Rack City Ribs - Highgate

Welcome to Rack City Ribs - Highgate, a hidden gem nestled in the bustling heart of Highgate, London. Located at 16 Highgate High Street, this cozy eatery, tucked away inside The Dukes Head, brings a slice of authentic American BBQ to the EMEA region. It’s more than just a dining spot; it’s a culinary experience that pays homage to the art of smoked meats and indulgent flavors.

As you step inside, you are greeted by the inviting aroma of slow-cooked ribs and the warmth of friendly service. The atmosphere is lively, often complemented by live music in the evenings, making it an ideal spot for a cozy dinner with friends or a leisurely family meal.

Highlights of the Menu:

  • Smoked Chicken Bun: Panko fried smoked chicken thigh served with skin on fries or hash brown fries and slaw. Each bite is a combination of crispy texture and juicy flavor, priced at just £11.95.
  • Fly Like a Bird: This meal features a half rack of applewood smoked ribs, slow-cooked to perfection for six hours, paired with two moist chicken pieces and your choice of glaze. A complete experience for £21.95.
  • The Rack Mac: For cheese lovers, this 7-cheese mac and cheese is a must-try at £9.95. One customer exclaimed they wanted to scream from the richness of flavor!
  • Sticky Smokey Wings: Double-coated wings in their glorious glaze, garnished with sesame seeds and spring onions. At £8.50, these wings deliver crunch and flavor that keep you reaching for more.
  • Jack Fruit Loaded Hash Fries: This unique item features crispy smoked jackfruit and is a delightful surprise for vegetarians, served with slaw and priced at £9.95.

The flavors at Rack City Ribs are the star of the show. Customers rave about the richness and tenderness of dishes like the beef brisket, which melts in your mouth, and the mac and cheese that rivals homemade recipes. Many have likened it to pure comfort food, leaving their taste buds dancing and craving more.

While the shared experiences are overwhelmingly positive, some notes on service and availability have been made—often, popular items like ribs may sell out quickly. However, kindly staff are ready to recommend alternatives that don’t fall short of deliciousness. As one customer pointed out, “If you can cook, you’ll understand that this mac and cheese is something else!”

For those keen on pairing their meals with delightful sauces, the Sticky Bourbon and Pineapple Jerk sauces add a touch of magic to any dish, enhancing the rich BBQ experience.

Whether you’re a local or visiting London, make sure to stop by Rack City Ribs - Highgate for a meal that is not just food—it is a celebration of BBQ culture. With generous portions, vibrant flavors, and an atmosphere that feels like home, this café promises to become a staple on your culinary itinerary.

Rack City Ribs - Highgate Menu

Location

Address: 16 Highgate High Street, London, EMEA N6 5JG
Phone: (782) 374-3260

🕓 Work Hours
MON Closed
TUE 17:00 - 21:45
WED 17:00 - 21:45
THU 17:00 - 21:45
FRI 17:00 - 21:45
SAT 13:00 - 21:45
SUN 13:00 - 20:45

Last Reviews

  • Author: Maria D'Mello

    19 February 2025

    We couldn't find the place- its inside The Dukes Head at the back. Staff are polite, friendly, and welcoming. They ran out of ribs but offered us the brisket, mac cheese and burger. It was immensely flavourful and tender. Service was attentive and friendly. There was live music in the evening. I wish the tables for the person booth was bigger than a plank of wood. It would have been impossible to eat there otherwise.

  • Author: Sophia Leach

    19 February 2025

    Rack City Ribs!!!! I took one bite of the Mac & Cheese and wanted to scream at the top of my lungs... my tastebuds couldn't reconcile the flavour going on in my mouth.Now listen to me when I say, I can cook! and Mac & Cheese is one of my top dishes, that gets requested. From across the table, I looked at my husband dead in his eye and said... baby... this Mac is better then mine and dropped my fork.After I recovered from the shock I pick up my fork and continue to enjoy an amazing meal. I had to meet and compliment the chef. Can't wait to get back there.

  • Author: Nikko

    19 February 2025

    We did not eat at your restaurant but in Soho were you've associated with Zebrano. I'd like you to get an idea of how your reputation is being destroyed so please read below about our experience there:One of the worst meals I've had in a very long time. They have associated with Rack City and they are (trying) serving their food. The day we visited the menu was reduced to only items. We ordered all of them. After a long wait we got the chicken wings which were excellent. The sauce was amazing. This made us believe we were going to have a great meal. We could not have been more wrong. We waited for a long time. No food. They told us they were having problems because there was a big group on another floor and they could not cope with it (I went upstairs and there were no more than people). Eventually we got rack of ribs (of the we had ordered). They were tough. Not tender at all. Meat was not falling off the bone. When we mentioned this the answer was "this is the way our chef likes them". The ribs were supposed to come with hash browns and cole slaw. None of them made it to the table. We were told the nd rack was coming soon. We waited and waited. The chef came to talk to us to say he could only give us half a rack and that it was going to be on the house. We kept waiting. Eventually we go the half rack, again dry and again with no hash browns or cole slaw. The rd dish we ordered was brisket loaded fries. Once again we had to wait, different staff kept giving us different excuses contradicting each other. Eventually we got the fries which were room temperature and the brisket was fridge cold. We sent them back immediately. More waiting. More excuses. More lies. The chef came back to talk to us. He blamed someone else in the kitchen for sending us cold fries.Nobody assumed any mistake. They were only serving dishes and they could not cope with that. It was a disaster. Don't want to imagine what's going to happen if they ever attempt to serve the whole menu

  • Author: Emma

    19 February 2025

    This place is a hidden gem in Highgate. The food was so delicious and full of flavour. We had the mixed platter, which was really great value as the portions were very generous and the food was so tasty - a mix of authentic US BBQ dishes. Our favourite plates were the beef brisket, which was rich and melted in the mouth, and the mac and cheese, which was so addictive. The chicken wings were crispy but not dry and the pork ribs had an amazing smokey flavour. The Duke's Head is a fab American Country bar and the staff are really friendly and the drinks (especially the margs) went very well with our food. The place was clean and welcoming. We will definitely be bringing our friends so they can try it here too!

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