I’m all for your deeply held principles, I mainly recycle, seldom leave my engine running unnecessarily and sometimes, just sometimes, I floss. But I’m not going to give up on a rack of lamb, a bloody burger or sucking the last drop of marrow from a juicy bone just to accommodate my dear vegan friends. Just not going to happen. However, if you’re willing to sit and watch as I stuff my face with the flesh of fluffy Animals of Farthing Wood characters, then here are some meat restaurants where you can actually take vegans. Now pass me the steak knife…
Smith & Wollensky
They don’t get much meatier than Smith & Wollensky, which is an all-American meat fest with steaks redder than a MAGA cap. And yet, amidst all the chops and ribs there’s still room for your vegan tagalong. Don’t fritter away the Sweetcorn Fritter because this baby’s the only vegan-friendly main course on offer, but it’ll be at least 50% as tasty as your sirloin. Vivre le vitamin B12 deficiency.
Where: The Adelphi, 1-11 John Adam Street, Covent Garden Riverside, London WC2N 6HT, United Kingdom
Nearest station: London Charing Cross (0.1 miles)
Website: www.smithandwollensky.co.uk
Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar
Scotch eggs make the world go around, period (which, ironically, is what an egg actually is, right?). Gillray’s Steakhouse serves delicious meaty meals, some of the best in the city enjoyed along with some of the most incredible restaurant views too. And for the vegans in your party, you’ve simply GOT to try the vegan scotch egg, I’ve been there and it’s incredible.
Where: Gillray's Steakhouse & Bar, Westminster Bridge Road, London, United Kingdom
Nearest station: London Waterloo (0.3 miles)
Website: www.gillrays.com
STK London
STK is ‘steak’ without the vowels. Well if you’re a VGN then have they got compressed watermelon salad for you? After a while on-telephone-hold to the team at the STK we were assured that the dish is vegan friendly. Composed of creamed feta (hmm?), watermelon that’s been, um, compressed, cucumber, olive crumbs (famously flaky, olives) and mint. Not that you’ll care as you tuck into a prime steak.
Where: ME London, 336-337 The Strand, London WC2R 1HA, United Kingdom
Nearest station: Temple (0.3 miles)
Website: www.togrp.com
Gaucho Sloane Avenue
No need for vegans to be groucho at Gaucho. The taste of Argentina, replete with its incredible steak, also includes pea and mint tortelloni. The concoction, which combines garden veg and cucumber consommé, will keep the vegans grazing while you get your carnivore on.
Where: Gaucho Sloane Avenue, Sloane Avenue, London, UK
Nearest station: South Kensington (0.5 miles)
Website: www.gauchorestaurants.com
M Victoria ST
M Restaurants serve London’s best wagyu steak (and some of it’s most expensive), but at M RAW things are a little different. Set within the meatopia that is M Restaurant, M RAW serves 100% vegetarian and gluten-free food perfect for any vegans in the house. Executive Chef Oleg Ibragimov makes sure that vegans aren’t just accomdated, but they’re welcomed with open arms and a whole menu of vegan-friendly options. Start with the roasted fennel, move onto a main of polenta stuffed tomato, or maybe the buckwheat risotto with a side of Heritage tomato salad.
Where: Zig Zag Building, 74 Victoria Street, Westminster, SW1E 6SQ
Nearest station: St. James's Park (0.3 miles)
Website: www.mrestaurants.co.uk
Roast
Sunday roast has to be one of the worst meals of the week for a vegan, and at Roast that’s their signature dish. The meat-heavy restaurant is a meat-eater’s heaven, but the Borough Market restaurant also does more than a good line in vegan treats, like the Roast iron bark pumpkin soup sounds with seeds, oil, sage and sippets (sippet, incidentally, also being the best way to eat soup). Try their potato dumplings, served with black garlic, celery leafs and artichoke or tuck into a barley risotto, with Jerusalem artichoke, chestnut, sage and vegan parmesan.
Where: The Floral Hall, Stoney St, London SE1 1TL
Nearest station: London Bridge (0.2 miles)
Website: www.roast-restaurant.com
Robata
Whether you’re a meat dweller or not, ROBATA has all of your food cravings covered with their Japanese menu. This Soho restaurant specialises in Japanese charcoal cooking, which doesn’t just mean meat. ROBATA has various small plates and robata large plates also fit your vegan and veggie friends, so if you still fancy grabbing the black cod with spicy mayo and Japanese pickled cucumber, you can. Their broccoli steak with yahiniku and ROBATA red chilli is simply sensational!
Where: 56 Old Compton Street, Soho, London W1D 4UE, UK
Nearest station: Leicester Square (0.3 miles)
Website: www.robata.co.uk
