Starting out life in 2006 by life-long friends Will Beckett and Huw Gott, Hawksmoor was initially a ‘scruffy little restaurant’ (their words, not mine) in Shoreditch. But now, after 19 years, numerous awards and 13 more branches across the world (including in Chicago, NY, Dublin, Liverpool, Manchester and Edinburgh), they’re not showing signs of slowing down any time soon. Not just famed for their stunning steaks (sourced from independent farmers that believe in sustainable farming and animal welfare) that have been cooked to perfection, these guys also know their way around a wine list, cocktail menu and, as I’m about to tell you, a bloody good Sunday roast.
The interiors of Hawksmoor Seven Dials were perfect for our Sunday roast.
Hawksmoor Sunday Roast Review
On this particularly chapping Sunday, I meandered through Covent Garden, down the cobbled streets of Seven Dials, to the restaurant on Langley Street (I nearly walked right past it, its exterior is actually quite unassuming). After being warmly greeted by the reception, we were led downstairs, past the bar area, to the sprawling restaurant floor. Despite being quite sizeable, it retained a cosy warmth, thanks to its industrial-chic vibe – think parquet wood floors mixed with leather booths and chairs, as well as arched, roughed-up brick ceilings, tall, looming columns reaching upwards and intimate, low lighting. It had a kind of slick, understated mid-century vibe that felt perfect for our relaxed Sunday feast.
Our server, Julia, was an absolute angel, and ran us through the menu in great, helpful detail. We kicked the meal off with a round of roast scallops (£21), which were absolutely melt in the mouth. The soft, sweet meat was contrasted by the subtle crunch from the gratin topping, and it was all rich with garlic butter and white port. When it comes to the roast, though you can opt for a classic feast, featuring slow-roast rump with all the trimmings, you can also choose a cut from the blackboard and add on the trimmings for £9 per person. As suckers for steak, we went for the latter, a 550g slab of Chateaubriand to share (£85.25), served medium-rare. This was beautifully cooked, with a delicious char on the outside while remaining juicy and rare on the inside, and went so well with all the accompanying sides.
Everything on the Hawksmoor Sunday roast menu was heavenly.
The potatoes were – I’m not joking – faultless. These guys should give a masterclass on how to make the perfect roast potato; they were crisp, fluffy and flavoured with beef drippings. At first glance, I thought the Yorkshire pudding might be overcooked, but in fact it was the opposite; well-constructed and the ideal vehicle for my lashings of gravy. I also loved that the roast came with stuffing (a mix of high-grade sausage meat, bone marrow, onions and plenty of fresh herbs), which was rich and indulgent – I’d even eat this on its own, it was so good. On top of the trimmings, we also added on a portion of cauliflower cheese (£7), a sharp, creamy bowl of cheesy goodness.
Oh, and we can’t forget about the gravy, can we? Made with bone marrow and onions – arriving in an adorable gravy boat (I did actually consume three of these – don’t blame me, I was brought up by a Yorkshire mum), it had a fantastic consistency and flavour that complimented everything to a tee. To pair with our feast, we went for a couple of glasses of the Arnaldo Rivera, 'Undicicomuni' Barolo 2018 (£29 each) which was honestly stunning, bringing a sweet, slightly acidic, full-bodied hit that cut through the fat of the Chateaubriand and gravy like a match made in heaven (I've actually even bought my boyfriend a bottle for his birthday - shhh).
Hawksmoor Sunday Roast: Overall
I'd heard great things about Hawksmoor's roast. And honestly, it lived up to my expectations and then some. The ambience was wonderful - the staff worked like a well-oiled machine ensuring everyone was tended to kindly and in good time, plus I enjoyed the warm, cosy atmosphere and the relaxed chatter from other diners. But obviously the highlight was the food: everything was utter perfection, from the succulent Chateaubriand and those roast potatoes that I'll be dreaming about for days. So if you're looking for a Sunday roast that's sure to impress? You know where to go.
|
💰 Price: £182, plus service. 📍 Address: 11 Langley Street, London WC2H 9JG. 👌 Perfect for: Stunning roasts with family, friends, or your other half. ⭐ Need to know: If ordering from the blackboard, get your order in quick - once a cut is gone, it's gone. |
Hungry for more? Discover more of the best roasts in Covent Garden.
