4 /5 Zino Kua: Booked a table for two online for Valentine’s night and it was easy and straightforward, which is always a good start on such a busy evening.
The restaurant is situated in a lovely part of Hackney and has a really nice feel to it. The atmosphere was lively but still comfortable enough to enjoy a proper conversation. It felt special without trying too hard.
Service throughout the night was great. Staff were attentive, friendly and offered genuinely helpful recommendations. It never felt forced and they clearly knew the menu well.
For starters, we ordered the olives and salami. It was quite decent, I’d give it a 3/5. The salami had a nice bit of heat to it and the pickled onions added a sharpness that balanced everything nicely.
For vegetables, we had the leeks with brown butter, which I’d rate 3.5/5. The leeks were nicely charred and cooked well, soft with a slight smokiness that worked really well with the richness of the butter.
For the main, we ordered the 500g sirloin on the bone and asked for medium rare. It came out perfectly cooked and did not disappoint at all. The staff recommended trying it with the peppercorn sauce as well as the original sauce that comes with the steak, and I ended up loving both. Each sauce added something different and really elevated the dish.
The staff suggested sharing the 500g steak, which makes sense. That said, if you’re a big eater, you could easily have it to yourself without any issues.
We also ordered a side of chips to go with the steak and they were nicely done, crispy on the outside and fluffy inside.
To finish, we had the cheesecake and the tiramisu choux. Both desserts were really well done and delicious, a great way to end the meal.
Overall, I would highly recommend coming here and would happily return anytime.
