Dirty Bones is a NYC-inspired food and cocktail concept which has blossomed into a foursome of branches spread across London. This Kensington Church Street basement outlet was the first. Hipster interior, funky music, waitstaff with face piercings and a menu to match – how much cooler can you get? Thankfully I visited the restaurant in a large group and therefore got to try many of their offerings.
The Classic is basically a kickass cheeseburger. It’s one of two things whoever ordered enjoyed. The other was the Short Beef Rib, which I ordered. The meat on this Fred Flintstone sized serving was fall off the bone tender, and the sauce it came basted with was thankfully not overwhelmingly sweet. Sadly, I can’t say the same about the Pork Belly Ribs which were bone dry, a huge disappointment. Other items we ordered were Padron Peppers (recommended), Flat Iron Steak (recommended, medium rare), Chicken & Waffles, Crispy Lamb Fries (recommended), Summer Chopped Salad (boring) and the Gem Lettuce Salad.
Padron Peppers 
Short Beef Rib 
Pork Belly Ribs 
Crispy Lamb Fries 
Fried Chicken 
The Classic
Service at Dirty Bones was friendly, attentive, accommodating and far better than I expected. Our table was looked after by a young girl with face piercings who reminded me of Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, only prettier…and more patient. Dirty Bones is listed as ‘not kids friendly’ yet the 11-year olds in our group had fun. The teenagers had a great time and so did us old farts. Yeah, I liked this place. The food wasn’t as good as I expected nor was the music (no DJ) but the ambiance and service were top notch. Would I go back? Probably.
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