Brenda McMillan-Penny
My son brought me here for my birthday on a 5 course set menu. Our waiter was really lovely and friendly. Went through the menu with you. Food was very tasty. Full of flavour and well presented. Just be prepared to pay for the extras. Sides etc. I ended up paying more than the voucher itself. Drinks aren't cheap. But I didn't mind as I enjoyed the vibe and the atmosphere
Sarah Arrow
Had the set menu on a Friday lunch time. The restaurant was spotless, the staff pleasant and the food fab. Had smoked salmon starter and mushroom soup. Both were excellent. Main courses were rump steak and beef bourginon. Both were excellent. We also had sourdough side order along with fries. The fries were hot and salty. Was surprised as most fries get cold very quickly.
The highlight of the meal was the Carribean Punch. It looks like washing up water, but tastes like a beach in your mouth! Without the sand of course! Well worth booking if want a great lunch.
Zoe Heron
We visited today for lunch having received the set menu 3 course & cocktail for our wedding present. Absolute phenomenonal experience, the staff were so attentive, the food was delicious and the venue superb. We will be back! Thanks for having us!
Gareth Salvidant
The food quality was very nice, I had the five course taster menu and each part was delicious. Their Malbec wine was high standard too. I have no complaints from my visit, however, the restaurant did lack atmosphere and I think strived too hard for classy establishment mentality (high end) when realistically it's affordable to most. That said, I would highly recommend it.
Suzanne Styles
Great lunch with friends. Steak was sublime, although you have to pay extra for the sides. Still well worth it. Salmon starter was delicious and lovely dessert
Gary Luckhurst
We went to the London Steakhouse Co. Restaurant thinking it was a Marco Pierre White restaurant. But not a single hint of him here. It was a virgin experience day and it has a set menu for these guests with a lot of items needing supplements. Not what we were expecting with extreme fine dining which it wasn’t! With included cocktail out of stock. Standard restaurant masquerading as 5star.
Neha Limbu
I was a-bit skeptical and 50/50 after I bought the virgin exp voucher especially after reading mixed reviews by people. Felt like cancelling but it was the best experience. My bf was very pleased as we went for his birthday celebration. The food, drink, ambience and the vibe itself was perfect. The customer service lady Yasmin was able to also change the timings for us twice which was really helpful. I the only think I was slightly disappointed was we got charged for celebration packages for just the “Happy Birthday” on the plate but it was nice once in a while its ok but otherwise I’d defo recommend to people.
John Forrest
Our friends bought us a Virgin day out offer. This restaurant is fantastic. Atmosphere, service, setting and food are out of this world. I would love to be a secret diner to judge others against this one.
I don't think many can beat it.
Will definitely return.
A big thank you to all the staff.
Liviu
I booked a 3 course meal through virgin experiences and was really impressed with the food, service/staff and atmosphere. The food was absolutely delicious. Will definitely come again in the future.
Jules Mackenzie
Part of a Christmas gift to my husband £65 3-course meal + cocktail for two. 3 choices for each course. The rump steak was the tastiest and a good 8oz size. Unfortunately the starter (beetroot and goats cheese) appeared severely portion controlled as did the two side dishes - approx 3 spoonfuls of content. The sticky toffee pudding was great. But the chocolate mousse with cream was like something you'd expect to see in a fast food restaurant. My husband had two bites and didn't finish. We ended up paying an additional £80 for extras. Pricey overall for what we had.
Chris Stevens
This 5 course meal was a Xmas present, food was excellent and we got to try things we would never have ordered before. There is the option to choose an alternative main course or pay for steak etc and any side dishes are also at extra cost which can be quiet expensive. The waiter was very friendly and nothing was too much trouble. We arrived early and was able to get a drink at the bar whilst waiting for our table. Would highly recommend especially if you want to treat someone to something different and they are a foodie. Forgot to mention you each have the choice of a cocktail to start.
Laura Potter
This place is amazing!!! The steak literally melts in your mouth for all dishes. We had the set menu at lunch time, got a cocktail included, we also purchased a side and some wine and the total bill with service was £125 and I would happily pay that all day long, a wonderful experience.
Carl Creasey
We ate here from a Virgin experience present from our daughter and wow this place was amazing,I upgraded my meal to a fillet and was cooked to perfection, my partner had the chicken and also amazing,staff were so friendly and welcoming, would definitely come back
Krishna Kasturi Kataki
A great restaurant for delectable steaks and a wonderful selection of wines!<br/>We would definitely recommend the 14oz ribeye with maple cured bacon topping and the honey roasted pork!<br/>They also serve a variety of puddings but we went for the creme brulee which did not disappoint at all!<br/>We predict that the ratings for this place are going to soar soon! Definitely 5stars!!!
Melvin Moore
The worst steak i have ever eaten for the price they are asking people to pay it is a disgrace. My steak was full of fat and gristle it was like chewing on rubber bands. Dont know how it got the name London Steakhouse because i'm sure that was not steak they served me. Would i go back again not a chance.
Steve
Avoid this organisation. Their total lack of customer service speaks for itself. Unfortunately, we never did get to eat here. We had a booking but it was cancelled by them on the night. I have reviewed many, many restaurants over the years and this was the most frustrating and disappointing experience by a distance. They are incredibly inflexible and abrupt and didn’t even have the courtesy of calling us back, after they checked details of a prior call, even though the manager said she would and us calling back two further times to try to speak to her. <br/><br/>They already had our money because it had been prepaid, as a gift. We had already changed the booking once, about 3 days before the new booking time, and said we may need to change it again. They did not tell us then that we had to give them 48 hours’ notice (yes a whole 48 hours’ notice) if we did want to amend the booking again. We never wanted to cancel only to amend. To be fair, if you click “T’s & C’s here” on the booking confirmation it mentions, in paragraph 10.4 of their website legal T’s & C’s, no cancellations within 48 hours. It doesn’t mention amendments but my guess is it will do after this. <br/><br/>We did try to amend the booking for the second time, as we said we may need to, 33 hours beforehand. We spoke to 3 different people including the manager and they simply refused to accept an amendment. The only reasons they gave were, it’s in our standard T’s &C’s on our website, we have a business to run and we need to do this to be viable. They simply would not budge. Bad luck. Full stop. <br/><br/>I guess they aren’t as sort after as they would like to think if they can’t fill a table for two in 33 hours and need to play tricks like this to remain viable.<br/><br/>Not surprisingly, you won’t ever see me or any of my friends or family at one of their restaurants.
