London is one of the best cities in the world to go and have a great night out in, as it has such a variety of restaurants, shows and activities. There is something for everyone, but there are few places where you can do all of these under the same roof, which is why The Hippodrome is so special.
The Hippodrome has had an incredible varied existence, and was so named as its original use was as a circus and variety venue, and initially even had a 100,000 gallon water tank for what were described in the beginning of the 1900’s as ‘aquatic spectacles’. After that, it became a music hall and even has the accolade of introducing a little known boy actor, who at the time had tobeinabearsuit(ashewastooyoungtobe on the stage) - none other than, the one and only, Charlie Chaplin. In 1958, the venue was reborn again as the Talk of the Town, a nightclub where ‘anyone who was anyone’ has played. This includes AC/DC through to Stevie Wonder and many more inbetween. The Hippodrome’s final incarnation started in 2009, when it was purchased by Jimmy and Simon Thomas, and it was reborn again as a Casino and entertainment venue, and what an amazing job they have done, with the venue including four floors of gaming, including a Gold Room Casino sited in the original basement with access directly into Chinatown to the rear of the building, Heliot restaurant, six bars, a smoking terrace and The Matcham Room Cabaret Theatre.
Our evening was to start at the Heliot restaurant which perches in the eaves of the first floor overlooking the main gaming area on the ground floor, and is a restaurant serving top quality USDA prime steaks in a lively atmosphere. It is named after another one of the venue’s more colourful performers, Claire Heliot, who was famous for feeding raw meat to lions on stage in the 1900’s. I am unsure if the quality of the meat was the same then, but if it was I envy the lions, although I personally prefer medium rare to raw! Heliot follows the great adage of a restaurant that provides exactly what the diner expects from its type of restaurant, and it does it really well with a few unforseen twists.
Starters are exactly what you expect, and are dominated by fish dishes including Seared Scallops (£9), Smoked Salmon Terrine (£8) and Tuna Tartare (£7) which was perfectly offset by the avocado wasabi and mint jelly. My personal favourite however, was the Potato Truffle Soup (£6) with caramelised shallots and chive oil which was rich and comforting.
Although the starters were good, the best was yet to come, and the main event was worth waiting for. Heliot boasts great value USDA steaks aged for between 4 and 6 weeks which really develops the tenderness and flavour, and then they are seasoned perfectly so they are at their best when served. The steaks are served in three sizes - small (180 to 200g), medium (250 to 350g) and large (500 to 650g), and with all cuts the combinations are extensive. I opted for a large T-bone as I love the mixture of short loin and tenderloin meat and I wasn’t disappointed, as the steak was slightly crisp on the outside and oozed flavour once cut. Heliot also caters for those not swayed by steaks, and I was pleasantly surprised by the Mushroom Ravioli (£13), as the pasta was just slightly al dente and the truffle and parmesan sauce was delicious, giving just the right amount of earthy mushroom flavour with that hint of cheese. This dish wouldn’t be out of place in a high class Italian restaurant.
Along with the steaks, the true test of a steak restaurant is their sides, and this continues to show the quality of Heliot. The Millionaire’s Mac & Cheese (£7) with a poached duck egg and black truffle is a must, as are the triple cooked chips (£3).
Desserts are all £6.50 and include a wonderfully robust and chocolately Chocolate Mousse with dulce de leche ice cream, and a light and delicate Lavender Panna Cotta.
Once you have finished your meal you really should take in a show or have an after dinner drink in one of the many bars, and the choice at the Hippodrome is extensive. In keeping with its history The Hippodrome provides shows worthy of the West End theatres and combined with such a great restaurant and the gaming tables, where else can you get an amazing night out under one roof? We thoroughly enjoyed watching The 4Tunes in the Matcham Theatre, which is a fantastic venue for shows as it is intimate and creates an intense atmosphere, and because you aren’t too far away from the stage, you get completely drawn into whatever you are watching. There is waitress service in here too, serving drinks and bar food.
Upcoming shows include The Soho Burlesque Club, T’Pau, Odyssey, Viva Las Magic and The Hippodrome’s Superbowl Party, and you can view more of the entertainment programme on The Hippodrome’s website under the Theatre section.
We enjoyed our evening at The Hippodrome Casino so much, we are already planning our next visit for early January! Who knows, we may hopefully see you there!
The Hippodrome Casino, Cranbourn Street, Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7JH
Telephone: 0207 769 8844
