Reviews Blacklock Soho

Amazing place in London. I love the food. can’t wait to come back here again. Congratulations to the staff.

Had a lovely meal at Blacklock, would deffo recommend the Porterhouse alongside a few skinny chops! Cocktails and the Cheesecake desert are also fab

The food is delicious. Really good meat. Also great side dishes. Particular highlight for the sweet potatoes and fries. The service is good. The smoke extractor does not work so well.

Nice Sunday roast at Blacklock The sharing platter with lamb, pork and beef was plentiful and tasty. £20 per person is s good deal. Service is friendly and fast. The cauliflower cheese, which is made with blue cheese, was delicious! Relaxed atmosphere. Definitely a place to try.

Blacklock Soho offers diners a simple proposition. Tasty charcoal-grilled chops, a few quality sides and fine booze. That’s pretty much it, along with some sides. It’s owned by 3 former Hawksmoor alumni, which means the quality of the meat is something that you’d expect to be high.

Cooked over Charcoal and using the irons to press the meat, it doesn't get much simpler than that.  When you let the quality of the meat do most of the talking then there is not much left to do. "go for the "All in". The menu at first can be  bit much to look at. But keep it simple and go for the "All in". This as it says, is the trio of starters (pre chop bites) and these include the cheese and pickle, Duck Rillete and Egg and Anchovy. To complete the "All in" is All of the chops of the day piled on a flatbread. Sounds good.

We’ve heard a lot about Blacklock in Soho for having some awesome food and a heaven for meat lovers (very popular in Instagram), so Yummy Jubbly ventured into this new restaurant in Soho to check it out. The restaurant was located on the basement, we were immediately welcomed with the friendly staff and loud music. It indeed has the trendy vibe to start off your Friday weekend. We arrived at 6pm but the restaurant was fully occupied within a short period.

At long last, it happened. Over a year after its spectacular opening, I made it to Blacklock for some intense protein overload. To say I was excited is an understatement. I hadn't felt this way since I got my first PlayStation; a life changing event for a 12 year old boy (ok I may have been 21...whatever). Much like that day, Blacklock has forever changed my view of what a Monday should be as their Butcher's Mondays make the notion of Meatfree Monday laughable. I love my vegetables; I love cost price steak more. A lot more.

Beautiful cuts of quality beef ranging from, for example, a 700g sirloin to a 1.2kg prime rib are cooked over charcoal giving it that distinctive and addictive smokey flavour while the kitchen's understanding of the Maillard reaction is so pronounced, the resulting steak is served with a perfect caramelised glean. It is, without exaggeration, one of the best steaks I've had in my life (but what else can you expect from 3 founders cut from Hawksmoor cloth?).

Steaks aside, accompanying dishes are nothing to scoff at either and can't be ignored. The grilled scallops with Nduja is something to behold with my only gripe that I only ordered one. I won't make that same mistake again. Beef dripping chips and the 10 hour ash roasted sweet potato represent some of the finest carbs I've had in recent memory rounding at a pretty unforgettable meal.

So safe to say, I'm a fan as Blacklock managed to exceed every expectation I had coming in. Next time I come, I'm going to go for their famed "All In" meat platter and you can bet that won't be far away.




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Had a great dinner with my brother on a Friday night. We had to put our name down and then about 30-40 mins later got a text to return.
It was a busy loud atmosphere inside downstairs on a quiet street in Soho.
The menu is a simple affair, beef chop, 3 types of pork chop and 3 types of lamb chop. These "skinny chops" we're done to perfection. Juicy and pink inside. Some of the best sides I've also had from a restaurant. The charred gem lettuce had hints of hazelnut and the beef dripping chips were so tasty we ordered a second cup. Well priced at £4 each or a bundle with bread and sides. We felt just ordering them individually was right for us. Only slight flaw was the less than perfect Negroni I ordered.
Otherwise the service was spot on. Highly recommended.
Well done guys!!

Behind an unassuming black and glass door, a modern wooden stair case leads diners down to Blacklock, one of Soho's newest restaurants and a meat eater's dream. Blacklock's menu is pretty simple; charcoal grilled chops. Plates are piled with juicy lamb, beef and pork chops, and despite being a vegetarian nightmare, the vege sides are good too. It's low cost, casual eating, the perfect place to order a couple of cocktails (for a fiver) or a carafe of wine and eat some of Britain's best grilled meat on a plate.

