What can you tell me about Beard to Tail?
It was originally tried out as a pop-up restaurant earlier this year and has now returned long-term in Shoreditch. As its name suggests, it's very meat-heavy, focusing mainly on various bits of pig and cow. It's also from the people behind Shoreditch cocktail bar Callooh Callay, so you can expect a fair bit of attention has been paid to the bar menu too.
Where is it?
It's about half way down Curtain Road, just a few minutes walk from Shoreditch High Street overgound.
Who's it suitable for?
It's an ideal spot for anyone in the area - there isn't much in the vicinity that has the mix of restaurant/cocktail bar that Beard to Tail offers, so we think it's a perfect draw for nearby workers. That said, we saw tables being made up for about ten people, so we think it could be an ideal place for a crowd to meet up at.
Where should we meet for a drink first?
If you're coming from the south, the Queen of Hoxton or the Worship Street Whistling Shop are your best bet. Alternatively there's the Hoxton Pony and the original Callooh Callay a few minutes to the north.
However, given their cocktail background, we think it's worth turning up early to the bar to try a drink before sitting down. The whole room has a great buzz to it and a good cocktail list, so it's defintiely worth a try,
And where should we sit?
As mentioned, they are able to put quite a few tables together, so it's ideal if you're coming with a large party. Otherwise, anywhere seems good - including at the back if you like peering into the open kitchen. We did rather like the high tables and chairs for couples towards the front of the restaurant too.
What should we order?
There isn't a nod to vegetarians on the menu to be found, so you're really stuck to meat eating here. There are a number of snacks to keep you going while you ponder the menu (from the bar food) but, unfortunately, the pigs ears weren't available when we visited or we would have gone for those. It's possibly worth pitching up at the bar for them, however.
From the starters, we were impressed with the pigs trotters, particularly seeing as our dining companion was a little wary of ordering them, but they were pronounced them a success. The steak tartare was OK - but could really have done with some bread to go with it. So instead, we used some that had been served with the baked bone marrow. The marrow had a great flavour, but was unfortunately a little too dry and crumbly for our taste.
Then onto the main course, where we felt we had to order the roast pork rumpy pumpy at £28.50 to share. This was an enormous slab of pork that was more than enough for two and great value as a result. However, while the meat was perfectly cooked (and the cracking well done too), there was a little too heavy a hand on the seasoning. With less salt this would be an excellent dish and worth coming to the restaurant for alone.
Is bread included?
It isn't, alas, unless supplied with one of the starters.
And what about drinks?
As mentioned, the background of the owners means that there's a strong cocktail menu and the "Responsibly Tanqued" that we had (Gin, Sloe Gin, lemon juice, rosemary syrup, picon and cardamon bitters) was excellent. There's a good selection of beers on the list too, bottled and draught, and the wine starts at around £18 a bottle (we went for a Manos Negras Argentinian Malbec at £30),
And how much will this set me back?
We think that average spend for a three course meal two and a bottle of wine would be about £40 each, heading upwards if you start with a cocktail or two.
Overall thoughts?
There's no doubt that Beard to Tail has bags of atmosphere. It was packed early on a Thursday night and we can only see it getting busier, but the bustling nature is just what Shoreditch expects. It's a great room and we think it'll be a major attraction for locals. The menu certainly has real potential, but we have to admit it wasn't firing on all cylinders on the night we visited. If they can get the seasoning sorted on that rumpy pumpy, then that'll be a draw in itself. In the meantime, it's the perfect place for a cocktail and a snack if you're in the area.
Beard to Tail, 77 Curtain Rd, London EC2A 3BS .
Prices were correct at time of writing. Hot Dinners were invited to eat at Beard to Tail.
