The finest fire-themed restaurant in the UK
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| Basque Tortilla |
Ibai has established itself as one of London's finest destinations for serious steak lovers, yet reducing it to merely a steak restaurant would miss much of what makes it special. Located in the heart of the city, this Basque-inspired restaurant captures the spirit of northern Spain with remarkable confidence, combining exceptional produce, restrained cooking, and a deep respect for tradition. The menu is built around the principles that have made Basque cuisine so admired around the world: outstanding ingredients, precise cooking, and an understanding that simplicity often requires the greatest skill. One of the great pleasures of dining at Ibai is exploring the daily specials, which are treated not as afterthoughts but as central attractions.
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| Cinco Jotas Iberico Ham & Crisps, smoked piparra peppers |
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| Croque Ibai: carabinero, boudin noir and Tomme de Brebis |
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| Seabass curdo |
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| Roasted scallops |
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| Tolosa Beans, asparagus with black truffle |
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| Iberico pork belly pinxtos |
An example is the ember-roasted scallop cooked over glowing coals, the scallop possessed a remarkable sweetness, enhanced rather than overwhelmed by the subtle smokiness imparted by the fire. The texture was flawless, retaining a delicate firmness while remaining luxuriously tender. Equally impressive was the tortilla, a seemingly simple dish that revealed extraordinary attention to detail. Rich, silky and deeply comforting, it captured the essence of Spanish food while showcasing exceptional technique. Of course, no discussion of Ibai can ignore its extraordinary Galician steak, which remains among the very best available anywhere in London, where exceptional beef is treated with reverence and cooked with precision over charcoal. The result is a steak that achieves a rare balance between intensity and elegance. The beef possesses profound depth of flavour, delivering the rich nuttiness and complexity that only carefully selected and properly matured cattle can provide.
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| Octopus & piperade marmitako |
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| Grilled XL Carabinero Prawn |
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| 1kg Galician rib |
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| Wagyu sirloin |
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| Grilled asparagus |
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| Ibai Gâteau Basque with summer berries |
Rather than attempting to impress through novelty or extravagance, Ibai impresses through unwavering quality. Every course reinforces the same message, creating a sense of trust between diner and kitchen that grows stronger as the meal progresses. By the end of the evening, what lingers most is not a single spectacular dish but the consistency of excellence across the entire experience. The daily specials showcase creativity and seasonality, the seafood demonstrates precision and freshness, and the steak confirms its status among London's elite. Together, they form a restaurant that feels complete in a way that few establishments manage to achieve. For diners seeking one of the capital's greatest steak experiences, Ibai deserves a place at the very top of the list. Yet to describe it merely as a steak restaurant would undersell its ambitions and achievements. It is, more accurately, an outstanding Basque restaurant that happens to serve some of the finest beef in the city.
Food 4.5/5
What I paid: £125 per person with wine
Average cost without drinks and services: £80 (dinner)
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