Sirloin, ribeye, rump, fillet, tomahawk, picanha… whichever cut of beef you prefer, you’ve been exceedingly well catered for since London went steak crazy around a decade-and-a-half ago. First came Hawksmoor, which opened in Spitalfields in 2006, followed by Goodman in Mayfair in 2008 – heralding the start of a who-does-it-better rivalry that continues to this day (honestly, Luxury London couldn’t choose).
The more-affordable Flat Iron opened its (first) doors in Shoreditch in 2012, followed, in 2014, by City-favourite M Restaurant (from the former managing director of Gaucho); surf-and-turf specialist Beast (same team as Goodman); and party restaurant STK (of Manhattan fame).
It’s been a few years since the capital welcomed a flashy new steak restaurant – the venture capital started drying up as large-scale meat-eating temples began falling out of vogue (shortly after Blacklock and Smith & Wollensky opened in 2015). Now, however, it looks like dry-aged meat – and British meat at that – is back on the menu.
At the end of 2021, Hawksmoor launched a sprawling, two-storey meat hangar in Canary Wharf, where M Restaurants will open another site later this summer. Time, then, to point you in the direction of the best-grilled cow in town…
Beast
Where? 3 Chapel Place, Marylebone, London, W1G 0BG
Why? The best steak restaurant in the capital, in Luxury London’s humble opinion. European breeds, from Galicia in Spain and Arouquesa in Portugal, as well as from the Lake District, are dry-aged on site for between 30-60 days. International cuts include premium Wagyu and Kobe from Japan, USDA beef from Nebraska and MSA-graded steaks from Australia. All slow-cooked over a mix of oak, birch, chestnut, hazel and alder charcoal, and served in a candle-lit, industrial-chic basement restaurant hidden behind Oxford Street. Superb.
What can I expect to spend? Japanese Wagyu Sirloin (A5 Grade, minimum 400g), £50/100g; Japanese Kobe (A5 Grade, minimum 400g), £90/100g; USDA Nebraska, bone-in ribeye, £12/100g, sirloin, £14/100g
Blacklock
Where? The City, Covent Garden, Shoreditch, Soho
Why? Inspired by traditional chophouses of the 17th century and established to democratise premium steak, Blacklock prides itself on serving prime cuts for considerably less than London’s other beef-centred restaurants. It champions native and rare breed meat, working with Cornwall’s oldest butchers, the Warren Family. Had a heavy Saturday? Blacklock’s Sunday roasts have almost eclipsed the reputation of its steaks. Unpretentious, fair-priced fun.
What can I expect to spend? Rump fillet, £14; rump cap, £16; porterhouse, £8/100g; bone-in sirloin, £7/100
Cut at 45 Park Lane
Where? 45 Park Lane, Mayfair, London, W1K 1PN
Why? Not only was CUT at 45 Park Lane the first European restaurant from renowned Austrian chef Wolfgang Puck, in 2014 it also became the first restaurant in London to serve the previously unattainable Japanese Wagyu beef. Puck has since been replaced as head chef by Jamie Shears, who cut his teeth under Jason Atherton, Chris Galvin and Gordon Ramsey. While this upmarket Park Lane restaurant is known for its high-grade steaks, Shears also focuses on introducing fresh fish from his hometown of Torquay.
What can I expect to spend? Prices change but expect to pay top whack.
Visit dorchestercollection.com
Flat Iron
Where? Borough, Covent Garden, King’s Cross, London Bridge, Marylebone, Shoreditch, Soho, Spitalfields, Tottenham Court Road
Why? Charlie Carroll founded Flat Iron in Shoreditch in 2012 with this simple mission statement: to make remarkable steak accessible to all. He worked his way through a list of 38 different beef suppliers before choosing to work with third-generation, native-herd farmer Charles Ashbridge from Yorkshire. During his research, Carroll discovered that little-known secondary cuts from the very best beef were still exceptionally tasty and, just as importantly, reasonably affordable. Hence the flagship Flat Iron steak for just £12.
