Blacklock

I’ve waited too long to go to Blacklock and I’ve finally been. Ren decided to treat me to their Sunday Roast which runs from 12−5pm every Sunday so if you’re after their main menu then don’t turn up on a Sunday.
The place is very casual, quite a small place located in the basement so a reservation is a must as I witnessed them turn people away. To be honest it’s not my kind of place with its overly loud music, cramp seating that made it all very chaotic and impossible to make conversation. At least the lighting was right, nice and low with warm spotlight lighting against the dark grey walls. Décor was kept simple but the exposed ceiling made it look cool.
Staff were friendly though and were very efficient at refilling our water and getting us seated immediately even though we arrived 45 mins early. We told them ‘all in’ and ordered a couple of sides and starters and they got everything sorted pretty quickly.
Scallops
Oh the texture of these were just as if they came straight out from the sea, incredibly fresh and plump. My teeth just sunk into them revealing its fleshiness and delicate sweetness. Roast with them was deconstructed black pudding which made it quite a greasy oily dish but the flavours created were sublime. That subdued earthiness conveyed through its rich soft crumbly texture was one perfect pair for the scallop, adding a serious depth to the dish.
All in– Roast of beef, lamb and pork
Everything piled on one plate and it doesn’t matter how many members you got on your table, it still goes on one plate.
The lamb was enticingly sweet and juicy, packed full of flavour which a lot was the result to the lovely fatty bits that surrounded it. Needed a bit of knife work at times but tooth tender enough.
The pork loin was my favourite, the most tender out of all of the cuts and sweetest in taste. It also had a good layer of fat providing all the rich flavours.
The lovely pink beef rump was the richest in flavour compared to the rest of the meats. For a rump cut it was pretty tender but still required some chewing time. However I didn’t mind as the seasoning really brought out its bold robust flavours and I was able to enjoy it for longer.
The trimmings were all very welcomed. One of the best roast potatoes you can find in London with that thin crispy floured shell breaking into the fluffy buttery inside that almost resembled mash itself.
Broccoli were a bit old and tough to eat at times, especially the stem but still produced a lot of earthy sweet flavours.
Both the yellow and red carrots were packed full of sweetness, still had a nice satisfying bite to it too.
The Yorkshire pudding was probably favoured the least as it was quite dry being slightly cooked. The charred brown skin was a big too strong and it took a while for the gravy to soak in to make it edible again.
But it was that phenomenon gravy that made everything stand out to your standard roast, rich in its savoury flavours from the bone marrow it was made out of. The fatty collagen turning into gelatine became a lovely thickening agent in the gravy making it viscous and somewhat sticky, coating everything it touches with a layer of intense umami flavour. We finished our first pot pretty quickly but luckily we found we later there were unlimited refills of it
Cauliflower cheese
A beautiful contrast between the fine crispy topping and the soft tender cauliflower itself. The charred cheese sent a lovely smokiness across the more gentle white cheese sauce inside that kept the dish moist. Nicely seasoned with nutmeg giving a nice edge to the creaminess with its warm sweet spice.
Blacklock does offer one hell of a roast and one of the best out there. All the meats were cooked and seasoned perfectly to how I like it, beef and lamb nice and pink. However I couldn’t but help that they could be a little bit more adventurous with the trimmings, beyond salt and pepper. Maybe even throw in a bit of herbs for the meats whilst it roast for additional flavour and depth. But their starter filled in their lack of creativity as those scallops were worth coming back alone for. As much as I loved their roast, it’s only almost as good as my mum’s (and they admit to it too). Their poor choice of loud music brings it down a notch too.

This place is for carnivores. If you are vegetarian, stop right there and turn back up the steps. It’s basically a meat house/​bbq place with a red wine list to match. Best way to do this place is to find some fellow carnivores (4persons is perfect) and get the £20 menu for two, 2 extra of the small bites each, then an extra slab of meat with some extra sides.
The £20 menu is the best value out of everything. You get two sides and all of the ‘chops’ plus the small bites. The chops have some much flavour! It’s probably a little too much to eat for me but put in the mix a hungry boy or two then you’ll be fine. The sides are super small so I’d recommend ordering a couple more if you care able veg. If not, grab the chips and indulge in your meaty platter of goodness.
At lunch they have a steak sandwich special that looks like good value. Make sure, whatever you do, get all of the small bites.
They also do cocktails, crafty beers and, as I said earlier, very red meat suited reds. The wine list is very new world Aussie/​USA/​NZ focused.
Get there early– they take no bookings for parties under 6!

