Follow the herd and check out Bar and Block Aldgate drool-worthy menu for yourselves…
Bar and Block boast locations across the United Kingdom, with customers from Belfast to Birmingham enjoying what the steakhouses have to offer. Eager to experience the buzz for ourselves, we happily accepted an invite to the Bar and Block Aldgate branch. A short walk from Aldgate East underground station, the restaurant is located on the ground floor of a Premier Inn hotel, so the dining room plays host to an eclectic mix of Londoners and tourists, all united by their love of steak.
Upon our arrival for our mid-week meal, the restaurant’s industrial-chic décor made an immediate impact. The gleaming neon cow-shaped sign on the window nicely contrasts the stripped-back, wood-finished furnishings. These interior details are complemented by the inviting open kitchen, located at the back of the restaurant. It would be easy to mistake the East London spot for a dining space in New York’s Meatpacking District.
Having been swiftly shown to our seat by the efficient waiting staff, it wasn’t long before we excitedly relayed our food order. Upon recommendation, we opted to start with the House Sharing Block. The recently-added menu item offers a selection of Korean-style pork riblets, rosemary and buttermilk chicken goujons, honey and mustard mini sausages, potato wedges and garlic bread. Not for the faint-hearted, but the ideal selection for those looking to go all out. And we certainly were not disappointed when the platter arrived, with the chicken goujons proving to be a unanimous favourite.
After devouring the starter, it was time for the main course. Catering specifically for red meat lovers, Bar and Block Aldgate offers a wide range of steaks, ranging from Classic Cuts, such as an 8oz serving of sirloin, to an inspired list of Specialty Cuts. Eager to try a new twist on a traditional dish, I opted for the Deconstructed Beef Wellington, which was tender and mild, as advertised. My dining companion chose the Mixed Grill, which proved to be a tasty selection of the restaurant’s best meats. For the table, we didn’t hesitate in ordering the Beef Dripping Triple Cooked Chunky Chips. And while the meats were most definitely enjoyed, it was the cooked-to-perfection chips that truly stole the show.
You’d be forgiven for thinking that we had to forgo dessert, having indulged so much earlier in the evening, but we powered through. Despite feeling full, I couldn’t resist the Chocolate Churros Sundae. Served in a mason jar, the sweet treat consists of two churros drenched in cinnamon sugar, resting in a bed of vanilla ice cream and brownie chunks. As if that wasn’t enough, the dessert is topped off with a generous helping of toffee sauce. Although messy, I enjoyed the toothsome feast. Meanwhile, my dining partner opted for a slightly more sensible dish, the Lemon and Clementine Cheesecake. The slender slice was an ideal palate-cleanser at the end of our big meal.
Throughout the evening, we divulged in the restaurant’s impressive cocktail list. While the setting may be all about the food, the Instagram-friendly drinks are not to be ignored. We started out with a Strawberry Daiquiri — which was served in a Cosmopolitan glass as opposed to the typical tall glass — and a Salted Caramel Espresso Martini. I decided to kick things up a notch with my second drink of the night, selecting the aptly-named Unicorn Juice.
Topped with a rainbow-coloured piece of candy, the attention-grabbing drink features strawberry, passion fruit and pineapple flavours, topped off with Bacardi rum. Turning the drinks-serving portion of the night into a piece of performance art, the bartender waited until the cocktail was on my table, before adding the blue curacao drizzle, which transformed the colours of the drink right in front of our eyes.
So there you have it, if you’re a fan of sizzling starters, hearty steaks and sweet desserts — not to mention refreshing beverages — Bar and Block Aldgate is well worth a visit.
Bar and Block Aldgate
66 Alie Street
London
E1 8PX
