Popular cut-price steak joint Flat Iron has added another site to its ever-expanding restaurant portfolio, which now takes in a handful of locations across the capital. Flat Iron Spitalfields finds its home on Commercial Street, taking over a site which was previously occupied by Pizza Express. The restaurant is also just a few minutes’ walk away from the brand’s other location on Curtain Road, which is still going strong.
If you’re not familiar with the concept, Flat Iron’s USP is its concise menu of affordable steaks and sides. At each Flat Iron branch, the menu consists of its signature flat iron steak cut, which is served with a house leaf salad for just £10. You can also add sides to your meal, such as dripping chips, creamed spinach or roasted aubergine. Diners can check out the blackboard on the wall to see what the daily-changing specials are, while all of the usual sauces (bearnaise, peppercorn etc.) are on hand too.
The natural accompaniment to steak is wine, and Flat Iron offers up a short selection of red and white wines by the glass or carafe. If you don’t fancy vino though, there are also a handful of beers on offer, as well as some great value cocktails and soft options for those not looking to drink alcohol.
The Flat Iron group famously does not take reservations, which means you might find yourself queueing up for a table, with waiting times especially long in the evening. Thankfully, most branches are happy to take down your number, so that you can grab drinks elsewhere while you wait for a table to become available.
Unique to the Spitalfields site is a cast iron stove from the 1800s which is being used to create Flat Iron’s own take on that most classically British of desserts, sticky toffee pudding.
Images: Steven Joyce