From the front of house to the kitchen, The Lonsdale has an impeccable line-up of industry pros pushing the buttons and, if you’re hankering after a premium piece of steak and a few killer cocktails in a fabulous setting, The Lonsdale is a heavyweight contender.

The Venue
In the incestuous world of London’s hospitality trade, it's common to come across people who reel off their previous employers in order to display their credentials, a trait akin to a DJ inflating their own status by putting a seminal club after their name on a flyer, even if the closest they got to the turntables was on their way round collecting glasses. Fortunately at The Lonsdale, the track record of key members of staff – stints at Momo, Hawksmoor, The Ivy and Cocoon – is genuinely suitably impressive and as for what they’re doing now? Well, they’re running a stunning venue in a highly desirable part of town to extremely high standards.

Situated on an enviable residential street near Westbourne Grove, The Lonsdale is a stunner of a venue. In the dining area, matt-finished mottled gold walls curve in seductive fashion, whilst glossy lipstick-red leather seating hugs the walls. There’s a bar area at the front, ideal for pulling up a high stool and sipping cocktails but for the whole shebang you need to be loafing on one of the ruby-red croc-effect banquettes at the rear. There’s an additional room on the first floor which is used for private functions. This being Notting Hill it comes as no surprise to hear that Emma Bunton is a big fan.

The Atmosphere
Due to its lack of natural light – there isn’t much to speak of – The Lonsdale definitely chimes as an evening and late-night hangout. Having said that, as a bolt hole, one that has the ability to make you lose track of time, it’s bang on too. Service is faultless. You will find DJs in session at peak times, with social butterfly Poppy Delevigne just one of the recent guests.

The Food
Considering the chef used to work at steak-specialists’ Hawksmoor, you’d imagine this is a venue that can handle their prime cuts – and you won’t be disappointed. Beef is ferried in from Allen’s in Mayfair, a butcher with a revered reputation, and it dominates the menu. A handful of cuts are on offer and they’re all of a whopping girth, the smallest is a 250g fillet and the others are a butch 350g. The rib eye (£21.50) is served with a side and a sauce of your choice, both of which are included in the price. The beef is sensational; fries are crunchy and salty; green beans are crisp and garlicky; and the béarnaise is fine if a little overly tart. Another enjoyable dish is the chicken breast which arrives atop a bed of fluffy herb mash, with a pungent wild mushroom sauce enhancing the flavour.

The menu has other notable options: a goat’s cheese and tomato salad (£6.50) is presented on a brittle slice of galette, a savoury crunchy pie-base-like treat that’s joined on the plate by peppery rocket and a mound of homemade pesto. A seared scallop and chorizo with pureed butternut squash (£8) is another starter that uses quality ingredients in a commendable way.

If you have room for a pud (£5.50), unlikely after the size of the steak, a bannofee pie or sticky toffee pudding are available. The pie, although perfectly acceptable, does not scale the heights of the previous courses.

The Drink
Cocktails are a big deal at The Lonsdale and the menu is almost biblical in its proportions Divided into several sections, it has an entire section dedicated to the groundbreaking work of cocktail legend Dick Bradsell. His list includes creations like the Bramble and the Treacle, with a note of the year and venue of their origin. The Lonsdale’s Treacle does its creator proud. Myer’s dark rum is mixed with apple juice, sugars and bitters to create a drink that’s powerful yet refreshing. Plenty of other drinks hit the spot - an elderflower martini and a plenty-of-bang-for-your-buck Jim Bary Shiraz (£8 per glass/£35 per bottle) are just two examples.

The Last Word
A lot of hot air gets spouted about venues in the capital but when you’re in the hands of true professionals, who use the finest ingredients and years of experience in the trade to deliver an outstanding product in beautiful surroundings, you leave with the feeling that this is one venue where you really should believe the hype.

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