Barbecoa Review: Jamie Oliver’s Original London Steakhouse

When it comes to Jamie Oliver, I’m a proper fangirl.

I can almost guarantee that anyone who’s ever been to my house for dinner has eaten a Jamie recipe, and my meal at Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen restaurant in Melbourne was, to this day, one of the best I’ve ever had. That gnocchi! *drools*

Basically, any chance I get to eat food made, or dreamed up, by Jamie Oliver, I’m in.

I’d heard of Barbecoa, back when it opened in 2010, but never quite made it – that’s the trouble with London; there’s just too much choice and too little time.

And now that I’ve finally eaten there, I’m wondering why on earth I didn’t make it there sooner!

Barbecoa Review

There are two Barbecoa locations in London, but my booking was at the St. Paul’s restaurant (the other is in Piccadilly).

I got a little lost finding the restaurant in the One New Change shopping centre, but eventually found the entrance on the ground floor. Flustered, I hurried to my table, and when I took my seat I couldn’t help but gasp at the view that greeted me.

Once I’d had a chance to photograph St. Paul’s Cathedral from every possible angle, I looked around at the restaurant itself.

The interior is bold, dark and luxurious, with plenty of brass, exposed dark brick and black matte fixtures. The booths are upholstered with soft, cognac leather, but the real feature is those floor-to-ceiling windows showing off that stunning view of one of London’s most famous landmarks.

We began the evening with aperitifs – I opted for a Boulevard Spritz, which was made up of Bourbon, Vermouth, Campari, Grapefruit Bitters and Prosecco. It was absolutely delicious.

And Brendan had a Sons & Roses, a combination of Kamm & Sons Islay Cask, Small Batch Bourbon and Maraschino Syrup.

We decided to forgo a starter (saving room for dessert, standard dinner strategy), but ordered the short rib croquettes as ‘nibbles’ instead.

If they were nibbles, I’m pleased I didn’t try to fit in a starter too, because they were huge. And super tasty: crispy exterior and tender ribs, with a chilli mayo to dip it in.

Choosing a main course was a difficult task. The kitchen in Barbecoa is, as Jamie Oliver describes it, an Aladdin’s cave of equipment: there’s a Japanese robata, an Argentinian grill, wood fired oven, a massive Texas-style smoker and even a tandoor oven. So the meat is cooked with utter care, and using a variety of techniques.

I can’t go past a classic, so I ordered the fillet steak which comes with bone marrow, smoked béarnaise and herb salad. Brendan chose the St Louis ribs with celeriac slaw, peach BBQ sauce and pickles, and we decided to share corn bread and beef dripping chips as sides.

My steak was absolutely impeccable. Tender, perfectly cooked (medium rare) and absolutely bursting with flavour. I can’t comment on Brendan’s, but I’d say the speed with which he finished it suggests it was delicious. The sides were also great, but entirely unnecessary as the main courses were filling enough.

We barely had room for dessert, but we bravely pushed through nonetheless. Our incredible server suggested the Snickersphere, the vague description of which (peanuts, salted caramel) did it no justice whatsoever.

It was a chocolate dome, filled with caramel, more chocolate, a pleasant surprise of popping candy at the bottom, and a garnish of edible gold on the top. Brendan chose an elaborate sundae topped with a macaron and shards of chocolate.

The whole meal was unforgettable from start to finish. The service, the food, the surroundings and, most of all, that view!

It’s not a cheap option (dinner for two with drinks came to roughly £150), but it’s a great place to go for a special occasion or, as was the case with us, a date night. And although the meat is a little pricey, you can tell that the quality is fantastic.

Whatever the reason, if you’re looking for a great steakhouse in London, make sure you get to Jamie Oliver’s Barbecoa.

Thanks so much to Barbecoa for picking up the bill for Brendan and I. My Barbecoa review, as always, was a reflection of my own opinions.