I visited Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant in Battersea Power Station to see if it lived up to the hype and if my wallet would be able to take the bill when it arrived
Between 2012 and 2015, my journey to college involved a train ride past the deserted Battersea Power Station. Fast forward to 2025, and the once gloomy structure is now a vibrant hub of shops, eateries, pubs, flats, and entertainment venues.
One of the latest additions is from renowned British chef Gordon Ramsay. With an impressive average rating of 4.2/5 from 1,489 reviews on Google, it seemed quite popular, so I decided to drop by on a Thursday evening to see if it lived up to its reputation.
Just like my previous reviews of James Martin’s Lygon Arms and Jamie Oliver’s Catherine Street, the plan was to go for a two-course meal. Since I wasn’t driving, I also indulged in a glass of wine.
I invited a couple of mates along to get their opinions as well.
First impressions of restaurant
I had to sympathise with the venue on this one. Usually, the interior is more dramatic and captivating than the outside world, but it’s tough to compete with Battersea Power Station’s colossal atriums and gigantic corridors.
Nonetheless, the restaurant exudes a plush, high-end, and cosy vibe; exactly what you’d want.
Enter through the glass doors, and you’re greeted with a relatively dimly lit room with glass walls on all sides. The tables are made of dark wood, complemented by even darker wooden chairs with leather backs – a promising start.
Unlike Jamie Oliver’s eatery, this doesn’t seem to reflect the personality of the man himself, but rather it’s a serious restaurant aiming to serve seriously good grub. About that second point….
The main course
A quick glance at the menu suggested I was in for a pricey night. Nearly every item seemed about twenty or thirty percent more expensive than similar dishes elsewhere.
I get that this is capitalising on Gordon Ramsay’s fame. If you’ve got a celeb linked to your venue, you’re entitled to charge a bit more as that’s a draw for punters.
However, this capitalisation has its limits. Too little and you’re in the red, too much and you end up like Gordon Ramsay Bread Street, as evidenced by my main.
As I perused the menu, my eyes were drawn to the £40-plus dry-aged sirloin steak. Having been to a mate’s 30th birthday at renowned steak experts Hawksmoor in September, this seemed like an exorbitant price for a place that wasn’t primarily a steakhouse.
Ordering the steak with some mac ‘n’ cheese and a side salad, I was simply let down. The steak was over-salted and the peppercorn sauce didn’t taste like it had much pepper in it at all.
Meanwhile, the side salad was under-dressed and relied heavily on pomegranates for a hint of flavour. The macaroni and cheese was decent, but at these prices, diners deserve more than just decent.
Comparing this to Hawksmoor was like pitting an amateur boxer against Tyson Fury. The former may put up a good fight, but they’ll always be outclassed by the specialist. Hawksmoor has no reason to feel it’s steak-cooking crown is threatened by Ramsay.
My dining companions chose different dishes. One went for the roasted cod with crushed potatoes, artichoke, capers, red wine and lemon sauce (£30.50), while the other opted for the standard burger (£23.50).
The cod was met with enthusiastic approval, despite its hefty price tag, as it both looked and tasted impressive.
Meanwhile, my friend who ordered the burger was also satisfied with their pricey dish. It was palatable, but didn’t particularly stand out.
On a side note, although the menu was steep, the wines were more reasonably priced, and the 2023 Braucol Syrah paired perfectly with the steak.
The dessert
For dessert, I chose the spiced apple crumble, which is where Bread Street managed to redeem itself somewhat. The spicing was spot-on, making it the perfect comforting treat for the increasingly chilly evenings.
The dollop of ice cream in the middle provided a nice contrast, resulting in a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
My dining companions opted for the sticky toffee pudding and tiramisu (paired with a glass of port) and echoed my sentiments about the seasoning and taste of their desserts. If you’re planning on having just two courses, make sure one of them is dessert – you won’t be disappointed.
Final thoughts and rating
If you’re in the vicinity and fancy a high-end dinner that’s worth every penny, I’d suggest looking elsewhere. The food is undoubtedly high quality and well-prepared.
The wine, cod, and puddings all stood out and were fitting for the man whose name they’re served under. However, the final bill is hard to overlook. When prices are this steep, the food can’t just be good, it has to be extraordinary.
I previously mentioned Hawksmoor. My total spend there was £104, but it felt justified given the exceptional dining experience; the food fully warranted the price tag.
Compare that to my evening at Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street where my total spend was £92.28 (£11.72 less), and I felt like I’d been taken for a ride for the second time in a week. The first instance was due to food poisoning the previous Sunday, but even then, I felt the cost was too high for the experience we had.
Rating: 4/10.
Total Bill – £92.28.
Breakdown
- Dry-aged Sirloin steak: £45
- Peppercorn sauce: £3.00
- Macaroni cheese: £7.75
- Side Salad: £5
- Spiced apple crumble: £10
- Braucol Syrah 125ml: £9.50
- 15 percent service charge: £12.03