Hawksmoor (Guildhall), London EC2V

I am very fortunate in having friends who include me in their dinner plans. Friday night found me, with my friends at Hawksmoor Guildhall during the first week of it's soft launch. This is the 3rd restaurant of the chain following the successful Covent Garden and Spitalfields ventures. I'm not sure as to whether it is too harsh to be reviewing a restaurant during it's soft launch but in this instance I couldn't find much to fault, both in terms of the service, which came with a smile and the food. It can only get better.

Walking through the doors you are faced with a huge staircase leading you to the basement where it all goes on. The wood and brass look around the bar give it the old school look. The leather sofas and the dark green leather seats was vaguely reminiscent of my, if not strict, then certainly severe school days. The huge dining area felt the same. I half expected one of my teachers to turn up and remind me to 'sit up straight young lady'! However this doesn't last too long as the waitors are very casual in jeans and shirts only recognised by their aprons and notebooks. I could relax again.


Crab on toast

There is a good choice of starters from mussels with stilton and bacon to bone marrow and onions- which is actually very good. I had the crab on toast, which was perfect given the meat feast which was to follow. Now the steaks. I didn't know it was quite possible to have such huge cuts- or to consume them for that matter. To share you could have 900g or 1kg of porterhouse, chateaubriand and so on. This is no place for the faint-hearted. I had the 600g sirloin on the bone (£30). The best quality meat is served cooked to perfection. Sides including 'beef dripping chips' and sauces are extra. 

900g Porterhouse





600g Sirloin






Slightly less of the 600g Sirloin



I think it took me around 40 minutes to work my way through that!





If it's quite possible, you can also have dessert (£6.50). There is a great selection of ice creams, although I had the sticky toffee pudding which was divine. In case you are wondering, I couldn't manage this on my own, my friends helped.



Sticky Toffee Pudding



As they say, you get what you pay for. Hawksmoor is not cheap, but you do get alot of steak. With quality like this and a wine list to match, they will no doubt have the city boys flocking to show off both their carnivorous appetite and their wallets.

Expect to pay around £60pp incl service excl drinks for 3 courses

Hawksmoor (Guildhall), 10-12 Basinghall Street, London EC2V 5BQ Te.: 020 7397 8120 http://www.thehawksmoor.com/

Bread Street Kitchen, London EC4M

Bread Street Kitchen is the latest Gordon Ramsay venture. Much awaited and talked about, I did have my reservations, aren't there already enough restaurants bearing his name? Located in One New Change, I see it almost daily walking past. I almost made up my mind about it even before I went there. Reading about the extremely slow service on the opening night a couple of weeks ago, I was thinking that this is typical. I already went through the menu. British cuisine in the majority with starters around the £10 mark and mains typically over £16, to £29.50 for the rib-eye, my thoughts were, overpriced for average food and unspectacular decor that I would not recommend.

I arrived to be greeted by the smiling hostess who directed me up the stairs. I went up to find a huge warehouse area which was quite stunning in a very industrial way, with the pixar-like desk lamps giving the place a very playful feel. I was told that my friends were at the bar at the far end. The far end was very far. The bar area quite welcoming despite the large and airy feel to the place. There is plenty of space, from sofas where you can look out of the floor to ceiling windows to cool seats at the bar area.

The cocktail menu is extensive and inspired. These are probably some of the nicest cocktails I've had in recent times. The perfect start to any meal, at which we were led to our table.

The food menu I found strange with three sections. Raw bar, Hot Kitchen and Wood Stone. The food wasn't bad but didn't overexcite me either. My starter of the thinly sliced beef with quails eggs, was under-seasoned. My burger, not only substantial but also rich in taste, can be overwhelming for some. Sides have to be ordered separately. Try the macaroni cheese which is lovely.

Macaroni cheese

Oysters also feature on the menu

Although with a smile, the service was slow. The starters took longer than expected and to compensate we were offered more bread. We declined the offer! After finishing our first bottle of wine, we were waiting too long for the second bottle.


