http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1o22980/hawksmoor Hawksmoor - London, 157 Commercial Street, E1 6BJ, United Kingdom en http://cdn.trustedplaces.com/i/uploads/placepics/124740_b3691374.140.jpg http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1o22980/hawksmoor http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1o22980/hawksmoor/1u1tk7
Review by sokratis

Rating: 5.00
Tags: spitalfields, steak-house, best steak in London
When I twittered that I'm going to Hawksmoor yesterday, I did get a response from a friend that they did the 'best steak in London'. Which of course prompted other suggestions and before long we had a proper steak-off kicking off.
Now the pedant in me cannot agree with the 'best steak in London' characterisation.
Although not necessarily untrue, for that statement to be certainly true the person making it would have to have eaten every steak in London, before deciding that Hawksmoor's was the best. Even then the subjectivity of that clause leaves plenty of room for it to be disputed.
However, what I can confidently say is that Hawksmoor serves 'the best steak that I have eaten in London'. See? Small change there making all the difference.

I may be boring you with semantics here, so let's get down to the details.
My friend had a 225gram fillet, which he absolutely loved. I didn't try it.
I went for the 600g monster rib-eye. And what a great decision that was. Don't be put off by its size. That baby goes down like....err I'm struggling for a good analogy here...well...let's say that I'm pretty sure you'll be able to finish it unless you're someone like hollowlegs ;-) (I could be very wrong here).

We didn't bother with starters, as they were sure to prove a distraction from the main event. The triple-cooked chips did help adding some different texture to your palate.
The steaks were washed down with a lovely Malbec reasonably priced at £35.

On top of the food I love Hawksmoor's relaxed and vibrant atmosphere. The French waitress was always with a friendly smile, even when she was completely bemused by my friend's witty (?) remarks on how she poured the wine.

Whether it's for a business occasions, hanging out with mates or having a romantic night out Hawksmoor ticks all the right boxes. A must-go.

]]> Fri, 13 Feb 2009 09:44:07 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1o22980/hawksmoor/1u1tk7630613303 sokratis spitalfields steak-house best steak in London 51.521071284143 -0.075738257105659 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1o22980/hawksmoor/1v0qk8
Review by intoxicating

Rating: 4.00
Tags:
â¬ÜThe widest prairies have electric fences / For though old cattle know they must not stray / Young steers are always scenting purer water⬦â¬"
[Philip Larkin, â¬ÜWiresâ¬"]

DUE TO malaise amongst the crew of Alitalia, my friendâ¬"s arrival to â¬ÜHawksmoorâ¬" via Heathrow was delayed. The stylish staff sweetly let this pass, despite the fact that our booking for 8pm rolled into a rather â¬Slast orders⬠10:30.

This critically celebrated steak house is named in honour of Nicholas Hawksmoor, Baroque architect of Christ Church, Spitalfields, several steps down Commercial Street. You would probably not deduce the link: its design is the antithesis of Godâ¬"s address.

From outside, very little is disclosed: boring blinds, a simple nameplate straight off a yacht. It could be a snooker hall, strip-club or office (and wouldnâ¬"t a combination of all three brighten the working day?) The teak cocktail counter, with Bakelite straw holder, is recycled from a thoroughly un-divine dancehall in Hull. Stools look like zimmaframes. Chairs are of the curvy Christine Keeler variety. Prints of the cuts of meat are useful.

Enough has been written about Hawksmoorâ¬"s impeccable sourcing of dead animals. Apparently they led a free range, hedonistic lifestyle, especially the 35 days deceased, dry aged Longhorn, which existed on green, green grass. Suffice to say, the supplier is the â¬ÜGinger Pigâ¬" of Observer Food Monthly fame, who operate an embassy on Borough Market. If you would like to know more, stop by their â¬ÜHog Blogâ¬".

The cocktail list is a Moonshine miscellany, providing over 2000 words of backstory into the 50 Punches, Juleps, â¬ÜTweeked Tikisâ¬" and Expat Classics. My â¬ÜBlack Forest Sazeracâ¬" was apparently â¬Üfruitierâ¬" than the original, a sturdy and stirring merge of â¬ÜCherry and chocolate infused Rye and Bourbon shaken with sugar and bitters, served in a Chartreuse rinsed glass⬦â¬"

Whilst awaiting our Foggian friend, we tackled overly substantial starters of Tamworth Ribs and Crayfish and Crab Cocktail. The Irish swine, famed for producing perky bacon, was tender and courteously seasoned. The cocktail was discreetly dressed, with moreish, meaty morsels, although the little monster on top took revenge when I cracked it open: viscera splayed over my new jumper. That is the price to pay for coming eye-to-eye with your food.

