Last November, on bonfire night, Rob and I ventured into the city to watch the fireworks from Blackfriars bridge. I love winter evenings in London - everyone wrapped up in their coats, hats, scarves and gloves - the city lights all lit up - and that cosy winter feeling in the air. Christmas is just around the corner and it all feels so magical!
After an impressive array of fireworks the atmosphere was buzzing. We decided we wanted some dinner so strolled along to London Bridge and just so happened to stumble across Black and Blue, hidden away down a side street off Borough Market. Ever since, it's been one of our favourite steak restaurants, hands down.
"True love is rare, like a good steak" ❤️
Rob and I have been spoilt when it comes to steak - it's something we both love and are willing to pay a lot for. We've enjoyed some really great steak dinners in London. But if you don't fancy paying Gaucho, Goodmans or Hawksmoor prices then finding a good steakhouse can be quite a challenge. And that's why Black and Blue is so great - the prices are reasonable and the food is high class.
Black and Blue is a chain - there are six different locations in London, but of all the six, the Borough Market restaurant is the one I would most recommend. Set in some old railway arches in the heart of Borough Market (London's bustling wholesale fruit, vegetable and British food market) the restaurant has wonderful character.
Outside, you can't help but notice the large, life-sized model of a cow sat casually on the roof. Bizarre, yep... Quirky, yep. But I can't deny it's what intrigued us and led us in. As you enter the large glass sliding doors, you're immediately welcomed into a swanky bar area, with impressively large white marble tables with modern stools to your right, and a seating area with leather sofas and TVs to your left. The exposed brickwork reveals the history of the location, whilst the contemporary black and white cow-related art on the walls and large glass windows looking out onto the market and it's back streets, transform the space into somewhere modern and classy.
We started our evening by having a couple of cocktails, sat at the large marble table in the bar area. If it's not too chilly there's also an outside seated area you can enjoy with patio heaters. After a few mojitos we were seated right near the windows in the heart of the restaurant - a perfect spot for watching the world go by! On this particular occasion we ordered a 600g Côte de boeuf to share, with chips and salad. Priced at £36 this didn't seem too unreasonable and I enjoyed a gorgeously rich glass of red to accompany it. So delicious, I couldn't have faulted our dinner.
We've since been back a few times. On our anniversary (in the photos below!) we visited the Waterloo branch. We ordered rib-eye and fillet steaks, priced between £23-£26 each which isn't too extortionate when each of the steaks is served with chips and salad, and a steak-sauce of your choice. We washed this down with champagne to celebrate which was a real treat and again the food did not disappoint.
Alongside the main steak menu, Black and Blue also serve a range of burgers, grilled dishes and some vegetarian options too, all for around £11-£15. The pudding menu shouldn't be ignored either - the sticky toffee pudding is a goodun, as is the chocolate brownie! Oh and they've recently started to serve breakfast too - something we've yet to have tried, but it's definitely on our ever-growing breakfast list!
It's refreshing to have found somewhere in London that serves consistently impressive steaks without breaking the bank. I remember walking out of Hawksmoor feeling so guilty about the bill, but after dinner at Black and Blue you feel like your money has been well spent. I'd definitely recommend Black and Blue, whether you're looking for somewhere to go on a first date, a work night out or just for a low-key meal with mates. I don't think you'll be disappointed!
Lydia xxx
Lydia xxx
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