Cooksister | Food, Travel, Photography

Food, photos & faraway places

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • About me
    • Contact me
    • Work with me
    • Legal
      • Copyright notice & Disclaimer
      • Disclosure
      • Cookies and Privacy Policy
    • Press and media
    • Cooksister FAQs
  • RECIPES
    • Recipe Index – by course
    • Baking (savoury)
    • Braai/Barbecue
    • Breakfast & brunch
    • Christmas
    • Dessert
    • Drinks
    • Eggs
    • Fish
    • Gluten-free
    • Leftovers
    • Pasta & rice
    • Poultry
    • Pulses
    • Salads
    • Soup
    • South African
    • Starters & light meals
    • Vegan
    • Vegetables
    • Vegetarian
  • RESTAURANTS
    • British Isles restaurants
    • Dubai restaurants
    • France restaurants
    • London restaurants
    • Montenegro restaurants
    • New York restaurants
    • Pop-ups and supperclubs
    • Serbia restaurants
    • Singapore restaurants
    • South Africa restaurants
    • Sweden restaurants
    • Switzerland restaurants
    • USA restaurants
  • TRAVEL
    • All my travel posts
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Canada
      • Dubai
      • Cruise ships
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Grenada
      • Hong Kong
      • Hotel reviews
      • Italy
      • Israel
      • Jersey
      • Mexico
      • Netherlands
      • Norway
      • Portugal
      • Singapore
      • Ski & snow
      • South Africa
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • UK
      • USA
      • Wales
  • PORTFOLIO
    • Freelance writing portfolio
    • Speaking and teaching
    • Photography portfolio
    • Buy my photos
You are here: Home / Restaurants / London restaurants / The Meat Co., Westfield

The Meat Co., Westfield

by Jeanne Horak on September 13, 2013 8 Comments in London restaurants

MeatCoWestfieldTitle © J Horak-Druiff 2013

One of the questions that I am asked on a regular basis when people hear I am South African is “where can I find a good South African restaurant in London?”.  Given the fact that there are about 500,000 South Africans living in the UK, you’d think that this would be an easy question to answer – but it isn’t.  For homesick South Africans, there are of course the numerous branches of Nando’s (a brand that originated squarely in Johannesburg, despite its Portuguese slant) and the odd outpost of Spur Steak Ranches (again, a quasi-native American theme despite its South African roots). But neither of these (nor Cape Town Fish Market) will tell you much about South Africa’s broad culinary heritage.  Places like the B Bar, Vivat Bacchus and High Timber are all connected to South Africa and their menus nod in that direction but none of them want to be seen as a themed restaurant; and then there is the utterly weird Shaka Zulu which is more of a pan-African theme park than a South African restaurant.  In fact, until recently, I would have said that Chakalaka probably provides the closest experience to what you’d find in a restaurant in South Africa, with their game-heavy menu and boerewors served with (of course) chakalaka.  So when a press release popped into my inbox mentioning that The Meat Co. (formerly the Meat & Wine Co.) in Westfield had just won an award for best South African restaurant in London, my ears pricked up.

South African restauranteurs Costa Tomazos and Bradley Michael established FoodFund International in 2000, a venture with which they hoped to bring South African hospitality to the world.  The first Meat Co. restaurant (their flagship brand) opened in Johannesburg’s Montecasino complex, with the aim of creating a unique and enjoyable steakhouse dining experience catering for meat lovers in a sophisticated yet relaxed environment.  This was quickly followed by a second location in Darling Harbor, Sydney and today the group comprises 13 restaurant sin prime locations in South Africa, Australia, the Middle East and the UK.  The group sources the finest quality meat from around the globe and age it themselves before it is flame grilled to order and served by people with a passion for service. As testimony to their commitment to excellence, The Meat Co. was named as winner of the South African Restaurant of the year in the 2013 in the  South African Achievers Awards, an award structure established to recognise and celebrate UK-based South Africans who push boundaries to succeed, help others,  and do their country proud.  Specifically, their award recognised The Meat Co.’s efforts to bring South African cuisine and culture to the world.

