Flat Iron Kensington — Restaurant in London

I got suckered! I fell for the trap! Don’t be like me. Don’t fall for the hype.

Yes. I saw the viral videos about this place. It looked cool. It looked fun. Oh the food looked great.

Reality check.

Skip it. Always.

Why?

Step one. I made a reservation. Then I got a massive amount of text messages making sure I was going to show up. That should have been red flag one. But. Alas. I’m a moron.

Step two. I actually showed up on time. Walk in. Bam. A line. Red flag number 2. What the point of having a reservation if you have to wait in line because others don’t. No host? No one to sort those with vs those without? Good grief.

Step three. The table. Guess what. There is more room on a narrow body aircraft than this place. Seating is tight. People walking by all the time. Loud music. Red flag number 3. How can I hear the staff ask me anything? How can I have a conversation with my spouse? It ain’t happening here.

Step four. Food time. Let’s say the beer selection was poor at best. I avoided it. I shall try a cocktail. What I ordered was a simple thing. What I got was an atrocity. Red flag number 4. They bring you popcorn. Why? Is popcorn and steak a thing? That’s all I need is kernels stuck in my teeth before I dine.

Step five. The food. I ordered the steak. Medium. Now. I want my meat to be cooked to 145°f or 63°c. Why? That is the temperature required to kill all parasites. Look it up. I asked for a medium. Guess what. I got medium rare. What a surprise. Oh and guess what. If you need a IV because you need salt….skip the hospital. Eat here. Why did my steak come out with salt crystals on it? Why? Who does that? Red flag five.

Step six. Ok. Let’s go. Flag them down and ask for the bill. Get it. They bring us a bill with two little metal tags. Why? It’s for ice cream on the way out. Ice cream? After steak? I guess my teenager would like that. Skipped that. Paid. Got out. Walked across the street. Got a slice of pizza at Whole Foods. It was 10,000 times better.

Will I go back? No.

Why? It was hype that never even came close to the hype. Skip it. Always.

Anyway. Thank you...

Yesterday was my first time at a Flat Iron, and I'm so glad that the restaurant chain exists. The steak was the best I've ever tasted, the chips and chili mayo were great, and the green salad has some really unique and interesting flavours. For the centre of London, the price was acceptable, as well, and really good for the quality. Unfortunately, I'm dairy free at the moment, so I didn't manage to try the complimentary ice cream on leaving, but the complimentary welcome popcorn was a nice addition and helped to stave off my post-gym pangs of hunger while I endured the (relatively short) wait until my food arrived.

The only thing I didn't like was how the waitress dealt with paying by card at the end of the meal. There is a discretionary 12.5% service charge on top of the price, and the service I received was worth that added charge, but the waitress held the card in front of me with the full amount already entered and waited for me to tap my card. If I had wanted to remove the service charge, the way she presented the card reader would have made the situation really awkward - a situation that a customer should never be put in, particularly if they had received bad service. Next time I visit a Flat Iron, if the person serving me does the same thing to me again, I will ask them to remove the service charge regardless of the service I receive. Leave the machine at a point that the customer can choose to add the discretionary (i.e. optional) service charge or enter the amount that they want to pay, and dignify them with the decision to...

Flat Iron Kensington is an amazing steak place that truly exceeded all expectations! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the staff were incredibly attentive throughout our entire meal.

The food was absolutely delicious. We started with some cocktails, which were not only great tasting but also served in really cool and creative ways that added a fun twist to the dining experience. The menu offers a variety of options, but we opted for the steak and burgers. Normally, I order my steak rare because medium rare can be difficult to get just right at many restaurants. However, on the recommendation of our server, I decided to try it medium rare here. I was pleasantly surprised to receive a perfectly cooked medium rare steak—tender, juicy, and bursting with flavour. It was cooked exactly as it should be, highlighting the quality of the meat and the skill of the chefs.

The service was top-notch. The staff anticipated our needs before we even had to ask, making us feel truly taken care of. As a delightful surprise, we were offered a free dessert at the end of our meal. It was not only delicious but also a thoughtful gesture that rounded off the evening nicely.

Overall, Flat Iron Kensington provides an exceptional dining experience that combines amazing food, creative drinks, and outstanding service. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a memorable meal, and I can't...