Honestly, I wasn’t impressed with Hawksmoor. The food was subpar for the most part and it wasn’t worth it at all. I had an early dinner without a reservation and got seated immediately. The ambience of the restaurant is very nice and slightly casual. For appetizers, I got the mixed oysters. I would like to say that I’m relatively familiar with oysters… But these all tastes the same to me, so I questioned whether they were in fact mixed. It was fresh, but I wasn’t a big fan of them. I also got the tuna tartare, which was probably the best dish all night. It was delicious and the portion was generous. I had the ribeye for my main. I guess presentation isn’t really a big thing for their steak… because it’s literally just a piece of steak on the dish with nothing else. I ordered it medium rare but it came out rare. I didn’t think it was savory either, just a piece of meat. Other things to note. The Mac and cheese was delicious. The drinks were good, I enjoyed my Concealed Weapon. The service was very good. The server checked up on us pretty often. The wait for the food was average. Overall, an overpriced dinner for a meal that wasn’t event close to wowing me.
Robbie B.
Rating des Ortes: 1 Knightsbridge, London, United Kingdom
What a waste of time and money… Called up to see if I could make my booking earlier, from 8 to 7. They moved it to 7.30 because they were«fully» booked. The fact that through the dinner, there were so many empty two person tables is embarrassing. Hardly fully booked. I should have listened to my friends review that it wasn’t great but I didn’t listen. No soul or vibe to the restaurant but fine, it sometimes is the case. Ordered the wine, guy found it tough to pour, dripped on the table and my water despite the cloth around the bottle neck. It’s not that hard. Then the wait, so long for the food to come. Food arrives, slowly the guy puts the food on the table. 850 grams of steak, fries and bone marrow. The steak wasn’t that 850g. insulting to charge what they did for 11 small pieces of steak. Literally the size of a t bone steak for 1 in any other restaurant. Needless to say we finished, feeling hungry, half a bottle of wine left, certainly a first, the meal was fast. The little service that there was, was poor to say the least. Not sure if they don’t care or they are not trained but it was a waste of time. Left unsatisfied, quite insulted that the daylight robbery had occurred. I pay for good quality but what this was, was a joke. I’m sure the pub on the corner makes better food. London needs a steakhouse but this certainly isn’t it. Don’t waste your time or money.
Tom M.
Rating des Ortes: 3 London, United Kingdom
Overall, it was a great lunch, a tiny hiccup with the steak, but everything else were fabulous, the side dishes were also excellent, in fact the triple cooked trips are some of the best I have tasted in London. You are looking at paying a similar price for less than average steak chains elsewhere in London such as Angus Steakhouse so Hawksmoor’s express lunch deal was indeed great value for money, service as expected was also very friendly and well mannered, I got nothing but love for Hawksmoor.
Tammy T.
Rating des Ortes: 4 London, United Kingdom
This is the mecca of read meat. Come here, get a cocktail, and eat some steak. After two years in London, I finally decided to visit Hawksmoor and it was well worth it! The rib eye was succulent, very well cooked, and perfectly seasoned. I had the steak with bernaise sauce, which was rich but not overindulgent. My boyfriend enjoyed his steak with the stilton hollandaise which I preferred over the bernaise. We also ordered the mac and cheese, tripled cooked chips, and roasted mushrooms. I thought the highlight of the sides was the mac and cheese. The mushrooms were nice, but I wouldn’t necessarily order them again because the marinade was slightly too sweet for my palate. The chips were good — I mean, they’ve been fried 3x so that didn’t come as a surprise to us. The ambiance is nice as well — dimly lit, stylish, but not too stylish. However more importantly, the steak is amazing. I will definitely be returning!
Michael C.
Rating des Ortes: 5 London, United Kingdom
Amazing. Both times I’ve been I stopped by their cool little bar at the entrance and had a delicious beer. Good start! The restaurant is beautiful and reminds me of a 20s fancy steakhouse. Food was out of this world. We got bone marrow which is incredibly rich and intense and probably my favourite thing on the menu. We also go spinach and Mac and cheese(both classics) and you could literally have a great satisfying meal with just those too and the bone marrow, let alone the steak. I got a porterhouse steak and you choose them from a blackboard with their respective weights. After ordered the cross it out as you’ve taken their only Xoz steak of that particular cut and its refreshing to know they don’t just have hundreds of steaks in the kitchen. Steak was amazing. It’s very easy to order too much so be careful! Definitely recommend for a special night out.
