London - Flat Iron

Value for money: 10/10

Cleanliness: 9/10

Service: 8/10

Quality of food: 8/10

Overall: 9/10

Apologies, but there is no outside pic to accompany this post - It was lashing it down with rain throughout our short stay in London, so photo taking wasn't an option outside...

A steak restaurant chain in London, Flat Iron has quite a few branches. There isn't a reservation option, so I am afraid if there is a line, then just go ahead and join it.

Cool ice block!

Each table is given one of these. The popcorn is quite salty, but it is also pretty tasty, using beef fat to give it the flavour. 

I did quite want the burger, too, but figured a steak and a burger was overindulgence...

These aren't particularly useful to everyone who walks in and eats here, but I enjoyed looking at it. I have a bit of a background in cattle and sheep farming, so these things tend to (sadly) interest me.

Flat Iron steak 

£10

($390TWD)

with chips 

£3.50

($136TWD)

and creamed spinach 

£3

($117TWD)

Bearnaise sauce

Included

(and a beer, naturally, £2.25 per half - 87TWD).

Altogether: The spread below = 

£18.75 or $731TWD

Per Person.

The steak is already cut for you, but doesn't that mini clever look fun?

Let me tell you, it doesn't seem like the most prized cut from the animal, but this steak is pretty damn good. I always get my steak Medium Rare, and this was right on the money. Cooked the perfection, seasoned beautifully and presented nicely. You should've seen my face when it arrived.

The chips are deep fried in beef dripping so have a beefy flavour punch that is surprising. They are also pretty good - dip them in the dreamy bearnaise sauce and you're cooking on gas!

The spinach was good, but possibly too salty for my liking. However, it's nice to get some greens down you.

When you've paid be sure to stop by the ice cream on the way out (it is FREE, so why wouldn't you?!).

The chocolate ice cream (only one flavour) was deliciously rich, especially when dipped into this chocolate shavings.

It didn't last long, let me tell you that!

Opening times:

Monday - Saturday

12:00 - 00:00

Sunday

12:00 - 23:30

17 - 18 Henrietta Street, London, WC2E8QH

Happy Eating!

New Taipei City, YongHe - Red Bull Steak 紅牛原味炭烤牛排

Unfortunately, I am not awarding this restaurant a rating at all.

That picture is enough to get you excited, right?

Wrong.

YongHe is literally brimming with people, and they love lining up for this steak. In a 5.7km squared district, there is a 244,000+ population - just give that a while to sink in.

These are the specialties - Chuck steaks of varying sizes.

They also have plenty more on their menu, though.

With each steak you get a soup and a cola, if you order bigger steaks then you are permitted 2 of each of the above, too.

21oz (595g) 炭火肩胛牛排
tàn huǒ jiān jiǎ niú pái
Chuck shoulder steak
$350

I asked for mine medium rare. It arrived with plenty of garlic slices, 2 cucumber slices and 2 mini carrots. However, that is all you get. Those fries you spy? You pay extra for them.

It was just about medium rare, but more on the rare side. It was crazy chewy and took me all my time to cut (with a steak knife, may I add).

However, my biggest issue with this restaurant was that the morning after eating here, I was seriously ill. I have re-traced what I ate and drank that day and nothing was out of the ordinary, except for this steak. I was diagnosed with the stomach flu, which the Dr assured me wasn't from food, but I am still unconvinced. Stomach Flu and food poisoning are so similar in their symptoms. 

All I know, is that I spent 2 hours in A&E on a Saturday night with a drip in my arm - not the best way to spend your Saturday night, ey?

I wouldn't recommend this place at all. My stomach turns each time I walk past it, now.

新北市永和區安樂路168號

No. 168, AnLe Road, YongHe District, New Taipei City

Happy (or not, dependent on if you end up in hospital) Eating!