The Door Oyster Bar & Grill Review

Book a table at The Door Oyster Bar & Grill

Best for: big juicy steaks, the kind that City workers can’t resist.

Great: restaurant if you want a very quiet, cold night out.

Think of all the doors you use. At least 6 times a day you use a door to move towards and away from your slumber and various stages of tangled undress. Another door is used daily by some people as they climb in and out of their mobile karaoke booths (don’t sing and drive, people; it’s dangerous). And then, of course, there’s the door we open to our minds, but if you’re anything like me, you open it once and it remains agape, allowing valuable information to disappear; poof!

However, the one door above all others that’s opened most frequently is the door that leads to delicious delights and long-forgotten treats, the portal to an icy tomb: the fridge. In much the same way, The Door Oyster Bar & Restaurant in the City of London promises delicious delights and long-forgotten treats, and in much the same way, it’s bloody freezing.

As you throw wide the door to your refrigerated coffer of joy at home, your initial reaction is probably one of admiration as you stand, agog, marvelling at the Tesco’s treasury you’ve amassed; your heart pumping ardent heat to your excited little cheeks.

Likewise, your reception upon flinging open the door to The Door restaurant is filled with warmth and appreciation as the maitre d’ and the smiling bar tender ooze conviviality, whilst your eye discreetly flirts with the grand decor; winking at the glass wine cellar; pouting at the baby puke-green walls; lip-licking at the distressed leather banquettes; eyebrow-raising at the centrepiece clock above the door; wry-smiling at the Mad Men soundtrack; kiss-blowing toward the ornately tiled, brass cocktail bar upon which oysters relax on a bed of ice; and come-hithering to the semi-majestic, not quite Gone With The Wind, but frankly I don’t give a damn, staircase. Oooh, tasty.

When you reach into your fridge to search for goodies, what’s that sensation you feel? Yeh: cold.

Did I mention “it’s f*cking freezing” at The Door restaurant? Those were the exact words my guest used, roughly 12 times throughout the evening! Thankfully - and I say this with as much masculinity as any man can having never played a cowboy in a Clint Eastwood movie - I wore long johns that night. Yeh, that’s right. I’m not ashamed to say it. In my defence, it was brass monkeys on that February night. Had it been an unusually clement summer’s day, we probably would’ve welcomed the chill.

Speaking of which, the wine we were served was beautifully chilled. Pity it was a red though; a Vina Chocalan Reserva 2010 Chilean Carmenere. A punchy, if somewhat cool, accompaniment to the succulent, weighty 12oz steak - of which there were many options, including the fabled Wagyu - that could appease any decent hunger; mine included, which it did. The steak, wine and toothsome creamed spinach combination was singularly the highlight of my evening; aside from the long john smugness, of course.

Before cracking the whip, I will mention that along with the appealing decor, and the blood-pumping steaks, the service we received was very professional. Our food arrived promptly, with a smile, and many recommendations were made throughout.

However [deep breath]: our tablecloth was filthy and hair-ridden; my napkin came with its own tear; the overcooked broccoli lacked bite; the chips had barely graduated from potato school; the scallops were forgettably adequate and too suspiciously caramelised to be fresh; and the silver seashell of ice cubes I was given as a starter could not convince me that it was anything but all-talk-and-no-trousers, despite the garnish of half a dozen, so-so Mourne Rock oysters and glass of giggly Champagne.

The atmosphere at 8pm on a Friday night was tantamount to eating dinner in a disused bank, on a Tuesday. Our raucous party involved us, an old couple in the corner who may have actually already died, and one bloke in a tracksuit who presumably got lost trying to find Abacus down the road. It would’ve been soporific were it not for the persistent bracing draught wafting through the restaurant like the ghost of a former diner. The Béarnaise sauce had set by the time it arrived at the table and not even the antique porn wallpaper on the descent to the toilets got me hot under the collar, it was that cold.

I can picture a pen of besuited City workers munching happily through lunch at The Door, dipping into the petty cash to find £26 for the exorbitant beef wellington. Vegetarians, night owls, seafood fans, chip lovers, cowboys, tablecloth fetishists, or indeed anyone with a pulse: best shut the door; at least until someone sorts out that heating situation.
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The Door Oyster Bar & Grill Description

New oyster bar & grill restaurant in Bank, opened July 2011. This restaurant is set over two floors with separate restaurant and bar areas. The menu's emphasis is meat, with steaks from particular regions of the world being served to suit all tastes. The venue's plush interior has a classic feel, with muted grey, silver and black tones used throughout. The upstairs restaurant area is available for hire for any type of event from cocktail parties to a seated dinner. The restaurant specialises in steaks from around the world, while the bar boasts a selection of oysters and fine champagnes, including Dom Perignon and Cristal.

Customer Reviews for The Door Oyster Bar & Grill

Average (based on 3 votes): 3 Atmosphere: Value: Quality:

The following customer reviews are not endorsed by Fluid London and are simply those of users who wish to publish their independent experiences of The Door Oyster Bar & Grill.

“Indeed the steaks are excellent and the restaurant has some grand, opulent decor, even for a relatively tiny space. I also like the bar area with its high stools and seafood counter. The staff are observant and friendly and can offer recommendations. Shame the menu doesn't back them up really. Yawn! Very average food for quite a big asking price.”
Atmosphere: Value: Quality:
The Restaurant Hunter, London (3 months ago)

“I recently went with my boyfriend to The Door for dinner and had a wonderful evening. We started with a selection of oysters at the bar, which were absolutely divine, along with their recommended cocktail, a Mojito. After that we were shown to our table, where I ate a rib eye steak which was cooked to perfection along with the best creamy spinach I think I have ever had. Will definitely be going back very soon.”
Atmosphere: Value: Quality:
lucy, London (9 months 19 days ago)

“Amazing food, service and atmosphere! The steak was cooked to perfection and the creamed spinach was the best i've ever tasted. I will most certainly be coming back.”
Atmosphere: Value: Quality:
Hollie Kay, Aberdeen (9 months 22 days ago)

The Door Oyster Bar & Grill Opening Hours

Additional Information

• Cuisine Type: Steak House
• Group: The Door Group