Me and few friends have a bit of a foodie club. Once every 2 or 3 months we are will go out for food and on this occasion we decided to go to The Blacklock. It’s a Chop house (the first I’ve visited) based in an old illegal Soho strip club and boy can you tell. Mostly by the fact it’s got a very small sign and down in the basement.
First off I need to thank the staff. They were great. Originally I booked for 10 and then it ended up as just 4 of us. Normally they don’t take bookings for less than 6 but they were kind enough to hold my booking anyway.
We arrived about on time and were seated quickly near the bar. Our waitress explained the ordering system to us and we order what turned out to be A LOT of food. Like some of the better steak houses, the maintain a list on the wall showing the available cuts. We had an 800g porterhouse between us as well as 2 «all in» chop platters.
My GOD the food is amazing. Beef short rib, lamb cutlet, lamb t-​bone, lamb neck, pork loin, pork rib and pork belly «chops» served on top of an incredible garlicky focaccia with beef dripping chips and 10 hour ash roasted sweet potatoes on the side. I’m salivating just thinking about it now.
You have to visit Blacklock to really experience it properly.
On top of the food they do great cheap cocktails too so you’ll be full on food and in merry spirits by the time you leave!

If you didn’t know this place existed you wouldn’t be able to find it. Very much hidden from the hustle and bustle. Staff are so friendly and more than happy to answer questions about cuts of meat. The waiter suggested All In for £20. Each person gets 4 chops each served on top of a flat bread so all that meat juice is soaked into the bread mm delicious !!! The cuts of meat are large and cooked to perfection. Melt in the mouth experience awaits when you eat here.
I couldn’t finish it all and ended up taking a doggy bag!

Pretty good Sunday roast– All In! Not enough vegetables to go with all the meat. The lamb roast was particularly excellent.
The roast almost came too quickly as we had barely dented our drinks.
Be sure to get a reservation on Sunday!
Above average washrooms.

Wow! Simply the best Sunday roast ever !!!
Booked here after seeing a picture on either Instagram or Twitter of there all in Sunday roast. It looked Awesome!
Had a cocktail to start — a vesper something which was just right. Shared the all in Sunday roast — a delicious platter of beef, lamb, pork with roast potatoes, carrots, greens and a massive Yorkshire pudding. Accompanied with bone marrow gravy and some crackling. It was super delicious! I couldn’t complaint or dislike anything.
Had a cheeky glass of Cali Pinot Noir with it.
Service was spot on. Price — a bargain!
If in London and wanting a Sunday roast GO HERE???

Great spot for meat and a stiff drink tucked away in a basement. The place is very lively but not loud to a point you can’t have a real conversation.
The wait can be really long and in fact we had to wait 1 – 1.5 hrs though they claimed to have texted us our table was free (We had given a US mobile number and never got notification). There isn’t much of a bar area to wait and even if you snagged the limited seat at bar, you can’t get food. They did make it up to us with some nice bites on crackers.
The «all in» meat platter is a carnivore’s delight. No piece is the best you’ll ever have but altogether it makes for an experience. The sweet potato side was great. The fries were okay.
The standout here is the £5 cocktails! The old fashioned here is spot on with what you’d expect of a good one in America but it’s way cheaper here! That is what makes this a gem.

Oh my word. So many delicious chops! Fantastic meat, marinated and grilled to perfection — melt in the mouth pork, well-​seasoned lamb, properly seared aged steak… you couldn’t ask for much more!
Blacklock really does well what it advertises: it’s a chop house, plain and simple. Side dishes are hearty things like kale and parmesan, veg with blue cheese, and so on… and the only thing you need on your chops are the spicy mayo or the fantastic «green sauce».
It’s a pricey place, but you get what you pay for. Written on chalk are the available «big chops» of the day, and you’ll rack (sorry) up quite a bill ordering some of the prime cuts — but I can tell from the pictures on Unilocal that it’s really worth it, if you’re a party at dinner. We went for lunch, so had to scale back a little. 2 of us went in on the platter, where you get all the starters, all the small chops, and a side for £20 each. This definitely seemed like the best value-​for money deal. We were stuffed full and couldn’t stop describing just how delicious the pork was! You know a good chop when even the fatty bits are melt and the mouth, to-​die-​for deliciousness. Friends went for the pork chop sandwich; a couple complained that part of it was a little gristly but generally were satisfied overall. I think they have just been jealous of our huge chop platter!
They served some good beers too, and I can imagine coming back with a party for dinner or taking some meat-​loving friends for a real treat. Forget your barbecue places — slow roasted and smothered in sweet, sticky sauce — this place is seasoned slabs of only the best meat. Simple, effective, heavenly!