 

MeatCoWestfieldRoom © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

MeatCoWestfieldBeads © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

The restaurant is located in the strip of restaurants and shops located outdoors on the fringe of the Westfield mall itself and occupies spacious premises over two floors. We started with cocktails and drinks al fresco on the terrace leading off the ground-floor assegai-shaped Puza bar – there is a good cocktail (and mocktail) menu and most are priced under £8 which makes a change from Central London.  After drinks and introductions we headed up the rather grand staircase to the dining area.  The dining room is decorated in Africa-inspired earth tones and flame orange with a rather mesmerising bead “curtain” running along the staircase and hundreds of bottles of wine in glass display cases forming an unusual backdrop.  Tables are large and generously spaced (unusual for London, but very evocative of South Africa!) and service when we visited was outstanding.  Our server (from Johannesburg, I believe) was knowledgeable, friendly and helpful in a way that you seldom encounter in London.  We were told that the servers regularly taste the dishes on the menu so as to enable them to make meaningful recommendations to diners, rather than the disinterested shrug that often follows a request for recommendations.

The wine list is extensive (60 wines or so) and spans the globe, from Australia via Europe to the Americas with a good selection of South African wines (of course!).  It’s nice to see premium South African reds on a London wine list including the iconic Meerlust Rubicon (£71) and the Boekenhoutskloof Chocolate Block (£63) which we had, but I was surprised to find no South African sparklers or dessert wines on the menu.  Prices range from under £20 for a bottle – with a good selection in the £20-£30 range – to £480 for a first growth Bordeaux but almost all the wines are below £100. The food menu is divided into starters, salads, steaks, burgers and other specialities such as ribs, skewers and a couple of vegetarian options; and before we chose our server presented us with an impressive platter of raw meats and explained to us in impressive detail how the different cuts of steak differ.  You can choose between various cuts of British beef aged for 30 days; or North American grain-fed beef aged for 35+ days; and if you wish, you can also create your own custom steak and seafood platter combo.

 

MeatCoWestfieldCalamari © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

I chose to start with the salt & pepper calamari with Nam Jim sauce (£8.00), but was sorely tempted by both the boerewors with chakalaka and the roasted bone marrow.  If, like me, you have difficulty with decisions there is also a tasting platter which features a selection of the greatest hits from the starter menu.  The calamari arrived faultless – a feather-light crispy coating and melt-in-the-mouth tender calamari pieces – nicely offset by the spicy, salty, sweet and sour sauce. A good choice.

 

MeatCoWestfieldSteak © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

MeatCoWestfieldSteakCut © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

MeatCoWestfieldSides © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

For my main, I decided to satisfy my marrow craving go with the bone marrow fillet – a basted fillet steak served with herb-crusted roasted bone marrow and Bordelaise sauce (£45 for 200g). This was, in a word, superb. The steak was thick enough that it retained a perfect rosé colour throughout without being bloody, but was nicely charred on the outside.  The flavour was lovely and rounded as only properly aged meat can be, and Bordelaise sauce was decadent, full of intense meat and red wine flavours punctuated by morsels of poached bone marrow.  There was also a marrow bone split vertically into a length of abotu 10cm and roasted with a herby crust to yield indulgent mouthfuls of fatty marrow contrasted with the crisp herb crust. It was a standout dish (if a little rich!) and I particularly loved that the marrow was far more accessible than it usually is in bones sliced crossways. On the side, I had the hand cut potato chips and the grilled asparagus, both of which were pleasant if unremarkable.