The wine list is not really built for mere mortals and features a titanic tally of first growths or their equivalents. California is a recurring theme, with albeit gentle mark-ups on those already costly bottles. It is a great shame that the best U.S. wines, still administered by the same bureau which handles firearms and tobacco, put on serious financial weight when travelling to our shores. I had a friend who wanted to open a west coast wine bar in the capital but was defeated by the dollar loss in translation and tax.

We drank Joseph Phelps â¬ÜLe Mistral â¬"01 which was utterly compelling: intense, inky, precise and plush. Black cherry, fresh vanilla and scents of spiky herb emanated from this lovingly produced Syrah and Grenache from Monterey.

My Bone-in Sirloin (600g) was as thick as a tome so tumultuous that it would damage my foot if it fell on it. I have subsequently pressed 600g on a letter scale with my finger, which required considerable force. Half way through the easily cut, prime, moist, well-sealed steak, which was dumped on a dish rather than spruced on a board, I could have done with a coach to coax me along my meat marathon. My friends had also done well with their well-done Rib Eyes, although one turned out to still be haemorrhaging (the restaurant did offer more prostration on the charcoal grill). Garlicky spinach was crisp and glossy. Triple cooked chips were a little disappointing. Legendary restaurateur Fernand Point would have been pleased by the Béarnaise, â¬Ü⬦simply an egg yolk, a shallot, a little tarragon vinegar, and butter, but it takes years of practice for the result to be perfect⬦â¬"

Au Bon Climatâ¬"s â¬"05 â¬ÜKnox Alexanderâ¬", a relatively European style of leanish Californian Pinot Noir, arrived in an outrageously heavy bottle. Apparently â¬ÜMind Behindâ¬", Jim Clendenen, also a keen cook and broccoli thief, is a regular. I had the pleasure of meeting him at the Santa Maria winery last year where his empties have been turned into chandeliers.

After the protein protagonists, there was little chance of dessert exploration. I wonder how many people make it to the knickerbockerglorries?

Would I go back? â¬Are you paying? The bill was a catastrophe! For the same money, maze Grill has more variety and that kiln of a broiler (as well as a more uplifting setting). Hixâ¬"s Oyster and Chop House is cheaper, within the buzzy meat-market surroundings of Smithfield. And the Victoria Hotel at Sheen does generously cut, triple cooked chips properly, with memorably moist, fluffy centres...]]> Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:25:35 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1o22980/hawksmoor/1v0qk81816738896 intoxicating 51.521071284143 -0.075738257105659 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1o22980/hawksmoor/1x1lj8
Review by sue

Rating: 5.00
Tags: american, steak, cocktails, expensive, friendly, relaxed
When the birthday boy (BB) requested a meal at a nice restaurant where he could have a decent martini and a more than decent steak, Hawksmoor sprang to mind. From what I had read, it sounded like the perfect place for both. And it sure was.

We arrived early evening and slipped onto a comfy stool at the bar. Cocktails decided on, we relaxed at the end of a hectic week, really enjoying our perfectly mixed beverages. The place was fairly quiet at that stage, but the restaurant filled up as the night continued.

After drinks we moved to our table and had to decide just how big a piece of meat we could eat. We laughed (a little nervously) when we read on the menu - "Some people have mentioned that our cuts are on the big side - we hope you can forgive us."

I opted for the 400g Rib-eye, while BB went for the 600g Bone-in Sirloin. The steak just comes by itself, so sides are required - we ordered the Triple Cooked chips, the Honey-roasted vegetables, and the Macaroni Cheese. The steak was pretty expensive but so worth it. Lovely char-grilled flavour, rare and flavoursome. Very excellent pieces of meat. The sides were tasty too, though I did think that the Macaroni Cheese was over-priced. A big, full bodied bottle of Australian red wine complemented our meals perfectly.

Somehow we managed to clean our plates and still find room to share a dessert - the Chocolate Fudge Sundae. It was so delicious - ice cream, brownie chunks, crispy peanut brittle bits, chocolate sauce. Yum.

The prices at Hawksmoor mean this isn't going to become a regular haunt for us, but the quality of the steaks, along with the really lovely service and the relaxed atmosphere mean that next time we have an occasion that requires a decent martini and a more than decent steak we may well be back.]]> Sat, 13 Sep 2008 19:19:35 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1o22980/hawksmoor/1x1lj831411561 sue american steak cocktails expensive friendly relaxed 51.521071284143 -0.075738257105659 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1o22980/hawksmoor/1k6af7
Review by chrisp

Rating: 5.00
Tags: american, business, expensive, lively
It ought to be a cause of national shame that despite having some of the best small producers and fishing grounds in the world, British and Irish produce is generally ignored by our own restaurants and supermarkets. The finest fresh lobster and langoustine from the south coast, Welsh lamb and Scottish pedigree cattle are sold abroad, earning French and Spanish chefs the reputation for gastronomic excellence off the back of our own home-grown talent. Thankfully in recent years there has been a bit of a fightback, as interest in locally-sourced ingredients has increased and more restaurants and supermarkets (especially Waitrose, who deserve a special mention for their 'Local foods' section) are confident enough in their customers to market British food properly. But we are nowhere near equilibrium, and I still find it shocking that some uniformly beet-red slabs of 2nd-grade beef flown halfway across the world are regarded as the best you can eat in London.