You gotta try the Sunday lunch - not many surpass the comfort of your mothers home but this is a place to take the humble meal and send it to new realms. Wouldn't betray the secret to my ma but the roast potatoes were beyond anything I've ever eaten on a weekend plate, the yorkies cradled the gravy wh oh was, itself, some of the meatiest sauce I've ever had the pleasure of enjoying. All alongside a couple of cheeky cocktails, some nice warm up dishes pre main event and a mountainous sharing platter of meats should there be many of you, this is the spot to head to if you've got good coma on hand need a venue to match at the end of the week.

It isn’t often one gets to dine out in a former brothel- call my life a sheltered one. But that was exactly what I did, last week when I visited Blacklock in Soho. Nestled in a side street off Piccadilly Circus, Blacklock has been open a mere two weeks (I’m so ahead of the curve), and has a suitably unfinished feel to it. The door was held open by a Dulux paint pot. There were handwritten signs directing us downstairs to subterranean pleasures (a throw-back to its former existence?). But hell, this being Soho, it could have been open for years.

Tasty food, cocktails for a fiver in central London can't go wrong with that. Selection is for carnivores only as no veggie options. Cheesecake with rhubarb coolie was lovely too.

Growing up, my mum wasn’t a keen cook (in fact, she hated cooking, don’t know where I got my love for it from!) and so she had her go-to meals. She did a killer roast and fry-up but our mid-week meals were always filled with variations of chops, and they were nearly always lamb. I love both lamb and pork chops, that salty, crispy fat around the juicy meat. I have never grown tired of them. To me there is something so comforting about them.

It is forgiven that there is a day all you want to do is eat meat, big chunks of it. What do you do? Find a place that serves a pile high of meat. And ta-da, you will soon find yourself arriving at Blacklock in Soho.

The pure beauty of the chop should never be underestimated. Amongst all this (undeniably justified) chatter about steak, the majestic chop has passed by almost unnoticed. No longer! Thanks to Blacklock on Great Windmill St in Soho, chops are well and truly back in the game and crikey they are fabulous.

As per usual, I arrived with plenty of time to spare, given that the standard Soho no-reservations policy is being adhered to and queues will snake up the stairs. Don't fret, it's totally worth the wait to scoff your chops! (If you email lunch@theblacklock.com and get your charm on, you'll probably be able to wangle yourself a table at lunch time)!

Approached by Mr Charm Oozer, I was directed to the bar to await a table. Totally fine by me and I perched in front of the bartender who was mixing up £5 glasses of the expertly selected cocktails on offer, including a sherry laced Grandma's 'spiked' lemonade. Also available were bottles of Negroni and Old Fashioned for the whole table to share (£45) - adios 'just a glass of tap water please!'

Mr Schmoozington returned to lead us to our seats, it was time to get chopping! £20 all-in got us drooling at the thought of the approaching meat feast. To whet our appetite and to give us something to nibble on while was waited, a plate of the 'filthy ham' arrived. 3 Little curls atop a crispy flatbread later and we were ready for chops!

A plate laden high with a combination of lamb, beef and pork chops steamed over to the table. Sitting atop a salty, doughy flatbread that had absorbed some of the meaty juices, it took a surprising amount of self control to resist grabbing at the plate and turning full cannibal!

The sides were equally drool inspiring, with smoky, overnight grilled sweet potato and char-grilled kale sprinkled with parmesan. I'll be back for the charred courgettes, heritage carrots and barbecued baby gems in no time!

The meaty aromas wafted round the room from the open kitchen where the chefs were flattening the meat over a metal plate with steaming hot irons or ‘blacklocks’ (take a moment to mourn for the removal of the iron playing piece from modern day monopoly boards). The specials were scrawled on blackboard pillars around us and demand was high. Next to us, a party of 9 were digging into a gigantic platter (note to self to return with EVERYBODY in order to be at the receiving end of a similar meaty monstrosity). 
 

Blacklock has found a nifty little niche and it fits into Soho like a glove. With appropriately distressed walls and brickwork, exposed overhead piping and comfortably located in what used to be a basement brothel, the entire operation is a slick machine. This is unsurprising with Gordon Ker at the helm, (previously of Hawksmoor and the staff to match) who knows exactly how he wants the ship to be run. 

There's a chance it also might help that the waiters are both devilishly attractive and delightfully attentive, both really useful qualities in distracting rumbling stomachs, although that might be Negroni talk.
 Since it's all about the chop, this meat cavern is probably not appropriate for those of the vegetarian persuasion, but I'm sure Blacklock will get most of you licking your chops!

So, it turns out Blacklock is not the kind of place to take your in-laws, not matter how much they might love meat. We waltzed in on a Saturday night at about 7:30 and got a table straight away. Had we left it much later that would have been more difficult but it didn’t get to queue-down-the-road territory, at least, not while we were there.

