Having been posted overseas to Asia for approx. 10 years, I will admit that during this period of time, I was heavily spoilt by the rich variety of food offerings out there. And at the time of leaving, the London foodie scene was at best above-average.
With each holiday back home I always finding myself pleasantly surprised by how much the scene would have evolved and improved, and I would always look forward to being introduced to new venues - especially those that would offer a hint/promise of a meat-induced coma!
I used to hang out in Soho, London all time for meals, drinks and casual get-togethers, but since then, Shoreditch has been the hotbed of new exciting (albeit slightly hipster-ish) eateries, and the ones that have excelled (in my humble opinion) are perfect for the unapologetic carnivore…
Added to the fact that that Shoreditch is much closer to me - well, you’d forgive me for having a slight natural bias, but the title of this post is explicitly championing Shoreditch…
Without further ado - here are my top venues for some Meat Mayhem
The Smoking Goat - 64 Shoreditch High Street, London. E1 6JJ
Originally based in Soho, this Thai-inspired BBQ blends the sharp, chilli and sour flavours of Thai cooking to complement and cut through the meat servings that are on offer
Flat Iron - 77 Curtain Road, Shoreditch, EC2A 3BS
A prime example of having one thing on the menu and doing it perfectly well. Every time. Fanastic value for well-executed steak (again - every time) - no reservations. Also - their deep-fried burger with Hollandaise Sauce is truly special. Walk ins only
BlackLock - 28-30 Rivington Street, London. EC2A 3DZ
A v fine selection of meats on offer with a food-porn-star-worthy Sunday roast lunch. Definitely recommend a group sitting here to sift through and share some v choice cuts (I recommend on-the-bone tomahawks)to finish off with their insanely good home-made cheesecake
Smokestak - 35 Sclater Street, London. E1 6LB
Melt-in-the-mouth beef brisket? Sure why not. As well as their beef-cheek croquettes? More beef? Plenty more on the menu - but i do encourage having a side of the roast green veggies (which are superb) just to balance it off…
Notes:
ALL are v busy during peak hours, so advisable to book in advance
Recommended strategy is to book for 4pax so you can share more of the menu
All locations are within walking distance of each other. If you are brave, you can devote an entire day hopping between each and sampling meaty treats. If you have gout - best to space out once a month as a cheat night.
All of the above are also budget-balanced in mind, and also deliver on ambience, and in my opinion, some outstanding service which keeps me going back again and again
Like that they’re budget-conscious!