Smoke and Pepper

Walking into Smoke and Pepper in Southampton you immediately get the sense you’re in for something hearty. It’s not a table-service setup – you order at the counter, grab your seat, and before long, hefty plates of food land in front of you. No fuss, no frills, just big portions at really decent prices.

You don't often see Lamb in a place like this so their “We Pulled the Lamb” burger caught my eye. It’s stacked with tender smoked lamb neck, tucked into soft potato buns, with lettuce, pickled cabbage, and red onions. The whole thing’s dressed in mint sauce, finished with spicy mayo and fresh red chillies. Messy? Absolutely. Worth it? Definitely. The balance between the lamb, minty freshness, and that little kick of heat made every bite addictive.

Main: We Pulled the Lamb Burger

I also tried their Algerian Tenders. These were massive, coated in a glossy Algerian sauce, which I’ll admit I had never heard of before. To me, it tasted like a punchy, burger-style mayo with a little heat running through it. Whatever it was, it worked.

Side: Algerian Tenders

I couldn’t resist grabbing a portion of Chili Cheese Balls too. If you’ve ever had chili cheese bites, you know what you’re in for. Gooey, cheesy, spicy little mouthfuls that always hit the spot. A reliable favourite of mine.

My friend went for the Halloumi Burger, and her verdict was that it was tasty, properly messy, and one of the better veggie options she’s had in a place that’s clearly more geared toward meat eaters.

Veggie Option: Halloumi Burger

On the tables, they’ve also got four homemade sauces. None of them are labelled, so it was a bit of a guessing game. I think I worked out they were ketchup, a creamy minty one, buffalo, and one mystery sauce I still couldn’t work out. Fun in a way, but I’d love some labels so I actually know what I’m dipping into!

Table Sauces: 4 Homemade (Unlabelled)

By the end, I was stuffed. But looking at the menu again, I know I’ll be back to try some of the things I didn’t have space for, especially the chicken dynobites, Biscoff milk cake, and their much-hyped Bruce chocolate cake.

Smoke and Pepper is the kind of place you go when you want bold flavours, big portions, and great value. It’s casual, a little messy, and very satisfying.

We posted a video review of this on our Tiktok and Youtube pages that showcases the food much better than these images, find them here!