Kindling is back as a Simply Steak restaurant and as a steak-lover I had to go and check it out... 

Apparently, steakhouses are seeing a rise in popularity due to the meat being a great source of protein and therefore being recommended as part of the ‘clean eating’ trend. This was all news to me because as far as I’m concerned steak has never been in or out of fashion, it’s like the little black dress, always in style.

I feel the need to point out that while I am an omnivore, I’m not one of those annoying meat-eaters that claim it’s not a meal without meat, I’ve enjoyed many nights out at vegan or vegetarian restaurants and will often have meat-free days. But there is something special about going out for steak. All this is to explain why I was so delighted when I heard that not only is Kindling back but it is now a steak restaurant so when they asked if we would like to go down to do a review, I elbowed the others out of the way to steak my claim! 

Kindling is an intimate restaurant in The Lanes, making it a great spot to refuel after a shopping spree or perhaps enjoy a pre-show meal. The restaurant has a lovely, laid-back vibe with plenty of greenery making it feel like an oasis of calm away from the hustle & bustle of the city centre. We were welcomed with a smile and while the seats at the back looked cosy, we opted to sit nearer the front so we could nose at both the passers-by as well as watching the open kitchen.

There are some great lunch offers available including a Bavette steak & chips for just £15 or the House burger & chips for £14 however we decided to go for the full experience and ordered a T-Bone sharing steak. On the side we chose a salad, sweet potato fries, mac & cheese and then for the sauces we went with chimichurri and garlic butter. Having the open kitchen is a great way to build the excitement for the meal as we kept being treated to tempting wafts from the grill. And when the food came out, we were not disappointed. The restaurant bills itself as ‘Simply Steak’ where the charcoal grill is the star of the show, and this comes across in the presentation. It’s all beautifully presented but there’s no fancy stacking of ingredients or artful squiggles of jus. The food takes centre stage, and I think I only just stopped myself from drooling when I first caught sight of our T-Bone. The sauces were delicious but for the most part I had the steak as it was as it was so full of flavour.

Naturally the steak was the protagonist, but the sides offered excellent support, the sweet potato fries were as moreish as all fries should be and I have to admit the salad was surprisingly good. I’ll confess the salad was ordered as a bit of an after-thought to try and add a pop of colour to the photos however it turned out this was far more than just iceberg and cherry tomatoes. The salad included a mix of lettuce, pickled radish, sun-kissed tomatoes, crispy shallots, walnuts and mixed seeds adding a tasty crunch to this colourful side dish.

This was already a larger lunch then I would normally have but I figured I could squeeze in a dessert if they sounded tempting enough and of course it’s all good content for the social channels – well that’s my excuse anyway! In the end the desserts sounded so tempting that we had to order all three. There was a Basque cheesecake with cherry coulis, chocolate molten cake with hazelnut ice cream and a lemon posset with raspberry compote and thyme shortbread. The main menu may be simple but the desserts offer something a bit different. Instragrammers will love the more decorative presentation, particularly the dainty flower on the posset, but foodies don’t worry as it tastes great too. The posset was really sharp but my favourite will always be the chocolate option and the hazelnut ice cream ensured this pudding was not too sweet.

All too soon it was time to leave but we agreed that we would definitely be back soon particularly as just a couple of days after our visit the restaurant launched a new Roast menu available on Sundays & Mondays. Here are the details they sent us: Kindling roasts come as a sharer for two and feature a 450g dry-aged Cote de Boeuf cooked over a live fire for that perfect smoky goodness, crispy duck fat rosemary roast potatoes, heritage maple-roasted carrots, a giant Yorkshire, char-grilled hispi cabbage, and, of course, rich red wine and onion gravy to drizzle over it all. Priced at £29 per person (£58 for the sharing roast for two). Oh my goodness that has made my stomach growl in anticipation and to make us really drool they have also sent us this photo: 

Whether you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy a cosy couple’s night, a hearty Sunday Roast or need a midweek pick-me-up I recommend enjoying simply steak vibes at Kindling.

Charlotte

^{Photographs within this post are the reviewers own except for the final professional Sharing Roast image sent to us by Kindling.} 

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