If you were to ask me where the best place in London to get steak is, I’d tell you Flat Iron. They have one thing on the menu – their signature flat-iron steak – so if you’re a veggie, maybe give this place a miss!
There a few Flat Iron restaurants across the city but my favourite is on Henrietta Street, right by Covent Garden in the heart of London’s West End. It’s the only one with the special “surprise” at the end of the meal, keep reading to find out what this is!
The only downside to Flat Iron is that you can’t book a table, so you just have to rock up and hope for the best. You can usually arrive and put your name on the waitlist for a table. The last time I visited it was a 50 minute wait but we wandered round Covent Garden and had a text to let us know that our table was ready. Simples!
When you’re seated at your table, you’re provided with a big bottle of water and a enamel mug of popcorn, cooked in beef dripping which is so deliciously more-ish. Why isn’t all popcorn cooked in beef fat?! The menu is on your place mat and has only one item, the flat-iron steak, alongside some sides and the drinks menu. There are usually a couple of specials on a board somewhere but I’ve not tried any of these before. Oh and did I mention, your knife is a giant cleaver, just crying out for steak!
Every time I’ve visited I always order the classic flat-iron steak (I like mine cooked rare) with a side of chips (£3.50) which are also cooked in beef fat, giving them the most incredible meaty flavour. The steak is served with a small side salad but I’ve also tried the creamed spinach (£3) and the broccoli (£2.50) but my favourite is the cabbage (£2.50) which is deliciously buttery and slightly sweet. A perfect accompaniment to my chips and steak. You can order sauces too like peppercorn or béarnaise (£1) but I think let the flavours of the steak stand out, don’t mask it with a sauce.
The steak itself arrives already sliced and is deliciously soft and tender, full of flavour and very lean – nobody likes a fatty steak. Not too shabby for the very reasonable price of £11! I just wish that the cleaver knives were a little sharper – they look impressive but I’ve found them inconsistent over my many visits over the years.
Wash it down with a cocktails from the limited cocktail menu but I’ve tried most of them and they’re pretty tasty – the Strawberry and Basil Collins (£7) is deliciously refreshing but I also love the Golborne G&T (£7).
The best bit “the surprise” comes at the end, when you’re ready to leave. Just when you think you’re full to the brim, as you leave you show your receipt to the ice cream bar and you’re handed a SALTED CARAMEL ICE CREAM CONE. Dipped in dark chocolate shavings right in front of you, I can confirm it is divine. Even when its raining outside. Free ice-cream always goes down a treat, right?
17-18 Henrietta St
London
WC2E 8QH
