Steak. We just can't get enough of it. Steak and chips; steak and kidney pie - there are many beef-based classics batted around our island nation. But when I heard I could get my chops around it done the Sicilian way... well, it's fair to say I was banging down the door at London's Bricco e Bacco in no time. Recommending between 750g and 1kg of sharing steak between two, it's a truly indulgent restaurant for any self-confessed carnivore.
From red leather seating to sultry dark wood, the interiors have as much flair as the food here.
This meat haven is the family treasure of a long line of butchers-turned-restaurateurs. Starting off on home turf in Sicily, its influence has now spread to the UK with their Fitzrovia opening. And when you're greeted by fridges fronting great chunks of juicy steak on arrival, you know you're in for one helluva treat.
As for drinks, the clue is in the restaurant's name. Paying ode to a historic clay wine jug and the Greek god of wine himself, Bricco e Bacco offers the whole hog of great Italian bottles to accompany its stellar grub. Our table opted for Puglian pour Primitivo Salento Torcicoda (£58) because the grape is one of my favourites, boasting a generous fruit flavour with a velvet finish. We were off to a flying start.
Each meaty mouthful of tartare was topped with crisp fennel.
Not wanting to over-exert ourselves before the main event, my date and I opted to share one antipasto, a starter and a primi plate between us. To kick things off: beef tartare (£16). Just in case steak for mains wasn’t quite enough. The punchy zest offset its rich beef flavour and was served on a bed of leaves with a splash of balsamic vinegar.
A taster of caponata was also whipped up for us, which is a must-try Sicilian speciality. It'll set you back £3.50 for the small size or £6.50 if you're looking to chow down on the whole dish, but I dare say it would be worth every penny. The perfectly balanced sweet and sour aubergine with other veggies will be my first choice of starter at my next visit. Shortly after, our ricotta gnocchi (£11.50), smothered in rich tomato sauce and bathing in a smooth-as-silk aubergine cream, made its grand entrance. A true autumn-winter dish in look and comfort factor, it's certainly worth adding to your order at Bricco e Bacco.
Bricco e Bacco's veggie options were not to be sneezed at either.
When I heard the sizzle of our Aberdeen Angus Tomahawk steak (£95) on its heated Himalayan salt block, I already knew I was sold. With a smokey exterior and melt in the mouth middle, it's best enjoyed dunked back into the meat juices, lemon butter and rosemary collecting on the salty serving platter. You can choose to cook your steak further on heat emanating from the block if that's to your taste, but let's not butcher it by going any further than medium rare. Our main event was accompanied by simply dressed green beans (£5.50) and crispy oven roasted potatoes (£4.50).
As a total sweet tooth, I'm always a sucker for a great dessert and our sugar fix at Bricco e Bacco definitely didn't disappoint. We chose cannolo Siciliano (£5.50), a crunchy exterior packed with sweetened creamy ricotta and dipped in crushed pistachios, and tiramisu (£5) with its classic layers of boozy coffee sponge. But, little did we know, it wasn't over yet... Two shots of limoncello each were on the cards to wash everything down with. Like all great Italian restaurants, their citrus sip is totally homemade, making you pull a puckered face that only the very best alcohol-laced lemon nectar can cause.
Just. Look. At. That.
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Bricco e Bacco's swish surrounds are a great place for a date, feasting amongst characterful exposed brick and terracotta walls. Provided your idea of romance is drooling at the table, that is. But, most of all, this steak spot proves that a fine cut doesn't need a lot of dressing up; just let the meat do the talking. The conclusion? Sicily does it best.
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💰 The damage: £230, plus service charge. 📍 The location: right on Charlotte Street in Fitzrovia W1T 1RH. 👌 Perfect for: splashing the cash on a special occasion, especially if you love exceptional service. ⭐ Need to know: you can handpick your steak before it's cooked for that extra touch. |
Check out more of the best steaks in London in our guide.
