Black & Blue

My wife and I ate at the Black and Blue branch on Wigmore Street...let's just say it met my expectations - my expectations usually being a predisposition of cynicism towards the London high-end Steak Restaurant scene.

Let me provide some context on my pompous, and, at times, indignant attitude to what is the London Steak Restaurant scene…

…hailing from South Africa – a veritable paradise for the ubiquitous consumption of high quality red meat; where a meal at a steak restaurant is considered my most as an experience of sanctity; and where even the most run-of-the-mill/ non-descript restaurant knows how to pull off a high quality steak-meal with consummate ease – I’m sure you’ll forgive me for my terminal inability to be even slightly pleased by a steak-meal in this oh so vast city where choice and options are limitless.

To my cynicism now: most steak-eating experiences in London, for me, offer nothing more then a repeated blend of cozy environs, offering a good selection of wines, but under-delivering in the arena that truly counts, the steak.

Back to Black and Blue - having chosen a particularly busy night to dine at this branch, we were ushered to the bar, where we were requested to wait 10 minutes until a table became available…and one did, pretty much within time. Good start, or so we thought.

After being seated, it took a good 15 minutes before we were finally approached for our drinks order by a waitress who looked as though she had just run the London Marathon, backwards. The restaurant was clearly understaffed, which severely began to erode our impressions, and created immediate doubt that we weren’t going to enjoy the experience.

Onto the food, I ordered the 280g Sirloin, and my wife, being a Veggie, ordered the Veggie Burger (always a risky move on a carnivore orientated menu). To our surprise, our food arrived within 5 minutes. Some would say unbelievable service, I would however suspiciously say something along the lines of ‘pre-heat’, and possibly even the involvement of a microwave (although I have no concrete evidence).

My steak: I caught my wife (a local lass) holding her breath in anticipation on my behalf, as I made my first incision…quite tender and succulent was my initial impression, but by London standards, quite average.

The chips: the deal clincher in any steak-meal…didn’t seem particularly fresh. Not sure if they had been cooked in reused oil or whether they were cooked from frozen. Big let down!

The veggie burger - the evening's biggest bone of contention: my wife and I looked at this 'thing' with a mixture of disbelief and condemnation. Another tired lazy effort akin to the whole chip experience. Let’s put it this way, I have seen thicker pieces of wafer ham. Clearly, straight out of packet that had been purchased from the frozen section of the M&S food court on Oxford Street, I suspect. When we confronted our waitress, she unashamedly informed us that the veggie burger wasn’t made on premises, and eluded to the fact that we ought not to have expected anything more given the type of restaurant we were dinning in. What we didn’t appreciate was her next comment – something along the lines of having a small kitchen and the priority being front of house and steak - cobblers. Our motto, if its on your menu – whether it be meat of veg – every effort should be made to ensuring the utmost in quality is delivered.

We had rounded the experience off with their chocolate dessert…again very average.

Upon receipt of the bill, we were over charged for a bottle of wine we didn’t order. Not a massive inconvenience, as I’m always more then willing to question the bill, but just another piece of evidence that attention to detail is not Black and Blue’s thing.

In summary, less then average eating experience, I would far rather return to Gaucho or even Smith’s before I contemplated setting foot in a Black and Blue restaurant ever again. Clearly, I come from the school of ‘no second chances’ for restaurants.
Comment on this reader review

The odds are not steaked in your favour
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 0
Friday, March 14, 2008

Went for a catchup meal with an old friend. Great place for bar foor after work and it is well laid out for such a catchup. Light and spacious. However I was expecting a lot more value for money when it came to the food. Nothing special I dare say.
Comment on this reader review

alan
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 5
Thursday, February 21, 2008

Went to Black and Blue on Wigmore St last night in a party of 7 people. The restaurant itself is well designed and modern and the staff attentive. There is also a good wine list with many wines under £20.

The food itself was lovely - our table ordered a mixture of steaks (fillet, t-bone and sirloin), burgers, chicken and tuna and everyone said good things. My sirloin steak (£17) was beautifully cooked and served with chips and a huge side salad in a seperate bowl - other restaurants would charge you £5 to have a salad that size with your meal. The dessert was also lovely and rounded off a great meal.

Overall, I would recommend Black and Blue.
Comment on this reader review

Rob
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Sunday, January 27, 2008

Busy and buzzing with people out to enjoy themselves gives a good atmosphere for any age. Whilst the menu is limited it is what it is, steaks and burgers with chips and salad. We started with a plate of tortilla chips and dips plus a double lot of butterfly prawns, for 3 the portions were ample and not over priced for this part of London. Likewise the burgers, whilst none of us eat burgers more than twice a year if we came here regularly that would change. The smell of the meat oozed roast beef and set the gastric juices flowing, possibly one of the best burgers we have eaten in Europe. Generous portions of good medium thick chips fried in oil which gave them a crisp golden shell and mounds of ketchup to go with them. We had 2 bottles of Australian Sav.Blanc priced at £21 each plus one desert and a flavoured coffee. The bill came to £122.00 including service, the waiting staff was were quite attentative. My only gripe was the 2 glasses of wine we had whilst waiting for our 3rd member to arrive had a 12.5% service charge added to the bill in the bar which I carried myself to our seats.
Comment on this reader review

CherryPlum
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Wednesday, December 19, 2007

You like steak? You like chips? You like hamburgers? Go to any Black and Blue -

High standards and consistent. I like mine Blue and they can do Blue.

Try the

tacos and Spinach and ceese dip. This is not the IVY - it is Black and Blue - relaxed and affordable and depenable.
Comment on this reader review

Christine lee
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, May 18, 2007

This place was fantastic. We went on a Saturday night and waited about a half an hour. The hostess was very friendly and helpful and the service and food was amazing. I'm not even a huge steak person, but it was mouth watering. Would love to go back and try a burger, as they have all variations (and it looks like they come with a dil pickle!).
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, November 13, 2006

black&blue in gloucester road is one of the best restaurants i´ve ever been to...great food..great service and mostly great management...
Comment on this reader review

patricia
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Having read the review below, I was keen to go as this restaurant is relatively near to where I live, and its always great finding lovely restaurants locally. However, to say that I was disappointed is an understatement.

The food was dull and uninspired and heavily overpriced for what it was. I ordered the prawn cocktail to start and it was majoritively lettuce in a cocktail glass with a few (cheap supermarket) prawns in the top. The chicken dish which I had to follow, was dominated by lettuce, a few tomatoes and chips. Again very poor and what was of the chicken was tasteless and overcooked.

My boyfriend had the butterfly prawns to begin with which were ok, but again overpriced and the steak he had to follow, was again overcooked and tasteless.

The staff were polite but both of our waitresses struggled to speak English - which isnt their fault, but the restaurants instead.

Suffice to say, I wont be going back and wouldnt recomend anything about it to anyone.
Comment on this reader review

Disappointed Diner, Notting Hill
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, October 17, 2006

My mum & I visited Black & Blue during a recent trip to London. I cannot say a negative thing about this place. The food is basic but innovative, interesting and simple all at the same time. the staff is wonderful as well, attentive but not pushy. I enjoyed our visit very much, I will recommend it very highly and be back there again.
Comment on this reader review

~Sharon
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, March 19, 2006