This was my first visit to The Big Easy’s newest branch in Covent Garden. As a fan of the original Earl’s Court branch I was keen to see how franchising had affected this American themed eatery. Thankfully the Covent Garden branch maintains most of the good points of the original, but is three times the size and adjusted slightly to suit tourists and pre theatre diners. The big draw card of The Big Easy is the Lobster Festival which is on everyday and offers the best value for money lobster I’ve come across in London. £20 gets you a decent sized lobster, chips, salad, dipping sauces and your choice of a frozen cocktail. You can upgrade your lobster in £5 increments (although standard would suit most appetites). Various days of week feature other deals, like hog roast Wednesdays, which again offer a large portion for a very reasonable price (bear in mind this is Covent Garden). Big Easy portions could never be called anything but generous. Drinks are average and more generic than the more intimate Earl’s Court location. On the plus side while it’s almost impossible to get a reservation out West, the new venue has so many seats it’s perfect for large groups or last minute bookings. Split on two levels, with a live band downstairs, making for a fun festive atmosphere, plus sharing plates are available for groups. We sat upstairs and were glad of it, as the design doesn’t seem to have included air con for the lower floors. My only criticism is the half marathon required to get from upstairs dining to downstairs bathrooms…. This is messy eating after all, and sometimes a lobster bib just doesn’t cut it….