Lucky Strike - CLOSED

Overview

Introducing Lucky Strike, a carpark turned open dining space specialising in some of the burliest brisket Wellington has to offer. With their signature Taranaki-raised beef brisket and a specialty meat on the smoker each day, Lucky Strike has become a sensation. You're gonna have to get in quick though, available in limited quantities from 6pm onwards, there's often a line of hungry patrons by 5:30pm. Feeling thirsty? Lucky Strike boasts a range of local craft beers as well as their very own Lucky Lager which is made exclusively for them by Black Dog Brewery. Brisket and beer — what else could one ask for?

Walking towards the old carpark on Tory Street, I wasn't sure what to expect. However, after catching wind of the sweet, wafting aroma of the smoker, any doubts I had were dispelled. Arriving at Lucky Strike, I noticed the industrial chic vibe with the metal stools, corrugated iron and wooden tables. Meeting the mastermind behind it all, Regan (who is also behind The Lanes), gave me the scoop on what Lucky Strike is all about. "We turned a shitty old carpark into something fun. Something that's not serious at all. Somewhere that's casual, where you can have a drink, bring your dog if you want."

While Lucky Strike may be relaxed about their environment, they're pretty serious about their food. Ordering their signature smoked brisket ($20), my jaw dropped as my plate was put in front of me. Four slabs of thick brisket smothered in their house-made barbecue sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy, and a helping of slaw. Having been smoked for approximately eight hours, the brisket was juicy and tender. Expertly seasoned, it was salty and lightly spiced. Like apple sauce is to pork, Lucky Strike uses mesquite wood chips in their smokers for the brisket. A tried and true Texan technique, these wood chips infused a distinctly hearty flavour into the brisket producing a flavour like no other. The barbecue sauce was sweet and tangy, perfectly balancing the savouriness of the meat. The potatoes were creamy and the slaw was refreshing rounding out what is one hell of a meal.

If the brisket isn't tickling your fancy, have a look on their specials board to see what they have on offer — they often experiment with other meats like pork and chicken. There's also a full menu available, consisting of sharing options (edamame, sliders), a range of burgers and a selection of pizzas, too.

Open when the the sun is shining from 3pm, you can stay in the loop by following their Instagram. Although originally a summertime establishment, we're keeping our fingers crossed that Lucky Strike will stay open over winter.

The food is exceptional and the environment is cruisy. Bring your mates, settle down with a jug of their Lucky Lager ($10) or sangria ($15) and tuck into some bloody good food. Lucky Strike is certainly no gutter ball.

Image: James Griffin.