Barbecoa restaurant

Many of you who have been reading this website for a while will know, I grew up watching Jamie Oliver on television. His love of food was infectious, it spilled out of the television screen and made me want to cook. His approach to cooking very much models my own, there are no rules, you use the best local produce and flavourings to create wonderfully uncomplicated food.  

Barbecoa restaurant, which Jamie opened in 2010 is very much founded on these principles, where the in-house butcher picks the very best British meats and uses traditional fire based cooking techniques from all over the world to create wonderful barbecued steaks. 

When I was invited to visit the restaurant I didn't have to think twice. Having a love of steak I was keen to visit and see if the restaurant could challenge some of its top steak restaurant counterparts. 

Trying to have a meal out with a small baby can be quite the logistical challenge. Everything has to be timed perfectly, feeds, nappie changes and sleep. Any delays and all hell breaks loose. Despite these challenges so far as a family we have had some great meals out with Noah.

On the day of visiting Barbecoa however the logistical challenges came from a different source, we were fraught with London underground travelling nightmares (lifts, escalators and lines not working), running late and arriving in the rain the restaurant was extremely gracious and had held the table. 

The first thing that you notice entering Barbecoa is the restaurants high volted ceilings with floor to ceiling glass windows. It has breathtaking views overlooking the magnificent  St Paul's Cathedral. 

Perusing the drinks menu we begin to relax, watching the drizzle fall on the beautiful St Paul's cathedral and spying on the chefs in the open planned kitchen hard at work. 

Having not had a drop of alcohol for many months, I opted for the Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve champagne (£11.50). The other half opts for a tawny Port and glass of La Rioja Alta 'Vina Alberdi' Reserva 2008 (£11).

From a quick glance at the menu I can already see that the restaurant has lots of starters and mains that I would happily like to eat. 

I decide to keep with the meat theme and choose the coal seared beef carpaccio fillet with Artichoke, salted Ricotta, lemon and thyme (£12). 

I love beef carpaccio and have finished off a fair few over the years. The addition of the roasted artichoke and salted Ricotta are very welcome. 

My dining companion opts for the Salmon and Tuna Ceviche with meat radish and citrus red chilli glaze (£14). 

I'm reliably informed that the citrus and red chilli glaze is a perfect accompaniment and very flavoursome. 

I found the picking of my main a challenge, as the restaurant had a number of things that I would happily have liked to try. But after considerable wavering and constant changing of my mind, I opt for the fillet steak with smoked béarnaise, herb salad and bone marrow (£35).

My steak is perfectly cooked, medium rare and has a wonderful charcoal flavour, whilst still maintaining a lovely moist meat. The addition of béarnaise sauce and red pickled onions to the herb salad are delicious. 

There is something very primal about a T-Bone steak and my dining companions choice doesn't disappoint. 

Whilst for a steak it is expensively priced at £40, it is huge in size and packs a punch in flavour. 

To accompany my steak the choice of side is easy, it has to be beef dripping chips (£4). My dining companion found the choice slightly harder so opted for two sides, coal roasted sweet potato with sage and chilli (£4) and charred broccoli (£4).

I have to be honest that I found the chips rather disappointing they were rather bland, the vegetables on the other hand were superb. Broccoli has never tasted so good, the addition of miso and almonds were delicious.  

The service throughout diner is attentive without being intrusive and the spacing between courses was perfect. 

At this point in proceedings and given the quantity of food we have consumed I would normally begrudgingly leave the restaurant.   

Although stuffed, for the benefit of the blog I push through and order dessert. Noah however is simply too full and decides to lay this one out. 

My dining companion however really doesn't take much persuading, picking the lemon meringue (£8.50).

First thing to say is that the dessert is gorgeous looking. It has just the right amount of tartness and crunch from the meringues.  

I settle on a refreshing ice cream rhubarb crumble sundae. 

Barbecoa offers really wonderful food, with great service and breathtaking views. The restaurant offers a superb lunch menu Monday-Saturday (12-5 pm), two courses £22 and three courses £27.

Embrace your inner cave man and pay a visit to Barbecoa you really won't be disappointed. 

One New Change, 

20 New Change, London, 

EC4M 9AG

www.barbecoa.com
Twitter
Instagram

Other restaurants from Jamie Oliver:

Jamie Oliver's Fifteen Review 

Jamie's Italian Restaurant Review

Our meal was complimentary for the purposes of this review, but this is an honest and fair reflection of the restaurant and our meal. If you are in search of a wonderful steak then look no further.