Luciana Lanza
This has Marco Pierre White's name so you would expect a very special evening. <br/><br/>The good <br/>- entre and deserts were exceptional <br/>-the cafe de Paris butter with the steak was wonderful<br/>-their set menu or Groupon voucher is great value<br/><br/>The bad<br/>-main Beef bourguignon was very average and a bit dry without much sauce <br/>-the steak is served without any accompanying vegetables and whilst the plate impresses of the restaurant's focus, I think it's possible to have something such as some potato or wilted spinach to not appear mean spirited.<br/>-the service was arrogant and rude; I asked for guidance about sauce for the steak having read the cafe de Paris butter was a special recipe. The response was a telling off that "all the sauces are good otherwise they wouldn't be on the menu!" So much for guidance! <br/>-The operations manager was similarly arrogant with a Gibe in response to my question about the children's menu asking.... did I want his job. He obviously thought I would think it funny but I felt he was just mocking me. I'm an Italian Australian and he is Italian so he thought I might enjoy the comradeship but I ended up confused. <br/>-Given these were the extent of the words shared that evening (no kind or genial words at all), I felt ripped off having to pay the service surcharge (£20) when I would have been better off fetching my own food! <br/><br/>Won't go back and won't be recommending.
Caroline Dally
I thought I had booked 26th Feb and didn’t find out until we arrived at the restaurant I had accidently booked 26th March instead. As my husband is disabled and it takes a lot of effort for him to get ready and get around I was feeling terrible! The restaurant staff were absolutely fantastic and let us sit down while they sorted out changing the date in the system to accommodate us. They did this very quickly and efficiently , thank you so so much. <br/><br/>We had a voucher from are daughters for our wedding anniversary as they know how much we like this restaurant.<br/><br/>When we were shown the menu we were offered a upgrade to Champagne for free on the normal choice of 3 cocktails as we are repeat customers & the Champagne was lovely while we decided what to have. We chose our starters and mains and paid the reasonable supplement of £10.50 for a fillet steak and again for the house fries each and we shared some onion rings ( my husband’s favourite). The starters and mains were delicious, the steak was indeed melt in the mouth. Now my favourite part of any meal the sweet, I was very happy to see the crème brulee on the menu as that’s my fav & my husband had the special of tiramisu. We followed our sweet with a cappuccino each before paying the bill of £58.00 Inc. service charge which even adding the cost of the voucher I think is very reasonable for a lovely meal out.<br/><br/>The service was brilliant as it has been on all previous occasions , when you read a lot of the reviews about this restaurant I think to myself our they going to the same place as me! I didn’t feel that we were treated any differently because we had a voucher and in fact I didn’t see anyone in the restaurant at the time we were there not having the set menu.<br/><br/> We purchased a special voucher for my Sister in law for her 25th Wedding anniversary and they are going next Saturday night for dinner so I hope they enjoy it as much as we do as we have raved about the restaurant to them.
London-Unattached
Ask most people in London about quality steak restaurants and, assuming you don’t get a blank expression, the responses are likely to be Hawksmoor, Goodman or maybe Flat Iron. Well, now, we can add London Steak Co. to that list. Of course, there are hundreds of establishments across London that have steak on the menu – from the distressed leather and fries you get in some pubs through to the hand reared, grass fed, gently cuddled cut of finest sirloin and thrice cooked chips found in the top restaurants. But few restaurants truly attempt to specialise in steak compared to the number that try to do so in Pan-Asian or Indian Cuisine for example.
Jessica
I think my favourite thing about MPW is the white table clothes. Just a stone's throw from Shoreditch's achingly cool foodie scene, and here we are with white table clothes and wine glasses all laid out. It's lovely.
The Food Connoisseur
With only two steakhouses attached with the name Marco Pierre White worldwide, you expect something top of the notch. Hidden in the bustling city in the square mile, on a back street somewhere near Liverpool Street. You head down some stairs to the underground Maco Pierre White Steak & Alehouse restaurant. It’s a large restaurant dining room filling a floor of dinners and a private dinning area for 20 people.
Nikhil Cariappa
The prawn cocktail was an excellent appetiser. It was extremely refreshing and got my taste buds going. Braced me perfectly for what was next. <br/><br/>Moving on, the tuna was tastefully done but personally, I couldn't finish the whole portion. <br/><br/>The giant onion rings were a major highlight. So light and crisp and beautifully fried. Probably one of the best rings I've had in my life. <br/><br/>The dessert, I think was called the summer pudding was presented amazingly well. The vibrant colours made me want to dig in. Ended my meal on a definite high note.
Kingy
Fairly good steak house near Liverpool Street but is pricey for the quality of steak. TIP: go on wowcher/groupon/buy a gift - they usually do £49 for a 2 course meal for 2 people with a cocktail. The steak was a little fatty for me and did not have much seasoning. The interior of the restaurant was not particularly eye opening either. Not much to rave about if you are paying full price: go to Hawksmoor or Goodmans.
James Mungo
Best Steak Meal. Lovely Saturday evening out with friends. My god it was busy though, totally full from when we arrived for our table at 7pm right through until we left the bar at 11.15pm.<br/><br/>Service never faltered and the staff were excellent - also great food. The best steaks we have had in London so far.<br/><br/>Dessert was amazing too - we had the choc truffle to share.<br/><br/>Highly recommend but be sure to book well in advance, we made our reservation at the start of Jan for the 7th of Feb and could only get a table of 4 at 7pm.
C Y
Maitre'd was difficult and dismissive from the moment we walked in the door. Food was good, but underwhelming for the price, steak was underdone (almost blue) and escargot were overcooked and chewy. Server was very good. Atmosphere was noisy and uninviting, felt very much like a gutted old pub or someone's basement.
