The restaurant name London Steakhouse Company says it all. If you are like me and forever hankering for a hunky piece of thick meat, then read on.
The London Steakhouse Company website promises so much. Steaks that are “expertly prepared”, are of the “highest quality” and butchered from master butchers Aubrey Allen who supplies Her Majesty The Queen. They also deliver on these promises.
We arrived at their City restaurant to find a relaxing and elegant dining room complete with chandeliers, low-lit settings and linen topped tables. The best tables are on the edges of the dining room for a view of everything. But it is the steaks that take centre stage, and quite rightly so.
To start, a kipper pâté was excellent – fresh and smoky – and the potted duck with green peppercorns light and crunchy.
The steaks were stunning. As promised, they were quality cuts of steak cooked to perfection, the showstopping 14oz medium-rare rib-eye bearing all the hallmarks of well executed beef: thick-cut, juicy and crisscrossed with grill marks. It tasted as good as it looks. If you are meat free, there are also tempting fish, vegetarian and vegan options sourced and made to the same exacting standards.
And now our raison d’etre – A dry-aged sirloin with bourbon sauce was equally brilliant, smoky and glistening in that thick sauce. For toppings, we tried some meaty bone marrow in lemon and thyme, and sweet maple-cured bacon. Creamy potato croquettes with grated cheese with an unexpected but welcome hint of white truffle and creamy spinach was a happy accompaniment to the bourbon infused meat.
Of course, no steak dinner is complete without wine with pages upon pages of fine wines gathered from all over the world. Unless you’re a wine connoisseur, you’re better off asking for a recommendation before trying to impress your date.
Full as I was, there’s always room for desserts. After all, how can you resist a sticky toffee pudding, especially when it comes recommended from all the charming front of house team? Sweet, warm and with a delightful dollop of vanilla ice cream, it’s the very happy ending. Oh, and the bread butter pudding was outstanding too.
It isn’t just about appearance here. Old school manners don’t go amiss here with all the warmth and personal touch you’d come to expect from this independently owned family run restaurant group. From the simple things like being greeted at the door before I had even entered, the dapper dressed staff and being asked if I would like recommendations even before I even considered it, it’s the little details that make this place memorable.
London Steakhouse Company prides itself on sourcing the finest quality steaks that are prepped by the best in the business. And if it’s good enough for Her Majesty, then it’s good enough for us.
To discover more and book, visit: www.londonsteakhousecompany.com
All (brilliant) images by Kritt Normsaskul.