What can I expect to spend? Flat Iron steak, £12; 250g filet, £20; 500g sharing filet, £38
Goodman
Where? Canary Wharf, The City, Mayfair
Why? It may not have been the most auspicious of timings, launching a big-ticket steak restaurant just as Lehman Brothers went down, but since Goodman opened in Mayfair in 2008 it has carved out a reputation as one of London’s top steak restaurants – especially among finance types, having opened sister premises in Canary Wharf and the Square Mile. Cosy and congenial, each outpost apes the steakhouses of Manhattan. Yet while Goodman’s most premium cuts may come from the states, the restaurant also does a lip-smacking line of steaks from cows reared in Scotland, Yorkshire and the Lake District. The ultimate business lunch (and even better if you can stick it on the company card).
What can I expect to spend? 250g Scottish fillet, £33; 400g Scottish fillet, £50; 250g USDA fillet, £47; USDA 400g ribeye, £47
Hawksmoor
Where? Bank, Canary Wharf, Covent Garden, Knightsbridge, London Bridge, Spitalfields, Piccadilly Circus
Why? Possibly the most favourably-reviewed steak restaurant in London. “The best steak I have ever eaten in this country,” crowed Jay Rayner. “It was perfectly done,” said Giles Coren, about Hawksmoor’s sirloins and ribeyes. Even the late AA Gill called it “decent”. High praise indeed. Whereas some steak restaurants believe that the best beef comes from Japan or Argentina or Australia or the United States of America, the team at Hawksmoor say that the best steaks come from cattle carefully reared in Britain. And so they source their meat from small farms around the country and from cattle that led a stress-free life and were fed on a natural diet of grass and hay. We have Hawksmoor to thank for putting British beef back on the map.
What can I expect to spend? 300g fillet, £38; 400g rib-eye, £36; 400g sirloin, £34; 300g rump, £24
Lurra
Where? 9 Seymour Place, Marylebone, London, W1H 5BA
Why? Not, specifically speaking, a steak restaurant, Lurra is a small but beautiful Basque grill in Marylebone. It was, however, one of the first restaurants in the capital to make Galician beef its calling card. The restaurant sources its steaks from a breed of Galician Blonds reared in northern Spain, which are fed on grass and left to enjoy a life of between 12 and 16 years (compared to most UK cattle, which are slaughtered before the age of two). Lurra is also pioneering a new type of beef in the UK by taking ex-dairy cows and letting them retire for a couple of years on grass. This helps struggling dairy farmers and also extends the life of cows destined for mincemeat once they no longer produce enough milk.
What can I expect to spend? More than at Blacklock and Flat Iron; a little less than Hawksmoor and Goodman.
M Restaurant
Where? Threadneedle Street, Victoria
Why? Martin Williams, formerly managing director of Gaucho, opened the first M Restaurant in the City’s Threadneedle Street in 2014. An expansive, contemporary space that featured a glitzy bar, fancy private dining rooms and retro foosball tables, it quickly garnered a loyal legion of patrons within the Square Mile. An M Restaurant subsequently opened in Victoria, catering to a (slightly) less corporate crowd. M takes its steaks seriously, importing the world’s most premium cuts from the US, Japan and Australia. It takes cooking them just as seriously, with the kitchen boasting chefs that previously worked with Gordon Ramsay, Shannon Bennett and Michel Roux Jr.
What can I expect to spend? 250g Argentinean rump, £18.50; 250g Somerset fillet, £31.50; 300g USDA Prime fillet, £70; 300g Somerset sirloin, £29.50; 400g Argentinean ribeye, £36.50
Manhattan Street Grill
Where? 22 Hertsmere Road, Canary Wharf, London, E14 4ED
Why? Unless you live or work in the vicinity of Canary Wharf, chances are you won’t have heard of Manhattan Street Grill. Even if you do live or work in the vicinity of Canary Wharf, there’s a strong chance you won’t have heard of Manhattan Street Grill. The restaurant is based at the bottom of the steel-and-glass Marriot hotel in West India Quay. It doesn’t appear on other round-ups of London’s best steak restaurants, simply because, presumably, so few people have ever actually been there. Possibly the best steak this writer has ever had came courtesy of Manhattan Street Grill, which sources its meat from Scotland and Kansas. Consider it London’s best kept steak secret.