DK
Awful .... 'Excellent food - finger-lickin' 16oz ribeye steak. The service: OK-ish, the waiters interrupted the conversation several times, and repeatedly brushed their behinds against us when serving other tables. The overall atmosphere, however, was below any criticism: an incredibly noisy group of young people seated in the corner made conversation utterly impossible and all that the staff had to say was 'they were regulars'. The restaurant removed the service charge, but charged us in full for food & drinks. In short: I'd expect better treatment even from a central London pub, never mind a rather pricey establishment.
Hugh
Brilliant. Loved this place, great steaks, very good service and wonderful atmosphere. You get what you pay for but it was well worth the money.<br/><br/>Marco has a money making factory on his hands.
Annie Hall
I KNEW Marco himself wouldn't be presiding over matters at his steakhouse. I knew that. But maybe he should. For a meal costing as much as this did, it was somewhat disappointing. It wasn't terrible by any means, but it wasn't top-notch. Perhaps my expectations were too high. I don't often get the opportunity to frequent so-called High End restaurants, preferring local, or previously visited establishments where the food is the hero.
Notquiteenough
..triple cooked chips (at a supplement) which were lovely and crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. When I'd had these when I went previously they were ever so slightly too salty, this time they were perfect.
Chairman
Is this how Marco Pierre White made his name in the restaurant business?? We think not.....MPW Steak & Alehouse simply does not meet expectations of a restaurant carrying the name of such an illustrious chef SCORE : 88/100 / CCC Rating : * / Cost Rating : £££
Amy Lau
When you're stressed, you develop a few bad habits. You give in to things, you wouldn't normally give in to. You do bad things. Sinful things. Like this... Spending too much £££ on a hunk of meat to soothe your wounded soul for that evening. Does it make you feel better for those 10minutes? Yes. Do you feel a little dirty afterwards? Yes....
Thecriticalcouple
Marco Pierre White Steak and Alehouse is one of many restaurants that carry the MPW name though web based research tells me that Mr White is in fact a co-owner rather than merely a consultant, or it being a franchise outlet. As a chef, MPW hung up his aprons in 1999 and today he comes across as more of a brand manager than anything else, but given his seeming willingness to attach his name to anything that carries a fat pay-check, what exactly are his values? Put another way, is this restaurant simply a cynical attempt to cash in on his name with diners or does he care about the food and the customer experience? There are no blog posts for MPW Steak & Alehouse as recorded by Urbanspoon but there is a review by Jay Rayner from around the time it opened in 2009: Rayner absolutely hated it. Almost three years to the day since he wrote that review, much that Rayner hated about the place remains intact from the picture of a youthful Marco on the back of the menu to the kipper & whisky pate,
Maria Kuehn
You know the poem, don't you? The girl with the curl - 'when she was good, she was very good indeed, but when she was bad she was horrid'. The day after I had dined at the above steakhouse I received two emails from the company - one thanking me for choosing to dine there and the other asking for a review. <br/><br/>The word slick comes to mind with this operation, a stone's throw away from Spitalfield's market and a few minutes walk from Liverpool Street. <br/><br/>A large and elegant interior, I couldn't quite work out the vibe here. I'm guessing it's a haunt for the city boys in the week, but the audience on a Saturday lunch was an eclectic bunch, perhaps drawn to the place by a famous name, but no question that it was rammed to the rafters. <br/><br/>Having to wait at the bar for a couple of minutes as we were early, I thought it only right to start by ordering a pale rose from Provence, a simply delightful Chateau Sainte Margerite, a wine that 'retains its delicacy that makes a true friend for lunch.'<br/><br/>The menu, reassuringly small and well, safe I would say, had me heading straight for the carpaccio - after all, the emphasis is on the quality of the beef here. My pal who loves the combination of beetroot and goat's cheese was delighted that it was on the menu and then instead of a steak I thought I'd give the pork belly a go, another firm favourite of mine. A beef bourgignon was the other main ordered, along with some green beans. <br/><br/>The carpaccio arrived, paper thin and utterly gorgeous. The beetroot salad, however, was not to my friend's taste at all. It had a thin, sweet, oily sauce on the beets with caramelised walnuts and the goat's cheese just didn't do it for her. It had a rind on it and looked like a crotin, (toasted it's heaven) rather than the creamy goat's cheese I would use for a salad like this. I also found the beets too thin - they had been sliced on a mandolin and were rather mean portion wise. <br/><br/>Happily the Bourgignon, served as a whole piece of meat rather than the traditional stew, was completely divine. The shiny sauce with a wonderful depth of flavour was utterly sublime - the best I've ever tasted. Just take a look at the picture on their website - mine could not possibly have done it justice. <br/><br/>My pork arrived, sitting handsomely on a bed of cannellini beans, crossed with two sticks of crackling. It was soft, meltingly tender and a pure joy to eat. <br/><br/>Having sampled some very fine Malbec of late, I ordered a bottle of the Tomero and have to say was very disappointed at how harsh it was. Another 'beef' I have - and this really irritates the hell out of me - waiters coming up and filling your wine glass as soon as you take a sip. It's bloody irritating and a practice that I hate. <br/><br/>The worst feature of the meal, however, was the cheese plate. At nine pounds fifty a pop, I expect something special. The portions were tiny and frankly I found the cheese dull and uninspiring. I liked the little cubes of quince and the celery was beautifully crisp but I can't get over the choice and size of the offering. <br/><br/>The meal came to a wapping £160 and for that I expect everything to be pretty damned perfect. Another thing that both myself and my dining companion felt - MPW's is a slick , well oiled machine that I am utterly sure must be very successful - it's just not our kind of joint.
