I absolutely love steaks but I always struggle to find the right one. I’m on a mission to find the best in London and next up on my list to try was Marriot Hotel’s Manhattan Grill.
My sister and I dined at Manhattan Grill on a Friday evening after work and it was surprisingly calm, perfect for a romantic evening (apart from the fact that I was with her). You get a lovely view over West India Quay while dining and a view into the open kitchen. The interior and ambiance definitely reflect its business location. For this very reason, the peak time to visit this restaurant would be during the week. Don’t forget to come suited and booted.
The menu is very simple and straight to the point with the steaks ranging from £24-£34. The wine list on the other hand is extensive, what’s a steak without good quality red wine? There are plenty of them at Manhattan Grill. From the moment you walk in you can see a beautiful wine corner on your left.
The lovely waitress gave us a few to taste. This is available for all customers to try out while dining. I’m no wine expert and barely know the purpose of swirling your wine around in the glass. All I know is that if it tastes good, then I’m good. The staff will walk you through suggestions of what goes best with your chosen food and preference of course.
I decided on the Chilean Merlot which came in such a stylish wine glass. For starters we shared the scallops which were cooked very nicely and interestingly complemented by pea puree.
For the main course I ordered Kansas Angus Fillet. I normally go for the high fat options like Rib Eye so I wanted to try something new. On the side I had spinach in cream and fries.
Despite the restaurant being quiet, I felt that our food had been standing for a bit too long before it was served, leaving my steak slightly cold. I really liked that the fillet was tender as a good steak should be and it had small crunchy salty bits inside which were great additions to the flavour. Having been the first time I tried a fillet steak, I prefer Rib Eye as I like a bit more juice and fat in my meat. My sister had the rib eye and hers was great. Yet another stylish touch was that you could pick your own coloured steak knife.
I’m ashamed to say that we didn’t have space for desserts (very unlike me). The portions were definitely filling. Despite the slight inconsistency in the service which ultimately effected the food, overall it was a pleasant experience. Manhattan Grill is a nice restaurant with good food and lovely staff who are knowledgeable about the menu. For the price though, the food lacked the wow factor and I will continue my search for “the one”.
Manhattan Grill
22 Hertsmere Road,
Canary Wharf
London, E14 4ED
** Thank you Zomato for contributing to this meal.
