The Dirty Barrel - Southamptons Best Street Food?
- Samuel Spencer
- Feb 4
- 2 min read
The loss of Beards & Boards was felt by many, a well-loved venue by many, so when I heard they were reopening as The Dirty Barrel and serving street food I knew I had to be one of the first in the door.
Bedford Place has no shortage of great eateries, many we've covered already. Expectations are always inflated when a new place opens, so we went in with an open mind and expectations set.
The first thing you notice when you arrive is the size. It is a small venue... I mean proper small. We were lucky to get a spot in the window, albeit with mismatched chairs. Still, a nice place to sit and watch the world go by. Definitely turn up early if you want to guarantee a seat. If you remember Beards & Boards the backroom has been converted to a kitchen, further limiting space. We didn't ask, but I'm sure they'd be comfortable doing takeaway. There's also some outdoor seating which come spring/summer will be a joy to use.
The menu is tight. It has to be with a small venue, but still with plenty to appeal to all. It's broken into two sections, Small Plates and Chicken (there are hot hoagies too, but these were sold out when we visited... we'll have to return!) They have a bundle deal of any 3 small plates or chicken for £17, to me this feels like great value for the amount you get.
Between us we ordered the Pork Belly bites, Steak strips and Squid bites and for chicken we ordered Mango Habanero wings, Mango and Lime wings and some Barebecue tenders. The pork belly served with hot honey was delicious, I mopped up the sauce with some of the fries we got. The steak strips were a showstopper for me, tender with a good amount of bite, served in maple syrup with ranch mayo. These strips are something I can see myself ordering everytime I go!
The wings were great too, the mango habanero ones the perfect mix of spicy and sweet, the mango and lime ones were what I'd call a 'dry' chicken wing (e.g. not covered in sauce) and were perfectly seasoned with just the right amount of breading. The barbecue tenders were a good smoky sweet BBQ tender too.
They've also got a wide drinks selection, I was told by the bartender that the drinks are all their own too, obviously not brewed on site but it's great to see an independent brewery taking the spotlight.
Overall, The Dirty Barrel made a strong first impression. Small menu, big flavours, and a space that already feels lived in rather than brand new. This really feels like one to watch, and I can't wait to see how they do once opening week buzz dies down. I definitely need to go back to try the hoagies. I'd definitely recommend a visit!
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