Blacklock

Chop chop

Blacklock, photo from management

Blacklock is yet another meaty opening in Soho, we had Smoking Goat launched not long ago followed by Bo Drake which was just launched this month, it seems like Soho just can't get enough of BBQ meat! However out of the three that I found, Blacklock has the most simple but fun concept, serving skinny chops cooked on a homemade charcoal grill at affordable prices, sounded so appealing, and especially from former Hawksmoor Gordon Ker who I am sure knows one or two things about fine meat.

 gimlet

grilled courgettes

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. Sometimes super cheap cocktails can mean taking short cuts but that is not the case with Blacklock.  

pork chops

lamb cutlets

beef short ribs

Blacklock serves really simple grilled meat at a decent value and I can see it doing well in the near future, in a way there is every chance this place can become a chain concept with its skinny chops, similar to what Byron have done with burgers. I visited on its soft launch so the kitchen was clearly still on a learning curve, there were a few mistakes and orders did take a while, but that was as expected in a restaurant's early days. However that aside the quality of the meat was of a decent quality and I am sure this will be a popular hang out joint for meat lovers.

Food 2/5

What I paid: 
£18 per head with a cocktail

Average cost without drinks and services:
£20

Blacklock, 24 Great Windmill St, London, W1D 7LH

http://theblacklock.com/