Mircea Lazăr
I was looking forward to trying the Marco Pierre White steakhouse out after receiving a Zomato voucher (thank you, Alexandra!). However, last night's experience wasn't particularly impressive. <br/><br/>The restaurant is situated in the City, close to my old office. The exterior is relatively uninviting (this is probably why I hadn't gone there before), but the inside is relatively cosy, although it feels a bit like it's stuck back in time. The restaurant was established in 2008, so it's hard to figure out why the walls are covered in '90s political cartoons. <br/><br/>After a short wait, we were led to a table in the back of the room, away from the hustle and bustle (the place was full to the rafters) but right underneath one of the speakers spewing out Michael Buble and the like on a loop. My wife compared the atmosphere with a bad New Year's Eve dinner. <br/><br/>We decided to skip the starters and order the mains straight away - I went for the 10 oz fillet steak with house fries, and my wife ordered the tuna steak a la sicilienne with lemons, capers and olives, wish mashed potatoes. <br/><br/>We got two glasses of wine, and then we waited. For about 45 minutes. They didn't even give us bread and butter (the next table, who arrived much later, did get that). In fact, we were never offered any bread. Not happy. <br/><br/>When it eventually arrived, the food was ok, but nothing to write home about. My steak had no seasoning, and they were very stingy with the béarnaise sauce. I asked for the steak to be cooked medium rare, and it was served medium (something I've come to expect in London, so no problem there). it looked very good, but the texture was not the best I've had (my wife had a bite and she said Gaucho's is better). The best part of my meal were the fries - nice and crispy, with just the right amount of salt. <br/><br/>My wife's tuna steak looked good, although, given the thickness of the cut, there was no way they could have cooked it medium, as she had requested. The surprise was that, despite the flavourful ingredients, my wife still found it bland. The mash looked quite pitiful. <br/><br/>Given the long wait for the main course, we decided to skip dessert and asked for the bill, which came to £109 (for one course each, one side dish each, one glass of wine each and a bottle of sparkling water). Had it not been for the voucher, I would have found that excessive.
Annie Hall
I KNEW Marco himself wouldn't be presiding over matters at his steakhouse. I knew that. But maybe he should. For a meal costing as much as this did, it was a tad disappointing. It wasn't terrible by any means, but it wasn't top-notch. Perhaps my expectations were too high. I don't often get the opportunity to frequent so-called High End restaurants, preferring local, or previously visited establishments where the food is the hero. Eating out is a treat, still, for me. And paying top dollar means it has got to be amazing. For something like a steak, I can cook it at home, yes, but I don't often. So this should have been one of the best steaks ever. What with it being a steakhouse, and all...<br/><br/>I had read several reviews before my reservation and was surprised. A restaurant bearing the name of the first 'celebrity' chef, a man who returned his Michelin stars in order that he could stop living the lie that meant he could 'charge high prices and not be behind the stove'. I have much admiration for Marco for this reason and also because I met him at an event a few years back, (Mumsnet, turkey, anyone?) and he was charming and as genuine as could be. And this is why I still wanted to eat here. (I may have slight CWS*.)<br/><br/> *Celebrity Worship Syndrome<br/><br/>The staff were great, so polite, with no over-selling. I did feel slightly bad at choosing the (second) cheapest option for everything but really, that shouldn't matter. They didn't seem to mind. They did subtly re-fill our wine very frequently so it was mostly finished by the time the steak arrived. <br/><br/>The setting was comfortably spaced, again quite classic and traditional, with a 'high-end' feel . A bit of an '80s feel to it, perhaps? (Not that I remember any restaurants in the '80s...) Round tables for two gave it an intimate feel, and the lighting was low and romantic.<br/><br/>Disappointing starters, both cold. Admittedly I didn't think confit of duck was what it was. I was expecting a roasted duck leg marinated in lots of wine. Mmm. Potted confit of duck, I now know, is the flaked meat from the duck covered in a layer of lard. Not really my thing. I'm sure it's not that but that's what it tasted like. Prawn cocktail is the traditional starter that I've never seen the point of but Himself chose it purely for the nostalgic element. It just felt as though it had been sitting in the fridge all day. As did the confit.<br/><br/>Steak was the obvious choice for main course. There were other options, such as confit duck but luckily I didn't make that mistake again! I couldn't justify paying £35 for a fillet or a ribeye - I like my meat, but not that much, so I was content with the sirloin. I would have expected it to be the best steak I've ever had. It wasn't. (That, my friends, was at a restaurant right next to where I grew up in Co. Kerry called The Thatch). For a medium rare, it was a tad chewy. It did have a good charry edge and not too much bone, which I liked. Served with a knob of Cafe de Paris butter.<br/><br/>Himself went for the rump with peppercorn sauce. Again a classic. His was also medium rare, yet chewy. The sauce was silky smooth but needed a bit more 'pepper-fire' in his opinion. Good portion size. Ooh the triple cooked chips were delicious! And the seasonal vegetables, surprisingly the simple things worked very well.<br/><br/>Overall I wouldn't really rate this steakhouse as 'The Best'. I think it's a slight tourist trap, enticing reasonably well off clientele, in a great location in the City, and with Marco's name. Without his name it could be rated as just another chain steakhouse. Which would burn a hole in your pocket.
Parisa Kelly
Came here last night and was so impressed with the service and quality of the food. They have a great selection of wines and naturally I had to order the steak, the fat was melt in your mouth and the meat cooked to perfection. I had the fluffiest and lightest cheese cake I've ever had in my life. Will definitely be returning.
The Culinary Passage
Since I do plenty of research before choosing a restaurant in a city I am visiting, I am usually not disappointed in my selection. Again, I made a very wise decision! The food was outstanding!! I love to try food that I can't get near my hometown or food that I can't or won't make for myself. I tried the goat Carpaccio with smoked trout roe (which was almost like a frisee salad), the roasted cauliflower with pine nuts and mint (had an outdoor grilled flavor and the mint just gave it an almost lightly grassy taste), and the duck tongue with tuna and black bean poke (also similar to a salad--crispy tongues, cool tuna chunks in a citrusy dressing). Everything was fantastic. The menu is designed for sharing, so plan on ordering a few items to split between your groups. The more in the party the more you get to try! The service was great and the staffs were knowledgeable. One thing you should know is that if you try to get reservations online, you might have to wait a long time to get in since this is a very popular restaurant. I called the restaurant directly and was able to procure a table for the date we desired. I did have to go a little later than I preferred, but still was able to get the reservation we wanted. This is not a restaurant for non-meat eaters or non-adventurous eaters. Don't try to bring those people, there really won't be anything for them--even the deserts and bread are "special."
