I first went to Flat Iron when Charlie Carroll opened it on Beak Street in Soho in 2012.  The concept is simple, good quality steak at an affordable price.  The menu is also simple – flat iron steak, which comes with a house salad, and then a selection of 5 sides and sauces. 

At that time I didn’t actually know what flat iron steak (aka oyster blade steak in NZ) was, but a bit of googling told me that it was a steak cut with the grain from the shoulder of the cow, making it a slightly unusual and tricky cut for the butcher to achieve. It also contains a substantial amount of marbling, which just makes it tastier and juicier than other cuts (apparently making it the second most tender cut after the fillet, but with more flavour!). 

Four years on, with Flat Iron coming back to its roots and opening in Shoreditch (before opening on Beak Street it was a pop-up above the Owl and Pussycat pub in Shoredith) I had to go back.  And I’m pleased to say it was as as good as I’d remembered.  The restaurant had only been open a couple of weeks, and our server had just started working there – but unlike in other restaurants where that combination seems to create disasters – it was great.  Couldn’t fault the service, the food was top notch and the place was buzzing. Can’t wait to go back! 

Go here for: a casual dinner with friends; a date night if you’re happy to be squeezed in next to other people (or just wait a bit longer for an intimate table for 2 – it’s worth the wait); if you have a group of 8-11 book in for the Flat Iron Feast – £40 each for a steak feast called “trust the butcher” (limited time only)

Menu highlights:  other than the flat iron steak, the roast aubergine is to die for, and who can say no to dripping cooked chips? 

Top tips: if you don’t want to queue then head there early due to their no reservations policy, but if there is a wait then you can either leave your number and head off elsewhere, or sit at the bar and enjoy the cocktails and popcorn while you wait; the Covent Garden branch is the biggest by far so head to that one to reduce the risk of queuing; don’t scrimp on the sides, given the steak is £10 let loose – you won’t regret it; each Flat Iron has it’s own single dessert which varies branch to branch – the salted caramel ice cream served in a cornet from the Covent Garden branch is my fave!

Price: a couple of cocktails and beers, steak and sides for £56

#june2016