After months and months of delays, it's been reported that Nusr-Et Steakhouse London will open on 17 May, 2021.
If you told us ten years ago that a popular internet meme could lead to a string of successful international restaurants, we probably wouldn’t have believed you. Nevertheless, we are living in the 21st century and this is exactly what chef Nusret Gökçe, otherwise known as ‘salt bae’, has done. In early 2017, the Turkish chef achieved internet fame when videos of his unique meat seasoning technique (essentially a theatrical sprinkling of salt) went wildly viral, leading to countless memes and recreations.
The original video of his seasoning technique currently boasts over six million views on YouTube, and Nusret has since capitalised on his success. Within the last two years, the chef has gone on to open 15 steak restaurants around the globe and there are already plans to open more in the future. The debut London branch finds its home at the luxury Park Tower hotel in Knightsbridge, which also houses The Hyde Bar. At Nusr-et Steakhouse, guests can expect to dine on a menu which includes signature dishes such as roasted asado short-rib, and Nusr-Et meat spaghetti, which consists of paper-thin cuts of seared beef, which diners are encouraged to twirl around their forks like they are eating pasta. One of the restaurant's signature dishes is a giant Tomahawk steak that is covered in edible gold leaf and priced at an eye-watering £700.
Elsewhere on the menu, you’ll find tartare selections and some light salads, while there’s a cocktail menu to help wash all of that steak down. So far, the Nusr-Et restaurants around the world have courted the Instagram crowd, as well as a few famous faces such as David Beckham and DJ Khaled, but some of the restaurants have faced scathing reviews from critics. Reviewing the New York location, GQ called the steak “mundane, somewhat tough and rather bland”. Prices are also high, although that is to be expected in the well-heeled surrounds of Knightsbridge. Nevertheless, if you’re looking to grab a snap with Salt Bae, or recreate his video, this may be your best bet.