The latest addition to the Black and Blue group is on the King's Road on the site of old favourite, Picasso. It’s just been refitted – decked out in natural colours and low-level lighting. It’s cosy and intimate and, on a wet Saturday evening, pleasantly quiet.
It is the first location in the group to open for breakfast as well as serve its well-heeled customers a range of fabulous cocktails in the evening. Given its location in the retail heaven that is the King’s Road, the Chelsea branch was also the first in the group to introduce a lighter lunch range including a salad Niçoise, steak paillard and eggs Benedict to appeal to the ladies that lunch.
For starters, we tried the crayfish salad, which was served with crisp lettuce leaves and creamy avocado. The fois gras paté with toasted brioche was also nice – although the creamy richness of the paté might have been better offset with some brown bread toast.
But the real star of the show is the restaurant’s steak. The sirloin was tasty and perfectly cooked and the Côte de boeuf, a 600g monster, was delicious, if slightly excessive for one. No matter, we ploughed through, savouring the delicious, tender meat.
Most impressively, the mains came with a wonderful bowl of salad to share. This was not the normal limp side salad you might expect, but beautiful leaves tossed with emmental cheese and walnuts, with a delicious dressing, served in a huge wooden bowl. It complimented the steak perfectly.
After that, dessert didn’t quite live up to expectations. While the chocolate brownie and New York cheese cake were very nice, they tasted slightly mass-produced and seemed not to live up to the high standards set by the main course.
However, a pleasant evening encased in one of the restaurants cosy green leather booths, sipping a generous glass of red wine and eating succulent meat can’t be all bad. Go for the steak, but don’t feel you should save room for dessert.
Three course dinner for two with wine is around £80.
Update: The Black and Blue restaurant has now closed.
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