When the original Hawksmoor in Spitalfields closed for a refurb than offered 50% off their food at their re-opening my fellow foodie blogger friend and I couldn’t resist. Can you believe it’s been eleven years since Hawksmoor opened? . My first encounter at their Air Street location was underwhelming. However, Spitalfields this visit redeem itself. Hawksmoor Spitalfields is located on Commercial road near Brick Lane and Spitalfields market. The restaurant was almost full, with a mixture of people from guys in suits to people leisurely having dinner.
The bar downstairs at the Hawksmoor is kind of a poor man's Hawksmoor. No steaks, but bar food, burgers and other sandwiches. The double burgers are £13 a pop, so not exactly cheap. They are good though.
They aim for a buzzy convivial atmosphere, so the music is rather loud. Not to a disturbing level though. There was a caribbean theme going on during our visit. Service was knowledgeable but drinks took quite long to arrive. I was surprised there were no beers on tap. In a venue villed as a bar!
I was disappointed that they have succumbed to the nanny state food police and won't serve a burger any rarer than medium well. They do incorporate bone marrow in their burgers, so despite being cooked longer than I normally like, the patties stayed succulent. The burgers contain two thin patties instead of a single thick one, which they claim also helps keep a well done burger juicy. My kimchi burger was very good indeed, with a nice loose texture, so not overworked during patty forming.
My companion had the enormous short rib french dip. Braised beef, sweetish brioche like roll, cheese and bone marrow gravy to dip it into. Very nice. This dish was incidentally in Time Out's 2012 list of best 10 things to eat in London.
Triple cooked chips done in beef dripping were excellent. Large, pillowy, very crisp and no greasy mouth feel. Accompanying ketchup was clearly homemade and tasted of zingy fresh tomato. My companion is dutch so naturally asked for mayonnaise to accompany his chips. We were surprised that the mayo was not homemade. The waiter did later tell us that homemade mayo is available, but they charge extra, so you have to ask for it.
Vinegar slaw was quite aggressive tasting with cabbage, fennel and lots of onion dressed in vinegar. I wouldn't want it on its own but it was a nice contrast to the other dishes which were all quite rich.
Dinner for two, with a glass of house wine and a 330 ml tin of lager was £52.
Much beloved by meat-loving Londoners, it’s no secret that Hawksmoor’s micro-chain of London steakhouses serves up some of the best beef in the capital. The staff are knowledgeable, the sides are generously proportioned, and the slabs of cow, which are available in vast, sharing sizes for the communally-minded and/or extremely gluttonous, are mouth-wateringly melty.
Had the T Bone steak a full 1KG . It was massive but very tasty. Value for money for what it is, but an expensive steak nonetheless. Nice place to eat and service is good.
My son booked us in for a Sunday Roast for my birthday visit to London. Booking is essential on Sundays I believe! He’s always told us this is the best roast he’s found so we were looking forward to our visit!
The staff, venue and food were great including a surprise birthday finish - photo attached. Such a lovely experience ☺️👌
Really great experience here. We went for Sunday roast for my birthday. Service was great from the moment you walk in to the moment you leave, but there were some points I think they could have been more attentive. For example, when we wanted to order dessert, once we had the menu no one came to take our dessert order, so I ended up changing my mind and didn't order dessert. Also, when we wanted to bill to leave. It took a while to get anyone's attention. While this might be minor, it did dampen the otherwise fantastic service.
The food, wow! It's simple, but to perfection. Every item was spot on, not too busy on the plate, perfect portion. The roasted garlic was a great touch!
It's pricey compared to average Sunday roasts, but honestly you pay a premium for quality, so it's completely worth it. I only wish I had a dessert just to see how good it might have been.
Would highly recommend
Lucy Read (FoodieForce)
+4
This pickle booked the wrong Hawksmoor restaurant but the ladies on the reception were lovely and soon sorted and booked us a table.
We started with some cherry 🍒 sours which were excellent.
The menu offers loads that I would have happily eaten, we settled on the roasted Scallops to start which were divine. For the mains I opted for the fillet which was perfectly cooked and cast iron steak with roasted onions and bone marrow. Sides mash potatoes and spinach in lemon and garlic which were superb.
Service was quick and we enjoyed our meal. The service of our waiter was a little lacking. We would have liked a children’s offering in the menu.
This well-reputed establishment offers a choice between roast beef or a selection of meats roasted to your preference. We opted for the succulent roasted Chateaubriand, a decision we didn't regret!
What truly elevated our meal were the trimmings. We feasted on deliciously roasted carrots, perfectly sautéed greens, and impeccably roasted potatoes. And let's not forget the traditional Yorkshire pudding, the roasted garlic, and, of course, the gravy – each element contributing to a perfectly harmonious dish.
The standout, however, was the meat, which was cooked to absolute perfection. The level of culinary mastery at Hawksmoor was evident in every single bite.
The service was nothing short of excellent – friendly and helpful, enhancing our overall dining experience. A special shoutout to the best Bloody Mary I've ever had - a fiery blend of vodka, green tomato juice, and jalapeño - simply yum!
Set against a backdrop of exposed brick interiors and decked with leather and wood furnishings, Hawksmoor creates a warm, inviting atmosphere, making it the perfect spot for a comforting Sunday roast dinner.
The decor of the restaurant is art decor style, which gave the place slightt retro feel.
Staff is very engaging and gave good suggestions when sought. Always checking in on you while not being intrusive.
Sunday roast was a pleaser with the beef pink and tender with a thin layer of salt. The gravy, whicn was salty on its own yet complement the stuffing. Sides of carrots, vegetables and garlic round up the meal. One of the best Sunday roast in town, in my opinion. Horseradish was slightly sweet and gave the roast beef a fragant aftertaste.
The restaurant lives up to its reputation as a fantastic steak place.
Incredibly good... all around... the bone marrow starter for Ananiya was delicious, and my salmon starter was awesome
The side cesear salad was just sooo good ... complimented the food well...
The steaks were sublime ... a great place to eat!
Read some not so good reviews about the Sunday Roast at this restaurant, but I decided to give it a try anyway. The Sunday Roast with all the trimmings is highly recommended. Triple fried chips were crunchy and tasty as well. Bone marrow was too rich for me, so I recommend skipping that and just ordering the roast. The stuffing tasted delicious as well.
TLDR; This Branch Struggles to Meet the Brands Usual High Standards.
While I usually sing praises about Hawksmoor, I must admit that their Shoreditch branch consistently falls short of the exceptional standards I've come to expect. On my most recent visit, we decided to have a quick / express lunch. The host was delightful as always and the waiting staff showed commendable attentiveness. However, the food took an uncomfortably long time to arrive, definitely not an express lunch.
For the first time, I decided to try their burger, but sadly, it turned out to be a disappointment. The burger patty was dry and the bun, strangely crunchy. It was particularly disheartening because I had introduced two new diners to this underwhelming experience.
If you're considering your first visit to Hawksmoor, I'd highly recommend their branches in this order: Air Street, Canary Wharf, City, and Covent Garden, which consistently deliver the high-quality dining experience that the brand is known for.
Absolutely fantastic Sunday lunch, we chose the chateaubriand and it was cooked perfectly. The trimmings were delicious too. Would highly recommend
Good food, good service. Came at 8:30 Monday night. Busy but got seated quickly, starters came out on time. Extensive wine menu, great steaks.
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