So like a guardian angel sent from heaven to fight for British food on earth (or at least in our nation's capital) comes Hawskmoor on Commercial Road. All their meat is from a company called Ginger Pig, who regular Borough-market goers will recognise from their stall there. The menu is smallish - just a few different cuts of beef, a lamb and pork cut or two, and a scattering of sides. And it's not cheap either, my 600g sirloin coming in at a whopping £26.50. But if there's one thing that's self-evident as you cut through the charred crispy flesh into the rich, moist pink inside, is that it's worth every penny. There is simply nowhere else in the capital - nowhere in Europe I would hazard a guess - that has steaks of such stunning high quality, cooked perfectly. They are huge things too, thick with ribbons of fat that provide flavour and texture, almost a meal in themselves, but you'd be foolish not to try some of Hawskmoor's excellent side dishes, such as the rich garlicky spinach and the creamiest baked sweet potato you will ever have. Unfortunately this lunchtime the chips weren't up to the usual high standard - they tasted a bit dry - but this is not the norm based on numerous previous visits. Also the service can be hit and miss - one time we waited a whole hour before the food started to arrive, which was blamed on the macaroni cheese taking too long to make. Why they didn't have "up to an hour waiting time" stamped next to this item in the menu wasn't clear.

As if Hawksmoor wasn't happy enough with serving superb steaks, they also have a fantastic bar with a list of heritage cocktails that you will find nowhere else. My "Daiquiri No.2" was apparently one of Ernest Hemingway's favourites, although to be fair I've heard this about most cocktails. Boasting that your particular drink was favoured by Cuba's most famous alcoholic is a bit like saying you are attractive enough to sleep with Russell Brand. He wasn't that fussy, believe me.

I am told that even the non-meaty items on the menu such as the scallops and swordfish are worth having, so clearly there is talent in the kitchen beyond timing a 2-inch thick rib-eye to medium-rare. But it is the steaks that keep people coming back here. Knowledgeably sourced, perfectly cooked and honestly presented, there is no doubt that Hawksmoor serves the best steaks this side of the Atlantic.]]> Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:54:07 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1o22980/hawksmoor/1k6af7670960263 chrisp american business expensive lively 51.521071284143 -0.075738257105659 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1o22980/hawksmoor/1y2208
Review by Browners

Rating: 5.00
Tags: american, steak, beef, cocktails, meat, expensive
Message to all men out there....

If you've never heard of S & B day on March 14 th... then I suggest you type it into google right away!

Hawkmoor seemed to the perfect choice for such an occasion. Renowned for producing the best steaks in London, we were very excited about the trip.

It seems a rather unassuming location, however, once inside the masters in the kitchen certainly know how to cook a bloody good steak! All the meat comes from the Ginger Pig 'Observer Food Monthly Producer of the Year, and is lovingly reared in North Yorkshire'.

Before you sit down to tuck into a mighty piece of beef, be sure to have one their fabulous cocktails at the bar. (In my attempts to impress Cowie with my boozy knowledge I was stiched up by the barman who made me the stongest Cuban concoction you can possibly imagine)

Read below to see what Hawksmoor has to offer...

"Dictionary thick steaks from 28 day hung Longhorn cattle, pork chops from big happy Tamworths, racks of lamb from a flock of Swaledales grazed on heather moorland, all simply cooked on a real charcoal grill."

"For our cocktail list we've scoured our library of long out of print cocktail books. We've resurrected some great long lost classics and have added some of our own, invented by our award-winning bartenders. All are made with the finest ingredients available (and a lot of love)."

Our starter arrived along with someone else's as well which we tried to send back but they were having none of it insisting that we should have it anyway because no-one else was going to eat it! I'm not the kind of man to look a gift scallop in the shell...

Our steaks were tender, juicy, charred, rare as hell and perfectly seasoned. The fat had that brilliant, slightly crisp feel to it that gives me the shivers! This couldn't be London in 2007 without having triple cooked chips in a miniature aluminium bucket! That said they were delicious, especially when supercharged with the thickest bernaise sauce I have ever eaten. It's the kind of thing that would give Oli a reason to die on the spot!