NOTHING CAN BE FAULTED. My experience was up there with the best.
We were seated immediately at 6pm on a Saturday night when everything else in Soho was full and queuing.
When i read ex-​Hawksmoor chefs started this joint I got very excited.
For £20 each we were treated with the ‘All In’ which was all the meat, two sides and the Chop Bites. The bites where a trio of different starter bites, a cured ham, one with pickled veg and Stilton and one with anchovy and egg. The latter was certainly not my vibe. A salty bomb of creamy sick, but the other where delightful.
So much food for such good value.
And £5 cocktails!
Service was very speedy and friendly, we even ended the night by sharing the cheesecake which is served at the table. Really light and delicious.
Most important aspect, food was filling and plentiful but didn’t leave me feeling over fed or bloated.
10 million stars

It’s Christmas and I was tasked with sorting a meet that catered to Xmas festivities and soaking up booze. First place I thought of? Well it could only be Blacklock.
An early Christmas present from Blacklock in Soho was in the form of one giant beautifully wrapped warming bearhug. A brioche bun filled with charcoal grilled turkey, a Blacklock sausage, greens and onion patty. Not forgetting some middle white bacon and cranberry chutney that sends this over the edge of awesomeness.
All of this dipped in a boat of turkey gravy. Corrr blimey, no need to wait for Xmas dinner leftovers this is a beast of a sandwich! I hope it’s back next year!

Blacklock is, simply put, amazing. I’d heard about it from a few foodie friends, and when they started their Butcher Price Mondays, it became a new goal of mine to suggest it every time Monday dinner plans came around. I also expected a queue out the door for something that sounds so fantastic. They only take bookings for dinner for parties of 6 or more, which is a tough thing to call when in Soho. Yet, to my surprise, there was no queue when we approached the door at ground level, and upon descending the stairs into the restaurant, found that there were quite a few tables available and many friendly staff members to greet us. The place was also positively buzzing, with good music and a lively atmosphere. It was by no means a quiet Monday night in the least.
I really thought we were going to go for the Butcher Price specials, which come in cuts of around 900grams and are meant for 2 people to share. Our server told us about some cuts that were a little over 4 pounds per 100 grams, so I estimated that it would come out to around £40. But we weighed that against the «All In» special that they have all the time, which is £20 per person for a selection of the skinny chops, a side each, and some pre chop bites. Since we were 2 people, we decided that getting a selection with all the trimmings was much better value than just one large slab of meat, no matter how good the deal was. We ordered the roasted sweet potatoes and charred courgettes as sides, and a 500ml bottle of Bordeaux. They have quite a few wines on tap so you can choose from 200ml, 500ml, 700ml, or a litre. I thought the sizing of 500ml was perfect for a few glasses to accompany the food, without having to take on a whole bottle.
We got one each of the pre chop bites, which were crisp breads served with dripping ham, cheese and pickle, and egg and anchovy, respectively. We were told to eat them in that order, I think in particular because the cheese and pickle was particularly acidic, and the egg and anchovy was extremely rich. I didn’t think they were anything amazing… definitely not what I came for, but a nice touch, I suppose. Service was extremely quick and we received the meat and the sides shortly thereafter, no more than 20 minutes after arriving at the restaurant. We weren’t told exactly what we got in the pile of meat, but there were two delicious beef short ribs, two lamb chops, then another cut of beef and another cut of lamb, and a large pork chop. It was served over chargrilled flatbread that tasted like garlic bread, and which had soaked up all the meat juices. That itself was actually better than the pork chop, a cut of meat I don’t particularly care for. Aside from that, the rest of the meat was fantastic! And it was actually the perfect amount, as we actually managed to finish it all! As for the sides, I thought the courgettes were nice, but personally didn’t really care for the fennel that came with it, which I thought was a bit bland. The sweet potatoes were sprinkled with some delicious herbs and that went very well with the meat.
I would definitely come again. They were advertising their Sunday roast, for which they take bookings because it is lunch. Our server told us that it is booked out for the next two weeks. I also thought the service was top notch. Because we got our food in 20 minutes, we were done eating and out the door within an hour. I reckon they just have a lot of meat on the grill constantly, so it is fairly easy to pile up and serve. And it is such a good deal, at £20 each and £22 for our 500ml of wine. This is definitely worth many, many return visits.