What can I expect to spend? 6oz Scottish filet, £32; 10oz Scottish ribeye, £30; 10oz Scottish New York strip, £32
Omnino
Where? 78/79 Leadenhall Street, City of London, EC3A 3DH
Why? Omnino might be the best steak restaurant you’ve never heard of. It was opened by a husband-and-wife team from São Paulo, both previously of Gaucho, near Leadenhall Market in 2014. Omnino uses the same supplier as Hawksmoor and Goodman – which tells you something about the seriousness with which the restaurant takes its steak. Meat comes from grass-fed Argentine Black Angus cows. The décor might be a dark, masculine clash of heavy-chestnut floors, bronze chandeliers, deep-red banquettes, charcoal-grey walls and black metro wall tiles, but the place is lit up by the sunny disposition of the (mainly) South American staff.
What can I expect to spend? 300g Argentine ribeye, £29.50; 350g Argentine rump, £26; 400g Argentine sirloin, £35.50; 350g Argentine fillet, £44.95
Smith & Wollensky
Where? The Adelphi Building, 1-11 John Adam Street, Westminster, London, WC2N 6HT
Why? Fun fact: the name of celebrated New York steakhouse Smith & Wollensky was created by randomly selecting two surnames from a telephone directory. It crossed the pond in 2015 and is the only place in London where you can eat USDA prime steak that has been butchered and dry-aged on-site. The restaurant also champions British and Irish cuts within a stunningly decorated two-floor restaurant near the Savoy Hotel. Steaks, and other dishes in general, are some of the largest in the capital. As are the prices.
What can I expect to pay? 500g Kansas T-bone, £70; 225g Irish fillet, £49; 250g, Aberdeen Angus sirloin, £28; 280g American USDA fillet, £68; 320g American USDA sirloin, £49
Visit hsmithandwollensky.co.uk
STK London
Where? 336-337 Strand, Westminster, London, WC2R 1HA
Why? A glitzy American import that brought plenty of prime USDA beef with it. Situated at the base of the design-led ME Hotel (from Foster + Partners) on The Strand, STK is the first non-US outpost of New York’s most social steakhouse group. The cocktail menu has been curated by celebrated drinks mavericks, the ONE Group. A DJ and dramatic lighting make STK London a good choice for those looking to party alongside their picanha.
What can I expect to pay? 200g fillet, £43; 350g sirloin, £46; 300g fillet, £61; 350g rib-eye, £50
Zelman Meats
Where? Harvey Nichols, 5th Floor, 109-125 Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 7RJ
Why? Bought to you from the Russian group behind Goodman, Burger & Lobster and Beast, Zelman Meats first opened in Soho in 2016 and has subsequently relocated to the fifth floor of Harvey Nics. Originally positioned as the gateway restaurant to the more expensive Goodman and Beast, prices have gradually crept up, so don’t expect steak at Blacklock and Flat Iron rates. The best option is probably the Zelman Plate, which offers a cut of every steak the restaurant serves for £35 (350g).
What can I expect to pay? 250g Polish Holstein fillet, £37; 350g Canadian striploin, £35; 350g Canadian ribeye, £35
Read more: The best Chinese restaurants in London
FAQs
How much is a steak in London? ›
For 100g, a sirloin costs £10, a rib eye is £10.50 and a fillet is £11.50. The cheap price means more money to spend on delicious sides (we love the cauliflower gratin and sweet potato fries). Fancy sharing? You can get a hearty 500g Flat Cut Sharer for £53 which serves about three people.
Do Gaucho Steaks come with chips? ›BEEF & BOTTLE
Enjoy free flowing red, white and rosé wine, an ever-changing steak menu featuring different, delicious cuts of meat plus unlimited chips and chimichurri sauce from £60 per person. Check our website for more information.
London is known to be one of the most expensive cities in the world to live in, so it is likely that you will need to make some adjustments to your budget upon moving to the 'Big Smoke”.
