The Customer Always Wins

Restaurant Review of Heliot Steak House, The Hippodrome Casino, London by Damien Connelly Executive Chef: Ioannis Grammenos Instagram: @Meatologist_Ioannis_Grammenos Twitter: @HeliotSteakHouse

s there a more mesmerizing backdrop to eating a meal for an adult than a great casino floor? Casino floors are a cornucopia of emotions with constantly evolving stimuli. Filled with adults, casino floors bubble and overflow with sensory inputs...especially audio and visual. As a stand-out restaurant backdrop, great casino floors are up there with the great squares and plazas of the world in my opinion. One of the biggest selling points of the multi-award winning Heliot Steak House at The Hippodrome is its layout. It is spread over three tiers and begins on the first floor. Tables in the Heliot Steak House afford wonderful views over the Grand Casino, which is on the ground floor, and of the central auditorium which is an open space spanning an impressive four floors. There are not many restaurants where you can sit and view ‘The Gods’ while eating - a reference to The Hippodrome building’s history as a circus and variety theatre that opened in 1900.

Located on Leicester Square, with a London Underground station directly beneath, The Hippodrome is in the heart of London’s West End. It is perfectly located for visiting London and the West End’s theaters and shows. Indeed, The Hippodrome has its own show which it imported from Las Vegas I

- Channing Tatum’s Magic Mike Live! Pre- and postshow eating opportunities are fully catered for by the Heliot Steak House.

This is a restaurant where you get more than you expect. It’s located in some of the most expensive real estate in the world and still affords great value for money: Starters are from £8, Mains from £14 with most Side dishes £3, and all Desserts are £7. Along with great value for money + its West End location + its very intelligent tiered layout, the food is delicious. I met some of the culinary team (back- and frontoffice) during my visit and it was apparent how much pride they take in their job...great to see. It’s of course a team performance to deliver such quality at incredible value. I would like in particular to ‘tip

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my hat’ in acknowledgement of a job very well done to Mery Esposito (Head Waitress) and Salvo Russo (Restaurant Manager).

An advantage I consider inherent to well-run F&B outlets within casinos: they have a high ratio of staff to customers. This allows casino restaurants to deliver outstanding customer service and exceed customer expectations. Heliot Steak House leverages this inherent attribute and builds upon it by having courteous, happy and knowledgeable staff. Heliot Steak House offers a dining experience that’s close to what one would expect in a formal ‘white table cloth’ fine dining restaurant yet in a friendly and quite informal manner. Heliot Steak House also delivers I met some of the culinary team (back- and front-office) during my visit and it was apparent how much pride they take in their job...great to see. It’s of course a team performance to deliver such quality at incredible value. “

portions that satisfy rather than tease. They leave the teasing to the Magic Mike Live! show.

I placed my trust in the hands of Mery and was glad I did so. She asked insightful questions about my eating preferences (beyond the standard food allergy questions). This allowed Mery to advise more appropriate course options for me based on her superior knowledge of the menu. Mery was very comfortable advising on food pairings and was a very capable sommelier.

As I noted above, Heliot Steak House is a restaurant where you receive more than you expect. Plus it is more than a steak house. Given The Hippodrome caters to a mass- and premium-mass customer base, Heliot Steak House provides a varied menu that encompasses vegan, vegetarian and seafood options. Its signature dishes are, of course, steaks. Heliot Steak House offers USDA aged steaks. My starter was Sea Bass Ceviche that had both a “Wow” taste and a “Wow” serving experience - I’ll not spoil the show by divulging the serving experience here...you need to visit Heliot Steak House at The Hippodrome and order the Sea Bass Ceviche yourself to experience it. I was tempted by the Goat Cheese Lollipops, the Foie Gras and the USDA Meat

I placed my trust in the hands of Mery and was glad I did so. She asked insightful questions about my eating preferences (beyond the standard food allergy questions). This allowed Mery to advise more appropriate course options for me based on her superior knowledge of the menu. “

Balls...Sea Bass Ceviche was the advised choice by Mery, and it was a “Wow” experience. Mery used her wine knowledge and the Gavi she advised complemented the Sea Bass perfectly.

Main for me was a Rib Eye. I can’t say that I ate my Rib Eye because it literally melted in my mouth. They seriously know how to cook USDA prime steak at the Heliot Steak House. Mery’s wine pairing advice was again excellent.

Dessert I will admit was a bit of a struggle. By this time, with such healthy portions, I was feeling quite full. But needs must! Mery advised the Almond Millefeuille paired with a Royal Tokaji Late Harvest. They were delectably balanced and provided a wonderful closing taste to our meal at the Heliot Steak House.

It’s such a great restaurant to eat in. Its location in the heart of London’s West End is very convenient. The food is delicious. The front- and back-of-house staff ensure customers receive a great experience with excellent service. The tiered layout uses to full advantage the entertaining ambience one can feel throughout The Hippodrome - starting on the first floor overlooking the Grand Casino and with full auditorium views, this means Heliot Steak House customers can sit and watch the entire property and all the comings and goings of the staff and customers from the comfort of their table. The vibe you get from the casino and indeed the entire property means you leave with upbeat memories, wanting to return.

Would it be unfashionable to posit that the customer always wins in the Heliot Steak House at The Hippodrome?