Already a solid favourite in the book of Best London Eateries For Meat Lovers By Meat Lovers (or at least it would be if that actually existed), Blacklock gained their reputation in Soho, but have recently opened a brand new branch in the city. Serving up big slabs of meat to the masses, this restaurant is a must-visit for all meat maniacs.
Tucked away just a couple of hundred metres from Monument station, on the grounds of London’s very first meat market, you’ll find Blacklock’s trendy subterranean chop house in the basement of a Grade II listed building.
Start the night with an Old Fashioned or a Grandma’s Spiked Lemonade for £5, or opt for a slightly less tame cocktail such as the Corpse Reviver No.2 (a mix of gin, Cocchi, absinthe and lemon). Foodwise, there is only one real option — the ‘All In’. (We don’t mean this literally, there are actually lots of different options, but you’d be silly not to go for this). Each person pays £20 for a selection of pre-chop bites, followed by a juicy pile (yes, literally) of beef, lamb and pork. On top of that (again, not literally) you get two sides, choosing from beef dripping chips, ash-roasted sweet potato, and a bunch of other fancy green stuff.
Dessert will push you into a delightful, though mildly uncomfortable, state of fullness, but don’t expect gourmet presentation. Someone will come to your table with a big old spoon and a tray tucked under their arm, and serve you white chocolate cheesecake or bread and butter pudding, dinner-lady style. Oh and, quick side note… big shout out to their playlist (yeah, we noticed). Can we get a copy for the office, please?
You’ll find Blacklock City at 13 Philpot Lane, EC3M. It’s open Monday to Friday, 12-3pm and 5-11.30pm. Apologies to all you anti-school nighters, but the City is a ghost town at the weekend. Mind you, you could always head over to their Soho branch, we hear they do fantastic Sunday roasts.