 

MeatCoWestfieldCheesecake © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

MeatCoPistachioIcecream © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

MeatCoWestfieldChocFondant © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

MeatCoWestfieldCheesecake © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

If the short dessert menu also sends you into an agony of indecision, fear not – as with the starters it is possible to have a dessert tasting platter and try a little bit of everything.  As we had a large party, we simply ordered one of each ( more or less!).  Pride of place goes to the classic South African malva pudding (£6.50), Nelson Mandela’s favourite dessert from which £1.00 of every sale at The Meat Co. is donated to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.   This South African classic is rather like a particularly decadent sticky toffee pudding – a baked, spongy pudding doused in an apricot jam-based syrup and served with ice cream.  It was rich, sticky and comforting – the kind of pudding I would easily cross town for. Another hit was the hot chocolate fondant with pistachio ice cream (£7.50)  This was a fantastic fondant packed with the flavours of bitter dark chocolate and pistachio in the oozing heart of the fondant; and the ice-cream was pistachio-flavoured rather than almond flavoured, my personal barometer of good pistachio ice-cream. A plate of assorted ice-creams and sorbets was also available, although I did not try this – I was saving space for the peanut butter cheesecake (£7.50).  It’s very hard to exaggerate just how awesome this was – like the love-child of a cheesecake and a Reese’s peanut butter cup and completely addictive.

Was it an authentic South African experience?  Well, yes, actually – both in terms of the service and the menu which would not look out of place somewhere like the hugely popular Butcher Shop and Grill, a Johannesburg steak institution.  My steak-loving husband always complains that the steak here “is not like it is at home” but I think even he would struggle to find fault with The Meat Co.  And if the steak does not keep him happy, there’s always the biltong (air-dried beef) and droëwors (air-dried sausage), both specially made for the restaurant).   As an added bonus, The Meat Co. also has an approved Halal menu and do not use alcohol in any of their basting sauces, table sauces or prepared dishes.  Kosher steaks are also available on request (72 hours’ notice required.) The prices are not cheap  – what I had would have cost in the region of £100 (assuming sharing a bottle of wine), but it is possible to pop in for a cheaper steak or even a burger at a fraction of the cost.  Alternatively, save up and treat your self – it’s still cheaper than a flight from London to Johannesburg!

 

Liked: the excellent steak, the friendly staff, the South African vibe
Disliked:  nothing
In a nutshell: Ignore the fact that it is in Westfield – you’d never know, and the steaks & service are fabulous
Wow factor out of 10:  7.5

DISCLOSURE:  I enjoyed this meal as a guest of The Meat Co. but received no further remuneration to write this post and all opinions are my own. 

 

The Meat Co.
Unit 1026
Westfield London Shopping Centre
Ariel Way
London
W12 7GA

Tel. +44 (0)20 8749 5914
Fax +44 (0)20 8834 4889
E-mail: [email protected]
The Meat Co. on Urbanspoon

More deliciousness for you!

  • Saturday Snapshots #16Saturday Snapshots #16
  • Saturday Snapshots #141Saturday Snapshots #141
  • One egg, two egg – the EoMEoTE#10 Dr Seuss round-upOne egg, two egg – the EoMEoTE#10 Dr Seuss round-up
  • Braai, the Beloved Country: the 2012 round-upBraai, the Beloved Country: the 2012 round-up

Never miss a Cooksister post

If you enjoyed this post, enter your e-mail address here to receive a FREE e-mail update when a new post appears on Cooksister

I love comments almost as much as I love cheese - so if you can't leave me any cheese, please leave me a comment instead!

« Saturday Snapshots #263
Saturday Snapshots #264 »

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Kit says

    September 13, 2013 at 7:29 pm

    Now I want a scoop of that peanut butter cheesecake – sounds gorgeous, as does everything else.

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      October 21, 2013 at 4:45 pm

      Oh Kit, the peanut butter cheesecake would make angels weep tears of joy…!

      Reply
  2. Liza says

    September 14, 2013 at 11:27 am

    There is not one in Cape Town. So sad … wanted to visit one this Xmas!
    Oh well … maybe the one in the UK can be organised! Sounds tooooo good to be missed ! Thanks for alerting our tastebuds again Jeanne!

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      October 21, 2013 at 4:45 pm

      Hah – ja, you want to jump ship and go to SA in December 😉 But definitely one to try next time you come over to London – let me know when you will come over next and we can make a plan!

      Reply
  3. Sally - My Custard Pie says

    September 14, 2013 at 12:04 pm

    The Meat Co is massively popular here in Dubai. Opened a bottle of Chocolate Block this weekend. A delicious fruit bomb.