Mark S.
Rating des Ortes: 5 London, United Kingdom
This was the third Hawksmoor I’ve been to in London, and I’ve still never been disappointed. If anyone has a better steak I’d love to try it, because this is my favorite! From the steak, to the sides, to the desserts, to the cocktails, I always find the meal to be amazing. This time my friends and I shared a 1kg porterhouse, a bunch of different sides, and topped it off with a sticky toffee pudding. The full fat old fashioned is fully of buttery goodness, and everyone else enjoyed their cocktails as well — the espresso martini is always well received by my friends, so if that’s your thing I’m sure you won’t be disappointed. Hawksmoor is always my restaurant of choice for a steak celebration — and every location has been consistently amazing!
Rona L.
Rating des Ortes: 4 London, United Kingdom
Excellent ribeye steak as is the usual Hawksmoor way. Service dwindled as the restaurant got busier but a reliable branch of this wonderfu chain.
Ian R.
Rating des Ortes: 5 South Lambeth, London, United Kingdom
Without fail my go-to steak restaurant in London. The purest Hawksmoor out of the bunch in my opinion, the ambiance is perfect under the vaulted ceiling. The staff are brilliant in their informal, knowledgeable, attentive yet unobtrusive manner but the highlight is the attention to detail that marks Hawksmoor above the rest. You could also say, Hawksmoor Knightsbridge over the rest of the bunch. Being a creature of habit and also living by the«if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it» my usual dinner for two. Start with the mixed Oysters, shucked well and served on ice with the usual accoutrements and of a really good size. The main event of course we’re out usual two perfectly hand cut fillets. Done rare they melt in the mouth with no toughness to be found anywhere. I would be happy with just the steak but of course Te sauces and sides add to the experience. The triple cooked chips are crispy, fluffy in the middle and exactly what you expect. The wilted spinach is just that, not a load of mush just wilted with flavours of garlic. The massive baked sweet potato has hints of spice and is mashed to perfection. Then there are the sauces: as a traditionalist the peppercorn tastes fresh and is evidently not sat there brewing away however the Stilton Hollandaise is naughty. REALLYNAUGHTY. I’m sure it’s a gateway drug as its creamy, cheesiness is not only perfect with the steak but is even better as a decadent dip for your chips. If you still have room for more the desserts render me speechless. The fruit pie is amazing especially when lavished with the jug of fresh custard *starts salivating again* and I am assured that both the hand made«Rolos» and sticky toffee pudding seal the deal and put you in a post-dinner nirvana of satisfaction. I won’t review the cocktails otherwise this will end up in War and Peace territory as there are too many to name however rest assured they are of an equally high standard, lovingly made, thoroughly tasty and well presented like everything else Hawksmoor Knightsbridge has to offer. (The Old Fashioned is beyond epic)
Brian W.
Rating des Ortes: 4 West Los Angeles, CA
Did the full on experience here– raw oysters and raw seabass appetizer, steak and sides, dessert and drinks. Ginger brew is excellent, a little lighter, yet not too sweet. Raw oyster combo is excellent; I forget the names but two out of the three kinds were quite good, third was a little too briny. Raw seabass appetizer was delicate yet substantial. Mashed potatoes and gravy looked small but was quite ample in reality, and the caesar salad was artful, yet definitely not subtle(literally, whole baby romaine leaves covered in cheese and with an anchovy). And the ribeye was excellent– rare to perfection, marbling to match, a little sea salt, simply superb. Desserts were very good, the lemon meringue sundae was the right balance of sweet ice cream and vanilla chips(?) yet sour with lemon zest. Went very well with the Glenronach 18 Allardice. Overall, quite good, even the basement architecture compliments the meal and adds a lot of atmosphere. Not cheap, but then, a good steak out rarely is.
Gary M.