Secret Scoffer
Located in the heart of London’s Square Mile is the Marco Pierre White Steak and Alehouse, a traditional steakhouse. The menu copies that of many steakhouse menus, consisting of steaks, grilled and roast meats and fish. Compared to restaurants that have dominated the London food-scene this year, there isn't anything 'unique' on the menu but if you like tradition, you’ll be safe here. <br/><br/>As it was a Saturday night, I dolled myself-up, put on my favourite blazer and headed to the city, happy in the knowledge that it wouldn't be jam packed by suits with delusions of don-like grandeur (and the manners to match!)<br/><br/>Starters were a kipper pate with whisky and melba toast and a ‘quality’ gravadlax. The pate sadly didn't have the strong flavour I was expecting from the kipper nor the whisky, and like many other restaurants I could have done with more toast. The gravadlax was good-quality, but I've had equal at caviar houses in various airports so expected more. Presentation was fine but in London right now, and with a celebrity-chef name-sake attached, fine ends up being a bit... Meh...<br/><br/>I opted for the 8oz house cut steak cooked rare and my dining partner 8oz fillet also rare, both with a peppercorn sauce. The steaks really impressed. Perfectly grilled slabs of meat, handsomely pink inside, easily cut into with great flavour, tasting amazing. We ordered some new potatoes and onion rings on the side. There was nothing wrong with the new potatoes, but if I were to go again I would probably opt for the triple cooked chips. The onion rings were of a good size, tasty to eat and not too greasy.<br/><br/>For dessert I had the sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream. The pudding itself was dense, slightly on the small side but tasted good. But again, good is hardly an accolade to be desired. The ice cream was standard. We also had a chocolate and hazelnut tart, I think that’s what it was, I can’t actually remember. This was nice, light and sweet with the nut adding a great texture. The fact that I couldn't really recall the flavour means one of two things; I'm either losing my taste-bud-touch or it just wasn't noteworthy enough!<br/><br/>Service here wasn't fantastic. Our waiter was slow and our courses took a while to reach the table. I expect some city-folk enjoy the rather laissez-faire approach but this scoffer is there to scoff! I was also surprised to hear our waiter didn't know what an aperol spritz or a martini espresso was, probably the two most popular cocktails in London at the moment, so a standard cosmopolitan was had instead. I know the brand is meant to be tradition over trend but surely a degree of flexibility is encouraged?<br/><br/>The room felt confused. Dated art deco mixed with switched-off flat screen televisions on the wall. I thought the TVs may be for bankers to watch the markets but when I asked, I was informed when switched on they would screen a fire. It was winter but they weren't on? So when would they be shown? Odd, if you ask me. <br/><br/>Obviously, Marco Pierre White does not cook here and I'm a little confused as to why he has his name associated with this restaurant. Although the steak was very good everything else was just average.
The Food Curator
As I walked into Marco Pierre White’s Steakhouse I did chuckle, but in a good way. The décor is slap in your face 1980’s pastiche, it’s somewhere any self respecting yuppie would have felt right at home. In fact the only way I could think of making the place look anymore like a Wall Street set would be to add a few carefully positioned bowls of potpourri.<br/><br/>It lives up to Mrs Thatcher’s promise of a better world too as the place is immaculate, cutlery and glassware polished to a tee and the service was impeccable. <br/><br/>The steaks are the focus of the menu (natch) but my usual choice of rib eye had unfortunately run out, so I ended up with my back-up of fillet. And what a fine, flavourful steak it was too, it’s in situations like this I wonder whether to thank the chef or the farmer for delivering such an excellent cut of beef to my table. A bullseye medium-rare, with no real charring on the outside but enough caramelisation to enhance the flavour of the fillet. If Goldilocks where to come here she certainly wouldn’t have anything to complain about as the seasoning was not too little, not too much, but just right. <br/><br/>I ordered my fillet with the Café de Paris sauce which was a nice take on this classic. I did quiz the waiter about the ingredients but he kept schtum.<br/><br/>OK the steaks are a little on the pricy side but you get what you pay for and remember this is the 1980’s after all!<br/><br/>At £4 a go the sides however are good value and all work well with your meaty main. The creamed potatoes were wonderful, as was the Savoy cabbage with lardons. Roasted seasonal vegetables were complimented by a lovely sweet honey glaze. The onion rings were well executed too even if they really were just, meh, onion rings. <br/><br/>All of this was washed down with a rather good bottle of Syrah and finished with a simple but very well formed cheese plate. <br/><br/>Feeling full, pampered and a little ostentatious I was ready to leave. Now where are the keys to my Golf GTI?
