Butcher shop, bar, restaurant, café… what exactly IS the Butcher and Grill? Best not to think too hard about it. Go with the flow and you’ll have a great time.

The Venue
Quaint and painfully cute, the Butcher and Grill is an attractive proposition. The bold, manly (it is a butcher after all) sign declares its presence loudly and the blue and white striped canopy that hangs down from the side of the building makes it look exactly like a butcher's. It gets you excited about eating meat (sorry vegetarians but it’s unlikely you’ll want to visit somewhere with butcher in the title), and inside, it’s pretty chain-like in terms of its neutral, inoffensive décor and neat little rows of wooden tables nestled against blue leather seating. However, the butcher counter with its array of fresh, beautifully cut meats hanging proudly add another dimension to this space at a time when fresh, natural and well sourced ingredients are all the rage. Big tick.

The Atmosphere
It's meat eaters only and boy do they like their meat here. You’ll find a mix of Battersea locals who don’t like to venture too far from home, probably because of a lack of tube (shock, horror). It can get busy at the weekend and the place fills up with a hectic but not unpleasant atmosphere that sets the tone for a few drinks over dinner. The staff are friendly and full of smiles although their knowledge of the origins of some of the meat and the wine could be more thorough.

The Food
You can almost taste how fresh the food is at the Butcher and Grill. With their meat responsibly sourced following RSPCA guidelines it’s easy to get caught up in the romance of it all as you imagine happy smiling cows (do cows smile?) running around lush green fields. Although they offer main courses like crab risotto and chicken breast it has to be the steak here. And the prices aren’t too bad with a 7oz rib eye steak coming in at well under £20. Juicy, tender and succulent a medium rare steak is pink and a little bloody with rich flavours that melt in the mouth. And the steaks are consistently well cooked from this menu. Highly recommended is a side of buttery, creamy mash (£2.75), crisp and fluffy chips (£2.75) and a creamy, rich béarnaise sauce, which is free impressively. You can definitely eat a big, meaty and well cooked meal here for around £25.

The Drink
The Butcher and Grill is all about the wine. Red wine, obviously, although they have an equally well thought out selection of whites. Pah! Starting at just £14.50 and ranging up to well over £100, it’s also varied enough to cover most budgets. However, the menu could do with being better described to help with making a decision as to what you want to order – especially as some of the staff don’t seem to feel confident in making recommendations. Luckily, the wine list has been well put together so if you’re taking a shot in the dark you’re unlikely to end up with a bad bottle.

The Last Word
A meat lover's paradise. Fill up on steak and then buy some fresh meat to take home with you. Ideal.

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