A renowned chain of British steak restaurant which recently opened a branch in New York has proved a surprise hit after it was met with rave reviews.
Prestigious eatery Hawksmoor, which has nine steakhouses based in London, has received a rapturous reception since it opened in September, with some critics hailing it as ‘elegant’ and the food as ‘exemplary.’
Prices range from the $16 potted beef to the $65 rib-eye charcoal grilled steak, while east coast halibut costs $40.
While the New York Post said it had ‘a lively bar scene and decadent menu’, food critic for The New York Times Pete Wells also gave the restaurant a raving review.
Meanwhile writing in Forbes, Brad Japhe described it as one of the top places to eat in New York this winter, calling it a ‘mecca for meatlovers.’
Prestigious eatery Hawksmoor, which has nine steakhouses based in London, has received a rapturous reception since it opened in September, with some critics hailing it as ‘elegant’ and the food as ‘exemplary’
While the New York Post said it had ‘a lively bar scene and decadent menu’, food critic for The New York Times Pete Wells also gave the restaurant a raving review
The first Hawksmoor steakhouse opened in east London in 2006, and quickly became a favourite in the capital.
According to the website, co-founders Will Beckett and Huw Gott had a ‘simple three-fold goal: find the best possible beef; master the simple-seeming art of cooking the perfect steak; and create an environment where everyone, guests and staff, could relax and enjoy themselves.’
The chain has since expanded into nine restaurants, including branches in Manchester and Edinburgh.
The first stateside restaurant was originally set to open in spring 2020 but the pandemic pushed back the opening date to September 2021.
Meanwhile writing in Forbes , Brad Japhe described it as one of the top places to eat in New York this winter, calling it a ‘mecca for meatlovers’
It’s located in the Assembly Room of the United Charities Building, which has 26-foot-high ceilings, stained glass windows and magnificent archways.
Co-founder Will said the pandemic brought ‘tears and incredulity’ from the opening team.
He described how he and childhood friend turned business partner Huw how he hopes the restaurant industry will recover.
He told Eater: ‘Our passion for the industry, our restaurants, and for the cities we operate in is undiminished, but those things have suffered greatly.
‘It can all be built back better, and we want to play a part in that.’
The first Hawksmoor steakhouse opened in east London in 2006 by Huw Gott and Will Beckett, and quickly became a favourite in the capital
Meanwhile he also explained how the restaurant focuses on on ethical farming, saying: ‘We believe in farming methods that honor natural systems, increase biodiversity, and regenerate the land.’
And speaking to Big Hospitality, he said opening a restaurant in New York was ‘a dream’ and ‘a genuine privilege.’
Writing in the New York Times Wells commented: ‘The rump steak delivered all the things you want from that cut, which is to say densely packed flavor in exchange for a modest amount of chewing and a relatively small sum of money.’
Meanwhile he also described the sirloin as ‘nearly as tender as the filet, and in flavor approached the hard-edge minerality of the rump steak.’
Yet he said the British restaurant was like ‘no other New York steakhouse.’
Meanwhile the eatery was described as among Forbes’ ‘The 15 Best Places To Eat, Drink And Stay In New York City This Winter’.
The chain has since expanded into nine restaurants, including branches in Manchester and Edinburgh (pictured, a branch in London)
The article described it as ‘the latest jewel in the crown of a rapidly-expanding Flatiron dining scene’.’
It’s not just the critics who have been left raving over the restaurant, with diners also sharing positive reviews online.
Posting on TripAdvisor, one commented it was ‘every bit as good as London’, writing: ‘We frequented the London Hawksmoors more than we should, and after moving to New York have been missing it awfully.
‘This place has the same spirit, atmosphere and, most importantly, damn good steak. The staff are lovely, the venue is gorgeous and very fitting of the brand. Fellow Londoners, come here for a reminder of home.
It’s not just the critics who have been left raving over the restaurant, with diners also sharing positive reviews on TripAdvisor
‘They are missing mushrooms on the menu, but we’ll return every now and then to see if that changes.’
Another wrote: ‘We were excited to try the NYC location as we have visited the Seven Dials and Spitalfields restaurants during our travels.
‘The interior of Hawksmoor is stunning and has a very old world clubby feel. It is located in the former United Charities Building.
‘We enjoyed the steak tartare, ash-baked beets, ribeye,10oz. filet and the East coast halibut. Sides- spinach,lemon and garlic and macaroni &cheese and mash and gravy. Good meal.
‘Cocktails were excellent but it took awhile for them to arrive at the table. Highly recommend the Sour Cherry Negroni. For dessert, we ordered the Grand Rocker- decadent.’