Appetite London Master Butcher & Steakhouse

"Before you go full Chris Hoy at the nearby VeloPark, stop for a meal at Stratford steakhouse, Appetite London. It’s part butcher, part deli, and part restaurant, with an industrial-chic style and a menu of perfectly cooked meat with chips or salad. Expect a bish-bash-bosh approach with meats slapped down and jointed on a butcher's block, frequent shouts from the kitchen, and a peppercorn sauce that packs a punch. There are cycle stands and outside seating if you want to keep an eye on your Trek child. Bike, we mean bike. " - sinead cranna

"Appetite works best for times when the only question you want to answer is, “bloody or medium-rare?” and “chips or salad?” Maybe you’ve just been to the human washing machine that is Westfield, or got chased by a pack of cyclists in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Whatever the reason you’re in Stratford, a perfectly cooked piece of meat and glass of red wine can fix it. This steakhouse has a butchery counter and small deli on one side and a dining room on the other—which means there’s a good chance you’ll eat overlooking a raw pork chop. An effort has been made with the industrial-chic look—steel seats, wooden tables, and simple copper light fittings—to make things feel more restaurant than abattoir. The result is a comfortable, quiet spot that works for casual weeknight meals and low-key dates when neither of you can be bothered to cook, and small talk is all you have the energy for. Meats are well-seasoned, cooked simply, and served with a fiery peppercorn sauce. We’d skip the basic bistro salad and get the caesar instead, and chips for mopping up the juices. photo credit: Koray Firat photo credit: Koray Firat photo credit: Koray Firat photo credit: Koray Firat" - Sinéad Cranna