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Friday, August 01, 2008

No1 CITY ROAD: JUST ANOTHER PIECE OF MEAT






My friend, Sue summed it up perfectly

“I feel like I'm sitting in the restaurant of a Travelodge having an affair with a sales rep”

Spot on. A lot of money has obviously been spent on the cavernous and ugly dining room of No1 City Road, by it’s Newcastle based owners, The Ladar Group, which only goes to show that money can’t buy good taste.

It can, apparently buy you a lap dance, however as the same company owns the titty bar, sorry Gentlemen's club, For Your Eyes Only, two doors further along the street.

While the menu is long and includes a list of hearty sounding sandwiches to attract a lunchtime crowd, any place that trumpets itself as a “British version of The Gaucho Grill” must stand or fall by the quality of its steaks and there in lies the rub.

As ever, in London, the steaks just are not big enough with, my choice, a 400g bone in rib eye being the largest on offer and almost £30 to boot. Sue’s sirloin was a less substantial 225gms and just shy of £20. Where was the 26oz T-bone that any self respecting steak house should have on the menu?

The menu announced the beef as a cross of Angus and Charalais from the Yorkshire Dales and, when we were served our steaks, the quality of the meat was apparent even though the steaks had been napped too liberally with a reduction of their cooking juices. The taste of the beef shone through even though both had been cooked for a little longer than requested.

The chips looked anaemic but were actually rather good, crispy outside, floury inside and well seasoned. A side order of “market greens” came too heavily buttered.

Service was friendly and prompt but still finding its feet. We were not asked how we wanted out steaks having to make the suggestion ourselves and not offered the alternative sauces automatically being brought an excellent bernaise

Even though they had only been open for a few days, there was no soft opening and, with a 12.5% addition for service, the bill was a very hard £90. A lot to pay for one course, a delicious but hideously over priced Chilean carmanere and coffee.

I mean, I hear you can buy a lap dance for that kind of money. Not that I have ever had one of course. Ahem.

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2 Comments:

Blogger Syd said...

The titty bar and lap dance comments are funny as shit.

And to think, I only come here for the food.

Monday, August 04, 2008 4:01:00 pm  
Blogger Trig said...

Same old home, eh? No wonder I left to work in Spain. The thought that anyone would pay for "tits and ass" (to quote Lenny Bruce) as condiments with dinner here in Barcelona would be risible. OK - there's probably somewhere in Eixample down by the University - but I haven't found it yet. Am I missing something? I don't think so. I get my flesh fill down on the beach at Barceloneta, not while eating afterwards. Except for the jamón ibérico, of course.

Tuesday, August 05, 2008 7:41:00 pm  

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