Blacklock — Review by Mark Wiens
London, United Kingdom — British
Mark Wiens visits Blacklock, a renowned British chop house famous for their Sunday roast meat mountain cooked over an open charcoal pit with English oak wood. The experience features perfectly aged meats, fluffy Yorkshire puddings, and an exceptional signature gravy with free refills. This is an absolutely outstanding traditional British dining experience that left him impressed throughout.
What was great: The meat mountain with perfectly aged beef, lamb, and pork, the exceptional gravy with free refills, fluffy Yorkshire puddings that absorb the gravy, duck fat roasted potatoes, crispy pork crackling, and the overall quality and tenderness of all the meats cooked over charcoal
What could improve: Nothing mentioned
The Dishes
The star of the show is Blacklock's famous Sunday roast meat mountain, a shared platter designed for multiple diners. The presentation is visually impressive, starting with a base of seasonal vegetables, followed by duck fat roasted potatoes that are crispy and golden. On top sits a generously sized, fluffy Yorkshire pudding that serves as the perfect vessel for soaking up the signature gravy.
The meat selection is exceptional with 55-day aged beef rump, 28-day aged leg of lamb, and 21-day aged pork loin all cooked over an open charcoal pit hung with English oak wood. The beef rump was incredibly tender and flavorful, delivering rich, savory notes. The lamb benefited from a touch of horseradish, elevating its already excellent taste. The pork loin was succulent and well-prepared. Crispy pork crackling adorns the top of the mountain, providing textural contrast, while additional pork ribs add to the overall presentation and protein offering.
The gravy deserves special mention as it's truly exceptional, made from the drippings of fat that fall from the meats below during cooking. The gravy has unlimited free refills, and Mark found himself reaching for more throughout the meal as it complemented every element perfectly.
The Experience
Blacklock is described as getting packed every Sunday, indicating its popularity and prestige in London's dining scene. The restaurant operates as a traditional British chop house with a casual yet lively atmosphere. The service appears efficient in delivering the meat mountain and maintaining gravy refills.
Value and Pricing
While specific pricing wasn't mentioned in the transcript, the portions are clearly generous with this being a shared meat mountain experience. The inclusion of free gravy refills adds value to the dining experience.
Notable Moments
All the gravy.
That gravy is out of this world.
Mark's excitement about the gravy refills and its quality was a recurring theme throughout his visit, emphasizing how important this element is to the overall experience.
The Verdict
Blacklock is an essential destination for anyone seeking an authentic, high-quality British Sunday roast experience in London. This restaurant is best for groups looking to share an impressive meat platter and those who appreciate properly aged meats cooked with traditional methods. It's a celebration of British culinary tradition done exceptionally well, with every component from the meats to the Yorkshire puddings to the legendary gravy executed at the highest level.