Sophie's Steakhouse (Covent Garden)

Really nice steaks, really tasty wine, good service. It can get expensive if you're not careful. Well worth a visit.
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Lottie - View all reviews by this user
7 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Nice food, decent wine, good service. I like this place and will return.
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Lizzie - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Monday, November 22, 2010

My old friend Bruce was back in town so I decided to book an afternoon off so we could catch up and have a bit of a boys day out culminating in seeing Guns'n'Roses at O2. I've seen plenty of reviews on this site about the non delights of eating at the O2 so we opted for lunch in town followed by a few drinks at Canary Wharf. By the time I had got home, met Bruce and had a restorative pint it was after 3 so we needed somewhere that was open all day for food. I was struggling slightly to think of somewhere without going for a generic chain place when suddenly I remembered that my great favourite "Sophie's Steakhouse" had a branch in Covent Garden so off we went. I've been a big fan of Sophies on Fulham road for years. The food is great, the service really friendly and they are open all day.

We arrived about half 3 and were quickly shown to a nice big corner table. Being this time on a Wednesday it was very quiet inside though after we sat down a party of 20 came in for a post sales meeting meal. Bruce went for the very reasonable set menu and choose the sardines followed by steak and chips. Predictably I went for the black angus burger with the iceberg wedge as a starter. We were served by a very friendly waitress and it was good to see that the nice staff ethos of Fulham had been replicated at Covent Garden. the food was very good Bruce who being half Portuguese was very impressed with his grilled sardines and he said his steak was spot on. My choices were as usual spot on. We washed down lunch with the great Angus the Bull Cab Sav.

We skipped dessert for some restorative coffee to fire us up for our evening out. On balance I wished we had stayed at Sophie's for the evening. The gig was terrible, awful acoustics , bad set list and they came on very late. At least our day started well and I can heartliy recommend Sophies Covent Garden. It may lack a bit of the charm of the original as it is so much bigger but the food is just as good, nice service and the same good value. If you are in Covent Garden this is a no brainer. The no booking policy may mean you wait for a table but it's worth it. Lovely stuff.
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david ginsberg - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Thursday, October 21, 2010

Ate here last week with two clients, we all thoroughly enjoyed it. Good, polite, efficient service; decent wines and nice food. Over-priced liqueur coffees. Well worth a go. Also a nice place for a late drink.
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wagonwheel - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Monday, October 11, 2010

i feel this restaurant is slipping, the steaks seem to be getting worse. I had a pretty dismal sirloin on the bone today

shame, you used to be able to rely on this place
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richard
5 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 4
Tuesday, August 03, 2010

My partner and I went to Covent Garden for New Years as a very last minute thing so had no idea where we were going to go!

We walked around Covent Garden a few times looking at all the different restaurants but the sheer number of people going to Sophies drew us in!

There was no queue or need for reservations, we were just shown to the bar - the atmosphere was fantastic! There were couples, groups, young and old, some starting a night out, others off to a show - a great mix!

The restaurant itself is very dimly lit, but it jus adds to the atmosphere - long bunches of wires with bare lightbulbs on the end are so simple but so effective!

The tables are all quite close together, but due to great atmosphere of the place this doesn't cause any uncomfort at all. We found that we could have a great conversation between us without feeling like someone is listening to our every word, but at the same time we started up conversations with the people around us. If you're looking for a romantic night out this isn't the place to go, but we like to enjoy our surroundings so this was perfect for us!

We ordered 2 different types of steak (this was a while ago so I can't remember what they were called) but they were cooked to perfection and the Sophies Steak Sauce just makes it even better! Sophies house rose wine was also a delight!

The dessert made the meal for me, I simply had sorbet, but the homemade sorbet that was served was just divine! Very cleansing after a huge steak meal!

The waitress was fantastic and gave us option after option which makes a change to be given the choice to change things on the menu to suit your own taste.

All in all, this is easily one of my favourite restaurants. Simple food, a fantastic atmosphere, no rush or need to book and a great location! We had two steak meals, a bottle of wine and two desserts and spent under £50 - not bad for somewhere in CG!

