Some of the best steak restaurants in the country are right here in the capital. Whether you’re after British beef, Argentinian asado, or a big ol’ tomahawk ribeye, we’ve eaten our way through the lot to round up the choicest cuts.
LessThe polished Mayfair branch of the Russian-owned steakhouse chain brings Manhattan to Mayfair with its well-upholstered look. It offers truly excellent grass-fed beef from both sides of the Atlantic. Peruse the tray of raw cuts before ordering, say, a 400g Lake District Farmers grass-fed fillet or a USDA 150-day Angus sirloin with sauces and sides; check the board for ‘cuts of the day’. £40-£50 per person.
Hawksmoor’s buzzy wood- and leather-dressed basement has irresistible dressed-down appeal. The Seven Dials branch puts mighty slabs of British-reared beef above all else. A selection of ‘thiccc’ (yes, it’s three ‘c’s thick) cuts are served by the weight – don’t expect less than half a kilo; you can decide whether or not to share. Some of the city’s best meat and remarkably textured. £50-£79 per person.
A real humdinger with its vast baroque-style dining room and portrait-lined walls. Dress up fancy and sit in one of the grandest and most glamorous of Jason Atherton’s Midas-touch restaurants. The kitchen gives seasonal British ingredients a serious workout and the grass-fed steaks from the Buccleuch Estate are sublime. £26-£40 per person.
This British chophouse sticks to the programme. Cool vibes, post-industrial interiors, quality cuts and damn good value. The melty, crusted beef is a highlight (rump cap, ribeye, porterhouse, bone-in sirloin, etc). And if you need a speedy ‘worker’s lunch’, try one of their steak sarnies. £25 and under per person.
More is more at this outrageously outlandish Soho spot, a luxe shoo-in for fizz-fuelled Gatsby-style fun. There’s a ‘push for champagne’ button at the tables and glitzy roaring ’20s decor. Cherry-pick from an Anglo-Russian menu that naturally includes some luxurious steaks – including a mouth-watering chateaubriand for one. £50-£79 per person.
This handsome, warmly lit London Bridge joint is an offshoot of Brighton’s Coal Shed. Sizzling steaks and fish cooked over coals are the headliners. If British beef’s your bag, home in on the prime rib, porterhouse, ribeye and other cuts sourced from small family farms and served with a choice of sauces. Check the blackboards for ‘sharing steaks’ in a variety of cuts and weights. £26-£40 per person.
Dark lighting, low ceilings and intimate booths: this place is an inky handstamp away from being a nightclub. Big meats from around the world star: from American picanha to Australian ribeye and Canadian sirloin. Get a bit of everything with the Zelman Plate, a sharing platter of every cut going. £30-£40 per person.
Striking modern art, expansive views and wines courtesy of the restaurant’s South African owners set the scene at this enviably sited Thamesside restaurant. Focus on the ribeyes and fillets from 28-day-matured Cumbrian beef along with a choice of sauces ranging from chimichurri to truffle mustard. There are plenty of other Cap classics such as biltong and rooibos-smoked salmon, too. £26-£40 per person.
A chic slash industrial-looking steak place. The super-hot searing means the bargainous slabs of meat all come out soft and juicy as sirloin. Look out for the special cuts on the menu and the free salted caramel ice cream at this Covent Garden branch. £10-£18 per person.