First there was Tramshed, then Hixter, and now we have Hixter Bankside, the third instalment of Mark Hix’s simple chicken and steak restaurant series. The new joint is set in an old metal box factory just a couple of minutes from Borough Market and the Tate Modern and is divided across two floors, with the restaurant on the ground level and Mark’s Bar in the basement.
Starting off at Mark’s Bar – a perfect drinking den very similar in style to the Soho original – we went for a Temperley Sour, made from Somerset Royal cider brandy, Somerset Ponoma, apple and lemon. A definite winner in our books. We also couldn’t resist some amazing bar snacks including a GIANT Yorkshire pudding with whipped chicken livers (YOUMAY HAVE SEEN THE COMMOTION ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA), beer stix (think posh Peperami – a good thing) and some very fine pork crackling with apple sauce.
The main restaurant upstairs is very spacious, light and airy with a big open kitchen at one end. We had some light starters of Portland crab with tomato, and a summer vegetable salad with cheddar fitters, both of which were polished off very quickly. For the mains we went steak all the way, choosing a sirloin and a fillet steak salad, both full of flavour and perfectly cooked. If you’re feeling really hungry we also noticed a short rib to share leaving the kitchen which looked pretty damn epic.
We finished things off with a salt caramel fondue – essentially a big bowl of the stuff with marshmallows and cherries which was so good we couldn’t help dipping our fingers in at the end. Warning: learn from us and don’t do this, however tempting it is – turns out hot caramel on skin is pretty painful!
If you’ve been to Tramshed or the original Hixter you’ll know what to expect here: good food and great cocktails in a stylish setting.
Hixter Bankside, London, SE1 0HS
www.hixterbankside.co.uk