Chez Gerard

I am a huge steak fan. I mean like massive – if I could, I would probably eat steak every day and night of the week, it never seems to lose its appeal for me. Obviously, I would change the accompaniment of the dish – perhaps only seasoned, steamed spinach one night to keep it healthy and then a béarnaise sauce and dauphinoise potatoes the next to make sure I got my butter and cream quota for the week. Perhaps the next day I’d have it with Cajun spices or with a fried egg on top like the Argentineans. Anyway, you get the picture – I love steak. Which also makes me a massive steak snob and sadly means I often find myself disappointed with my order if I’m brave enough to order it on the high street.

So I have to say that with Chez Gerard, given that it’s a chain and given my history and love affair with steak as detailed above, I was a little dubious. However, as the chain has expanded to include restaurants all over the city from Chancery Lane to The Southbank and Bishopsgate, I reasoned they must be doing something right. And in fact they are. From the bread and butter to the green peppercorn sauce that accompanied the steak, I enjoyed every single mouthful.

You can take your pick of steak cuts at Chez Gerard including 9oz Onglet (£13.95), 8oz Pave de Rumpsteak (£15.95), 16oz T Bone (£32.95) or a 12oz Faux Filet (£23.95). All come with chips, new potatoes or a side salad and a grilled Provencal tomato. For an extra £1.50 you can add a sauce, green peppercorn, béarnaise or butter.

In terms of other dishes on the menu there’s roast rump of lamb with dauphinoise potatoes and French beans (£18.95), grilled sea bass fillets (£16.95) or a traditional salad nicoise with egg, tuna, green beans and anchovies (£13.95). For sides I would highly recommend the epinards au beurre (wonderful buttered spinach (£4.50) or a plain green salad (£3.50) www.chezgerard.co.uk.