Melissa Thompson
I never knew the Black Eyed Peas had just finished a meal at this restaurant when they were inspired to write Where is the Love. <br/>Because somewhere along the line, this place fell out of love with the idea of serving lovely food in a great location, and become complacent. Shame. <br/>Naively, I was excited about dinner here and should point out, for transparency, that I'd won a £60 voucher towards the mea through Zomato's #LoveFood competition. <br/>I was left standing at the door when I walked in waiting for someone to seat us. While I was seen by several waiting staff, no one felt to nod at me to show that my presence had been acknowledged and I was left waiting there for a good five minutes until the maitre d' returned to his post. I could see the staff were busy, but next time at least take 10 seconds to let me know that someone will seat me. <br/>Then there was an issue with the booking time. I'd asked for an 8pm table, was told at the time they could do 7.45pm, so rushed to make it. Only once we'd arrived, we were told the table had been booked for 8.15pm. Happy to wait at the bar, the lack of attentiveness continued as we struggled to get served for a drink. The Gingersnap I started with (£10.50) was fine but if I could do my time again I wouldn't have bothered for its lack of ginger punch I expected.<br/>But at least we had the fruit flies to keep us company - more of that later. <br/>To start I had the salad of beetroot & goats cheese with walnut dressing (£9). It was nice, and the crunchy walnut praline (sort of) was a lovely contrast to the smooth cheese. <br/>My partner opted for the £39.50 menu and chose the gravadlax with mustard sauce to start. She noted the salmon was delicious, smooth and melt-in-the-mouth, but it was overpowered by the mustard sauce - not in strength but sheer quantity. <br/>For mains, I chose my favourite cut, rib eye, 10oz served medium-rare, tail-on, with Béarnaise sauce (£24.75). The steak was the highlight of the meal. Cooked to perfection so it was tender and beautifully pink throughout while nicely coloured on the outside. <br/>My partner was less happy with her 10oz rump served medium that was tough and overcooked. Her peppercorn sauce was also uninspiring. <br/>Our sides of triple cooked chips and green salad with herbs (£4) were both nice - great crunchy, fluffy chips.<br/>For dessert I had Sticky Toffee Pudding (£7.50) with vanilla ice cream that was very nice, while my partner had Cambridge Burnt Cream (the only gluten-free option).<br/>There was an impressive wine list too, and our choice of Tomero 2013 Malbec (£34) was a terrific bottle: nice body, smooth and perfect with steak. <br/>Our service was better once seated than it had been when we first walked in and we were thankful to be seated in a far, quiet corner away from the rowdy tables of City boys and girls who erupted into roars of laughter and cheering every five minutes (when I say roar, that is no exaggeration, though they were probably in good spirits on their Christmas work parties). <br/>As mentioned, there was an abundance of fruit flies everywhere in the restaurant. I've worked in bars and restaurants and I know they can be a pain, but something desperately needs to be done as they are a horrible interruption to a meal. <br/>Our meal came to around £150 all in. Now I'd be more than happy to pay that, and more, for a great meal but here I felt I'd paid for a different calibre of food. I won't be coming back.
Frani Koutsoudes
I've put off writing this review because I'm split. The staff were so nice that I feel compelled to glaze over the smoke and mirrors that is this restaurant. I think it is fighting for some identity which at present is a crisis which I will get to shortly. Firstly I had problems booking the restaurant. I was running late for my reservation, so I called to say that I wasn't going to be on time so if I could push it for later or just postpone it for another day. I was told that I had no reservations, I gave my full name and number as well as the fact I had vouchers but they still couldn't find me, so I made other arrangements. I did however receive an email later on that same evening confirming my cancellation. I was very confused, nevertheless I made reservations again. I received a confirmation email to say that I had booked at 7:15 when I distinctly booked it for 7:45 but I just went according to the email. When we arrived at 7:15 I was informed that our reservations were in fact 7:45. Front of house did accommodate us and made us feel comfortable. <br/><br/>Service was prompt and friendly and this could not be faulted. I decided to have the kipper pate which was lovely and had a smokey flavour. My hubby had the beef carpaccio which he enjoyed thoroughly. For mains we both went for steak which was obvious, I mean why else would you go to a steak house, right? I ordered the fillet and hubby got the Boston chop which was a mean 24oz and was far more tastier than my fillet. Chips were ok, nothing special but the onion rings were particularly good. Crispy batter and Al Dente onions, just how I like.<br/><br/>You may wonder why I'm not really going into detail with my opinions with the food. Well, my fillet was £32 not including sides and I ask myself was it that spectacular? The food was alright but I can't justify<br/>spending that amount from our experience. I would describe it as an upmarket version of a Angus Steak House. For example, the tables were trestle tables with a reddish leather look table covering and PAPER napkins. This is not what you would expect for that sort of spending. It was fighting a 80's / Paris / fine dining identity which made the whole experience uncomfortable and confusing.<br/>Would I go again? No, it was nothing new or enticing.<br/>
Madeleine Ward
The steak here is beyond amazing! I can't say much more then that! I loved the atmosphere, as its Xmas they had fairy lights everywhere very romantic and relaxing. The service was nice and friendly even though they were rushed off their feet. Would love to come back.
Zoro S
Absolutely fantastic. However the server forgot to tell us about the unavailability of chicken liver pattè. We ordered beetroot goat cheese walnut salad which turned pretty basic. Prawn cocktail salad was a trick a 3-4 large prawns and the rest were tiny prawns. I was impressed with the proportion of Salad:Prawns. <br/>From roasts we had Duck which went really well with the diced sausages but not great with white beans.<br/>From fish board we had haddock with poached egg which was excellent. I was surprised to have my last bite of fish full of bones.. it did turn off a bit. <br/>Deserts looked pretty basic to me. <br/>Next time we might try some steak..
Ian Mitchell
We ended up here with thanks to the kind people at Zomato and the voucher they provided.<br/><br/>On arrival I was impressed by the cosy living room feel to the room, and was impressed by its layout and décor.<br/><br/>Ours coats were promptly taken and we were shown to our table.<br/><br/>I will sum up the waiter service in one paragraph and is relevant for the whole of our dining experience.<br/><br/>It is a fine line between being nowhere to be seen, leaving your patrons waiting for what feels like a lifetime weighed up against being so in your face they might as well be sitting down and eating with you. I am happy to say the waiter team at MPW Steak & Ale house have the art perfected. <br/><br/>There when we needed them, and nowhere to be seen when we didn’t, so for that Top Marks.<br/><br/>I will list out the items off of the menu we had and will then review each item individually –<br/><br/>Braised Boeuf Bourguignon<br/><br/>Seasoned Vegetables<br/><br/>8oz House Cut Steak<br/><br/>Triple Cut Chips<br/><br/>Chocolate Brownie with Hazelnut Ice Cream<br/><br/>Baked New York Cheesecake<br/><br/>2011/12Viña Collada Rioja, Riscal<br/><br/>Braised Boeuf Bourguignon - This dish was enjoyed by my guest, but I was assured it was of the highest quality, rich in flavour and depth. Accompanies by at light mash potato this also was described as excellent.<br/><br/>Seasoned Vegetables – These accompanied the above dish and unsurprisingly also received the highest praise, cooked to perfection and seasoned in a way to add enough flavour without being overpowering.<br/><br/>8oz House Cut Steak – This was my steak of choice and I have absolutely no regrets in this choice, there were various options of sauces available but I opted to have butter and garlic on top. This again proved a wise choice as the flavours given off by the butter and garlic were nothing short of amazing. The steak itself I am pretty sure was the best quality steak I have ever had. It was served ‘Medium’ as requested and quite simply melted in the mouth it was that good.<br/><br/>Triple Cut Chips – I am bit of an old fashioned boy so for me it was always going to be ‘Steak and Chips’. These were the perfect combination to the excellent steak, served piping hot (a big plus for me) they were tasty and enjoyed every single one of them.<br/><br/>Chocolate Brownie with Hazelnut Ice Cream – This was my choice of dessert and again I have no regrets. Warm, Chocolate, Ice cream was a dream.<br/><br/>Baked New York Cheesecake – This again was also very well received and looked amazing and was told it was too.<br/><br/>2011/12Viña Collada Rioja, Riscal – I am a big fan of Rioja and this was a lovely drop too, set the night off lovely.<br/><br/>To sum up overall I would 100% recommend the MPW Steak & Ale house to all.<br/><br/>And I will be returning.
