Arlo's Balham

In the friendly neighbourhood of Balham we decided to go for some dinner at Arlo’s Steak. I had heard a lot of great things about Arlo’s and so wanted to see for myself what the fuss was all about. A great thing about Arlo’s is that it seems to understand that eating a decent steak in London can be ridiculously pricey, so they have turned what can be a more upmarket cuisine into something a lot less pretentious enabling those purse strings to loosen up a bit! I absolutely love the décor of this place – really fresh, stripped back, relaxed and inviting. We were served by the most lovely waitress who was very happy, friendly, helpful and thoroughly believed in Arlo’s and what it stood for – makes all the difference! The wine and drinks menu also serves as a reminder to Arlo’s stripped back, laid back ambience. Just a two page menu offering everything from bubbles to IPA and Malbec to digestifs – a great list of drinks to choose from without being overbearing. We chose to sip on the Argentinian Malbec and a Passion Fruit Bellini – just what we needed after a long week at work! The food menu is no let down to the identity of this restaurant either. Just one page outlining 5 different starters, 4 different types of steak, a variety of sauces and sides and 2 different salads for those with healthier diets than me! What I also love about this menu is that not only is it simple and welcoming, but it is also pretty fun…so let me explain! First of all you can choose your regular sized steak, or you can level up to the bigger cuts choosing a lump of steak up to 1kg! It is then up to you if you want to share this with your nearest and dearest or decide to go on a crazy man vs food frenzy and eat it all yourself! Also, once you have chosen your steak you can decide if you just want a simple steak or have it arrive sitting on a “trencher” – a slice of fire-crisped sourdough soaked in either smoked chilli or garlic and thyme (£2.50 extra). The steaks at Arlos restaurant in Balham are not your usual fillet and sirloin you would usually see alongside their high-end prices, but instead serve the lesser known Bavette (£13.50), Hanger (£15) and Tomahawk (the 1kg beast for £67!). We decided to try the Bavette and Hanger steaks and of course we had to have the Arlo’s special – the trenchers. The Bavette and Hanger were not the most tender of steaks (of course they are a cheaper cut) but were packed with a lot of flavour all the same. Brilliantly charred on the outside and perfectly cooked (we went for medium-rare) on the inside, every bite was delicious! The trenchers definitely made a steak dinner a lot more interesting but I did not find it added too much to the overall flavour. To accompany the steaks we went for the hand-cut skinny chips and the macaroni cheese. The chips were beautiful, really crispy on the outside and super fluffy on the inside and the macaroni cheese was amazing! The menu also has a great selection of starters, where you can choose any three for £10 – what a bargain! We opted for the spiced halloumi in a sort of chimichurri sauce, arriving in a cute little dish with a couple of wooden food picks to use instead of cutlery. After such a delightful but heavy meal, we had no choice but to have some lemon sorbet! Beautifully refreshing and citrusy, this was a great way to end a fab meal! I definitely recommend this restaurant although next time may try their ribeye or, if I am being brave, the Tomahawk! If it’s one thing I know, I’ll be greeted with some of the best service I’ve ever had!

Lovely restaurant. The waiter Wotjek was very knowledgeable and clearly loves his job. His recommendations we're spot on, extremely pleasant. Loved the service, loved the food and we will be back again.

Arlo's is where brunch is AT. A steak, for brunch. I didn't know that's what I needed in my life until I had it. So juicy, cooked with care, such a great portion size and may I add delicious. We were sat outside on a lovely summers day and everything came in a timely manner, we were met with polite and bubbly waiting staff and did not feel any pressure to finish our dining experience. Balham has many good brunch places but I think Arlo's is one my top! Very happy indeed.

Good enough steak. A bit overpriced as it was not the best ribeye I ever had. Very nice service though

Five star place. Very simple menu, simple wine list. Good place to go for dinner.