The Hawksmoor operates in a crowded field. Situated by Spitalfields market on Commercial Street, other local steakhouses include The Gaucho Grill on Broadgate and Marco Pierre White’s Steak & Alehouse just around the corner; how then would Hawksmoor fare against such illustrious competition? The first thing that strikes you is the menu, it looks just awesome with choices of bone-in prime rib, porterhouse, Chateaubriand, bone in sirloin, rib-eye, 55 day aged rump and a grilled bone marrow side. The first three of these cuts are offered in various sizes from 600grms to 1.1kg so are definitely sharing plates for all but the heartiest of appetites.
We edged on the side of caution when it came to the starters wanting to preserve our capacity, but warned that the main course would take some time to cook, we settled on potted smoked mackerel and potted Yorkshire beef, both with toast, to share between three; it proved an ideal and tasty beginning.
For the mains, we ordered a full kilo of Chateaubriand medium rare between two (which would later require a plus size doggy bag for what we couldn’t finish), a bone marrow side, triple cooked chips, a tomato salad and the stilton hollandaise. Our dining companion had the burger and a disapproving look from the waitress when he asked for it well done. The wine list was competitively priced with for example the Pichon Baron 1995 priced at £130 which compares with an online retail price ranging from £75 to £100 so not bad then.
We edged on the side of caution when it came to the starters wanting to preserve our capacity, but warned that the main course would take some time to cook, we settled on potted smoked mackerel and potted Yorkshire beef, both with toast, to share between three; it proved an ideal and tasty beginning.
For the mains, we ordered a full kilo of Chateaubriand medium rare between two (which would later require a plus size doggy bag for what we couldn’t finish), a bone marrow side, triple cooked chips, a tomato salad and the stilton hollandaise. Our dining companion had the burger and a disapproving look from the waitress when he asked for it well done. The wine list was competitively priced with for example the Pichon Baron 1995 priced at £130 which compares with an online retail price ranging from £75 to £100 so not bad then.
The test though for any steakhouse is only ever going to be the quality of the meat and here, we have to say, they really hit the mark. The steak was superbly delicious with strong original meat flavours enhanced with flavours lifted from the charcoal grill. The only complaint was that the steak was rare, not medium rare as ordered, but in a world where so much beef lacks any intrinsic flavour, this hunking piece of beef was what you always hope a piece of beef is going to be. The Hawksmoor talk about their beef a great deal on their website and they’re justifiably proud. Read it for yourself at leisure but the bottom line is that the beef comes from Yorkshire Longhorn cattle, grass fed (no additional proteins added for accelerated growth) with the cow slaughtered later than is common industry practice and then the meat aged for at least 35 days.
In fact, having just written this and thought about just how good lunch was, I couldn’t help but interrupt the blog post to go down to the fridge and raid the aforementioned doggy bag for a couple of strips of beef; just eaten cold, it is still so so good. It makes me think that it’s worth over-ordering whenever you visit Hawksmoor just so you can do this, have some extra at home to nibble on when you’re overcome by sadness that you’re not still sitting right there at the table, or that the next steak you eat probably wont taste anywhere near as good as this and might in fact taste of nothing at all.
In fact, having just written this and thought about just how good lunch was, I couldn’t help but interrupt the blog post to go down to the fridge and raid the aforementioned doggy bag for a couple of strips of beef; just eaten cold, it is still so so good. It makes me think that it’s worth over-ordering whenever you visit Hawksmoor just so you can do this, have some extra at home to nibble on when you’re overcome by sadness that you’re not still sitting right there at the table, or that the next steak you eat probably wont taste anywhere near as good as this and might in fact taste of nothing at all.
12 hours on, I already just want to go back, right now if I could; I don’t know when we’re next going there but it seems too far away. I must focus.
Elsewhere, the triple cooked chips were delicious, more so than Heston’s at The Hinds Head in Bray which on several occasions have left us a little underwhelmed. Each chip probably takes a day off your life from the fat content alone but it’s probably worth it and neither of us wants to live forever. The bone marrow came in a generous portion (and good value too at £3) and added an extra layer of indulgence when smothered over the beef. The half lobster on the side (which we didn’t order) is perhaps taking it an indulgence too far.
Elsewhere, the triple cooked chips were delicious, more so than Heston’s at The Hinds Head in Bray which on several occasions have left us a little underwhelmed. Each chip probably takes a day off your life from the fat content alone but it’s probably worth it and neither of us wants to live forever. The bone marrow came in a generous portion (and good value too at £3) and added an extra layer of indulgence when smothered over the beef. The half lobster on the side (which we didn’t order) is perhaps taking it an indulgence too far.
Despite managing only about half the kilo we ordered, we bizarrely decided to try a desert too, the highlight of which was cornflake ice-cream. And it really was like cornflakes, the bit when you get to the end of the bowl and the smaller flakes have gone soft in the milk and while there’s no crunch left, just an indelible cornflake taste in the milk. Turn that into ice cream and you get the picture.
The staff were great, both friendly and happy to work in a restaurant where they’re proud of what they’re serving. It shows. We were happy too. Is it the best steak in London? Quite probably yes. I certainly don’t feel a need to go the Gaucho Grill again if I can go to Hawksmoor instead. We’ve yet to try MPW and in the interest of the blog, we will soon and we’ll report back, but when nothing else but beef will do, we think we’ve found home.
The staff were great, both friendly and happy to work in a restaurant where they’re proud of what they’re serving. It shows. We were happy too. Is it the best steak in London? Quite probably yes. I certainly don’t feel a need to go the Gaucho Grill again if I can go to Hawksmoor instead. We’ve yet to try MPW and in the interest of the blog, we will soon and we’ll report back, but when nothing else but beef will do, we think we’ve found home.