Is there a dress code for steak and Co? ›10 answers. Hi Smart casual seems the normal dress code. its a very relaxed atmosphere. Although be aware if you order the steak on a stone to cook yourself you may become victim of the meat "spitting" .
Which steak is the most tasty? ›The rib eye is the ultimate steak-lover's steak. It's the most flavorful cut of the animal, and comes with very rich marbling, which provides superior taste when cooked. The cut itself comes from the rib section, where it gets its name.
What is world's best steak? ›Results from the 2022 World Steak Challenge are hot off the grill, with a Japanese Wagyu judged to be a cut above the rest. The world's best steak award at this year's World Steak Challenge goes to a Japanese Wagyu from producer Starzen Co.
What is steak and fries called in France? ›Steak frites, meaning "steak [and] fries" in French, is a dish consisting of steak paired with French fries. It is commonly served in European brasseries, and is considered by some to be the national dish of Belgium, which claims to be the place of its invention.
What is Argentinian steak called? ›Picaña. The picaña steak, also known as a culotte, is boneless and cut from the cap of the top sirloin. Hailing from Northern Argentina, it's lean yet amazingly flavorful, with a texture similar to sirloin.
What is steak and fries called? ›steak frites, (French: “steak [and] fries”) a simple dish of beef steak alongside strips of deep-fried potato. Its origins trace back to France and Belgium, and it is a mainstay in the cuisine of both countries. The dish can also be found in French-style bistros around the world.
What is a good salary in London? ›A single person living in London would need about £50,000 a year; A couple should be able to get by with £60,000 a year; A family of four would need an average income of £70,000 to cover the cost of living in London.
How much money do you need a day in London? ›
How much money will you need for your trip to London? You should plan to spend around £145 ($162) per day on your vacation in London, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, £29 ($32) on meals for one day and £21 ($23) on local transportation.
Is 500 pounds enough for a week in London? ›It all depends on you tastes, style and expectations. Yes. Unless you're planning on taking taxis ten times a day, or using cash single fares on the Tube 15 times a day, your budget is ample.
Can you wear jeans to a steakhouse? ›Yes, you can wear black jeans to casual or smart casual steakhouses. Darker denim is more formal than lighter washes, and therefore more versatile. To be safe, I'd avoid any denim at super upscale fine-dining establishments.
What should I wear to a nice steakhouse woman? ›Most steakhouses do have a dress code. Usually it's a recommendation for business attire or smart casual wear.
Can you wear trainers to London steakhouse? ›Dress code: Smart casual, no sportswear please.
Which steak is the most tender and juicy? ›Considered the most tender cut of all, a filet mignon is taken from the center of the beef tenderloin. It is lean yet delivers a melt-in-your mouth, buttery succulence.
What is the most popular steak to cook? ›Behind well-done and medium-rare steaks are medium well-done (16%), medium (13%), and rare meat (11%). While medium-rare and well-done steaks are America's most popular selections, men (26%) are more likely than women (20%) to choose a medium-rare steak.
What are the 3 best steaks? ›- T-Bone. Serious carnivores usually have a special fondness for t-bone steaks. ...
- Porterhouse. If you've ever seen a porterhouse steak next to a T-bone, you may have thought they were the same. ...
- Ribeye. For the ultimate juicy, beefy flavor, a ribeye is a great choice. ...
- Filet Mignon. ...
- New York Strip.
Argentina is a mecca for meat-lovers, with many claiming the country has the very best steak in the world. But what makes it so good? From the grass-fed Pampas cows to the unique beef cuts and special Asado cooking techniques, Argentinian steak is a work of art from start to finish.
What are the 10 best steaks? ›- Chuck Eye. Getty ImagesGetty Images. ...
- Filet Mignon (aka Beef Tenderloin) Getty ImagesGetty Images. ...
- Flank (aka Bavette or London Broil) Getty ImagesGetty Images. ...
- Porterhouse. Getty ImagesGetty Images. ...
- Rib-Eye. ...
- Skirt. ...
- Strip (aka New York Strip) ...
