Buen Ayre

The Best Steak in London x3

28 Oct 07, 17:58 Above expectations

I went to Beun Ayre based solely on the two reviews above. I'd seen it a couple of times walking through Broadway Market and I was intrigued. Since it was payday, I thought what better way to celebrate than with a nice meal with my boyfriend after a long week at work.

We had a reservation for 9pm and arrived slightly early to find a very empty restaurant. Within ten minutes the place was full to the brim. As it was, we had to get the high up table because when I emailed on Monday to book it was one of two left.

We both ordered steaks - the 14oz sirloin for him and the 10oz fillet for me. We followed Barnaby's recommendations - having the bread and the brilliant blue cheese butter as a starter, only ordering one portion of chips and a salad, and choosing the Malbec. It was very wise advice!

The steaks were brilliant. Really. I wasn't so keen on the nut/leaf salad and butter beans that came with it but it wasn't the end of the world. I'd possibly skip ordering a salad off the menu extra but I preferred the simple combination of lettuce/tomato to what appeared with the steak. Chips were wonderful and let's face it - what is a steak without it. I was slightly confused by the oil, chilli and herb mixture that came with the steaks - tasted a bit like salad dressing to me (and maybe it was!)

By the end of all that, I was stuffed! My boyfriend ordered a bread pudding for dessert which came as a cold dish. I managed to have a few bites but it was nothing particularly special.

Service was ok but I felt at times they weren't as friendly or attentive as they could have been. Price-wise, it was very reasonable - two of the priciest mains, two side dishes, a dessert, some bread, sparkling water and a bottle of wine working out to about £30 each. For steak of that quality it was brilliant.

hes not lying..

21 Sep 07, 15:19 Beyond expectations

i honestly havent eaten a better steak in the UK! Heres a couple of tips:

1) The cheesy butter they give you with bread when you sit down is awesome - you dont need a starter

2) You really dont need to order more than 1 salad and 1 portion of chips per 2 people - the steaks will fill you up!

3) The 8oz sirloin is fantastic and a great deal at under a tenner

4) Even the cheap La Colonia Malbec is great and is 14 quid a bottle.

Best steak in London

07 Aug 07, 11:34 Above expectations

No really, it is the best steak in London. Buen Ayre has been a Hackney favourite ever since it opened, and its repute has since spread. To be honest, I'm half way between being pleased for them, and a bit miffed that my local restaurant is now attracting custom from much further afield than Hackney. It's getting much harder to get a table.

It's an authentic argentinian steak restaurant, and by authentic I do not mean the cow print kitsch of the Goucho Grill. This is a small place, with friendly staff grilling steak on a parilla. Not a place for vegetarians. There are veggie dishes available, but then there are starters available too, but that's not why you're there. The menu is quite naturally dominated by steaks of all sizes and cuts. The meat is apparently imported from Argentina. You might think that might affect its freshness, until you realise that the sea trip is exactly how long it takes to hang good beef.

The steaks come relatively unadorned. You do not need to mess around with stuff that's this good. They come with a bit of salad and some chimichurri. Sides are available, essentially salad and chips. They serve beers (local and south american) and a wine list heavy on the industrious reds such as the obligatory malbecs. They do have some desserts on the menu, but I have to admit that I've never tried them, I've always been too full.