Lisa
I had been bought a voucher which included two tickets to<br/>the View from the Shard and also a three course meal for two at Marco Pierre<br/>White's Steak and Alehouse.<br/>There are two branches of Marco Pierre White's Steak and<br/>Alehouse, one in Chelsea and one in the City, just off Bishopsgate. I'd<br/>previously been to the City branch as part of a work do - we had the little<br/>private dining area to ourselves (about 20 or so of us), we all ate and then,<br/>predictably, numbers started to thin out a bit as the evening wore on until a<br/>core group of us remained at the end. All the wine gone, we headed to<br/>Shoreditch. I don't remember much about the latter part of the night, but I remember<br/>that the food was decent. Although all you really need on a work do (compulsory<br/>fun) is enough wine to sink a battleship.<br/>So, for our meal we chose the City branch, as much for<br/>convenience as familiarity.<br/><br/>After a gorgeous day on the Saturday, Easter Sunday turned<br/>out drizzly and grey as we headed out onto the damp London streets. We'd<br/>decided to try and break up the experience by having the meal and visiting the<br/>Shard on two different days, but the damp on the Sunday did make us wonder<br/>whether that had been the best idea. However, once we'd made our way there I<br/>was reminded about how it sort of is the perfect venue for a damp and drizzly<br/>day. It's tucked away in the basement of a building and so you already feel<br/>cocooned and sort of snug, even before you start on the wine menu.<br/>We were seated Parisian cafe style (next to each other and<br/>facing outwards into the middle of the restaurant) at a table for four, a<br/>weirdly close but not intimate arrangement which may have made it easier to<br/>serve us but which felt very odd. We were seated next to a couple in the same<br/>arrangement, so close that at one point the woman at that table managed to<br/>flick part of her dinner onto my menu (how, I genuinely do not know), luckily<br/>it was only something small and crispy (possibly batter from the fish and<br/>chips), not a hunk of rare steak. Another couple who arrived shortly after us<br/>were seated to the other side of us so all three tables were sat in an odd<br/>little line. Given that we were all looking out onto a mostly empty dining<br/>room, this made me feel a little like our lunch was a very dull spectacle for<br/>the waiting staff who probably viewed us and our interactions much in the way<br/>animals are watched at their feeding time in the zoo (albeit with less of a<br/>frenzy whenever a waiter showed up with food).<br/>Our voucher entitled us to a three course meal with a<br/>cocktail, it's a standard set menu and they offer something pretty similar to<br/>the menu we had in their Fixed Price Menu, which is on their website for £23.50<br/>each.<br/>I started with a Gin Fizz Cocktail whereas my boyfriend went<br/>for the Whisky Max, mine was lovely. He offered me a taste of his but even the<br/>smell of whisky makes me feel ill, I'm not sure why, there are no whisky<br/>incidents I can remember that would put me off even the smell. He liked it<br/>though.<br/>For starters, I chose the Potted Duck with Green Peppercorns.<br/>While my boyfriend went with French Onion Soup. Mine was nice, even if the<br/>toasted bread had been cut a little thin in parts. My boyfriend said that the<br/>soup was lovely.<br/>By this point we'd finished our cocktails and so ordered<br/>another drink, I quite fancied red wine and included three Malbecs, we love a<br/>Malbec so I was surprised when for once my boyfriend decided he'd rather have a<br/>beer instead. Typical. So I had a glass of Pinot Noir and he had a beer.<br/><br/>For our mains, I went with steak, we were in a steakhouse<br/>after all. Accompanied, of course, by triple cooked chips (at a supplement)<br/>which were lovely and crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. When I'd<br/>had these when I went previously they were ever so slightly too salty, this<br/>time they were perfect.<br/>My pescetarian boyfriend went for the fish pie. I was<br/>impressed that there were two fish choices on a set menu at a steak restaurant.<br/><br/>The fish pie was massive. It doesn't look that big in the<br/>photo but it really was a very generous size and apparently very nice.<br/><br/>We had a choice of three desserts, always a problem for us<br/>as one dessert has to be left out. I can't remember what it was this time but I<br/>opted red berries in a jelly (I'm sure it was called something a bit better<br/>than that, but again, I can't remember what). Lovely and light and fresh.<br/>My boyfriend chose the not aesthetically pleasing but very<br/>nice Sticky Toffee Pudding. I'd read Erica's (of Being Erica) review of the<br/>same place (she also had a voucher to use) and the thing that I remember most<br/>from it was that the Sticky Toffee Pudding was fantastic so I recommended it to<br/>my boyfriend. Looking back on her blog now I realise that I picked almost the<br/>same dishes as her - I promise, I am not some creepy weird stalker, it's a<br/>limited menu!).<br/><br/>Anyway, the Sticky Toffee Pudding was, as anticipated,<br/>lovely. Not a looker, but lovely.<br/>So, after we'd settled the bill (although we'd had a voucher<br/>we'd ordered two sides as a supplement and more drinks, plus there was<br/>service), we wandered out into the drizzle again.<br/>The whole place is sort of odd, it's in the City and so<br/>although when I'd been with work it was full of City suits, the whole place was<br/>so quiet on the weekend and it seems that they must rely on those with vouchers<br/>to get the weekend trade in from tourists as everyone around us had vouchers.<br/>Don't necessarily let that put you off though. It was a good solid meal and<br/>even better for being mostly already paid for.
