Vaulted stone, dimmed lighting and over 200 years of Lebanese charm – all framing a bold West meets Asia menu.
Lancaster Gate is not an area I can often be seen in, so my local restaurant knowledge is a little scant. But even if I was a local, Meet Bros is not something you can easily spot while strolling along the streets.
Tucked away in a basement off the main drag, Meet Bros is easy to miss – with its modest awning with words like “steak” and “pizza” and a fairly standard looking bar.
Outside nothing gives a slightest clue of what’s cooking below.
Bear with me, I promise this is not a start of a horror movie but rather a historic journey while dining. Hidden away from the by-passers is a busy steakhouse with Asian fusion.
Spicy flavours, butcher steak cuts, that are also halal, and completely alcohol free drinks menu, priced like there is alcohol in them, all served in a medieval style setting.
But it’s not modern plaster made look like old, it’s actual real stone and shipwreck, see the ceiling, dissembled and transported from Lebanon to Lancaster Gate.
The result I’m just casually slurping spicy broth lobster spaghetti flanked by limestone walls with over 200-odd history.
It’s of course also cooler down here no matter the temperatures outside, which is an added bonus.
To visit I recommend having at least slight tolerant of spice, something neither myself nor my guest have but it doesn’t stop us ordering the medium spiced dishes. The chilli levels with most dishes can be adjusted of course as the staff tell us.
We order ourselves a lychee and strawberry mocktail each and wait for the dishes to arrive. For starters it’s white prawn, perfectly sautéed and generously bathed in chili-jam oil. Satisfyingly sweet, savoury and oh so spicy, if chilli-jam wasn’t so burning to my mouth I’d be a regular consumer.
The fried mantaos help though, little fried balls of cloud, originally from China, soft like baos inside with a contrasting golden crisp coating. I could stop but I don’t, the dish is too nice, so I can’t help but scoop up more and more sauce.
It’s exceptionally good, yet still leaving space for the prawns to shine. Meanwhile my guest is busy assembling duck pancakes that don’t come as traditional Peking style pancakes.
Instead it’s my childhood favorite pancakes, the ones your Eastern European granmas and mums, if you know any, make, stacked on a flower decorated fine bone china plate with golden rim under a towel by the window.
I’ve never thought of such pairing before. Lavishly crisp duck, brushed with hoisin, takes the lead with its deep, savoury flavour, while the kefir tangy pancakes play quieter but essential role – cutting through the richness just enough to keep each bite balanced.
It works into a unique yet successful combination. And there is a sour chilli dip for the extra kick on the side of course.
For the mains although there is a dedicated section for grill, which lists wagyu too we decide to go for something where the fusion will be more notable.
Meet Bros came to London from Malaysia established by Serai Group and Palace Butcher Resources serving West meets Asian cuisine.
The marriage created dishes like curry lobster spaghetti, rich coconut curry broth, bean sprouts and spicy sambal chilli – an Indonesian shrimp paste sauce.
Such ingredients traditionally call for noodles or rice, but it’s spaghetti, al dente with an abundance of lobster chunks, firm tofu and plenty of broth. Which to be fair the Italian carb goodness supports remarkably well.
Mine is perhaps a little less, or not, fusiony although there is tomato added, it’s beef rib biriyani with pickled vegetables. The savour is everything in one – spicy, tart, sweet and warming, served off bone for convenience and a mint yogurt for cooling.
As we wrap up our mains, our fruity mocktails are still going strong into desserts – thanks to their substantial pours. More reminiscent of health smoothies than traditional virgin cocktails, they are made with real purées – a welcome touch if you ask me.
The desserts don’t disappoint either. Baked crisp filo pastry wrapped spiced apple with walnuts and Kataifi wrap banana fritters come highly recommended by our waiter and very appreciated by us, beautiful combinations of flavours and textures. So don’t skip them.
Some places have atmosphere – Meet Bros is atmosphere. Bold, immersive and unlike anything else. If you’re in the area it’s a must. If you’re not? Get yourself there, it’s well worth the trip.
Meet Bros, 29-31 Craven Rd, London W2 3BX
www.meetbros.co.uk