McQueen Shoreditch

McQueen in Shoreditch, home to 'The King of Cool' Steve McQueen is the ideal spot for a meal and evening out in London - Read all about my trip...

Shoreditch is literally one of the coolest places to be in London at the best of times, let alone on summer days when flocks of people arrive seeking out the abundance of cocktail bars, clubs, fine eateries and if they're particularly lucky with the weather, outside bars playing some of the coolest house tunes.

With this in mind, I didn't hesitate to book McQueen in Shoreditch for my friend’s birthday, which has an outside bar, restaurant, lounge area and club on site as well as being dedicated to ‘The King of Cool’ himself, Steve McQueen.

Our table was booked for 8pm and on approach we could hear the vibrant atmosphere coming from the new outside bar with revellers soaking up the sunshine, enjoying the signature cocktails and bespoke champagne bar.

We were seated in the restaurant and this was also relatively busy with many diners foregoing the still glorious weather to sample the culinary delights on offer.

The set menu as part of the Wowcher deal I purchased was compact but had a good selection of dishes to suit individual tastes. My friend and I ordered the Beef Carpaccio to start and this was seasoned to perfection with an infusion of flavours from the grain mustard, rocket and balsamic vinegar, which complemented the beef. To wash it down, the rich tasting house red wine was just what we needed to ease us into our dining experience following a busy day exploring Shoreditch.

The dark, masculine atmosphere of the restaurant manifests the inspiration of Hollywood actor Steve McQueen with various pictures of the star as well as a TV airing his movies adorning the walls, giving an ambient vibe.

For the main course I ordered the Atlantic Cod with mussel broth and was intrigued by the foamy appearance of the dish. Luckily for me it was much more flavoursome than it looked with the lentils in particular tasting great with the soft cod and mussels. Accompanying the cod and mussels was kale, cress and lentils. After swiftly clearing my plate, I can honestly tell you for a healthy dish it was very appetising.

The birthday girl ordered the Fresh Pea Risotto with goats cheese and truffle oil; a real comfort dish that she devoured. The risotto was filling and to my delight I was able to sample a couple of forkfuls myself. I love the creaminess of goats cheese, ideal for a risotto.

The customer service was impeccable from our waitress Karolína; who is a real credit to the restaurant and she made our dining experience extra special for my friend’s birthday.

In the mood for something sweet, we both ordered the Raspberry Pannacotta with ginger biscuits. Refreshing, yet not too sour, the pannacotta was served with fresh raspberries and was a light, yet sweetly satisfying end to our delightful meal at McQueen.

We took our drinks into the lounge bar area, decorated in the same understated, decadent theme as the restaurant with brown leather Chesterfield sofas, rustic wood flooring with exposed brickwork and art-deco mannequin sculpture. The lounge bar had a sophisticated, yet ambient feel with a large bar area, which despite being busy did not take long to be served.

To top it off, McQueen has its own downstairs club to enable diners and those enjoying the bar areas to continue their evening in the club; with scheduled club events such as Cafe Mambo Ibiza Summer Party and combined club and boat parties.

McQueen is a multifaceted venue, ideal for those looking to enjoy a delicious meal, drinks al fresco as well party the night away. It's also two minutes away from Old Street Tube Station 😉

Give them a call to book a reservation on this number - 0207 036 9229.

Or visit their website (here)

Jaz xoxo