East London Food & Culture

Vibrant interior of Levi Roots Smokehouse

So you’ve never been to… Levi Roots Caribbean Smokehouse, Stratford

Dragons’ Den entrepreneur: how does his eatery fare?

Age: Three years in December; a toddler then.

Previous incarnation: The spot housed a couple of retail units before being converted into an eatery for bag-laden shoppers.

Where exactly is it? Westfield, the behemoth shopping centre down the road (depending on where you live) from E10 and E11, with over 350 stores across three floors. Head for John Lewis before stepping outside to The Street; your close neighbours range from restaurants such as Bumpkin to furniture store Dwell and David’s Bridal.

So what goes on there? This all-day spot dishes up a host of Caribbean classics including slow-smoked meats from the jerk pit, one-pot stews served with rice ‘n’ peas and sauteed saltfish. The sprawling menu also offers sharing platters, burgers and fish skewers. On each table sits a couple of bottles of Reggae Reggae sauce, courtesy of the main man himself.

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Burger at Levi Roots Smokehouse
Star Bwoy: Levi Roots Smokehouse. Photo: PR

What do I eat? Plump for the sirloin steaks (£11.50) – still-pink yet nicely charred – with a side of super light chilli roti (£3.90) and crispy sweet potato fries (£3.90). But the hot marinade we opt for would benefit from an extra thwack of chilli. Also good is curry goat: fresh and fragrant, it’s a surprisingly light dish. Mop up the sauce with more of that flatbread.

What do I drink? Cocktail-wise, there’s an array of rum-based concoctions and tropical punches; not wanting a hangover on a school night, we go for Carib, a light lager hailing from Trinidad and Tobago and Orpens cider. Originating from an island altogether closer, it’s a refreshing Irish tipple.

The interior? The large space is fun and colourful, with painted clad timber walls, an open kitchen, large banquettes easily seating six and an eclectic soundtrack (think Garage tunes followed by The Specials).

What’s the service like? A joy: super friendly, warm and professional. We were shown to our table and straight away told about a couple of items that weren’t available (pet hate: ordering a dish only to be told it’s sold out).

Do say: “Can we book up a masterclass please?”

Don’t say: “Is the closest tube White City?”

Levi Roots Caribbean Smokehouse is open Mon – Sun 12-10pm, at Westfield 103 The Street Montfichet Road E20, more info here. Dishes from £4.50.

Main image: PR

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