Have waited a while to come here and I’m really glad I finally made it. What man (and woman) can’t be interested in a chop specific restaurant?!? Well it was worth the wait and the food was excellent.
We went for the ‘all-​in’ £20 per person for a selection of the chops, 2 sides and some nibbles. I was a little disappointed we didn’t get the beef chops as part of the mix but the lamb and pork (a selection of ribs, belly and chops) were all superb. tasty and superbly cooked. nice sauces, all the mustards, and the vege sides we chose lovely, if a little small on portion size.
beers were decent. didn’t have any wine. service was good and it had a nice atmosphere.
i was tempted to give it 5 stars solely for the soundtrack, jimmy barnes, toto, meat loaf. amazing.

Recommend the chops… Pah. You’d hope so as that is what this place is all about.
A basement restaurant with a unassuming front door — you could easily walk past this place… but make sure you don’t! The charcoal chops served on to of flat bread which is full of meaty flavour are a must. I would say go for the «all in» which includes a selection of nibbles to start, a massive plate of chops (beef, pork and lamb) and a side each for £20, however although the starters were nice they were nothing special so next time I will definitely just pick a few of my fav chops and go for the beef dripping chips. Rest of the sides were also good in particular the 10 hour smoked sweet potato. What is also fab about this place is the very reasonable priced, tasty, different and strong cocktails they serve for only £5 (Nettle Gimlet & Blacklock 75 were awesome).

We had a taste of all the chops that were on offer on the night, the weak link were the pork chops, they lacked moistness and they weren’t strong enough on their own without any sauces or garnishes. Their clear winner has to be the beef short ribs, served medium rare, very moist, having a great depth of richness to them. Also a special shout to the very good value cocktails (£5 each), my gimlet was nicely mixed with a good balance of bitterness and sweetness, and judging from how the bartender was making an old fashioned, he knows his stuff.

I’m going to start with my conclusion… they were having a bad night. I might come back as so many before me rate this place but I wasn’t impressed. Though the chops are amazing.
So now for the story. We all sat down and settled in for what I thought was going to be A-​MAZing. And the we waited and waited and waited for what must’ve been a good 20mins before we were asked for our drink order. Then we waited and waited and waited for the drinks to arrive. Just as our drinks arrived the waitress dropped a fairly full tray of drinks on the floor. To be fair to her she did a damn good job of ensuring none of the customers got hit too badly. And amazingly the replacement drinks came out very soon after.
So on to the food. The meat — lamb, pork & beef — all juicy and cooked to perfection. If this was all I judged on I would give them 5 stars. Sides were all a little underwhelming. The portions were small (particularly in comparison to the amount of meat on the table) and none of them made my tastebuds pop. The cheesecake dessert brought it all back for them as it was creamy and the right amount of sweetness. The biscuit base was a little weird but overall a nice end.
Now back to the service, the waiter presenting the food was very good, gave us a few top tips (like leave the bread to soak up the meat juice). The waitress who was having a bad night only got worse and when asked if we could get more of a particular side I almost thought I was back at school with the way she snapped at us.
So not the amazing meal I was hoping for but still good. And like I said, probably just a bad night.

I’m not sure I even knew beef chops were a thing… what is a chop, technically? Regardless, Blacklock does a good line in them.
It’s fun choosing individual chops rather than a preordained meal. I wasn’t that interested in the crisp starters so ordered my own selection of food rather than going ‘All in’, which would include 4 chops per person, plus bread and a side and starters for £20. I ended up with three chops, chips, bread and chilli Hollandaise — about £16.50.
The chops were great, with the beef standing out in particular. I was also very, very impressed with the beef dripping chips — you could really taste the beefiness, which was incredible.
For some reason I’d expected a more traditional, cosy place. I think the large, scandi minimalism was a bit weird for the food. The waiters were also a bit impersonal so it loses a star for that special atmosphere.

