MK Bar & Grill
25-35 Gloucester Road, London, SW7 4PL
Telephone: 020 7589 1383
So readers probably know by now that we can accommodate a steak any night of the week - so when visiting Kensington, it would be very remiss of us not to try out a new Brasserie Grill in the area.
MK Bar & Grill is located in Mid-Kensington, close to the Royal Albert Hall and conveniently located for the nearby Science, Natural History and Victoria and Albert Museums. This spacious Brasserie has a relaxed vibe. The warm colour palette and contemporary style of de´cor puts you at ease, making dining here a comfortable and happily informal affair- rather like going to a friend’s house for dinner.
The menu features many of my own personal favourite comfort food dishes, and could best be described as falling under the umbrella of ‘contemporary/classic British and European dishes’. There is nothing too showy or fancy here, but I would confidently predict there is something to satisfy every appetite.
The starters, ranging in price from £5.25 to £19.50 (sharing Platters for 2), include Chargrilled Calamari, Shredded Duck Salad and Traditional French Onion Soup. I opted for the Jumbo Tiger Prawns (£7.95) in white wine, chilli garlic and lemon. I always find it can be hit or miss with prawns, especially when described as‘jumbo’, which sets an expectation for something impressive; fortunately on this occasion they did not disappoint in their succulence, size and flavour. My companion ordered a starter portion of the Spaghetti Carbonara, which she enjoyed so much she commented it should have been her main course choice!
The main course options offer familiar favourites such as: Lasagne, Sausage & Mash, Baked Cod, Grilled Salmon Burger, and a good range of Pasta dishes and Salads – all appetising in their descriptions, and ranging in price from £9.50 to £15.50. That delicious French classic Boeuf Bourguignon (£13.50), served with mash, was my companion’s choice and gave me a brief spell of food envy (until my own main course was served!) The combination of tender chunks of beef with a creamy red wine sauce is comfort food at its best.
With the Steak options coming highly recommended, I had opted for the 190g Fillet Steak (£27.50), with my favourite Be´arnaise Sauce. Served with Fresh Cut Fries and some Wilted Spinach (£3.95), I was a very happy man! The steak is sourced from Aberdeenshire, from cattle that are naturally reared, grass fed on traditional farms, and then matured for 31 days. You could easily discern the excellent quality of the meat, through its tenderness and flavour: the two things that matter most in a steak.
As you’d expect for a Bar and Grill the drinks options are pretty extensive and include a good selection of wines, ranging in price from £18.50 to £70.00. We opted for a standard House Red to accompany our main course choices and were pleasantly surprised by the quality and flavour. There is a mix of traditional and modern cocktails on offer as well as craft beers bottled and brewed in London.
Desserts are priced from £4.25-£5.95 and continue the theme of offering comfort classics such as Cre`me Bru^le´e with a contemporary edge (theirs has an Espresso and Kahlua twist). I can never resist a Banoffee Pie, but after our generously sized main courses, we were happy to share. Happily, it was deeply filled and wonderfully gooey, as all good Banoffee pies should be!
At MK Bar and Grill the service is friendly and laid back, providing a good match with the whole ambience of the place. We found it hard to leave our cosy table on what was a chilly February evening, but next time we’ll go in the summer to enjoy the pavement dining with a hefty side order of sunshine!