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      October 21, 2013 at 4:44 pm

      Interesting. I am sure that their ability to provide Halaal menus is a huge bonus there, plus the S African expat community must love them!

      Reply
  4. Andrew says

    September 16, 2013 at 6:13 pm

    It all sounds delightful… and beautifully photographed too if I may say so… good choice on the wine – certainly one of my faves from South Africa!

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      October 21, 2013 at 4:43 pm

      Can’t go wrong with the Chocolate Block! Glad you liked the photos – the light was… challenging!!

      Reply
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Never miss a Cooksister post!

Get my latest recipes delivered by e-mail!

Search over 500 recipes

Recently on Cooksister

  • Perfect broccoli and Stilton soup [keto, low carb, GF]
  • Masalchi by Atul Kochhar – Indian street food in Wembley
  • Barbecued salmon with blood oranges and capers
  • Roasted Brussels sprouts with feta, pomegranate and pine nuts [GF, V]
  • Love Yourself healthy meal delivery [Review]
  • Antillean
  • Festive roast lamb with pomegranate glaze
  • Rustic blood orange and pistachio galettes

Archives by month

Archives by category

Popular posts

Peppermint Crisp fridge tart - a South African treat
Oxtail and red wine potjie
Nigella's Bakewell slices & the Big Bakewell Taste-off
Gem squash 101: how to find them, how to grow them, how to eat them!
Roosterkoek - a South African braai essential
Jan Ellis pudding - a classic South African dessert

Featured on

Also available on

The wonderful Museum of the Moon installation - a The wonderful Museum of the Moon installation - a 7 metre diameter scale model of the moon suspended in the Painted Hall at the  @oldroyalnavalcollege in Greenwich this week, by @lukejerramartist. A surreal and fabulous sight!
Do you enjoy free art installations? Then you need Do you enjoy free art installations? Then you need to get down to @canarywharflondon between now and Saturday 28 Jan to catch the free Winter Lights 2023 event, back for the seventh year.

My favourites include @lukejerramartist ‘s Floating Earth; Tom Lambert’s Out of the Dark; Fluorescent Firs; Toroid by This is Loop; and the surreal and mesmerising Anima by MEATS - a tunnel filled with hundreds of thin optical fibre lights that change colour and move in the breeze 😍 

Have you been to Winter Lights? What was your favourite?
“When we look down at the Earth from space, we s “When we look down at the Earth from space, we see this amazing, indescribably beautiful planet. It looks like a living, breathing organism. But it also, at the same time, looks extremely fragile.” - International Space Station astronaut Ron Garamond

To experience the “overview effect” (a phenomenon experienced by astronauts viewing the earth from space), head down to Canary Wharf in the London docklands this week where you can see @lukejerramartist ‘s beautiful Floating Earth installation as part of the Winter Lights event. 

This giant 10m diameter installation is created using high resolution NASA images to create a floating scale model of the Earth, lit from within so that it glows from its current home on the Middle Dock, surrounded by the headquarters of international banking and finance corporations.

The artist hopes that viewed in this context, the installation will make visitors and the bankers working in surrounding buildings question how their money in savings and pensions is invested, and whether investments can be greener.

Aside from being a thought provoking piece, it is also mesmerising and surreally beautiful, so make sure you visit the free Winter Lights event before ends on Saturday 28 Jan.
Happy lunar new year! [Invited] To celebrate the Happy lunar new year! 

[Invited] To celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Rabbit, why not head over to @mamachensdumplings currently doing a residence at the @thegantrylondon in #stratford where you can feast on prawn & chive dumplings; pork, Chinese cabbage and shiitake mushroom dumplings; pork & prawn wontons with Mama Chen’s chilli oil; vegetable dumplings; smacked cucumber salad; and spicy noodles coated in garlic and Szechuan pepper oil.

