Wow! Just wow! From the moment we enter Sophie’s Steakhouse, we are pleasantly gobsmacked by everything we see and taste.

The first thing that hits you is the space. Huge. Palatial. High industrial ceilings. This is possibly one of the largest restaurants I have ever seen in Soho.

There is a purposefully raw, unfinished look to the place which is appealing. The walls are unadorned, furniture fashionably mismatched. Upon enquiry,  I am told that the space used to be a former brothel and a cinema. How exciting!

The space is split into two zones – a bar with seating for walk-ins and a more segregated, bookable dining space. We are seated at a table that gives us the best view of the open kitchen. The giant fire pit in the middle will flamboyantly cook our food.

Our waitress Maria explains the menu. We order a range of small plates starting with the Raw section. The first to arrive is the Fillet of Beef Carpaccio, Ember-cooked Leeks, Caesar Dressing. Slivers of shimmering beef goes well with shavings of salty parmesan and peppery rocket. So far, so good.

The Blackened Tuna, Grilled Pineapple, Pickled Red Onion is next. Soft, fleshy, lightly scarred tuna that melts in the mouth contrasts well with the sweet pineapple bites. It’s nice but nothing mind-blowing.

We unanimously love the zesty Sea Bass Carpaccio, Chilli and Lime – spicy, sharp and citrusy flavours, a nod to my favourite Peruvian inspired cuisine.

The Seared Scallop, Black Garlic Butter, Crispy Capers are buttery and luxurious. The only niggle is that they arrive in singular, microscopic portions and are inhaled almost as quickly as they arrive.

The most memorable dish from the starter section is the Grilled Octopus, Baba Ganoush. Those who regularly read my blogs will know of my love for octopus. The sweet, bouncy, chunky piece of the cephalopod comes beautifully blistered, its taste further amplified by the smoky, savoury flavours of the underlying delicious mess of aubergine. It is so tasty that we order two more.

This is a steak restaurant, so meat is really the piece de resistance here! We order a Prime Rib to share for two. A glorious hunk of ruby red meat is presented splayed on a plate, oozing lovely pink meat juices and ready to be devoured.

Kris has the New York Strip. The steak is robust, juicy and well-cooked, aside from a couple of sinewy bits.

The meaty mains are well supported by carbilicious sides of Grilled Sweet Potato, Blackened Salty Potatoes and Beef Dripping Fries. 

The excitement continues with dessert – Sticky Toffee Pudding. A decadent, moist and syrupy mound floating on a puddle of sauce – a indulgent end to an indulgent meal.

A soul-nourishing Apple Crumble, although not a looker on the plate, is all sorts of deliciousness and comfort.

Throughout the evening, the service is above par. We are attending on the first day of their opening but it doesn’t feel that way. In fact, the service is so engaging and faultless that we literally hug the staff at the end.

I would totally recommend the Martinis here – some stick to the formula and some bend the classics. Both versions are equally smashing.

I went to Sophie’s expecting more traditional fare but was amazed at the new and modern twists to the menu, fashioned with fabulous ingredients. If you are looking to add some oomph to your steak dinner out, you know what to do.

Location : 42-44 Great Windmill Street, Soho, London,W1D 7NB

More information can be found here.

N.B. Our food was complimentary as it was part of the opening night offer.