Foodie Review: Bukowski Charcoal Grill, Soho:

Earlier this month, my best friends came to London to visit myself and Jack for the weekend. Wanting to try somewhere new and that would satisfy all pallets, the five of us headed over to Bukowski Charcoal Grill in Soho to give it a go. Here's my review...

**Update April 2018: Unfortunately Bukowski Grill has now closed all restaurants**

Having made a reservation at an interactive Japanese restaurant nearby which turned out to be a major let down - we wandered the surrounding area and purely by chance stumbled across Bukowski. Having had a quick glance at the menu from the street, we were surprised by the value and variety and thought we'd give it a go. 

Created by chef and designer Robin Freeman, Bukowski has recently opened four branches and is a modern American inspired bar and grill. Offering a selection burgers, ribs, wings and steaks, they offer a variety of hearty dishes; as well a selection of cocktails, spirits and Craft beers. Having sat down in our booth, we jumped right in...

Since I was eating with some serious foodies, starters seemed only fitting to get the most out of the menu. Ash kickstarted his meal with some XXX Hot XXX Chicken Wings (pictured above) - smoked chicken wings in barn burner sauce. Luckily for Ash, there were the hottest wings on the menu which means they were a no-go for me because they looked good enough to steal. According to Ash, however, these are amazing and made for the perfect starter before tucking in to yet more meat. Also for starters were the Tasso Pig Cheek with Pickled Peach Relish. This may not have sounded the most appetising but this was surprisingly light and full of flavour. 

For mains, Jack opted for the Full Rack of Baby Back Ribs served with spicy reds onions, pickles and an added side order of (not so) skinny fries. Again, I was really impressed with the value on this dish - and we thought the starter version looked big until this arrived. The ribs, besides being huge, were bursting of flavour and had the perfect blend of sweetness, combined with a deep smokey taste. The sauce itself was delicious and so I would most definitely recommend this as their signature dish.

Finally, I went for The Flat Iron Steak (cooked medium rare - but more on the rare side) served with tarragon and garlic butter. As a side, I chose the Beef Dripping Roast Potatoes which I'd say are the best roast potatoes I've had a restaurant. Fluffy on the inside and the perfect consistency of crunch on the outside. As well as this, the steak was fantastic - the cut was delicious, with no fat and cooked perfectly. I'd say that it was cooked fantastically although perhaps there could with some very slight extra seasoning. All in all, I'd give this steak a good 4 out of 5.

For all you veggies out there, you may struggle to find a selection at Bukowski's but there are dishes available - particularly with side dishes such as beans and the selection of toppings with fries and potatoes. The Mac 'n' Cheese dish is absolutely amazing whilst The Vegetarian burger offers a hearty main; made from kidney beans, roasted butternut squash, fresh herbs and spices served with tomato, lettuce, red onion chutney and mayo in a toasted bun.

I'll be honest - we loved this restaurant so much that we went back the following weekend with another, bigger group of friends. I'm still really impressed with the value of the food being that for less than £16, you can get yourself a fantastic steak, served with delicious potatoes and a drink. Something I thought was close to impossible in Soho. and despite our second visit being super busy, they were still very good with the service and a very friendly and efficient team.

If you'd like to visit Bukowski's, the cost of a starter, main, side and a couple of drinks are likely to cost you around £25 a head and you will not be disappointed. Each plate is very generous and absolutely delicious. I'd love to try some of the other branches but the Soho one gets a thumbs up from me. If you're looking for a fun place for date night or a relaxed place to take your friends, this could be a great shout. Wonderful atmosphere, great menu and excellent value - what more could you want?

So that's it for another foodie review - have you been to Bukowski's yet? Where your favourite value places in London? As always, I love reading your comments so please do leave me lots of lovely ones down below.

Until next time fellow foodies,