M restaurant is located a stones throw from my office. The site has been a few different restaurants over the years, maybe because it sits between the popular Brasserie Blanc and Relais de Venise. M, Threadneedle won ‘Best New Restaurant 2015’ in the Harpers Awards and with a second site coming to Victoria very soon you can understand why I was expecting good things. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations.
M looks rather magnificent when you walk in. Set over two floors it houses two restaurants, M raw and M grill together with a bar and private dining rooms. There are large leather booths and a sushi bar on the raw side. It looks rather swish.
The Food
As I mentioned, the menu is split into raw and grill, we ate in the grill part of the restaurant in one of the cosy booths. The menu does cross over a little so there are still a few raw options on there. In regards to steak, M offer cuts from six countries, (including Wagyu from Australia and Kobe from Japan).
To start we shared a swordfish sashimi served on avocado and burrata with beetroot crisps. The burrata was creamy and rich and well, just look at that centre oozing out! However, the swordfish stole the show for us. It was so delicate and fresh, and just beautiful. A wonderful dish.
Renowned for it’s steak offering we all ordered it! I went for the Argentinian rump fillet with chimichurri. A selection of sides were also ordered for the table: chips, tomatoes and mushrooms. Unfortunately this is where our meal was let down a little. The sides all individually great but my steak arrived over-cooked. I had asked for it to come rare but it arrived only just pink. This was meant to be their showstopper!
To finish we all shared an incredibly indulgent Valrhona chocolate parfait with salted pistachio and cherry sorbet. I’ve really got a thing for cherries at the moment and just loved the sorbet, it was the perfect sharpness for the rich chocolate. I have to say that the desserts looked very good and it was a shame we were too full to try more!
Though we didn’t eat from it, there is Menu 28. Designed for a quick business lunch it includes two courses and coffee in 28 minutes for £28. A very good bargain if you ask me.
Oh, and go and check out the toilets when you’re there – they are very high-tech!
Although on the whole I enjoyed our meal, it was let down on two counts. Steak arriving overcooked isn’t really acceptable, especially at these prices. It took a long time for our food to arrive so unfortunately I didn’t have time to send it back. My other two colleagues had steaks that were cooked perfectly, so I’m sure it is not the norm. But with the slightly slow and unattentive service it didn’t leave me feeling excited to come back. I was looking forward to a new face on the scene around Bank, but I’m not completely sold. I have heard great things about M but this time I didn’t see those strengths. The starters and dessert were wonderful so perhaps I need to go back and try the raw menu. I’ll report back when I do!
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I’ve been here too and we also found the food slightly mixed. Nothing terrible but some dishes were slightly bland. Still I’m really looking forward to trying the one in Victoria as it’s right on my door step!
Lots of love,
Angie
SilverSpoon London
You’re right, the food is mixed. I’d like to go back and try more of the menu as I do love the feel of the restaurant! Hopefully the Victoria one will be better! xx
Such a shame. We had THE loveliest waitress, everything arrived perfectly on time, and perfectly cooked, sad for you that you didn’t get the same experience – but it is up to restaurants to make sure they are on point every single time.
I know – when I read your review I was like, ah man. I think it was probably an off day but like you say they should be on point every time. x
Too bad you were disappointed… Thank goodness the starters and dessert were good ♥
summerdaisy.net
Yes, they were definitely their saving grace!x