DANG this place is good. I’m still in a filthy meat coma as I’m writing this, but it needs to be said.
Came here for dinner tonight and all three of us got the «all in»: £20 each for three crispbread hors d’oeuvres, a honkin’ big plate of beef, pork, and lamb chops, three strips of meat grease-​soaked focaccia and three different sides. All in all, considering there are places out there charging £20 for a single burger (ahem), not a bad deal.
Service was fast and the vibe was casual American, which is a nice way to describe what is essentially a meat-​inhaling cavern underground. Step through an unassuming slim black door to the basement, where we were able to be seated immediately at 7:30 in soho on a Thursday night. That in itself was fantastic. The cocktails are only a fiver each, but the best part is the food.
Small rounds of crispbread kick the meal off — the anchovy and egg is a perfect mix of sharp saltiness and creamy egg. Then a huge plate of meat piled high arrives, hot, crispy on the outside and nicely salted. Pork chops, lamb chops, short ribs, t-​bones… Not sure what else was in there but it was delicious. The sweet potato side is an awesome complement, and the fries have an amazing textural contrast between the soft interior and thick crispy skin. There was no room for dessert, as many jugs of water were imbibed to keep our sodium levels from skyrocketing.
This place rocks — it’s not an everyday joint, but huge value and an awesome meal for a treat. Now back to the meat coma.

It’s been 3 days since I went to Blacklock but I’m still dreaming of the food and wishing I could eat there every day. There are a range of meaty options but we went for the all in — a plate of different chops to share, with nibbles to start and a side each. The chops were cooked beautifully and the 10 hour ash roasted sweet potato is just something else. We even opted for another dish of it instead of pudding! Not to forget, the cocktails are a fiver and very tasty, would recommend the nettle gimlet. The service was delightful and I’ll be back soon!

Mama, can I have some chops? Chops you shall have dear, for here are all the chops you can ever hope to order. Can’t decide? Then go for the All in, which includes all the chops available, there were two different types of lamb chops, a beef chop and a pork chop to brighten up your day here.
As my party went during the pre launch, understandably the queues were superlong, the customers were super demanding, and the staff were all run off their feet! The service was a tad slow (especially drinks!) but we can’t blame them as there is only one poor lady making the concoctions of cocktails (super super alcoholic btw!) and then not enough staff to run around collecting orders, cleaning tables, dishing out chops etc. The pork chop was also slightly raw for 2 of my party but they changed it for them and since then more of my friends have gone and the issue seems to have been resolved.
The starters (this reminds me of Ritz biscuits, you’re not really getting crisps) were interesting but not something I would come here for specifically. The other sides we ordered apart from sweet potato were unspectacular. The drinks were also very dull looking and tasting.
Best value order: All in, plus sweet potato sides. The breads that soaked in the juices of the chops were oh so amazing. You can choose the chops in your all in if they have enough of those chops left.

If you are a big fan of your chops, whether it is beef, pork or lamb than Blacklock might just be the place. The restaurant is all about chops which can be order in a single portion or in a stack.
If you want to try all the chops then the All In can be a good choice, which is available for a minimum of two people. The meal include starting with crisp which you get a choice of flavours (Cheese and Pickle, Filthy Ham, Egg and Anchovy). This is not crisps like we all know, but similar to crackers with different toppings — like canapés.
Each crisps has it’s own unique flavours, I don’t think i could pick out one as my favourite. However I thought the cheese and pickle was great appetiser to start a meal. The Anchovy will definitely won’t be those who not fan of the fishy taste of anchovy.
Following from the crisps was the main stars — the chops and our choice of side. As we ordered three All In, we tried the ash roasted sweet potato, heritage carrots & meat radish and charred courgettes, chicory and stilton. My favourite was the sweet potatoes, which was sweet and soft. It complimented well with the chops. For some thing that will help open appetite with all the meat would be the heritage carrots & meat radish.
The meat of the evening has to be the lamb chops. I was less keen on the pork belly as it was really fatty. I could hardly see any meat but just fat. The beef short ribs was nice and do not mind it is pink but preferred it was more cook, instead I felt it was too rare for me. I actually felt beef short ribs is not suited to be rare. The pork chop was another favourite that evening after the lamb chops.
Overall being the first opening day the food was okay, service was good and a nice rustic concept.