1 week Ago
January sees the opening of The Black Cow at The Stage as Shiri Kraus and Amir Batito open a new East London steak house with a theatrical twist. The Stage is part of the development of the former Curtain Playhouse on Curtain Road where Shakespeare's acting troupe The Lord Chamberlain's men were based, and the Bard himself acted. The Stage is a new development in Curtain Road Shoreditch with apartments, offices, restaurants and a new Museum of Shakespeare on the site of Shakespeare's former theatre.
(Image: Courtesy of Cain International) A new underground Museum of Shakespeare is set to transport visitors back to 16th Century London via a series of immersive, interactive experiences next year. Above ground there are 400,000 sq ft of apartments, offices, shops, a new piazza and restaurants, including The Black Cow which will be split into three dining areas: The Performance courtyard, The Gallery, and private dining room The Backstage. Guests will be greeted with cuts of steak dry ageing in glass fridges, and interiors are influenced by both Broadway and Middle Eastern theatre, with black and emerald hues, and terracotta floors.
The Performance Courtyard is inspired by the open-to-the-elements plays in Shakespeare's day and populated by olive trees, while The Backstage brings Broadway to life with walls covered with vintage signage and shelves of trinkets including scales, cleavers and props. Above in The Gallery, guests will have a clear view of the open fire kitchen with spotlights for diners to watch the theatrics of cooking steaks - served table side with flaming herbs. Other dishes include homemade cornbread with lamb butter; lamb merguez corn dog, labneh and sweet harissa; corn, ras el hanout, salted crumble and feta.
A sleek black bar will serve The Black Cow’s signature cocktails, including the Ottoman Martini with vodka, kahlua, Turkish coffee, cardamom & cream, and Kashish with Bourbon, spiced orange and bitters. Epicurus opened in Stables Market in 2023, as an American diner with a Middle Eastern twist, serving burgers, ribs, and sharing plates like a Burrik pastry with beef and smoked cheese, and corn wedges with dukkah and raclette. The Black Cow in Hawley Wharf opened in 2021as a steak house 'half way between New York and Tel Aviv,' serving dry aged steaks and sharing plates.
Meat at the new venue will be sourced from HG Walter with cuts including picanha, T bone and chef's favourite onglet, while puddings include spiced quince, almond crumble, orange blossom ice cream or Gorgonzola cheesecake with fig coulis. Shiri says: "Things that are tongue in cheek always bring me joy, you can see that across our menu with the play on the American steakhouse with Middle Eastern influences. "This opening is something that fits so well into that concept, we love that this site is steeped in history having been one of Shakespeare’s theatres, and we’re excited to bring that out in the restaurant.
" Amir adds: "We work with the finest British produce, and The Black Cow at the Stage takes it up a notch with our own dry ageing - it's all in the theatre, from watching the steaks be carved, cooked and then served and I’m excited to bring that to life." The Black Cow at The Stage opens January 2025 at 30 Curtain Road, EC2A 3NL.
