Not sure where to head to for breakfast, lunch or dinner this week? Well, worry not, the team at City Matters have put together a list of some stunning spots in the City and beyond to help you out. From succulent steaks to breakfast joints that will have you feeling satisfied and coming back for more. Read on to find out more.
Hawksmoor Guildhall
Just a quick walk from Bank station and across the road from the Guildhall Yard you couldn’t ask for a better spot in the City.
Starting off, you have your choice of going to the bar to grab or drink or going straight to your table to look over the impressive menu. While not exactly steak, we can wholeheartedly recommend the Devon crab on toast and the Hawksmoor smoked salmon, both deserving of a mention. But then you have the steak, if you’re feeling particularly peckish then you can go for one of their large cuts up to 700g, just be sure to tackle it with a friend or you might be taking a lot home with you. They also have the more standard sized steak, each one cooked with superb skill and attention to detail. A sauce is always a must and on top of having the classic bearnaise and peppercorn they also have a range of interesting hollandaise sauces such as anchovy, stichelton and porchini, I can wholeheartedly recommend the stichelton.
Overall, the Hawksmoor Guildhall impressed us not only with their great service and mission statements, but also with their fantastic food and delicious drinks. Well worth a visit for anyone interested in trying some top of the line steak.
Steak Restaurants London, Manchester, Liverpool & Edinburgh | Hawksmoor
Barbie Green
Situated in the heart of Barbican, within the historic London Wall Place, Barbie Green is a fabulous spot to enjoy a wholesome breakfast. This place boasts an Australian ‘outside in’ feel to the venue, with fully retractable glass windows that open up onto the beautiful alfresco dining area. Whether you’re after a sweet or savoury breakfast, there’s something on this menu for everyone. We opted for a savoury breakfast, smashed avocado on charcoal sourdough, we added smoked salmon and poached eggs to this dish. The eggs were cooked perfectly and the presentation of this dish is simply delightful. We also loved the drinks menu at Barbie Green, whether you fancy a green fruit juice or something a little stronger, there’s a drink to suit every mood. A great spot for breakfast and escaping the hustle and bustle of the City for an hour or two.
LOCATION – BARBIE — DAISY | GREEN
Fazenda
For a spot that oozes elegance and class in the heart of the financial district, look no further than Premium South-American restaurant group Fazenda. Reimagining traditional cuisine from the Pampas in Argentina and Southern Brazil, Fazenda centres around a passion for the highest quality of meats and freshly prepared sides, served in authentic Rodizio style (a unique method of serving a variety of grilled meats carved at the table). Featuring three luxurious private dining rooms, as well as an inviting ground-floor bar and lounge, Fazenda Bishopsgate takes the essence of traditional South American grill and the Rodizio concept the brand is famed for to another level, with the debut menu featuring a new à la carte menu alongside the Rodizio. The menu features exquisitely prepared dishes such as ‘Wagyu Crudo’ – a starter made up of dry-aged Wagyu Cecina and Wagyu tartare, and the ‘Asado’ – a succulent beef rib slow-cooked on the bone, amongst a selection of fish dishes.
Out Of The City
100 Wardour Street
Head here for a live music dinner on a Saturday night and you’ll be in for a real treat. The vibes at 100 Wardour Street are fabulous, whether it’s a few drinks at the bar of a three course meal, you won’t be disappointed. However, on this occasion we opted for a live music dinner, which takes place on Saturday from 7.45pm and three courses will set you back £48. Highlights from the menu, include the BBQ lamb cutlets and the apple tarte tatin. Alongside their great menu, the service is also marvellous at 100 Wardour Street. The band is dependant on which Saturday you visit, however you can expect fantastic music from an energetic live band and cool beats from the resident DJ. Swanky interiors, exceptional vibes and delicious cocktails. It’s a thumbs up from the team at City Matters.
100 Wardour Street – 100 Wardour Street
Gloria
Big Mamma Group’s Shoreditch venture, Gloria, is not only a delight for the stomach but a feast for the eyes too. This stunning restaurant boasts the look and feel of Capri in the 1970s with it’s distinctive interiors.
To kick off the evening, we began with some cocktails, we’d highly recommend trying the Pearini. For starters, the home-made warm focaccia with oregano is a great shout. The hardest decision you’ll probably make when dining here is whether to opt for pizza or pasta – either way you won’t be disappointed. On this occasion, we opted for pizza, the dancing queen, priced at £18.50. The pizza’s soft dough adorned with tomato sauce, mozzarella di bufala and prosciutto crudo is the perfect comfort food to end the week.
However, the real star of the show for the team at City Matters is the sweet dishes on offer. The home-made profiterole, gelato al pistachio with pistachio spread, topped with indulgent dark chocolate sauce is absolutely divine. The army of staff that Gloria’s houses is also worth noting, each course is delivered in a speedy manner and with a smile. The perfect spot to catch up with the girls for lunch or date night with that special someone.
The Mayfair Chippy
The Mayfair Chippy has gained quite a reputation for being a fantastic spot for some exceedingly good fish and chips. And being the foodies that we are, we had to check this out, right? Well, when we arrived at this award-winning chippy we noticed that there was a round-the-block queue.
The design of The Mayfair Chippy is fab, they pay homage to classic chippies of the past, with chequerboard flooring and tiled interiors.
To kick the evening off, we tried the Kedgeree scotch egg, priced at £10.25. However, this isn’t your typical scotch egg as it’s made from smoked haddock and comes with a delightful curried mayonnaise dip. For mains, it seemed only right that we tried the signature dish, the fried cod, and chips, alongside mushy peas, tartar & chip shop curry sauce or HP gravy. The chips were topped with a generous slab of cod, that is cooked to perfection. The portion of fish and chips is outstanding, the batter on the cod is crunchy and the chips are tasty and satisfying.
If you’re a vegetarian and you’re heading to The Mayfair Chippy, don’t worry because they’ve got some great options on the menu. Our favourite is the fried West Sussex chip shop halloumi. There’s no better way to end this meal than with the rich, indulgent, and delicious sticky date pudding. This pudding is drenched in toffee sauce and topped with clotted ice cream, an absolute dream.
Another fab spot to visit which is a stone’s throw away from the City is The Mayfair Chippy Knightsbridge. They recently opened their doors, showcasing a new all-day dining experience featuring quintessentially British dishes and its very own Gin Bar. Sounds like a winner to us.
Fish And Chips | The Mayfair Chippy | England
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