middletons steakhouse grill and restaurant, leicester.

A new addition to the Leicester foodie scene, Middletons Steakhouse Grill and Restaurant is the new resident of the old bank by St. Martin's Square. A beautiful historic building just a stone's throw from Leicester Cathedral, the steakhouse prides itself on "Fine Cuts & Fine Drinks." With five other steak restaurants around the UK, the team have revamped the lovely, old Leicester building for their latest venture.

You're met with a grand entrance, skyscraping ceiling and a lavish colour scheme straight away. Dark burgundy, black and gold evoke a luxurious feel and instantly make you feel that this is somewhere special. I couldn't believe just how high the ceilings were, which were made use of with a mezzanine seating area. The place reminded me of the Gatsby-esque Bob Bob Ricard in London, with a hint of The Bank in Dublin.

There are hints of old and new throughout the theme, with contemporary chevron prints and a striking industrial style light, as well as quilted leather seating and plush curtains around the booth areas. The staff were all dressed super smartly and were equally as welcoming.

Seated high on the mezzanine, we begin our meal with starters of Mussels (£5.25) and the waiter's favourite of Butchers Chipolatas (£4.95). The mussels were served with the classic combination of white wine, lemon and cream sauce with crusty bread. The plump mussels had a really flavoursome sauce and the bread and butter were delicious and warm. I think the only thing here would to be given a spoon, so I could finish off the sauce like a soup.

The chipolata dish was again a generous portion for under a fiver. Glazed with honey and mustard and served with extra dipping sauce, the succulent sausages had been cooked until golden and were packed with flavour. A good start all round, still with excellent and prompt service from our waiter.

Alongside, my dining partner ordered an Estrella beer whilst I requested a red wine to be accompanied by my upcoming steak. I'd opted for the Dona Paula Malbec (£5.60 for 175ml), with notes of blueberry jam, herbal flavours and a silky finish. As you would expect from a steak restaurant, there were plenty of Merlots, Malbecs, Pinot Noirs and Riojas to choose from. Furthermore, our neatly laid table now had the addition of shiny new Tramontina steak knives.

 

For the main event (and after much deliberation), we went for the 10z Sirloin (£18.25) and the 10z Bavette (£15.50). The prices begin at £11.25 for a 6oz sirloin and increase through to a 18oz Chateaubriand to share. Speciality steaks come in the form of fillet beef wellington, pork T-bone and the 22oz Porterhouse, which judging by other people's tables looked absolutely delicious. Seafood lovers can enjoy a whole seabass or grilled lobster, whilst veggie might enjoy the falafel burger with halloumi. Most of the items on the grill are gluten free too, with nut allergies and spicy dishes clearly marked on the menu.

Both of our steaks lived up to expectation, both cooked medium-rare as requested and coming piping hot with a good amount of sides and sauces. For £15.50, my bavette, also known as a skirt or flank steak, had been marinated in mouthwatering herbs and presented in neat slices. I'd chosen to have it with a Bearnaise sauce, but really it didn't need it. The sirloin was a great cut of meat too; the lean steak had been cooked and rested well with a signature chargrilled finish. It came with a Diane sauce, which was delicious for dipping.

Somehow we just about had room for desserts and a couple of Baileys lattes. There a whole host of classics on the menu; think sticky toffee pudding, banoffee pie, lemon meringue and Eton mess. I went for their Tiramisu (£5.25), whilst my dining companion chose the Middletons Sundae (£5.50) (another waiter recommendation). 

Wow. As you can see, the sundae could easily be shared with a whole table. The grand dessert had a medley of chocolate brownie vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, whipped cream and a scattering of nuts. A real treat! I wouldn't usually opt for a boozy dessert, but I decided to steer away from the predictable sticky toffee pudding. The dessert was gorgeous, with just a tiny hint of nutty Amaretto and a seriously light cream beneath.

In all, I would definitely recommend Middletons. I thought it was a great evening with excellent food and a lovely view of the whole restaurant and atmosphere. The bill came to just over £70; for three courses for two plus four alcoholic drinks in a stunning setting, I thought was pretty good value. With such a large space, I really hope they continue to fill it on midweek evenings as well as bustling Friday nights. They also have a seriously good value lunch menu, with three courses for £10.95, so I'll definitely be trying that. But mostly I need to go back for that beef wellington.

Have you been to Middletons? Where are your favourite places for steak in Leicester or your local area?

We dined as guests at Middletons. All opinions my own, I was not expect to write a positive review or otherwise.