Saad Habib
Woke up yesterday with a yearning for a big juicy cut! And I went on a mission asked around and soon I ended up here...my partner and I were seated swiftly and were quick to choose our wine, which the waiter agreed was perfect for the steaks we had ordered. <br/><br/>For starters we had the house soup and the duck which I must say made me regret my choice a wee bit, maybe because I was expecting a warm dish. But none the less i was famished and gulped it right in. Ordered the dark captain cocktail to sooth my regret and that turned out to be fantastically good.<br/><br/>For the main I had a medium rare 10oz rib eye and I felt the cut wasnt grilled with much care and wasnt left to wait before it was served. But I finished it none the less and ordered the cheesecake everyone seemed to be talking about. And oh it delivered...a brilliant delight to end the meal. It all came upto £120 for 2 and I have had better steaks. <br/><br/>Sadly, the cheesecake and the cocktails would be the only reason for my next visit here and not the steaks.
Shake
Fantastic place with top noch service a bit pricey but worth it . We ordered a bottle of sancerre. Soup of the day spinach and broccoli with bread. 8oz house cut with house fries and peppercorn sauce was really nice. Tuna sicilienne with savoy cabagge was nice but not wow hence 4.5 rating. Dessert was ny cheesecake and pecan pie. Total bill 120gbp including service charge<br/>Verdict a good place worth checking out nice atmosphere and excellent service only down point is booking I called 4 times before being able to get through and on 4th time had to wait ten minutes but fantastic place will definitely be a regular if you want decent steak its the place to be standards are really high.
Madrugada
Good news for steak lovers of the town, no further ado for a delicious bite into the ribeye of your choice, or the sirloin that you have been waiting for! You might as well stop asking around for the finesse in meat cooking. <br/><br/>The atmosphere is cozy and you will be served by highly attentive staff, but I would focus on the options of the menu rather than gazing around as the decor does not offer anything other than a classical taste, designed to convey luxury. <br/><br/>The options for wine are quite of the kind that the steakhouse lovers will appreciate, I would definitely go for the basic option of steak & wine rather than extending to the fix menu with cocktails and other stuff. <br/><br/>MPW is exquisite for a date, and might as well accommodate more of a crowd if all parties are into the steak option. The proper things such as an excellently cooked and served rib-eye should not go unnoticed here in a classical setting, as we are constantly on the lookout for more authentic options which do not always prove to be that delicious!
Marcometti
Tasty steak and good service<br/><br/>I knew about this lovely restaurant from Zomato and I am pleased I decided to go. <br/><br/>We sat and read the menu, ordered water, wine and a soft drink and agreed to have the some seasonal green vegetables. Everything was cooked really well. It was beautiful and so tender we just loved it. The amount of veg was unbelievable we just could not finish it but that was no reflection of quality just the sheer quantity! <br/><br/>I then had a house cut Scottish beef. Which was really well prepared and presented. This restaurant offers many options and menus as well as a vast selection of wines and cocktails. <br/><br/> Staff was attentive but not intrusive which is always good. <br/><br/> With a good bottle of wine the bill came to £32 per person, very very reasonable.<br/> <br/>Well done to all the team.
Frances Moulton
Its Marco Pierre White's steakhouse, aka that guy who does the stock adverts: My expectations were sky high. I am very happy to say that the MPW Steak and Alehouse more than exceeded them. <br/>The setting is the epitome of cool. Located downstairs, the restaurant is the kind of place I hope the mafia come to play poker. There are round tables, and moody mysterious lighting with cartoons and mirrors decorating the walls. Our waiter was very friendly and helpful, and did very well at making everyone feel happy and relaxed. <br/><br/>For a starter I went for the Carpaccio of Beef, my Father the prawn cocktail, my Mother went for the Potted Duck with Green Peppercorns. My starter was beautiful. Not only did it look amazing, the meat was a delightful shade of pink, but it also tasted wonderful. The rocket and parmesan was the perfect accompaniment, a bit on the salty side but overall very enjoyable. Both my parents also agreed that their starters were to a very high standard. The potted duck was described as succulent, whilst the prawn cocktail came with a very generous helping of prawns. <br/><br/>For our main courses my mother and I picked the 8oz Maple Cured Gammon & Triple Cooked Chips, with a crispy poached egg on top. Now I've never tried a crispy poached egg, nor have I ever had a gammon like this. It was amazingly thick, and the smokey flavour hits you whilst the meat is still on the fork. The crispy poached egg was also exceptional, flaky on the outside, soft and squidgy inside, this description also matches the triple cooked chips. The gammon was a bit on the salty side, but I suppose that's typical of gammon. Overall it was very enjoyable.<br/>My father's Braised Boeuf Bourguignon with creamed potatoes also looked and tasted delicious. The potatoes were smooth, thick, and creamed beautifully. The beef was tender, and came with the perfect amount of yummy sauce. <br/><br/>By the end of both courses we were all satisfyingly full. But not full enough to not try the cheesecake, how could you not? Best cheesecake I've ever had. The base wasn't your normal average biscuit crumble, it was smooth, soft and delicious, and I very much regret offering to share. <br/><br/>Overall, we had a fabulous evening, a real meaty treat. @
Niharika Midha
Do not bother going here. You pay a bomb and the food disappoints on every level.<br/><br/>The fresh bread they served me while I was waiting for my steak was the best thing I had there. The reputation that MPW has associated with him made me go there, and oh gosh I was disappointed. <br/><br/>Steak was strictly OK. Didn't blow me away. They were stingy with the sauce they gave me on the side.<br/>Chips again were OK. They served a salad in a heap on a small bowl and you try taking out and it falls on the table.<br/><br/>It was pretty empty when I went and even the others around were just having drinks and/or coffee. NOW I KNOW WHY.<br/><br/>The amount they charge for the food does not in any way justify the quality of the food they serve. Never going back.
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