- T-Bone.
What is Gordon Ramsay's most expensive steak? ›
Kobe Fillet (Most expensive Steak on the menu) - Picture of Gordon Ramsay Steak, Las Vegas - Tripadvisor.
What's better ribeye or filet mignon? ›A simplified rule to remember is: the ribeye is perfect for those who prefer flavor, and the filet mignon is the better choice for those who prefer texture. Ribeye has long been known to steak lovers as the epitome of steak flavor. This cut of meat comes from the ribs of the animal, between the loin and shoulder.
How much is a Wagyu cow? ›According to Insider, Grade A certified Wagyu raised in Japan can cost upwards of $200 per pound, and the individual cows that produce them are worth $30,000 at auction, or 40 times that of a typical cow sold in the U.S.
› what-are-the-best-cuts-o... ›What Are the Best Cuts of Steak?
The Top 5 Most Expensive Steaks in the World – Herdsy
Best Cuts of Steak - The Ultimate Guide | Steak University
| UK cost of Food & Drink | |
|---|---|
| Average weekly grocery bill (including food, basic laundry and toiletry items for 2 people) | £60 |
| Average pub meal | £6 - £10 |
| Average restaurant meal | £12 - £20 |
| Pint of beer | £2.50 - £3 |
England isn't traditionally known for great food but London does have a world-renowned food scene — but that high-end food is a budget killer. Budget travelers will have to stick to the basics, and even then, the food isn't cheap. If you're on a tight budget, you might want to cook for yourself as much as possible.
How much is a day of food in London? ›All in all, you really don't need to break the bank if you want to experience the food culture of London. You can expect to spend around £10-15 per day if cooking the majority of your own meals and closer to £20-25 if having one mid-range meal out per day.
Is beef expensive in the UK? ›...
Typically, people tip around 10-15% in London, except for when using taxis or public transport, where a smaller tip is frequently accepted. Tour guides do not need to be tipped, but this is up to the customer to decide. Some restaurants add an automatic tip to your bill.
How much money do you need a day in London? ›How much money will you need for your trip to London? You should plan to spend around £145 ($162) per day on your vacation in London, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, £29 ($32) on meals for one day and £21 ($23) on local transportation.
What salary do I need to live in London? ›
A single person living in London would need about £50,000 a year; A couple should be able to get by with £60,000 a year; A family of four would need an average income of £70,000 to cover the cost of living in London.
Is 500 pounds enough for a week in London? ›It all depends on you tastes, style and expectations. Yes. Unless you're planning on taking taxis ten times a day, or using cash single fares on the Tube 15 times a day, your budget is ample.
How much money do you need for a week in London? ›The average price of a 7-day trip to London is $2,549 for a solo traveler, $3,898 for a couple, and $6,596 for a family, with the main components of cost being (1) flights, (2) hotels/accommodation, and (3) meals.
What is the best time to visit London? ›The best time to visit London is from April to June and September to October when the weather is mild and there are fewer crowds. However, keep in mind that prices for hotels and flights are generally higher during these months.
How much does a pizza cost in London? ›| Size of Pizza | Average Price of Pizza | |
|---|---|---|
| Pizza Hut Small Pizza | 9" | £13.87 |
| Pizza Hut Medium Pizza | 11" | £15.97 |
| Pizza Hut Large Pizza | 13" | £17.97 |
Described as the most expensive ribeye steak ever sold in Britain, the rare Japanese wagyu been given an A5 rating – which is awarded to just 1% of Japanese beef. A5 is the highest possible ranking. Yield grade A to C is the ratio of meat to the total carcass weight and the meat quality grade is 1 to 5.
Why is steak so expensive in UK? ›The increasing cost of fuel, food and especially labor makes each cow more expensive. And this cost is then passed on to the meat processors, wholesalers, distributors, butchers, supermarkets, restaurants and ultimately the consumer.
Why is British so expensive? ›Summary – Why is the UK so expensive
The biggest factors in determining cost of living are wage rates and housing costs. The UK cost of living is relatively high, but this also reflects the relatively high wages in the UK.