insideKENT Magazine Issue 76 - July 2018 | Page 109

FOOD+DRINK Branded Steaks IN A WORLD WHERE OUR HIGH STREETS HAVE BECOME THE DOMAIN OF CHAINS, CHURNING OUT RECOGNISABLE BUT UNINSPIRING DISHES, OFTEN WITH A LACKLUSTRE APPROACH TO SERVICE AND DISHES, IT IS REFRESHING TO SEE A NEW INDEPENDENT BRINGING TOP QUALITY PRODUCE, SLICK SERVICE AND SOME MIGHTY FINE MENU OPTIONS TO OUR LOCAL KENT DINERS AND IT’S TAKING THE NORTH OF THE COUNTY BY STORM… LUNCH AT BRANDED STEAKS SEVENOAKS. BY SAMANTHA READY Following on from its highly successful first restaurant offering in Beckenham 18 months ago, Branded Steaks’ latest venture is based in food connoisseur heaven, Sevenoaks. Waltzing through the entrance, the insideKENT team was immediately struck by the welcoming yet refined feel of the restaurant. The bar area with its high stools and sofa area offers the perfect place for some pre-dinner tipples or indeed just to work your way through the cocktail menu with some tasty bar snacks, while the main dining room is all about wood panelling, warm tones, industrial lighting and dark wood furniture, the secluded private dining table a nice touch for those wanting a little privacy, but who still want to feel part of the restaurant’s vibrant atmosphere. And of course as the name suggests this restaurant is all about its beef, and not just any beef, but happy beef. Realising that the quality of the restaurant depends so critically on the quality of the produce, Branded director, Reis Remzi has sourced and developed relationships with his suppliers and all Branded beef, which is traditionally aged, is selected and hand cut by expert butcher, Donald Russell from prime, ethically reared cattle. And, it isn’t just the beef that is happy. The staff, lef by restaurant manager, Dawid, are welcoming and efficient, while characterful head chef, Jean-Luc is a masterclass in not only how to know your ingredients, but in how to inspire diners across Branded’s menu offerings… of which there are many to choose. Starters offer the opportunity to venture away from the classic meat main courses and we happily devoured the pan-fried king prawns in a classic garlic beurre blanc sauce with chilli and lemon; the salt and pepper squid, in a crisp batter with chilli, lime and spring onion; fresh warm bread and olives and crispy roast duck – a perfectly seared breast with fresh pomegranate, tomatoes and hints of oriental flavours; each dish chosen from the well conceived and reasonably priced set lunch menu. All in aid of our readers, and not just because the iK team are notoriously greedy, we finished with pudding; a classic creme brulee, the not-too-sweet but totally moreish sticky toffee pudding, a decadent chocolate fondant and the team favourite, a white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake. Although the number one pudding choice is in fact the apple and blackcurrant flapjack crumble, a cheeky twist on a favourite classic which promises spiced fruit, and an oaty crumble with a smooth vanilla custard. There are a range of main course options, salads and fish dishes as well as a tempting array of fine cuts of beef and burgers. The Branded burger was declared a team hit, made with handcrafted diced steak, smoked bacon and glorious melted Monterey Jack cheese; the onion rings were the largest we’d seen; the surf and turf offered perfectly cooked fillet piled with soft butter-seared prawns and paired with sweet potato fries, broccoli and a classic bernaise; the sirloin offered a marbled, flavorsome cut with fries and peppercorn sauce; and the delicate fillet steak with chunky chips came with a red wine and shallot jus, which was declared sauce winner. With no menu choice to be faulted and a whole host of tempting options still to be tried, Branded Steaks has become a firm iK favourite. Branded Steaks 63-35 High Street Sevenoaks Kent TN13 1JY 01732 453626 www.brandedsteaks.co.uk brandedsteaks brandedsteaks brandedsteaks 109