Hawksmoor, Air Street

I've heard so many great things about Hawksmoor Seven Dials that it has always been on my must visit list. When I was given the opportunity to visit the Air Street Hawksmoor it was like a dream come true.

The decor inside is very art deco, glitzy; I loved the stained glass windows, chunky wooden veneer tables and the jade green booth seats. Ava Gardner would have felt right at home here.

To start I had the crab on toast with mayonnaise. The crab was sweet and fresh. You have to be a lover of crab to appreciate this dish, otherwise you might be underwhelmed by the lack of oomph with the taste of just crab. Beware of shell in the crab though. Compared to the crab on offer at J Sheekeys, I much prefer Hawksmoors, because beneath what looks like just a leaf garnish were capers and julienne of gherkin which brought the dish to life giving it a zing against the sweet mellow crab.

For main: I really wanted to try the chateaubriand but just couldn't decide how much I could actually eat so thought I best keep it safe and go with a pre-weighed steak thinking I could gobble up a rib eye, I chose peppercorn sauce on the side. Of course I had to have chips, but had a choice of beef dripping fries and triple cooked chips.

When the steak arrived it looked a little sorry for itself, all lonely on the plate, no garnish, not even a little bunch of lambs lettuce like the usual steak place offering, nothing.

When I cut into the steak it was tender and juicy, I could see why so many people come here for steak. The peppercorn sauce on the side was amazing, creamy with a little kick of pepper, I could of drunk the gravy boat serving of peppercorn sauce and been so happy, but since I was in public and faced the potential of sauce dripping down my face I decided against it.

The fries were super crispy, I think I would of preferred the fries pimped up a bit, flavoured with some rosemary or garlic, to make it even more interesting. The triple cooked chips were amazing. They were crispy on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside, perfect to mop up my peppercorn sauce, even better at the bottom of the chips tub were the little chipped pieces of chips which were super crisp as a little treat at the end of the meal.

They serve ketchup with steak. I didn't quite catch what type of ketchup it was but it was delicious. There was a deep intense taste that I couldn't work out what it was, it tasted like it had in the background like mushroom or anchovies, that deep taste that wild mushrooms and anchovies give without been "fishy" etc. Just be careful with the ketchup bottles as ours was messy once opened.

Whilst eating, a gentleman on a nearby table ordered the Potted beef and bacon with yorkshires. The reason I didn't order this was that I didn't want to appear to be a beast by ordering a meaty starter and a meaty main so went for the crab. When the potted beef and bacon with yorkshires arrived I knew I should have ordered it. The yorkshires looked like giant pillows of fluffiness, it looked so delicious, I was drooling just looking at it, and have fancied yorkshires ever since. I'd definitely order it next time.

The service was friendly and comfortable and not pretentious giving a relaxed atmosphere.

Lasting memory; if only I could have the steak with yorkshires and peppercorn sauce. I'm going to have to go for the Sunday roast here!!!