Steak: Santa Maria del Buen Ayre
Buen Ayre
50 Broadway Market
E8 4QJ
Tel: 020 7275 9900
Date of Last Visit: Saturday, May 17
The Victim: K
The Damage: About £17 each
The Background: K is leaving me. She and A are going back to NY (Connecticut, actually) next weekend. I am DEVASTATED. I suggest a day out around town to some places K has never been before. We start at Broadway Market. Afterwards, we hit the British Museum for K’s first and last look at the Rosetta Stone (my second), and then it’s off to tea at Liberty and some fondling of Liberty’s household goods. I do love fondling the goods at Liberty.
With such a big day out, sustenance is necessity. K likes her steak. I’m glad we’re in Broadway Market because of her affinity for steak and my affinity for going somewhere I’ve never been before so I can pump up my London food blog.
The Entrance: Everyone is speaking Spanish but us. We’re the total gringos. To give K credit, she speaks some good Spanish. But she doesn’t break it out. I was kinda hoping for that.
The Food: We order two small filets and some empanadas. I think the empanadas are good. Cozy. But I am not falling all over myself over them. The steak, on the other hand, is a masterpiece. And I’m not a steak eater. K proclaims it one of the best steaks she’s had in the U.K., which is high praise. I also order a green salad, which ends up being a waste because both steaks are served with green salad. (I wish someone had warned me of that.) The steaks were also accompanied by some lovely nice big chunky white beans. Yum.
The Nice Bit: They have a lovely outdoor patio at Buen Ayre. It was pouring rain when we were there, of course, but I’d come back just for that.
The Verdict: Nice. Would have been better with some Malbec. 
May 29, 2008
The one in Battersea is also very good – http://cheesenbiscuits.blogspot.com/2007/06/santa-maria-del-sur-battersea.html
Rammed every night too, which is always a good sign of course.
Jun 01, 2008
Yep. It’s the business. Better steaks in Hawksmoor, but when you factor in price Santa Maria wins hands down.
Give me a shout if you fancy going back and trying it again. The mixed grill is quite awesome.
Jun 01, 2008
How exciting to read a positive review about a place that’s been on my wishlist for a while! Not that I was expecting any negative ones. It’s just that I love steak with a passion, and it’s so hard to get right. Can’t wait to go now!
Thanks Krista…
Jun 02, 2008
Yeah – just forget the side orders and concentrate on the steak. They really are brilliant, aren’t they? Last time I ate there Chef Rattagan was pissed out of his skull and still cooking better steak than almost anyone in London. My brother could happily move in there.
Jun 09, 2008
I agree, the Battersea branch is also fantastic steak, but disappointing starters/sides.
http://provender.blogspot.com