Greedy Cow – review

Greedy Cow: burgers to go back for

Greedy Cow has made a name for itself as a top dining spot over the past three years.

The restaurant is packed to the eaves most nights of the week, and its manager Reg Singh claims 90 per cent of the restaurant’s customers are now regulars – something that bodes well for newcomers in search of a decent meal. Steak and burger joints are two a penny in London, so what is it they keep coming back for?

The core menu offers unusual burger flavours like the ‘Chinese’ with Hoisin duck, or the ‘Jamaican’ with jerk flavouring, as well as a ‘build-your-own’ section with more classic fillings. For the more adventurous, seasonal specials include exotic meats such as crocodile, reindeer and kangaroo, with meats hand sourced from suppliers in local markets and Scotland.

We started with a bright plate of fried chorizo with cherry tomatoes and rocket in a balsamic dressing. The fiery Spanish sausage can often be overbearing as a starter, but not this time. The hot and greasy goodness of the meat combined with the sweet flesh of the tomatoes and sharp leaves of rocket were little forkfuls of heaven. It went really well with the house red, which was smooth, dry and not expensive at all.

The venison steak came out cooked a beautiful rare pink. The meat was soft and rich – not chewy as game can often be. Greedy Cow’s venison was great, but personally the Wagyu beef burger blows everything else off the menu. The tender meat disintegrated like butter on your tongue and the flavour of the beef was so rich, its texture so juicy and delicate, that the bun and garnish almost got in the way. If the Wagyu steak on the menu is anything like as good as the burger, it is certainly worth going back for.

To finish we tried the chocolate fondant for which the restauranteurs reportedly spent six months perfecting the recipe. After tasting it, I would say it was time well spent, even for those of us without a sweet tooth. The chewiness of the shell was top notch and its chocolate filling had a good consistency, oozing pleasantly without running.

The crème brûlée was also excellent. Its lid made a satisfying crack with the back of a spoon and had an incredibly light filling with just a hint of Madagascan vanilla pods.

The restaurant has a good selection of wines, including silky Malbecs and some light Proseccos. We tried the Greedy cocktail, which was nice and fresh as it is made with fresh fruit rather than syrup. They do a range of milkshakes made with fruit and Italian ice-cream that there just wasn’t room for on this occasion.

This is not another sceney East London eatery that has popped up in the past six months. Prices are reasonable and the staff are friendly. With guests greeted warmly as they come in, it has the relaxed hubbub of a restaurant where diners seem to be enjoying themselves, rather than going to see and be seen.

Reg explains they would rather have customers coming back than mark up prices and never see them again. Judging by the bustling kitchen and chattering tables on a cold wet Wednesday, they are getting something right.

In short, Greedy Cow is a great choice for a low key dinner. Not just for the quality of the food, but for the service, value for money and atmosphere. It does a simple thing, but it does it very well.

Greedy Cow
2 Grove Road
London
E3 5AX