Their gimmick is simple – pay £20 ‘all-in’ and you get a selection of their canapes, an assortment of the different ‘chops’ they have that night on a plate and a side of your choice each. You can also choose to have one of the special chops if you want (written down the sides of the posts) but that could get pretty expensive.

So all four of us went all-in. We were brought four of each of the canapes (there are no starters). The dirty ham was a complete misnomer as there’s nothing dirty about it, but it was delicious – a very hammy bit of ham on a blob of I don’t know what but I could easily have eaten several. They were all delicious actually. Even the simple egg and anchovy was worthy of comment among us, and the blue cheese with pickles was fabulous. I’m still weaning myself onto blue cheese but I could easily have eaten all four of these myself.

Then came our plate of chops. I had wondered if it was really going to be as mountainous as everyone was making out and it was a decent showing. Stephen and I left completely stuffed but we probably ate more than our fair share as the in-laws are a bit fussy – if it had been just the two of us I dare say I would have had more than enough room for dessert and might have wished those canapes were a bit beefier too. In this instance, I still did have room for dessert but I was denied any because the in-laws were obviously keen to get the hell out of there. So I missed out on the famed cheesecake.

But anyway, what of the meat? Well, our server explained what we’d been given and advised us to chow on the beef rib first while it was piping hot – and don’t trouble yourself with a knife and fork! This was my favourite cut of the night – well grilled and seasoned, I had a good gnaw on the bones to make sure I got as much as I could. My least-liked cut was the pork belly rib which I thought tasted a bit too much like bacon. There were two types of lamb, which I couldn’t distinguish from each other (or maybe I just ended up eating the same thing twice) and a pork chop but I didn’t get a taste of that. Our sides were a grand success – a delicious half a sweet potato (a whole one might have been nice), a crunchy and light salad of heritage carrots, meat radish and some sort of seed and also some charred baby gem. All had more care and attention than you might expect of sides and this impressed me more than the meat feast itself, just because no one normally makes sides that interesting and tasty!

The only thing I didn’t really like, was, strangely, the bread. All the chops sit on top of some bread which is meant to then soak up the meat juices. I felt like the bread may have been fried or something first as it was ever so greasy and I didn’t really like eating it. This is in contrast to the bread that sits underneath the grilled meats at Cirrik and which is one of the best bits of ordering it.

We had chosen Blacklock because it was from people affiliated with Hawksmoor and we thought it might be a bit more ‘restauranty’ than your typical new Soho opening. But it wasn’t – it was total hipsterville with no frills décor and loud music. Which got louder at about 8 pm. I’m a pretty young and trendy person but even I prefer to be able to hear my companions without having to shout when I go out to eat. Or even to drink. (Especially when that music is uber-cheesy Kool and the Gang.) Loud music is for clubbing and late-night bars, otherwise it makes me suspect it’s used to mask a place’s lack of organic atmosphere.

Another thing I kept hearing about Blacklock was that it did cocktails for £5. I was very excited by this. Too excited. I should have known that for that price you would get a fraction of the size of a normal drink. This was literally the smallest cocktail I’ve ever been served. People shouldn’t say it is a cocktail for £5 – it is £5’s worth of cocktail. However, it was certainly strong (but then, without any room in that glass to add anything else, it was going to be!) and it tasted very nice.

So, I did like the food, but I’m not entirely convinced by the place. I’m just trying to picture if I’d be that tempted to return. If I had a hankering for some serious meat, I feel I’d be more likely to just go for a steak. Although the amount of food we had for £20 was more than decent, and this alone might make me head here rather than a steak house, or Flat Iron. I’m not sure. I think it’s definitely worth a visit once and would tick all the boxes if I had a meat-loving (younger) visitor I wanted to impress with London’s trendy restaurant scene. From that point of view it ticks all the boxes.

Blacklock on Great Windmill Street is your one-stop shop for chops, cheesecake and cocktails on Great Windmill Street. Despite only opening a couple of weeks ago, the queues are already forming up the stairs and down the street for this buzzy basement brothel hangout from Hawksmoor alumni.

They aren't taking reservations at the moment, but this should be changing fairly soon. The wait in the bar flies by when there is wine on tap and £5 cocktails, including a cracking Aperol Negroni and "Grandma's Spiked Lemonade". You can even get yourself a £45 bottled cocktail for the table if you know you are in for the long haul. A short but interesting beer list struggles to compete on prices.

