Black & Blue Steakhouse (Borough Market)

Simple review: steak good, chips bad.
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5 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 4
Thursday, February 04, 2010

I phoned Black & Blue at Borough yesterday to make a reservation and was told they only take bookings for parties of six or more and that I should just turn up. My girlfriend and I arived at 7:40pm on Thursday evening to be told that they were full and we could wait in the bar for half an hour. I began to explain to the woman at front of house that I had called earlier to try to book when I was rudely and aggressively interrupted by a man (the manager?) who told me that it's "First come, first served. What's supposed to have changed since you called this morning?" When I tried to speak he again interrupted,began moving into my personal space and behaving as you would if you were rowing with someone in a pub, not listening to a customer. We left and went to Gaucho Grill near Tower Bridge where service was polite and attentive and the food was fabulous. I will be going back to Gaucho. Neither I nor my friends will ever go to Black & Blue again.
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Simon
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Friday, September 18, 2009

We met up with some old uni mates at Black & Blue Borough market and we had a nice time. Most impressive was the service which was really friendly and helpful which is also what we found at the Notting Hill Branch. We had a nice drink in the bar brefore going through to the restaurant. Our booth was a little cosy for 5 people but we managed. I went for medium rare sirloin steak that turned up medium which was a shame and underseasoned. I think I have been a bit spoilt by the great steaks I have regularly at "Goodmans". having said that the others liked their meals especially the burger with guacamole. I also thought the french salad with walnuts was a nice touch.

I had a very nice glass of Cab sab with my steak and we all had desert to follow which were very nice. My lovely wife and I both went for very nice ice cream sundaes. It has to be said Black & Blue is a fun place to go. Even on a relatively quiet Sunday it had a nice buzz. Maybe the food is not as good as the top end steakhouses but it is a really good place to hang out with friends. The one in Notting hill is always busy so they must be getting something right. I think if a restaurant makes you feel welcome like they do it goes a long way.
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david ginsberg - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Monday, September 14, 2009

Been to B&B before and it was fine considering I was there for the company of friends and just wanted some decent wine and a steak, which is what appeared and consumed entirely without question. However, just tried to book a last minute dinner and they ONLY accept reservations for 6 and not for four?? Sorry, but what is the management strategy here? Hence we're now off to Gaucho which is frankly better all round anyway rather than the upmarket Tootsies chain that is B&B.
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Stephen
6 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 4
Monday, September 07, 2009

I went to Black & Blue Borough Market with a group of friends and head a great time. I am not sure what problems previously people experienced, but we found the service very friendly. I guess I don't want to sound too much like I'm doing a pr job, but we really enjoyed our meal, the restaurant was really buzzing and we would definitely go back.
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JessR - View all reviews by this user
7 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, September 01, 2009

I totally disagree with Rachael. I had a delicious steak and glass of red wine which came promtly and with a smile. Great atmosphere and location. I will definitely be coming back.
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olivia
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, August 19, 2009

I think this place is rubbish. The most miserable tasteless tuna salad and chips driping in grease. What a waste of a lovely location.
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Rachael
3 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 1
Sunday, April 12, 2009

Sadly disappointed with this restaurant. A lovely venue, true, but the list of unsatisfying attributes is long: you can't book a table (so often you must wait up to an hour drinking the expensive wine in their bar); I ordered a steak medium rare, it came rare; bought-in chips; unfriendly waitresses. When a steak and chips restaurant cannot cook a steak to order and can't make their own chips and charges you a pretty penny for the experience, the management must be secretly amazed that there is a waiting list for tables on a regular basis. I certainly am.
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leigh-anne
5 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 3
Friday, November 28, 2008

Well I am sorry to say the service has not improved since Lee Whitelocks review in August. Having been met by a rather blank looking waitress we sat at the bar for a couple of drinks before our meal, two glasses of wine £19, not cheap but very nice none the less - the waitress was still fairly unfriendly on delivery. We later sat down for a meal. We didn't even have time to warm the seats before we were asked what we were ordering. You could say this is efficient but it felt rather like we were on a conveyer belt and the quicker we were off it the better!

The steaks we ordered I have to admit were very good, it even makes my mouth water thinking about them - its just a shame front of house consistantly let the kitchen down. There was no query to see if our food was ok and having asked for a wine menu it never turned up. We were asked. however, if we would like desserts, the waitress seemed rather put out when we said "no thankyou."

Finally my sister motioned for the bill. Initially it was ignored and then a rather grumpy looking waitress turned up asking us what we wanted - no smile, just attitude. The bill came to around £47 for two steaks including £5 of service. Since we really couldn't figure out what service we had received we agreed we didn't want to pay it and explained this to another waitress. (I don't know how many waitresses we had spoken to that evening but I do wonder if this is part of the problem!) The last waitress did try to make amends by wishing us a good evening but too little too late unfortunately. I would like to go back there as the food was excellent and its a very classy venue. My only problem would be management clearly do not read or take any notice of restaurant reviews and the only way to make a point would be to avoid the place for the forseeable future and hope other diners do the same - shame...
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Hannah Worters
5 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 5
Thursday, September 25, 2008

We had a fillet steak, and T bone steak, both medium rare with side order of spinach. To drink a £24 Hackett Shiraz 2005. Date: 8 Sep 08

Both steaks were very good, the fillet shading it in terms of flavour and succulence, but my T bone unusually un-gristly.

They were served with thick cut chips, excellent bearnaise sauce, and a "we didn't notice that on the menu" free salad.

If you like steak and chips you could go further and fare worse.
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Bill
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, September 09, 2008