Le Petit Beefbar - Chelsea, London

Le Petit Beefbar has blazed a trail across Monaco and France as one of the preeminent big-name steak restaurants, serving some of the highest quality, you guessed it, beef on the other shore of the channel, with hearty sides of scenester energy and chic vibes. It even won a Michelin star at its Hong Kong outpost. So it was only a matter of time before it touched down on Albion's bonny shores. Strategically, the ownership chose one of the poshest corners of Chelsea to launch their first site. Le Petit Beefbar is a pared-back version of the dining concept, but for a more diminutive venue, it certainly packs a beefy punch.  Situated just off King's Road, the restaurant channels Gallic bistro par excellence with a stunning carmine-coloured, marble-topped wraparound Art Deco bar in the entrance. Continue further into the dining room and you'll be won over by an eclectic collection of artwork, breezy rattan-backed seating, an open plan kitchen with frosted glass screens and parasol pendant lighting. Taken together, it provided a fashionable foil to the delicious bovine delicacies that followed.  Starters set the tone, and a high bar. We were smitten with a bao bun impregnated with Jasmin tea smoked short ribs, jambon d'entrecôte crisp and BBQ sauce. Kobe beef tallow fried chicken with Cinzano marinade and Sichuan pepper sauce followed suit, as did tempura corn with a black pepper mayo. For the main event, steak reigned supreme. We loved the USDA Prime New York strip, but were perhaps even more impressed with the miso black beef, an inventive riff on the prolific black cod. For dessert, we loved the homemade vanilla cheesecake with hazelnut crust and gariguette strawberries as well as the skillet chocolate chip cookie with caramelised pistachio, raspberry ripple ice cream, raspberry and lime sauce. Le Petit Beefbar is perfect for a date or with friends. It exudes a buzzy atmosphere with friendly service and is definitely worth the trip for special occasion dining.