Miller & Carter Steakhouse is something special, it has been a place that Ankit and I have visited on several occasions and a place we reserve simply for celebrations. With the New Year just passing, I decided that ringing in 2016 was going to be a quiet one. Not because I had left it too late to make any plans, but because I really just wanted to spend quality time with loved ones. To me, and this might just be because I’m getting to that stage in life, but New Years Eve is kind of over-rated, not to mention expensive. In my mind, there was no better place to have a quiet meal to celebrate the New Year than Miller & Carter Steakhouse.We visited the Stanmore Miller & Carter Steakhouse for New Years eve, and it was unsurprisingly busy – luckily we had booked a booth for our NYE celebration otherwise it was likely to be a long wait on the popular night out occasion. With Miller & Carter Steakhouse, although they do welcome walk-ins I would always recommend booking a table to avoid disappointment. We were seen to and guided to our booth within minutes which is just the type of service you would expect from Miller & Carter Steakhouse.
Judging from the two locations of Miller & Carter Steakhouse we have previously visited, they are located in perfectly secluded areas which are sort of hidden away from other restaurants. Personally this is what attracts me to want to go to Miller & Carter Steakhouse – I’m someone who prefers secret restaurants that aren’t located near chains. When you’re inside the steakhouse, it very much follows the same sort of theme, most of the steakhouse is a “wooden” homely feel. It’s not your atypical restaurant vibe, where it’s just rows of tables. We were lucky enough to be allocated a booth, for just the two of us, which made it feel even more secluded and added to our quiet New Years Eve meal we wanted. If you are planning on heading to Miller & Carter it is worth waiting just that little longer for booth seating if you want ultimate privacy.
From what I do remember, Miller & Carter bought out their extensive cocktail menu about a year ago now, and I have tried almost all of them! If you are looking for cocktail recommendations however, go for the Strawberry Summer Sling – the blend of strawberry and mint will make it seem like it’s summer even in the winter! Although their starter menu is slightly limited as to what they can offer, compared to most other restaurants, it doesn’t go off on a tangent and sticks to a theme of meats and fish. If you are looking to share a starter, or simply cannot narrow it down to a few, I would thoroughly recommend the sharing platter (which I would say is for 2-3 people). Included within the sharing platter are Miller & Carter Steakhouse favourites in the form of crispy calamari, Smoked barbecue ribs, Honey chicken wings, and my all time favourite Nachos. What makes the Miller & Carter Nachos different in comparison to standard cinema style nachos is that these are home cooked tortilla chips oozing with toppings – you can honestly taste how fresh they are as soon as you bite into it.
For mains, at a steakhouse you cannot go wrong with a steak. Boasting with different cuts of steak- fillet, rib-eye, sirloin are the favourites, there really is a cut for everyone. You take full control over how it is cooked and Miller & Carter are true to form so you won’t get an overdone medium-rare streak when you actually ordered rare. All steaks are served with a parsley butter which compliments the meat so well by melting into it, seasoned fries, along with your choice of lettuce wedge and steak sauce so you are getting value for money. If however, you want something a bit different, the steakhouse also offer dishes off the grill such as lamb rump, grilled sea bass or steak salads. Unfortunately, there aren’t too many vegetarian options within the steakhouse menu which may be something Miller & Carter Steakhouse should look to expand on.
The staff are attentive and welcoming, starting up conversation as soon as they tend to your table which is always an added bonus as they make an effort to make sure everything is OK and take interest in each customer. They are also very helpful in giving recommendations of what wine goes well with certain meals, or what sauce is best to opt for with your steak.
Look to spend an average of £40 per person if you are heading to Miller & Carter, but you will certainly be full and satisfied if you do visit this hidden gem.