Rating des Ortes: 4 East Village, Manhattan, NY
My first time here and what a great place. We went for the the set menu which is really well valued at 3 courses for £27.00. The wine and extras made it slightly expensive but nevertheless worth it. My wife had the steak which was amazing and I went for the Hake. It was good but not out of this world. Homemade ketchup with twice fries fries was a nice touch!
Hayley M.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Glasgow, United Kingdom
Went here with a bunch of friends for a birthday. Was impressed from the moment we saw the entrance! Its very cool inside and is great for crowds or couples. We checked in our jackets and were led to our table. They have a great selection of wines and the menu is based on steaks and seafood. The prices were very reasonable for London and how high class the restaurant is. I ordered oysters which were lovely and the steak tartare which was good too. Everyone else ordered the fillet steaks and most people said it was the best steak they have had in a long time. if not ever. The sides were all good however on the small side. One ordered a panna cotta which they loved and I ordered a espresso martini which was delicious. The birthday boy got some free chocolates and a ‘happy birthday’ written on his plate. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a reasonably priced special occasion.
Goetz B.
Rating des Ortes: 5 London, United Kingdom
One of the best steakhouses in London has arrived in Knightsbridge. If you like meat, Hawksmoor Knightsbridge is a place you should have on your map! It was unplanned — on my commute home, my phone suddenly alerted me that something was wrong with the District line. Not that surprising, really — but this time, there was a part closure. Worse, the part of the line I needed was closed, so I decided to stay on the train and get off at South Kensington, to have some light bites outside. Disappointed after the failed attempts to get a place outside without waiting, I was already at the bus stop to make my way home, when I remembered that Hawksmoor opened a new branch in Knightsbridge recently. I looked it up and as it was not too far away, decided to give it a go, to salvage my Friday evening after a busy week. Hawksmoor Knightsbridge is located in a little side street and probably easy to miss if you do not know what to look for. Once you enter, you are in a beautiful, elegant space dominated by dark wood, brass lamps and light green leather. At the reception, I was asked for my name — wrongly, I assumed they wanted my first name and spelled it. And I was corrected. Yes, of course the«oe» should be an «ö», but I had given up long ago spelling my name with«ö» in London. However, the woman at the reception was German and when I confirmed the umlaut in my name, she immediately recognised that I was also German. Sometimes you get the impression that London is quite small, and full of Germans. After I made my way down to the table, I was offered a complimentary glass of champagne, because it is summer. That’s what I would call a great start! After a quick look at the wine list, the lovely waitress — another export from the continent, though not from Germany but neighbouring Poland — asked if I had any questions. If so, she could get the sommelier over to me. I always like to get recommendations from people who know about wine, and soon after the sommelier talked me through the list. I asked for something light, either white or red. He suggested a few options, dashed off, and then came back with three tasters. Really excellent service. I decided to order the one he mentioned right at the beginning, an unusual Grenache(Birichino, Old Vine Grenache 2012 — Santa Cruz, California) with a distinct taste. A good choice and a really delicious, light, red. Too light for many other people, I guess, but right for me. I was slightly disappointed that they do not bring complimentary bread and butter, but then I did not have to wait too long before my juicy, medium-rare grilled fillet steak arrived. It was a bit on the rare side, I would say, and tasted very good. The peppercorn sauce had a strong and lovely peppery flavour, I just would have liked to see more peppercorns in it — again, that’s just a personal preference, and as it was full of pepper flavour, I did not really mind. When the friendly German descended from the reception and wandered around the dining hall, she stopped by and we briefly chatted about London and their meat — I did not know, or remember, that Hawksmoor sources its steaks exclusively from Ginger Pig. Good to know, Ginger Pig now seems to supply plenty upmarket places with their quality produce. As side, I had chosen the safe option, triple-cooked chips. They were golden and crunchy, just as I like them. They had nothing special to them, nothing that makes them stand out, they are simply very good chips. When I added some salt and pepper from the little mills on the table, I found the chips even more enjoyable. After destroying the beautiful steak, I went on to get a delightlingly decadent dessert dish — they call it their take on «Ferrero Rocher» and it is a gold-plated chococlate heaven. Many different textures and flavours, creamy and crunchy, and simply one of the nicest chocolate desserts anyone could imagine. Once again, an excellent recommendation, this time by the helpful and attentive waitress. When I ordered the dessert, she had explained to me that they serve Climpson & Sons coffee, so I had decided to get one. You think that when they source coffee from a nice roastery, they should also serve a decent cup. And they did, the flat white was indeed better than the coffee you mostly get at restaurants. Often I regret ordering a coffee even at outstanding restaurants — not here. I was at Hawksmoor before and I liked it. However, this time the steak was even better than at my last visit some years ago. As you expect in Knightsbridge, it all comes with a certain price tag. Really, at this level I kind of expect to get some nice bread to start with; perhaps that’s out of fashion now, and maybe I eat too much bread anyway… That takes nothing away from the absolutely delightful fillet steak, peppercorn sauce, wine and service.