It would be rude of me not to comment on the foot perfect service. The staff were charming and couldn't have made us feel more welcome; some of the best around.

It is quite a trek, especially if you live south of the river... but its worth the trip.]]> Wed, 06 Jun 2007 20:33:16 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1o22980/hawksmoor/1y22081488688852 Browners american steak beef cocktails meat expensive 51.521071284143 -0.075738257105659 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1o22980/hawksmoor/1x6267
Review by aimeealewis

Rating: 4.00
Tags: relaxed, steak, friendly staff
When I was trying to find the Hawksmoor I walked straight past it. It's exterior is very ugly but when you get inside the restaurant is much nicer. Understated and relaxed with a small menu this is the perfect place to come if you really love your steak. The steaks are huge, tender and full of flavour. The vegetables come seperately. I took my boyfriend for his birthday and I think it is definately a masculine restaurant. Staff were friendly and helpful and the chocolate mousse is dreamy. It is expensive but worth it for a special occassion. The resturant was pretty empty at 8 but really filled up quickly.]]> Tue, 05 Jun 2007 11:28:16 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1o22980/hawksmoor/1x626718855596 aimeealewis relaxed steak friendly staff 51.521071284143 -0.075738257105659 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1o22980/hawksmoor/1o5168
Review by jo104

Rating: 3.00
Tags: american, british, steak, expensive, trendy
This restaurant is for meat lovers, their meat comes from the Ginger Pig and is all organic, free range.

I was invited by clients for lunch and my advice to other city slickers is that this is only a place to dine at if you have a spare few hours.

The restaurant has quite a cold sparse feel to it & most of the tables seem to be 2 seaters. There were 5 of us and they seated us right next to the door in a draft even though the restaurant was quite empty.

Their wines start at £18 which I deem rather pricey, but as I was asked to select any wine I chose an Argentinian Malbec at an extravagent £32. When we asked for the waitresses opinion she told us she didn't fancy wine & it was clear she did not know how to pour wine.

Now onto the meaty bit of the review (excuse the pun) The steaks are huge I ordered the rib eye which is served at either 400g or 600g bearing in mind an averages ladies steak is 200g its a lot of meat. Sides are ordered separately, their speciality being a triple fried chip which equals lots of calories!! My hunk of meat was brought to the table luke warm which was annoying. When I complained the chef told her he leaves the steak on the plate to rest, if the plates were pre-warmed it may have been a different story. To have my steak slapped back on the grill would have meant it would be overcooked.

We did order dessert but after about 45min of waiting we decided to get the bill and leave, and it was at that time they decided our desserts were ready.

The meat was delicious & tender but I will not bother visiting this restaurant again. It was also a very costly meal out. I did see they had a nice cocktail lounge area.

www.thehawksmoor.co.uk]]> Thu, 15 Mar 2007 14:04:18 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1o22980/hawksmoor/1o51681569100469 jo104 american british steak expensive trendy 51.521071284143 -0.075738257105659 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1o22980/hawksmoor/1851x8
Review by mundek

Rating: 4.00
Tags: american, bar/grill, steak, cocktails, expensive, lively
I recently visited the Hawksmoor for a meal after a few recommendations from acquaintances. This place is on the fringe of the City and is a New York style bar and grill. We had some cocktails to start and my Jerry Thomas's Mint Julep was delicious, and very alcoholic, which is always a bonus. They have a very comprehensive cocktail menu at Hawksmoor and they all seemed very appealing. On to the food, The Hawksmoor is NY style steakhouse and that's obviously what they focus on but they do have pork chops, fish and chicken on the menu too, so probably not such a good place if you are vegetarian (I don't recall seeing a veggie option on the menu). The mains don't come with any side dishes, so you have to order those separately. I ordered the bone-in sirloin and my companion had the pork chop. They are into organic, boutique meat here and it really shows, my sirloin was perfectly cooked medium rare and tender and succulent, it had some gristle though which is more a fault of the cut than the restaurant I suppose. My companions pork chop was delicious too. The triple cooked chips that I had heard so much about were quite disappointing though - not bad chips, but not as amazing as I'd be led to expect. The baked sweet potato was delicious though, very smoky and garlicy, as was the salad. Dessert was a bit subpar too, the pastry on the Tarte Tatin we shared tasted undercooked. The bill came to around £120 for two (mains, shared dessert and drinks), so not exactly a cheap place to eat but well worth it if you can afford it.]]> Thu, 22 Feb 2007 10:48:25 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1o22980/hawksmoor/1851x81772539506 mundek american bar/grill steak cocktails expensive lively 51.521071284143 -0.075738257105659