Last Updated on August 9, 2024
Glamorous fine dining for meat lovers
With dark nights closing in and the festive season well on the way, what better time to get your glad rags on and head to STK London in the West End for a swanky night out and top-notch dinner.
STK London, situated in a prime location on London’s Strand, is on the ground floor of the ME hotel. You wouldn’t know it was there if it wasn’t for the simple STK neon sign leading you into a dimly lit glitzy restaurant and bar. Blue neon lights, glossy round walnut-topped tables, white leather upholstered horseshoe-shaped booths, large floral arrangements, a glistening long central bar and house music playing over the sound system give it a uber cool and swishy nightclub atmosphere. In the UK there’s a second STK in Westminster that I’ve also reviewed and they have a network of restaurants in great locations around the USA and the rest of the world.
Throughout the evening we were looked after very well by Tunde who provided lovely personalised service throughout the evening, which began with a couple of classic cocktails. My Dirty Martini, made with gin, vermouth and a splash of olive juice, was crisp and cool with the tang of brine rounding out the flavour beautifully. My companion’s Cosmopolitan was a smooth combo of vodka, lime juice, triple sec, and cranberry juice.
STK London is perfect for meat lovers (though perhaps not ideal for vegetarians) and it does serve a very good selection of seafood too. Pescatarians can choose from their raw bar or go the whole hog with a seafood platter. And, there are fish options for both starter and main courses including sea bass and salmon.
We started an impressive soft glazed brioche bread roll served with a rather good chive, garlic and olive oil spread, before diving into some delicious tortelloni with creamy stracciatella, parmesan and indulgent shavings of black truffle. The Yellow Fin tuna tartare was served on a bed of velvety avocado, complemented by a honeyed soya emulsion.
I had been invited along in particular to try their new speciality Wagyu beef menu, which has been curated by the restaurant’s chefs. Authentic Wagyu beef is among the most sought-after and luxurious meats in the world. Its rich and buttery flavour comes from the intense and copious fat marbling which gives it a melt-in the-mouth-texture. At STK London the Wagyu served is of the highest grade. Currently, STK London (Westminster and Strand) is the only restaurant in the UK serving Freedown Hills Tomahawk, sourced from Freedown Hills Farm in Yorkshire, where they’ve specialised in producing small quantities of top-quality Wagyu for restaurants.
You can choose from a selection of mouth-watering Wagyu cuts such as Olive Fed Freedom Hills Wagyu Tomahawk (450 Days Grain Fed) at £300 per 1.4kg, Irish Wagyu Ribeye at £80 per 300 grams, and Japanese Wagyu Sirloin, a Sakura wagyu 750 days grain-finished at £40 per 100 grams. It’s not cheap but for meat lovers, this is something really special.
We dined on a Japanese Sakura Wagyu fillet, one of those simple dishes that satisfies completely, so succulent it seems to dissolve in the mouth. The Sakura Wagyu sirloin was equally delicious, meltingly tender and packed with flavour. There is a choice of sauces, toppings and signature butters (truffle, lobster or wagyu) which we sampled, all adding to the event.
On the side, a green salad, some hot and salty parmesan French fries and, a rich and creamy potato gratin with cheese and luxurious truffle. And just for the hell of it we also had a lobster tail – making our own flavoursome surf and turf. Well, why not!
Our meal was accompanied by a bottle of full-bodied Chablis a soft mineral, with aromas of gooseberry and buttery vanilla notes.
Despite how full we were, we just couldn’t resist ending with something sweet. We shared a wonderful crunchy apple pie laced with cinnamon and a smooth New York cheesecake dripping in raspberry sauce.
STK is super glamorous and offers a real sense of occasion; a perfect fine dining experience for meat lovers. So, if it’s a taste of wagyu beef you are after or you just fancy experiencing the A-list lifestyle, you know where to come.
STK London,
336-337 Strand,
London WC2R 1HA
To book, visit STK London, The Strand or STK London, Westminster.
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