Followed by a walk down to watch the fireworks.... what more could I want! We loved it so much we went back in February for Valentines. We were staying in Victoria but travelled over to CG just to go back here and once again, I had no complaints at all! It was still noisy and atmospheric but had a hint of romance mixed in - perfect!
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JJ10 - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, May 12, 2010

We ate here last night. Agree with the previous review that, for the area, it was not what I was expecting at all. There's a spacious bar where you can wait for friends to arrive which means you can start the night in there. Pleasantly surprised on the decor, high ceilings, dark wood, brasserie style feel.

Went for the chateaubriand and did not regret it! Delicious and tender, served on a wooden chopping board. It came with a smooth bearnaise sauce and what I think was a gravy of some kind which was very tasty all the same. Finished the meal with a perfectly sweet espresso martini (I highly recommend this - it was very obviously made with love!).

A good place to come with a group but maybe not a romantic evening for 2 unless you love steak and don't mind the noise!
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Abbie - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Thursday, May 06, 2010

Ate here on Good Friday with my family, and lets just say expectations weren't high! I'd been recommended (read:forced!) to come by an ex of mine who is currently in a west end show - apparently its a big late night venue for all the performers/singers etc..

My first thoughts on hearing the plants were that we were about to get ripped off in a horrendous red-leather and white table cloth affair. I have to say, couldn't have been more wrong!

The restaurant itself looks incredible - think Gaucho-style attention to detail, crossed with Nobu-style 'wow' factor. Big high ceilings, massive windows and a real airy feeling. We came in the day time, and its pretty unusual to find a place in central London that has that much natural light flooding in.

Food was good, and was surprised when my neice & nephews food was free! Apparently this is a promotion that do over Easter, but the kids menu said it also happens every Sunday - saved us £10-odd quid (or two extra glasses of wine in my mind!!)

The service was brilliant - really chatty and attentive. Stupidly forgot to take a copy of my bill, as usually like to name-drop good staff on these websites, but anyway she was lovely!! my mum had a great 'wow' moment (being of country-stock) when the ex- introduced her to the owner (sophie, obv!!!) Apparently her and the other owner are around a lot and always really chatty, which I can't remember experiencing in a restaurant in about five years!!!

generally thought was really good - up there with Polpo as current fave restaurants in central.

oh, and should mention went back a few hours (and a few martinis!!!) later and met duncan james at the bar! hot!
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Ed Pringle
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, April 07, 2010

I couldn't have enjoyed my experience at Sophie's in Covent Garden more.

I chose to spend my birthday night at Sophie's last weekend, and although the prospect of a no-booking policy was slightly unnerving, (to say the least) with 13 friends, I decided to risk it.

We arrived at 8, and the waiting time was 45 minutes; but we had lovely cocktails at the bar and the time passed very quickly!! I chose the 'Whispering Ted' which was a giant apple Martini and it was divine. The decor was extremely impressive; a massive space filled with beautiful teardrop lamps hanging from the ceiling. It looks stunning.

I ordered the Sophie's 'Angus Burger' which was honestly the best burger I have tasted!!!! It was huge and full of flavour! The rest of the group had a combination of ribs and delicious steaks. We couldn't believe that we had never been there before!

Service was of a very high standard, which was striking due to how busy it was.

All in all I had such a great time, I felt as if the whole night made a perfect birthday.
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Sally Manson
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Being a big fan of the Fulham Road namesake I was looking forward to visiting the Covent Garden sibling - sadly I felt scale and location had trumped character.

Steaks were as good as ever (our Chateaubriand for 2 was cooked to perfection and left me grinning- please ignore all reviews which doubt the ability of Sophie’s chefs to deliver perfectly cooked steak, they clearly don't know what perfectly cooked steak should be like) and well executed spinach & chips on the side with a not over priced Rioja hit the spot. However it is a bit too shiny and open for me - I am sure the pre-theatre crowd are keeping the tills full and they can pack 'em high when needed but for me it is always - steak, wine, company and atmosphere. Head along if your happy with 3 out of 4 (hopefully you're with people you like) but stick to the Fulham Rd favourite for a 4/4 evening.
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BigRedonCheese - View all reviews by this user
6 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 6
Monday, February 22, 2010