We’ve had London brands like Gail’s, Soho House and MNKY HSE making the move up north but adding to the list is a steakhouse that surprisingly won’t break the bank. One of London’s budget-friendly restaurants known for serving up steaks for just £14 each, Flat Iron, has set its sights on Manchester and is opening a spot on Deansgate this summer.
Flat Iron has now announced an opening date for their restaurant at 200-204 Deansgate which will be on July 3, bringing their single-minded commitment to serving remarkable steak at an affordable price to the heart of Manchester. With Flat Iron coming soon, it would be taking on the likes of Deansgate steak restaurant Hawksmoor as well as Fazenda and Gaucho located just off the main Manchester road in the battle of the best steak that side of the city (some of which have their own steak deals), plus Blacklock, which is also rumoured to be coming to the city.
The two-floor restaurant is housed in a Grade II Listed building, designed by Charles Heathcote and first opened to the public in 1908 as the office of the Royal London Friendly Society. The interiors of the restaurant have been remodelled to uncover and display as much of the original building fabric as possible, highlighting any heritage assets and celebrating the architectural features. Existing plasterwork and cornicing have been exposed and paired with the original timber flooring, original glazed brick walls have been exposed, riveted steel columns revealed, and original parquet flooring restored.
Founded by Charlie Carroll in 2012, Flat Iron aims to make “remarkable steak available to everyone”, with affordable prices. First opening in Shoreditch, Flat Iron has grown at a rapid pace and now has 12 branches in the capital stretching from Westfield London to Waterloo. The Manchester branch would be the second restaurant for Flat Iron in the north of England, following on from their Leeds opening.
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Speaking of the opening, Flat Iron’s Founder, Charlie Carroll said: “Opening a restaurant in my home town of Manchester is a big deal to me and a long time coming. The food and drink scene is so exciting at the moment and just keeps getting better. I can’t wait to be a tiny part of it.
“I fell in love with a beautiful historic building on Deansgate in 2018 and 6 years on we are finally opening this summer. Flat Iron is about unpretentious, top quality steak, available to all. I am passionate about delicious beef and proud to bring Flat Iron to the city where I grew up and where so many of my friends and family live.”
The clue is in the name but Flat Iron serves up succulent flat iron steak, despite it being less tender than the likes of ribeyes or fillets this cut is cheaper but still full of flavour. A flat iron steak is priced at just £14, with sides including homemade beef dripping chips and crispy bone marrow and garlic mash costing £4. Other sides at Flat Iron to accompany its signature steak include creamed spinach, green salad, truffled macaroni cheese and roast aubergine with tomato, basil and mozzarella.
Flat Iron has revealed that it will be serving up a rotating board of specials which will be available at the Manchester restaurant, including a Wagyu steak of the day, and a Scottish ribeye, exclusive to Manchester. The restaurant will also have a bespoke charcoal grill, which will be used for all beef specials such as sirloins or Scottish bavette and the Flat Iron burger.
And what’s a steak without a sauce? Guests can select from classic sauces like Bearnaise and peppercorn as well as wild mushroom or a homemade smoked chilli mayonnaise. All can be washed down with Flat Iron’s selection of wines, beers and cocktails and finished with soft serve ice cream.
A curated selection of wines will make up the drinks list, including Flat Iron’s very own Malbec, specially blended by the Flat Iron team using grapes grown in the Limoux area of the Languedoc in southern France. Alongside the wine list will sit a selection of draft beers and Flat Iron’s signature cocktails, including the new Tony’s Margarita and Sherbert Bellini.
Speaking of the opening, Flat Iron’s Head of Beef, Fred Smith, said: “This restaurant has been a long time coming! But, you know what, it’s all been worth it – Covid, a grade II listed building, leaking pipes – the building is beautiful, the grill is ready and we can’t wait to open the doors.”
Plus, to celebrate the opening the restaurant is giving away 500 Wagyu steaks from 5pm on Tuesday 2nd July at Flat Iron Manchester. Walk ins only, first come, first served.
Flat Iron Manchester will open on July 3 at 200-204 Deansgate, M3 3NN. Book a table here.