Praising The Steaks at 15 Queen Street
With the imminent opening of the Elizabeth Line, London is forever enlarging, taking in great swathes of Essex, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, all joined by a super fast system taking us from the City to the suburbs in little more than half an hour.
Maidenhead is one of the Berkshire towns benefiting from Crossrail links to the centre of town, and as such it is thriving.
Belle took a trip out to the market town having heard great things about a newly opened Steakhouse and bar, 15 Queen Street.
Housed in a side street just five minutes walk from the station, which will be a mere 40 minutes ride once the Elizabeth line opens, 15 Queen Street is a cosy space with a decadent vibe. The bar features rich velvets, dark leathers, copper and brass finishes and large mirrors. Walk through to the back grab a table by the roaring open fire in winter, or
We walked through to the rear of the building and grabbed a table by the roaring open fire, just what we needed on a rainy and windy March afternoon.
The menu champions the venue’s locally-sourced Angus beef and other local and British produce. Head Chef Dan Roth uses his menu to showcase beef from nearby Newbottle Farm, as well as smaller dishes, signature sides and hearty desserts. Expect beautiful cuts of steak and a range of cheek-to-tail dishes take pride of place. There is also an innovative selection of vegetarian dishes.
A set lunch offers two courses for £19 or three for £24 and features fish & chips, a Sirloin and a veggie risotto, but we went a la carte having spied a smoked cheese omelette starter and having been tempted by an 8oz fillet.
The aforementioned omelette arrived and wow – life has never been the same since. Aromatic, bubbling, soft and moist and cooked to perfection. Forget your standard soufflé starter, this omelette is oeuf the scale. We’d pay the train fare just to go back and eat this for breakfast every day for the rest of our lives.
With an intro like that, the main act had a lot to live up to. But we’re releived and delighted to reveal that the steak did not disappoint.
Tender, buttery soft, this is a fillet steak to die for. Reminiscent of Waygu due to its succulent and subtle taste and texture, it was complemented perfectly with a specially made mushroom sauce.
Served with skinny fries and a helping of creamed spinach, the course could not be faulted. Having dined in some of London’ finest steakhouses, Belle can say hand on heart we’ve not tasted a cut like this since a particularly blurry trip to Vegas several years ago… But that’s another story.
Another dish enjoyed, as a starter for one Belle and a main for the other, was the King Oyster Mushroom ‘Risotto’ with Crispy Hen’s Egg. Created using a light pasta, the intensity of the funghi flavours was matched perfectly with the creamy egg yolk that seeped through.
Choose from a Pear Tart Tatine, Toffe apple Knickerbocker Glory, or Creme Brûlée for dessert. We went for the latter which proved too much even for two sharing, such was the richness and depth, and the after-effects of our heavenly mains.
Having washed the entire feast down with several recommended wines including a ripe Australian Fiano, followed by a Parsons Nose Shiraz and Passo Doble Malbec, we sank back into our velvety seats and let the world pass by until we had the energy to rise and head back to the station and the Big Smoke.
Our trip to 15 Queen Street and started off as a curious adventure, and several hours later ended in satisfaction of being the first to discover this Michelin-worthy suburban gem.
Never has a trip to the suburbs sounded more appealing, book your ticket now and remember – you heard it here first.
- 15 Queen Street, Maidenhead SL6 1NB. Call 01628 623800, email enquiries@15queenstreet.co.uk , follow @15QueenStreetMH on social media, or see http://www.15queenstreet.co.uk for menus and to book.