Burger

 After a shared cheese plate to finish, we headed back to the bar for more cocktails. You just have to.

To be fair, I was too judgemental. I liked Bread Street more than I thought and I loved the warehouse feel. Go there for drinks. And if you feel like a bite to eat, although not cheap, you can do worse than a meal here.

Expect to pay around £40 for pp for two courses, incl service excl wine

Bread Street Kitchen, 10 Bread Street, London, EC4M 9AB Tel: 020 3030 4050 Open from 7am http://www.breadstreetkitchen.com/

Bellevue Rendez-Vous, London SW17

Don't you just love it when you have a good local place. The kind that you invite your friends to join you for dinner or a weekend lunch because you know that even if they have to make a 50 minute journey across London, they will thank you and find that the journey was worth it. Bellevue Rendez-Vous, a french restaurant just by Wandsworth Common and round the corner from the very famous Chez Bruce is not like that. This is the kind of place that makes you want to move to the area just to make it your local.

This is not your classic french restaurant with sombre tones and austere staff. The brightly coloured walls and green runners on the table it put you at ease and the friendly waitress prepare you for an thoroughly enjoyable meal.



Foie Gras

There is an option of a set menu, £21 for 2 courses, £25 for 3 and of course the a la carte. The menu includes such french things as snails for starters and rabbit as main. I had the foie gras to start. When it arrived I was somewhat concerned as to me it seemed like nothing more than a slab of velvet looking terrine. A large basket of french bread to accompany this, the taste was less slab and more velvet, and definitely foie gras. Lots of it, and you know how I like lots of food.

Then it was the rabbit for me. The waitress came back twice. The first time to say that it is served with mashed potatoes, the second to say that actually it's served with lentils. So much the better I thought. I prefer lentils.


Rabbit with lentils

The rabbit was succulent and delicious. The lentils were creamy and moreish. I'm not sure what I liked more. Nonetheless, it's a combination that I've never tried before and it works well. The best thing about it? This is a place for people who like to eat food-not just look at it. After the two courses I didn't need dessert.

Do I still think you should go? Absolutely. Do I think that it's worth a visit from locals and visitors to the area alike? Definitely. It's a nice little area to explore; complete with the local pub, boutique and overground station. If it's not raining, the Common makes for a nice walk. Bellevue Rendez-Vous ticks all the boxes.

Expect to pay around £35 for 3 courses without wine, service is not included on the bill

Bellevue Rendez-vouz, 218 Trinity Road, Wandsworth Common, London, SW17 7HP Tel: 020 8767 5810

Chiswell Street Dining Rooms, London EC1Y

Mid-week, after a serious session at the gym, found me at one of the nearest places for dinner. The Chiswell Dining Rooms, part of the same group which runs such well-known places as The Botanist on Sloane Square.

The well dressed city crowd, looked every inch as relaxed as the surroundings and their professional attire would allow. Immaculately presented, with leather seats and flowers, it reminds more of hip and happening Chelsea hangout than a city bar/restaurant.

The wine menu is extensive although my initial reaction was of a slightly limited food menu. No fish and chips or burgers in sight. In this instance I skipped starters and just had a main: the stuffed pork loin, which came with black and white pudding apple sauce, pickle jus. A large portion, nicely presented and perfectly adequate. The flavours all worked to convince me that the whole menu is well-though out and a good meal is to be had here. I must say that I found it very amusing when I saw that they brought the bread with two radishes. Yes the question mark remains!

Stuffed pork loin

Bread and radishes?

I like London because each area has it's own distinct personality. I don't think that Chiswell Street Dining Rooms is quite what you would expect in the city. Nonetheless, relaxed in it's formality, it is a perfect choice for a business lunch or dinner, or even just a drink. It is also open for breakfast, so if you are looking for an excuse for a breakfast meeting, here it is.

Expect to pay around £40 for 3 courses without wine.

Chiswell Street Dining Rooms, 56 Chiswell Street, London EC1Y 4SA Tel: 020 7614 0177 http://www.chiswellstreetdining.com/