Meat Co Westfield review – halal steak done good
I’m certain many of my halal-meat eating friends experience this hurting – it’s damn difficult to uncovering a decent steak. Halal chicken in addition to chips are everywhere, but when it comes to practiced old-fashioned steak dinner, we’re sadly lacking.
Growing upwards inward Wales, in addition to having to trek an hr away to Manchester to access a halal butchers, I’ve pretty much missed out on the steak experience my whole life. Upon moving to Manchester, about Indian restaurants cottoned on to the fact that Asians don’t ever desire to consume curry, in addition to started offering halal steak dinners too. It was interesting times, but whatever excitement at the prospect presently fizzled away when I was presented alongside a well-charred, filling-dislodging slice of meat. You see, inward a curry house, steak is largely an after-thought added on to the menu. And every bit whatever meat aficionados would know, nobody puts steak inward the corner.
So inward short, I resigned myself to the fact that I’d never savour a practiced steak, in addition to consoled myself alongside chicken in addition to chips.
After moving to London, hubby in addition to I paid a see to the Meat Co (previously known every bit the Meat in addition to Wine Co) inward Westfield shopping centre, a house that is all near steak, in addition to has a dedicated halal card to boot. My get-go see was a brace of years back, in addition to I recall beingness super impressed past times the staff in addition to how knowledgeable they were near the dissimilar cuts of meat. The meat itself was of transcend character in addition to I loved the starter of Caesar Salad.
However, I made i fatal error. After beingness exposed to over-cooked steak inward the Indian restaurants, I assumed that medium would hold upwards a practiced choice for me. However, niggling did I know at the time, the Meat Co DO NOT over-cook their steak, thus medium meant rather pinkish (read: blood), in addition to that is non my thing.
I also didn’t know at the fourth dimension - but was told later past times friends who regularly dine at that topographic point – that if it was also pinkish for my liking, I could ever mail dorsum in addition to they would brownish it a niggling to a greater extent than until it is to my taste. So I abandoned my pinkish steak, which meant to a greater extent than for my husband.
Anyway, I hadn’t see the Meat Co after that, mainly because occasion didn’t telephone telephone for it. But in addition to thus the lovely people at the Meat Co reached out to me, yell for if I’d hold upwards interested inward reviewing the restaurant. I decided that it was high-time I gave the Meat Co about other try, in addition to I am pleased to come across that after seeing the error of my ways, I convey flora a house that does halal steak to perfection.
Just similar my concluding visit, the staff were faultless. Our waiter talked us through the dissimilar cuts of meat, in addition to explained the nuances betwixt the British in addition to American beef (FYI, the British cows were grass fed in addition to the meat has an iron-y meaty taste, spell the American cows are corn-fed, giving them a softer, buttery taste). So I felt similar I was making something of an informed choice, rather than only opting for whatever sounds fancy.
Anyway, here’s what nosotros had:
Having had the chicken Caesar salad previously at the Meat Co, I knew nosotros were onto a practiced thing. The chicken wasn’t overcooked, in addition to the lettuce gave it a lightness… the perfect prelude to the meaty main.
The peri-peri prawns were succulent in addition to meaty, in addition to almost reminded me of a creamy curry dish. It wouldn’t convey been out of house at an upmarket Indian restaurant.
Onto the trouble concern halt of the meal…
So after my previous ordering mistaken pas, I was tempted to enquire for my meat well-done. However, the lovely waiter suggested that I endeavour medium-well, in addition to if it’s also pink, I tin mail dorsum for a niggling to a greater extent than cooking.
I took his advice in addition to had a North American Black Angus fillet, which didn’t convey blood inward sight, yet was soundless succulent. With eyes bigger than belly, I also opted for one-half a lobster premium topping. This was less of a topping in addition to to a greater extent than of a large lobster to become alongside your main. I tried one-half every bit I didn’t desire the mess I experienced at Burger in addition to Lobster. I totally didn’t demand it in addition to I’d in all probability only gild the steak lone adjacent time.
My sauce of choice was creamy mushroom, which was flavourful plenty without overpowering the steak.
Needless to say, for a house that does meat thus well, their hand-cut chips are the perfect companion alongside their chunky, carb-y deliciousness.
Hubby had the Wagyu beef, which was a Japanese cutting in addition to the best dish of all. It was super-tender alongside frail marbling (fat) throughout. I initially opted for a fillet every bit I wanted cipher fat, but I produce come across the produce goodness of having sparse marbling through the steak, every bit hubby’s meat was much to a greater extent than tender than mine.
My cousin opted for the rib-eye on the bone, which was a prime number cut, but no challenger for the supreme Wagyu, at to the lowest degree inward my opinion. He also added a side of mash, which was less fluffy in addition to to a greater extent than full-bodied every bit you’d facial expression from a steakhouse.
For dessert nosotros shared the Meat Co brownie, in addition to the Clementine Brulee. The latter had a delicious sweet-citrus topping, but the quondam won it for me, alongside its rich chocolatey-ness.
One affair worth mentioning however, is that similar all practiced steak places, Meat Co is non cheap. If yous opt for steak (they convey burgers too, but you’d entirely actually become at that topographic point for the primary steak event), prices start from £26 in addition to become upwards to £70. But inward provide you’re getting neat nutrient in addition to fantabulous service, in addition to for halal eaters, a dish you’ve been denied for years.
So spell it mightiness non hold upwards everyone’s measure weeknight dining, the Meat Co is neat for treats, birthdays, anniversaries, particular occasions, or only whatever fourth dimension you’re feeling flush. And every bit individual who’s partial to the occasional fleck of fine dining (read my reviews of Benares, Trishna and Baku), the Meat Co is upwards at that topographic point alongside the best of them.
Meat Co inward a nutshell
Price: betwixt £26 in addition to £70 for a steak
Halal: Yes. With its ain halal card to boot. Alcohol is served though.
Great if… yous desire a dining experience boasting the really best meat.
Not thus neat if… you’re on a budget, or yous don’t similar meat (obviously).