Steve S.
Los Angeles, CA
Last night Alan and I celebrated our 32nd wedding anniversary here. It’s about a 10 minute walk(shorter if you’re a fast walker) from our hotel and has been open a couple of months, I think. It’s a branch of a small chain of steakhouses in London. You walk up a couple of steps and down a long flight of stairs to the host station. Our hotel concierge had switched our reservation from one of the other branches to this one at our request, since it involved a walk rather than a taxi ride. We were greeted and amid a little confusion over our reservation(Were we a party of 7? No, it’s our anniversary, it’s just the two of us.) our hostess confided that she had just celebrated her first wedding anniversary. She escorted us down a shorter flight of stairs to a table for two. The restaurant has high, white curved ceilings. Several tables were filled w/parties of varying sizes and as the evening progressed the restaurant filled up. The noise level was high, but not unpleasantly so. We looked at the menus and I looked at the cocktail menu, then the wine list. We both decided to have 400 gram ribeyes, mine rare and Alan’s medium rare, w/no additional salt. As I looked through the sides I saw the expected creamed spinach, then following it, spinach w/garlic and lemon, which sounded perfect. With the guidance of our waiter we decided in addition to share the heirloom tomato salad and the triple cooked chips, unsalted. Shortly after ordering, another man, seemingly a manager, but who also worked as a waiter, came over, wished us a happy anniversary and asked us about wine. Alan explained he had to stick w/water because of the limitations of his liquid intake. I was interested in a glass of wine, so the sommelier was sent over. He was young, bearded w/long hair and a plaid shirt w/the sleeves rolled up. He was adorable, the antithesis of the old school pretentious, imposing sommelier. I told him the style of wines I like and he made a few suggestions. Two were available by the glass and he offered me small tastes of each, a Cabernet and a Malbec. They were both delicious, the Cabernet a little smoky, both smooth. I decided on the Malbec because it seemed to open up more over time and he brought me a glass. I suggested to Alan he ask about the tiniest glass of beer they offered so he could have just a taste. It’s been months since he’d had one. He spoke w/the manager/waiter, whose name we didn’t hear. Unfortunately they don’t have beers on tap, just in the bottle, but he suggested getting a bottle and drinking just a small amount, which is what Alan did. Our steaks were delivered, along w/the sides. The meat was delicious and the spinach was wonderful, much like what I make at home, but the addition of the lemon was new and lovely. The heirloom tomatoes in the salad weren’t as vibrant as I’d hoped they would be, but the combination of the tomatoes, tiny dices of cucumbers and thin slices of red onion w/the lightly piquant vinaigrette was flavorful. The chips were delicious and crispy. Alan requested some catsup for them. After dinner our manager/waiter came over and encouraged us toward dessert. When I said that Alan didn’t eat sweets, he suggested a cheese plate, which sounded good. We are quite susceptible to temptation. There were three cheeses, one a blue, one a sheep’s milk and I forget the third, along w/two types of crackers and some chutney. After we’d finished the cheeses the sommelier came by w/a plate on whose rim was written in chocolate, ‘Happy Anniversary’ w/three artisan chocolates in the center. It was surprising and most welcome! Since Alan doesn’t eat chocolates, they were all mine. One was salted caramel, one was passionfruit and the third was bourbon based. They were each lovely in their own way, although I think the passionfruit sang to me most sweetly. When the bill was presented our drinks had been comped and the price of the cheese plate had been reduced. Everyone we came in contact w/at the restaurant had been kind and friendly. We felt royally treated and if we lived locally we would be regulars.