Browse the siteThis weekend, I was invited along to do a Tried and Tested review of a meal and drinks at Craft & Cleaver in Hitchin. Never one to pass up a child-free night out (sorry, kids!) and having been, and loved, this great local restaurant before, I got straight on to Grandma to ask if she’d be up for babysitting (thanks, Grandma!).
Craft & Cleaver Hitchin is a vibrant smokehouse and bar bringing American Barbecue, cocktails, and good times to the heart of town. Known for its bold flavours, low-and-slow smoked meats, and lively atmosphere, it's the perfect spot for casual dining, lunch, or a night out with friends. You can enjoy an ever-changing lineup of craft beers, inventive cocktails, and a twist on authentic American Barbecue. You can even make a night of it with a booking on Hitchin's only full-sized Shuffleboard table. Craft & Cleaver delivers a taste of the Deep South with a modern twist—right in Hitchin’s town centre.
Beyond the food, Craft & Cleaver offers a curated selection of craft beers and cocktails, creating a lively and inviting atmosphere.
We arrived and were greeted warmly by the staff and shown to our table. After ordering some drinks, our server Bea asked if we’d been before and if we needed any help with the menu. We asked what she would recommend and she immediately had loads of ideas, so open to trying new things, we ordered exactly what she suggested.
Here’s a run-down of what we had and, spoiler alert, we loved every single thing!
Appetisers:
Brisket Cheesesteak Cigar: This dish features smoked beef brisket, bell pepper, and American cheese, wrapped in a crispy egg roll, accompanied by a zesty Peruvian Aji Verde sauce. The combination of flavours and textures was delicious and my husband was a huge fan of this!
Louisiana Shrimp: I’m a big shellfish fan, so Bea barely finished describing this before I said I’d go for it. The dish consisted of four sautéed Rosso prawns served in a flavorful 'shrimp boil' butter sauce, paired with garlic butter Texas toast. The prawns were succulent, and despite promising myself I wouldn’t fill up on the Texas toast, it was too moorish to leave!
Main Course:
The Pitmaster: We’ve previously had The Texas Tray at Craft & Cleaver, so know their sharing platters are epic! The Pitmaster is a generous platter including beef brisket burnt ends, pulled pork, house-recipe pork, chili & cheese sausage, baby back pork ribs, and smoked chicken thighs, as well as smokehouse fries, lime slaw, maple whiskey pit beans, mac & cheese, house pickles, and a selection of sauces. Each meat was expertly cooked and melt-in-the-mouth delicious.
Bea didn’t want us to miss out on a signature dish of theirs called Jacob's Ladder Beef Rib from The Texas Tray so we had that as a side too: A 12-hour smoked beef rib that was tender and flavourful. This dish was an absolute standout!
I’d also been waxing lyrical about the pickles that came with the starter (yep, excited about pickles over here!), so we had a side of those too. I have dropped many hints that they should sell these by the jar, they’re well worth a try (and you’ll find another link to how versatile they are further down!)
And if you’re wondering, no, we didn’t finish everything! We did however box it up to take home and it was just as delicious with jacket potatoes and veg for dinner the next night!
Drinks:
After having prosecco with our main meal, we were keen to try a signature cocktail (me) and craft beer (the husband).
Having banged on about how much I loved the pickles, Bea said they do a cocktail that incorporates pickle juice which “just works”. You’ve got to really trust a waitress who recommends a cocktail with pickle juice in it…and even worse, grapefruit- I hate grapefruit! But I was up for trying it, so went for a Sherbert Pickle.
My husband is a big craft ale fan, so after a long chat about craft ales between them, which went right over my head, he ordered the very catchy “I Could Get Better At T*sco For A Quid”.
Sherbet Pickle: Consisting of Cazcabel Reposado tequila, grapefruit, dill pickle shrub, grapefruit sherbert and lime, it’s safe to say this is a unique cocktail! Any my verdict? Absolutely amazing and I already want to go back for another, you really must try it!
Pretty Decent Beer Co - 'I Could Get Better At T*sco For A Quid': As a big fan of hazy IPAs, my husband rated this as a really nice, light, easy-drinking beer.
All in all, we had a great experience at Craft & Cleaver. The staff were really welcoming, knowledgeable and great at recommending things we would like. The atmosphere inside is relaxed, yet lively, so whether you want a quiet meal just the two of you, a drink with friends at the bar or a game of shuffle board- you’ll find it all here.
There are lots of regular and one-off events coming up (do check their website for details as these are correct at the time of writing this review, but are subject to change):
- Celebrate Father’s day with Brunch 10-11:45am, a set menu from midday or a voucher for dad to enjoy at his leisure.
- Every Tuesday, you can enjoy Combos & Cocktails – choose your favourite Combo & any of the signature cocktails from only £29.50
- On the first Saturday of every month, you’ll find Live music from 9pm with Blues, Soul, Rock, Country & Indie hits.
And don’t forget there’s a beer garden too- with plenty of room to stretch out, sip, and savour. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, nursing a hangover with some BBQ therapy, or simply making the most of a sunny day, this is the place to do it.
You can also watch the Reel of our visit here.
Find out more about Craft & Cleaver on their website, and do let me know if you try it yourself. Even better, make sure you let them know you read the review on Mum’s guide to Hitchin. Enjoy!
*******************************************************************************************************
We were kindly gifted this meal and drinks by Craft & Cleaver in order to write this review.
If you would like a Tried and Tested review for your restaurant, attraction or event, please get in touch.
Don't forget to check out all my other Tried and Tested reviews here.
You'll also find Reels from our various days out on my Instagram page here.
