain.
Is it high-end dining? Absolutely not. It’s "Big Food." It’s designed for volume. If you go in expecting a Michelin-starred experience with delicate plating, you’ve missed the point entirely.
The Logistics: Booking and Finding the Place
Finding it can be a pain if you aren't familiar with the layout of Crossrail Place. It’s on the top floor. You want to take the escalators all the way up through the roof garden—which, by the way, is a great spot for a pre-dinner stroll.
- Book Ahead: Seriously. Do not try to walk in on a Thursday or Friday night. The wait times can stretch to two hours. They use an online booking system that is generally reliable, but I’d still recommend showing up 10 minutes early.
- The "Late Night" Vibe: After 9:00 PM, the place transforms. The lights go down, the music gets louder, and it feels more like a bar than a restaurant. If you want a quiet family dinner, go at 5:00 PM.
- The Service: It’s fast. Sometimes too fast. The staff are trained to turn tables, especially during the peak Canary Wharf lunch rush. If you want to linger, you might have to fight for your space.
Real Talk: The Limitations
Let's be honest for a second. It’s a chain. While the Canary Wharf branch is the flashiest, it still has that corporate underlying structure.
The brisket can occasionally be hit or miss depending on when the pit was last pulled. Sometimes the lobster is a bit smaller than the "jumbo" label suggests. And the noise level? It is genuinely polarizing. If you have any kind of sensory sensitivity, this place will be a nightmare for you. It’s a high-energy, high-decibel environment.
Also, the "unlimited" deals have rules. Read the fine print. They won't bring you more food until your plate is clean, and they usually have a 90-minute or 2-hour time limit on the table. It’s not a challenge; it’s a business model.
Why It Still Matters in 2026
In an era where many restaurants are stripping back menus and going for minimalist "small plates" that cost a fortune, Big Easy Canary Wharf feels like a throwback. It’s unapologetic about its size and its calories.
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It serves a specific purpose in the local ecosystem. It’s the place where teams go to celebrate a deal. It’s the place where people take their parents when they visit London because it’s "impressive" without being "stuffy." It’s a reliable anchor in an area that can sometimes feel a bit soulless.
Actionable Steps for Your Visit
If you’re planning to head down there, do it right. Here is the move:
- Go for the "Daily Special": Check the website before you go. The Monday-Wednesday deals are significantly better value than the weekend menu.
- Request a Terrace Table: Even in winter, they have heaters. The view of the glass skyscrapers reflecting in the water is half the reason to go.
- Try the "Voodoo" Wings: Everyone talks about the ribs, but the wings are some of the best in East London. They have a proper kick and aren't just drenched in syrup.
- Check the Live Music Schedule: If you hate loud blues, check their social media to see when the band starts. Usually, it's 7:00 PM or 8:00 PM.
- Use the Elizabeth Line: It’s literally right there. Exit the station, and you’re a two-minute walk from the front door.
Don't overthink it. It's BBQ. Get the bib on, grab a frozen margarita, and prepare to use a lot of napkins. It’s loud, it’s messy, and it’s exactly what Canary Wharf needs to break up the corporate monotony.