23. January 2016: Restaurant STK

The Restaurant STK had been recommended to me by a friend as well as by the hotel I was staying at, so I decided to give it a try. As the decision was taken rather last minute to eat early, I asked to concierge to make a call. Funny enough, the booking was for 5pm (so rather early), at first there was absolutely no space. Secondly, they asked for a credit card to guarantee the booking. I am super used to provide a credit card for a booking in London but for a table of two at 5pm for a non-Michelin-starred restaurant? Obviously, my expectations were high!

After being seated, you are served a “brioche with blue cheese and herbs olive oil” which was super yummy. Especially the blue cheese on top of the brioche was amazing in combination with the intensity of the herbs and the olive oil which had soaked up the oily essences of the herbs.

I orderd “Swordfish Ceviche, Young Coconut, Citrus Pepper” (GBP 11.00) which looked quite lovely but also super tiny. The combination of citrus with swordfish and coconut was actually quite lovely. Somehow you feel disappointed though when the other person at the table gets a super huge bone marrow, respectively two huge-ass bones which were cut in half (which costs the same).

I decided to go for a steak, or a “fillet, 300gr” (GBP 40.00) to be more precise, as this is apparently their signature dish. They are a steakhouse after all. I decided to have the “STK Bold” (GBP 2.00) as a sauce on the side. As I learned, it is slightly spicy and tomato based. Admittedly, the meat was tender, aromatic, flavourful, but did not really fully match my expectations. Definitely lovely meat, definitely good, but not absolute top. The sauce was interesting but not really spicy (as the waiter proclaimed).

The “roast parsnips with maple and rosemary” (GBP 4.00) which I chose as a side was absolutely lovely. While the first three, four parsnips taste a bit weird as the combination of maple and rosemary is something unusual (at least to me), I was not so happy with it at first. But once you have eaten a couple of them they really become delicious! Great side!

The place has a nice atmosphere but is – in my opinion – totally hyped. It is modern, interesting, yes, but something special – not really. And obviously, the restaurant was not even close to full at the time I arrived. However, the waiters do a good job but it took them too long in the beginning to bring the menu, respectively the water after the first order for beverages was taken up. After that – flawless.

The prices are overall okay – I find GBP 40.00 for the fillet a bit steep without sides but still within the limits as the meat is good. The price for beverages (i.e. 0,77L, King Still, GBP 4.50; Double Espresso, GBP 3.50) is fine.

If you are a meat lover, you should try STK at least once. It is good meat, well-prepared, no questions asked. The place itself is a bit hyped though. However, in any case you should book a table in advance (and have your credit card details at hand).

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Contact Details:

Restaurant STK

Hotel ME London

336-337 Strand

WC2R 1HA London (UK)

Tel.: +44 20 73 95 34 50

E-Mail: info@togrp.com

Homepage: http://togrp.com/restaurant/stk-london/

About the Author: Sven

I started the blog in October 2009, while living in Milan which I definitely consider to be one of the food capitals of the world. I was in touch with food since my early childhood (as my father is a former chef). Whenever I can, I travel the world to discover new places, to meet people but mostly to try local dishes and to find hidden gems! If you know a place worth going, please drop a line to: info@thediningexperience.org. Currently, I am a member of the following food-related associations: Chevalier @Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Zurich-Ville; Membre Gourmet Dégustateur @Ordre Mondial des Gourmets Dégustateurs [OMGD]; Gesellschafter @Goldener Fisch and Member @Slowfood Convivium Zurich City.