‘STEAKS AND SIDES’: Mouth-watering steaks and various sides at Hawksmoor Edinburgh. Photo: Hawksmoor Edinburgh.

HAWKSMOOR
23 W. Register St., Edinburgh
EH2 2AA, United Kingdom
Menu: thehawksmoor.com
Phone: +44 131 526 4790
Reservations: thehawksmoor.com, opentable.co.uk, quandoo.co.uk

By Scott Harrah

EDINBURGH, UK—Planning to spend a few days in Edinburgh for the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe Festival (August 4 to August 28, 2023) and not sure where to have a great meal before or after a show? Look no further than Hawksmoor Edinburgh, located on St. Andrew Square, near all the theatres in the Scottish capital.  Hawksmoor is a chain of upmarket British steakhouses with many locations in London as well as one in Manchester, Edinburgh and Dublin and a restaurant in New York. The Edinburgh Hawksmoor is located in the former headquarters of the Royal Bank of Scotland and is spacious and roomy, the perfect place to relax after walking around the hills and cobblestones of this medieval city. Americans often think of haggis when Scottish food is mentioned, but one won’t find any here. Instead, diners can choose entrees ranging from the finest Scottish beef to fresh local seafood. We’ve been to two of the Hawksmoor locations in London—both outstanding—and the Edinburgh Hawksmoor is also excellent. Whenever we are in the UK, eating at a Hawksmoor at least once is always a must.

The restaurant offers a limited “Edinburgh Express Menu” for anyone wanting a pre- or post-theatre meal, with two to three courses ranging from  £25 to £28.

We decided to enjoy the full Hawksmoor experience after a long day in Edinburgh. Hawksmoor has an extensive menu of various cocktails, but I enjoyed a couple glasses of Braida “Hawksmoor Blend” Barbera/Merlot 2019 which went great with the gluttonous amount of meat I ate that evening. We were served by the excellent Heather and general manager Thiago.

I  started with the half native lobster with garlic butter while my dining partner chose the Isle of Mull scallops, roasted with white port and garlic. British lobster tastes similar to Maine or Nova Scotia lobster but has a slightly different consistency and a lighter taste, yet is brilliant nonetheless. My partner said his scallops were light and fresh. Both appetizers were not too heavy, and that’s important when one is about to indulge in Hawksmoor’s world-famous steaks.

Edinburgh Hawksmoor has an impressive menu of sides, from triple-cooked chips to beef-dripping fries, mash and gravy, macaroni and cheese, creamed spinach, Hawksmoor Caesar salad, buttered lettuce and herb salad to maple bacon. We chose the triple-cooked chips, macaroni and cheese and creamed spinach. The chips and creamed spinach were amazing. The macaroni and cheese was good too, but not as creamy as what one finds back in the USA.

The Hawksmoor is famous for its steaks, and you can choose from bone-in prime rib, porterhouse, T-Bone and Chateaubriand (all three of which are big portions, so sharing is recommended). Also available are the fillet (275g), rib-eye (350g), sirloin (350g) and rump (300g), served with a selection of sauces, ranging from  béarnaise, peppercorn, bone marrow gravy to anchovy hollandaise or Stilton hollandaise.

The large cuts of Chateaubriand, Bone-in Prime Rib, Porterhouse and T-Bone are huge indeed—strictly for true carnivores. As the menu says, “These steaks are priced per 100g and are dependent on what we have in stock. They are big and don’t generally come any smaller than 500g. Good if you’re hungry or for two to share.”

I had the Chateaubriand—probably way too much Scottish beef for one person—but it was one of the best steaks I’ve ever had, cooked medium rare the way I like it, with Hawksmoor’s amazing peppercorn sauce on the side. The steak was so good; however, I really didn’t need much sauce. My dining partner said his T-bone was superb as well, cooked medium, and he had trouble finishing it because the steak was so big.

Although we were already stuffed, we could not resist sharing the Hawksmoor’s famous sticky toffee pudding with clotted cream. Most Americans have only seen this standard dessert in the British Isles on TV cooking shows from the U.K. because it is almost never found in American restaurants.  We’re fans of the fattening treat and have tried it in many British restaurants, but nobody does sticky toffee pudding like Hawksmoor. It consists of steamed sponge cake filled with chopped dates and sultanas (golden raisins) and covered with a toffee sauce. We asked our friendly waitress Heather whether the dessert is better with vanilla ice cream on top or clotted cream. She kindly offered to bring us both vanilla ice cream and clotted cream.

Clotted cream, for Americans who have never tried it, is sometimes called Devonshire or Cornish cream and is made by heating full cow’s milk cream and then leaving it to cool, and it eventually forms “clots.” We tried the pudding with both the ice cream and clotted cream. When Heather asked us which we preferred—ice cream or clotted cream?—we had no definitive answer as Hawksmoor’s sticky toffee pudding is a sinful delight either way.

Whether you are in Edinburgh for the Fringe Festival in August or just visiting Edinburgh as a tourist, Hawksmoor Edinburgh is a definite “must” on your restaurant list as they have some of the best steaks in Scotland.

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published July 15, 2023
Reviewed on June 13, 2023 in London

Isle of Mull scallops. Photo: Scott Harrah.

Half native lobster. Photo: Hawksmoor Edinburgh.

T-bone at Hawksmoor Edinburgh. Photo: Scott Harrah.

Chateaubriand at Hawksmoor Edinburgh. Photo: Scott Harrah.

Hawksmoor’s famous sticky toffee pudding with both clotted cream and vanilla ice cream on the side. Photo: Scott Harrah.

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TEA TOTAL
W London Hotel
The Perception at W London
10 Wardour Street
London, United Kingdom
W1D 6QF
www.theperceptionbar.com/

By Scott Harrah

The concept of “tea” as any type of meal is rather exotic to Americans. While “afternoon tea,” “high tea” and “low tea” are served in the British Isles and Commonwealth nations like Canada and Australia, the concept of a light daytime snack of tea, sandwiches, cakes and cookies has never really been part of American culture. So we were excited but a bit unaware of what to expect when we decided to review “Tea Total” at the trendy Perception Bar at the W Hotel in London’s Leicester Square. We were in for a pleasant and luxurious surprise indeed.

Described in a hotel flyer as “a tipsy twist on the afternoon tea,” this “remix” of the traditional daytime break is certainly unique. Yes, there are scones, clotted cream and jam and sandwiches included as well as a pot of English tea, but that’s about the only conventional aspect of afternoon tea at the W. A wide selection of English Garden-inspired sweets are paired with a chilled glass of Prosecco and “crystalized” versions of the hotel’s signature cocktails.

The waiter brought out a sleek, dark box full of drawers and hidden doors. On top of the box was a colorful collection of shot glasses containing various cocktails to be sampled with the various goodies inside.

The first treat is the Spring Planter, a mint-flavored, chocolate mousse-filled pot with “popping candy dirt” and “micro cress herbs,” served with the Banana Republic cocktail (a mixture of Belvedere vodka, apricot liqueur, banana, cinnamon, apricot jam, sage and lime).

Next is the Queen Bee, a white chocolate-covered sponge cake that is layered with lemon thyme, avocado, pistachio, locally sourced honey and covered with pandan icing and bee pollen. This is presented with the Hayfever cocktail (Belvedere vodka, manzana verde liqueur, cucumber, coriander, simple syrup and lemon, topped off with the shell of a pill, like an ad for Valley of the Dolls).

One of the more unusual treats is the Dew Drop, with a clear tomato, rose water and Tonka on a bed of Oreo and coffee soil. The Purple Rain cocktail (Bombay Sapphire Gin, Lychee Liqueur, Violette Liqueur, Violette Pearls, elderflower, cranberry, lemon) is served with this creation.

The final surprise is Every Cloud, a layer of carrot and cardamom cake served between two meringue clouds. The Pull The Pin cocktail (Patron Silver Tequila, Aperol, maraschino, strawberry, agave and lime) is served with this.

Of all the treats, the first three were the best. We especially enjoyed the Queen Bee cake and Dew Drop (who knew a tomato could go so well with crushed Oreos?) We wished the last surprise would have been something more exciting than meringue, but we know the egg-white concoction is popular in Europe. The Pull The Pin cocktail was a bit overpowering with the tequila but certainly different.

The scones were particularly tasty, as were the little sandwiches, including the roast beef with Dijon mayo on onion bread, smoked salmon with cream cheese on cranberry bread, and egg mayo with watercress on hazelnut and apricot sourdough bread.

Granted, Tea Total at the W is rather boozy for an afternoon tea, especially if one opts to also have the Prosecco, but so what? It is certainly an innovative way to spend an afternoon in London if one doesn’t have a West End matinee to see and one is too tired to shop or sightsee. While enjoying the cocktails, tea and treats, it’s fun gazing at the unique décor of the bar, complete with a collection of dishes featuring British celebrities, all arranged in the shape of the Union Jack. You’re in for lots of fun guessing who the celebrities are on the plates while savoring your tea, cocktails and goodies.

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published July 2, 2018
Reviewed on June 22, 2018 in London

Served from 1pm to 5pm daily. Bookings: theperception@whotels.com
0207 758 1060. £37 per person
 or £42 per person with a glass of Prosecco.

BRITISH SUMMERTIME BLISS: (left to right) Spring Planter, Queen Bee & the Dew Drop at W Hotel’s afternoon tea. Photo: Courtesy of W London.

TEA TIME SHOTS: Assortment of colorful cocktail shots. Photo: Courtesy of W London

SEASONAL DELIGHTS: Queen Bee, Every Cloud, Dew Drop & Prosecco at W London for afternoon tea. Photo: Courtesy of W London

TEA TIME COCKTAILS (left to right) Purple Rain, Pull the Pin, Hayfever & Banana Republic shots. Photo: Courtesy of W London

COOL BRITTANIA: Plates featuring British celebrities, arranged on shelves representing the Union Jack. Photo: Scott Harrah

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MUST-SEE SHOW: Imelda Staunton in ‘Gypsy’ at the Savoy. Photo: Scott Harrah

By Scott Harrah

The two great capitals of the English-language theater are New York and London. In honor of StageZine.com’s 5th Anniversary, we crossed the Atlantic to review the best West End shows and pre-theater restaurants in London, to give a heads-up to our readers bound for Europe this summer.

This was not our first time in London. It is one of our favorite cities and we’ve been many times, but it was our inaugural visit as theater critics.

London, ‘Capital of Cool’

London means different things to people. For some, the largest city in “Old Blighty” means West End theater, and the theaters here are absolutely gorgeous. This is the land of Shakespeare and Noel Coward, Sir Laurence Olivier, Harold Pinter, George Bernard Shaw, Oscar Wilde, Joe Orton and more. For others, it’s about visiting literary haunts, shopping at Harrods and Harvey Nichols, grooving to the latest music in the many nightclubs, doing all the touristy stuff like going to Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace, marveling at exhibits at the Victoria and Albert Museum, or touring Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London. London is the capital of “cool,” where Vivienne Westwood, the Sex Pistols and Malcom McLaren created “Anarchy in the U.K.” with punk. London is the epicenter for 1980s new wave and classic British pop and rock, ranging from the Beatles and David Bowie to Duran Duran to the Spice Girls, the Pet Shop Boys, Boy George, Morrissey and the Smiths, Ozzy Osbourne, the Kinks, the Rolling Stones and others. London is known for the 1960s scene on Carnaby Street. It’s home to Notting Hill, the Portobello Road and Baker Street, Jack the Ripper, Ian Fleming’s James Bond, Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, the BBC, and more.

PICCADILLY CIRCUS: One of London’s most famous areas. Photo: Scott Harrah

For royal enthusiasts, it’s home to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles and Camilla, William and Kate, Fergie and Prince Andrew, and the late Princess Diana and Princess Margaret. It’s the capital of the British Commonwealth and former Empire, a melting pot of British, Indian, West Indian and Arab cultures.

There are many similarities between New York and London. Both are crowded, congested, English-speaking cities full of culture, but London is cleaner. And, oh yes, be prepared for the high prices, but there’s good news for the budget-conscious.

NATIONAL THEATRE: Featuring cutting-edge shows, such as ‘Everyman.’ Photo: Scott Harrah

If you have not been to London in a while, now is the time to revisit. The currency exchange rate from dollars to pounds sterling is the best it has been in many years (and the dollars-to-euro rate is even better if you go to the Continent and explore France, Italy and other countries). Even so, London is perhaps the most expensive city in Europe, but many of the best things about the place are totally free. Explore Hyde Park by foot, walk around Piccadilly Circus or Covent Garden, window shop at the trendy stores on the Kings Road, or buy a sandwich and walk across Waterloo Bridge and take some snapshots of the River Thames, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Big Ben and Parliament and the Coca-Cola London Eye. Across the Thames, you’ll find the marvelous National Theatre, which currently has Everyman and The Motherfu***r with the Hat. Sure, it’s touristy, but splurge a bit and take a ride on the Coca-Cola London Eye for gorgeous panoramic views of the city. Book a “fast track” ticket so you don’t need to wait in any long line. Full rotation only takes 30 minutes, and the whole operation is clean and well organized. It is best to purchase tickets online and reserve a specified time to visit. From July 3 to August 21, 2015, the Coca-Cola London Eye is open until midnight for late-night rides. For tickets, please visit https://www.londoneye.com/

Over the next several days, we will be posting reviews of West End shows and pre-theater restaurants. We hope you will visit London and enjoy the city, the theater and the restaurants as much as we did.

OFFICIAL LONDON THEATRE & TKTS

For information and tickets to all the West End shows, please visit Official London Theatre at http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk

For discounted West End show tickets, visit the Clocktower at TKTS Leicester Square. You can even see what shows are on sale today, tomorrow and the following day by visiting http://www.tkts.co.uk/ and http://www.tkts.co.uk/whats-on-sale/

VISITLONDON.COM

A great website for everything about the British capital is http://www.visitlondon.com/

StageZine.com would like to thank the following people who made our visit possible and enjoyable: Anthony McNeill at Society of London Theatre; Mary Parker at the National Theatre; Stephen Pidcock and Philippa Redfern at Corner Shop PR; Lana Lay at Arthur Leone PR; Amy Barder and Catherine Rolle at Raw PR; Janine Shalom at Premier Comms PR; Mark Armstrong at the Savoy Theatre; Howard Rombrough at the Indigo Restaurant at One Aldwych;  Irena Pogarcic at Kitchen Communications (Hawksmoor Seven Dials); Petra Costandi at Dishoom; Elizabeth Broad at the Coca-Cola London Eye; and Rebekah Clement at London and Partners/VisitLondon.com.

BEST WAY TO GET AROUND LONDON: The Underground or “Tube.” Be forewarned, the “Tube” can be even more mobbed than the NYC subways. Photo: Scott Harrah

LONDON EYE AT NIGHT: Overlooking the Thames. Photo: Coca-Cola London Eye

ON TOP OF LONDON: A private capsule on the Coca-Cola London Eye. Photo: Coca-Cola London Eye

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