You can order bits and bobs from the concise menu, but there's only really one option. ALL IN.

Pre-chop bites followed by Beef, Pork & Lamb chops piled on charcoal-grilled flat bread to share with a choice of side for £20 per person. No brainer.

When a large group goes for this, the chop pile is truly a sight to behold. The only slight issue is that you will find it difficult to choose one from a mouth-watering selection of sides:

- 10 hour ash roasted sweet potato

- Barbequed baby gems

- Charred courgettes, chicory and stilton

- Heritage carrots and meat radish

- Kale and parmesan

Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself. We started with the Cheese & Pickle and Filthy Ham pre-chop bites which shouldn't be overlooked. These seemingly measly starters are in fact little mouthfuls of joy, packed with flavour.

They are soon a distant memory when the plate of chops piled on top of deliciously soggy flatbread arrives, surrounded by sides. We opt in the end for the charred courgettes, chicory and stilton and 10 hour ash roasted sweet potato - both outrageoulsy good. The glorious chops, cooked over charcoal, do not disappoint. My partner in crime for the evening is usually defeated by her over-ordering and leaves the rest to me, but this was sadly not the case at Blacklock as she happily hoovered up her half of the table, save for a sliver of bread which I gratefully demolished.

And to finish, if you have any space, the witty staff bring round a tub of their baked New York cheesecake with a hint of white chocolate, with a "say when" approach to portion sizes. A teacup of rhubarb coulis is thrown in for good measure. At £4 for a monstrous portion, you won't leave feeling short changed.

As long as you know what you are in for, Blacklock is an absolute triumph. It could easily be a stressful experience, but the staff handle everything in style and keep everyone happy with a good dose of humour. Go hungry and thirsty with a group of friends, and don't be in a rush.

Coming down the stairs, immediately feel the buzz and good vibes of this place. We sat at the communal table which I think was the best spot as the lighting is dim (meaning good) and you felt the atmosphere. My mum's chops are most favourite homemade dish and so I was excited to try the food. They have beef, pork and lamb and each day their is a new cut. But for £20 a head you get one of each, you each choose your own starter (the egg and anchovy was very good) and a side dish each. We shared the grilled baby gem and sweet potato. The chops were good, particularly the beef short rib. They arrive piled on top of each other, which means the juices drizzle down and soak into a foccacia like bread lying at the bottom. I found the pork versions to be a bit too fatty for my liking, but the short rib and lamb ones were very good. What really stood out for a place that's only been officially open for 2 days was the service. The crew were super friendly and charming, particularly letting us in the dessert of the night (off the record - but they might do that with everyone). Our waiter was on the ball but relaxed. Really impressed they have that in order as it's rare a new place masters operations so quickly. Bill was £35 including beer, wine and dessert. Very good value. They don't take reservations but you can snag a table (on a weds by 7:30pm and then again at 8:45pm but that may vary. Perfect for a gang of 3/4 people looking for some good value, cared for food with a good buzzy vibe (and soundtrack).

Went in for a Sunday roast and it generally did not disappoint. Everything was cooked well, with the gravy incredible. The only knock would be that the portions of meat were a bit small in the "all in" option. Things like 3 ribs in a meal for 4 were slightly off-putting, given the nature of the style of meal. All in all, excellent value for the money and would go again if I could somehow get another reservation.

Superb meat served with a decent price. If you do not have a particular pick, then their all in is definitely worth trying. £25 for starter, few steak (beef, lamb, pork), a side of your choice. Consider the fact that it is only £25, i do not seek perfection of meat, but it is still stunning. There are also some garlic bread under the steak, which absorb all the juice from the steak. It I want for meat and i am lazy, will definitely visit again.

You can eat a lot for a fair price in London. As courtesy, they offer you an entrance, and the amount of meat for two was more than enough. What I disliked a bit is that there was more meat from a specific variety than others. We started tasting the meat on top, and then, at the bottom, there was only lamb. I got a bit tired of the lamb. But I guess that this is a matter of personal taste. The service was kind and attentive.

One of the best Sunday roasts I’ve ever had. We had the all-in roast with cuts of aged beef, pork and lamb roast (£25); and the Cauliflower & Four Cheeses (£5). The service and FOH was really warm and friendly, with a cozy dining experience in a dimmed and rustic atmosphere. Definitely would be my go-to spot for an excellent Sunday roast experience!

Very nice restaurant recommended by a friend who knows London very well. The atmosphere of the restaurant is almost pub-like, pleasant. High quality and goodness of the meat, but also the other foods are not inferior. Super friendly staff, great service and not bad price. Really recommended.