And afterwards, make sure you head up to the @unionsocialoc bar for a cocktail - I loved the Moreish Fashion with bourbon, PX sherry, chestnuts and mandarin orange bitters!
Got leftover Stilton (or any blue cheese) from Chr Got leftover Stilton (or any blue cheese) from Christmas? Turn it into this super simple and super indulgent broccoli and Stilton soup! So easy to make and soooo delicious to eat - and it is low carb and GF. What more could you want?! Click the link in my bio for the full recipe. What’s your favourite soup?
CELEBRATE. So the fireworks are over, the champag CELEBRATE.

So the fireworks are over, the champagne is finished and the leftovers are all eaten. We are one week into 2023 and I have had some time to think about what my intent is for the year. 

In 2022 my brother had a life saving kidney transplant. Since the operation, he has had a Peanuts cartoon as his WhatsApp profile pic, where Charlie Brown and Snoopy are sitting on a pier talking. Charlie says “Some day, we all die Snoopy.” And Snoopy replies: “Yes - but every other day, we will live.”

Waking up in the morning is a gift, every day, and it is so easy to forget this. The last few years have been difficult for so many people and the coming year promises its own challenges. But every day that we don’t die is a day to live, to celebrate life in some small way.

So my intention in 2023 is to celebrate. Celebrate our achievements however small. Celebrate our friends and family. Celebrate small things. Celebrate life.

Did you make any resolutions or goals for 2023? I would love to hear them in the comments! Wishing you all the very best for 2023 🥂
Happy new year, everyone! Here are some scenes fro Happy new year, everyone! Here are some scenes from last night with friends in Deptford. My deconstructed avocado ritz; @twinkleparkstephen ‘s bobitie; Giles’ Ottolenghi tomato salad; and Jean’s clementine trifle - and the London night sky ablaze with fireworks!  How did you spend your evening? 🥂🎇🎆
Merry Christmas to all those celebrating - I hope Merry Christmas to all those celebrating - I hope your day was merry and bright, filled with family, friends and love 🎄🥂. Mine was spent alone at home - my choice and the result of a combination of Covid (not mine!) and rail strikes 🤦‍♀️ but very relaxing and indulgent!
Looking for a stylish and easy Christmas starter y Looking for a stylish and easy Christmas starter you can make ahead? Look no further than my individual smoked salmon terrine! Hot smoked salmon, cream cheese and chives wrapped in cold smoked salmon in a ramekin. Still one of the most popular Christmas recipes in my blog, it looks cheffy but is soooo simple to make - and will save you time and effort on the day! Get the recipe by clicking on the link in my bio.

How is your Christmas meal prep going? Are you entertaining at home or going to friends or family? 🎄🥂🎄🥂🎄
Load More... Follow me on Instagram

Follow Jeanne Horak-Druiff's board Recipes by Cooksister on Pinterest.

Cooksister

The South African Food and Wine Blog Directory

The South African Food and Wine Blog Directory

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Jeanne Horak is a freelance food and travel writer; recipe developer and photographer. South African by birth and Londoner by choice, Jeanne has been writing about food and travel on Cooksister since 2004. She is a popular speaker on food photography and writing has also contributed articles, recipes and photos to a number of online and print publications. Jeanne has also worked with a number of destination marketers to promote their city or region. Please get in touch to work with her Read More…

Latest Recipes

Bowls of broccoli and Stilton soup
Salmon with blood oranges dill and capers
Brussels sprouts with feta and pomegranate
Roast lamb with pomegranate glaze
Blood orange & pistachio galettes
Cauliflower topped steak with melted cheese
Plate of potted smoked salmon with slaw and a glass of champagne
bowls of pistachio pomegranate bircher muesli

SITEMAP

Home

Contact

About me

Recipe Index

Restaurant Index

Copyright & Disclaimer

Cookies & privacy policy




blog counter

© 2004 - 2023 · Jeanne Horak unless otherwise stated - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. You may not reproduce any text, excerpts or images without my prior permission. Site by RTW Labs

Copyright © 2023 · Cooksister on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Cooksister cookie consent
We use cookies to ensure you receive the best experience on our site. If you continue to use this site, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions. Accept
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT