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    The Fat Bear

    4.5 (127 reviews)
    Closed Closed

    The Fat Bear Photos

    THE FAT BEAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - The Fat Bear

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    Reviews With Photos

    Ines C.

    I finally made it here!! I think it's been on my bookmarks for YEARS. It did not disappoint- fantastic fried chicken and really good cornbread. Definitely get those. It's the perfect place for comfort food/for a cold day. I also was pleasantly surprised with the interior it was dimly lit and had really good ambiance. Next I want to try their mac and cheese!

    The Fat Bear! He looks spiffing don't you think?
    Bethany W.

    My oh my, what a night, what a meal, what a place! The Fat Bear is definitely a wonder of a hidden spot, located just round the corner from St.Pauls, above the Rising Sun. We walked up the slightly unusual staircase and found ourselves in a quaint wooden filled restaurant that mimicked the feel and atmosphere of a dining room. The room is lit by low lighting and candle light and the feeling of home and comfort is undeniable. The service throughout the evening was fantastic -the team were very friendly, informative and literally couldn't do enough for you. Now, to the food! We were a large group of 15 and pre-ordered from their menu which was thanksgiving themed. The restaurant itself is American inspired soul food so I had high exceptions from the start. Plate after plate, the food just kept on coming! The personal highlights for me were: Starter: The potted game served with caramelised onion and bread - this was just to die for. So flavoursome and rich, just a beautiful dish. Main: the turkey legs were cooked to perfection and the trimmings complimented eachother well. The stand out for me was the seafood gumbo - it certainly packed a punch but the seafood within was meaty and the scallops on top were a nice lil added bonus! Dessert: Oreo cheesecake - need I say more?! Creamy with a crunchy biscuit base. Perfectly made and it went down a treat! This place really did tick all the boxes for me and I'll definitely be heading back for some more once I've digested these meal which I feel may take a while.

    Shortcake strawberry cheescake
    Martina C.

    I took my boyfriend here for his birthday last Saturday, I wanted to try this place since I saw the pictures of their food here on yelp, and seeing as the boyfriend loves hearty food (and has a thing for bears) I thought it was the perfect chance. I had a lot of expectations for this place and I'm very very glad to say: boy, did it deliver. It's a bit tricky to spot if you don't know where it is but somehow it was full 10 minutes after we've arrived (we had booked for 6:30pm so still quite early). Considering how desolated the area is, this really speaks volume. The room has a cosy and intimate atmosphere to it. The blinds were shut and it was candle lit. We ordered a variety of starters, which included potato gnocchi in blue cheese sauce (my sweet god), deep-fried gator bites (holy moly) and deep-fried pickles (drooling all over my keyboard as I type). We were blown away by the flavours. We couldn't set on just two mains as we wanted to try many many things, so we ordered pork ribs, beef brisket and the soft shell crab burger. The brisket was quite a bit tough to be honest, but everything else was absolutely delicious. My boyfriend said he never had better pork ribs in his entire life. All mains came with fries, but we also ordered poutine which I had tried once in Canada and wanted to try again (it was PERFECT) and beer-battered onion rings (which DID NOT crumble into pieces when you touched them, as pub-food ones usually do). We finished it off with a flaming bear and a shortcake strawberry cheescake for dessert. As well as a couple of cocktails. The staff is extremely kind, knowledgeable and efficient, as well as a pleasure to interact with. They offered a killer double shot at the end of the meal as a happy birthday homage. The other half described The Fat Bear as 'twenty square feet of bloody perfection' and I couldn't agree more. Next time we'll be trying their brunch. Couldn't recommend this place enough. We paid quite a bit of money but we ordered A LOT of food, and it was worth every penny.

    Daniel G.

    My first Thanksgiving was always going to be a big deal but the Fat Bear made it a special and memorable experience. Myself and some friends visited last night for what can only be described as a three course feast. Highlights of the meal for me included the turkey and stuffing, sweet potato mash and the mac&cheese. They were all were perfectly prepared and presented well. The only downside of this meal was the huge amount of food I consumed but when it's this good how can you resist....Fat Bear team...take a bow.

    Franks wings with blue cheese dip
    Bethan R.

    Having just come back from a long holiday around the US, I can safely say that this is the best American food I've eaten this side of the pond. It's not following the 'Americana' trend as many restaurants are - they're refining it using their British influence and the highest quality local produce. We tried the franks wings, mac and cheese with bacon, and fish tacos - all of which ere executed perfectly - particularly the mac and cheese which was the perfect combination of saucy and smokey. We will definitely return, and I'm very tempted by the £30 tasting menu - the best value tasting menu I've seen anywhere in London! Looking forward to the main site to open next year. ALL HAIL THE FAT BEAR!

    Amazing cocktails!
    Phoebe L.

    Fried chicken and waffles! Soft shell crab burgers! Crayfish rolls! Fish cakes! Jumbalya! And pickle backs! This place has many of the American classics with a modern twist. Their cocktails are excellent and their wine list is great too. I'm not a big fan of American food and don't eat a huge amount of meat but if you are/do then this is definitely worth a visit. Some of the sauces were a little on the sweeter side for me but the flavours all work well together. Standout dishes, for me, were definitely the chicken livers (don't fear the offal!), the boneless beef short rib (wow) and the crayfish roll. But most of all the tuna salad was so fresh and delicious. And I have already decided that when I come back here I'm definitely getting a martini and fried pickles on the side. If you're a sweet tooth definitely leave room for dessert. And get a couple to share so you can try as many as possible. Space wise, there's a great table off the side for a bigger group and then lots of smaller places. They haven't tried to theme the place too usa- aka you wouldn't think that it's American food by the decor. That's a good thing. Feels a little bit like someone's dining room at home. With a very well stocked spirits collection. Great staff who know their booze and can help you if you're unsure what to chose. And just generally friendly and good for a chat. Check it out!

    Oreo cheesecake with ginger snap crust
    Jen G.

    Great ambiance, great service, wonderful food, fun drinks. I rarely give a 5 out of 5 stars but this came close. Waiter was helpful with recommendations, and wasn't pushy. We got wings and chips, as the BF was on the fence about chicken and waffles. Being from the States and loving the south, I was torn with what to order but ended up going with chicken and waffles. It's not your typical southern-style chicken n waffles but this was a nice flair on the normal dish. With the dish came a honey mustard syrup - which, like the chicken, was a nice twist on the normal maple syrup. BF ordered chicken wings which were too hot for him so we swapped plates. We were both happy with the dishes! I also had a rootbeer flats - yummy drink :) Overall, I'd recommend it if you're in the area. If you're not close, I wouldn't go toooo far out of your way for it. It's very small, quaint, and intimate and does require a tight staircase to ascend to get to the restaurant so if you do have a disability that interrupts your mobility, I would avoid this restaurant.

    Gator Bites and Chicken Fried Steak at The Fat Bear in London
    Robert S.

    Absolutely brilliant meal tonight. The gator bites were crispy and flavourful, the chicken fried steak was perfectly topped off with a creamy gravy. The chicken and sausage gumbo was fluffy and expertly seasoned. As a native Texan living in London for several years, I've missed all of these, and am glad to have a place where I can enjoy some of my comfort foods again in a lovely venue with friendly staff. I look forward to returning soon!

    Disco fries with gravy and cheese
    Tammy T.

    To be accurate, I would give The Fat Bear a 4.5 but for some reason Yelp hasn't yet allowed us to give half stars! The reason I don't hesitate to round up is because 4 stars just wouldn't do this place justice. We came here on a Saturday at 7, it was empty when we walked in but was quickly filling in as we ate. It's situated above a pub right around the corner from St. Paul's Cathedral. The restaurant itself looks like it was set up in someone's apartment, but it kind of works. It adds to the quaint feel of th restaurant. The service was absolutely outstanding. Beyond being extremely polite, you can tell they really care about their food and drink. Something to definitely be appreciated. I would highly recommend the pimento cheese with tortilla chips and the buffalo wings. Both were ridiculously good! The boneless beef rib was good, but a little tough for my liking, although the sauces that came with it were amazing! We also ordered the disco fries but I will probably skip that next time and try something else. If you're looking for a different American-style meal, come here!

    Country steak
    Gary M.

    First time here. Great food great atmosphere and I love that it's hidden and tucked away in central London. Service was great! I'll be coming back!!

    Crispy pickles not my thing but my friend said they were lovely. Deviled eggs are cold but taste really good

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    Page 1 of 4

    The Fat Bear Reviews in Other Languages

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    Flat Iron

    Flat Iron

    4.6(294 reviews)
    1.0 miStrand, Covent Garden
    ££

    Flat Iron is quirky with delicious steaks. I saw great reviews on Yelp and made reservations for…read moredinner last night. If you don't have reservations, you can expect a wait. The cafe is super cute in Covent Garden. We were seated quickly at a small table and given a complementary cup of fresh popcorn. Jessi Juan, our server, was attentive and friendly. We ordered a glass of wine and a beer. The menu is fairly simple, steaks and sides. Other steak and wine specials are listed on a board. Steaks start at £15 and sides are £4-5. Food comes out super quick. My husband and I had Flat Iron steaks and shared sides of Roasted Aubergine, Tomatoes and Mozzarella and Bone Marrow Mash. I also ordered the Bearnaise sauce to compliment my steak. Everything tasted excellent. My husband LOVED the Bone Marrow Mash potatoes with fried onion bits. I loved the aubergine. You receive a token for a complementary ice cream cone, which you pick up when you leave. The ice cream is topped with chocolate powder. The free cone is delicious and a nice touch. I'd return, heck, I'd even stand in line.

    I must say that this is truly a unique experience for me when it comes to steaks. We were around…read morethe night before and saw the crazy line outside. So, we knew better this time and made a reservation. Highly recommend making one before coming here. The ambiance is a Very cool, trendy vibe. Once seated, they put seasoned popcorn on the table while you wait. Here's what we ordered: - Truffles Mac and Cheese - Crispy Bone Marrow Garlic Mash - Wagyu cuts of the day: Fore Fillet and sirloin - Salted caramel ice cream with original beans Virunga chocolate shavings Everything was exceptional from making the reservation, the wait to be seated, the service, to the free ice cream. Highly recommend!

    Photos
    Flat Iron
    Flat Iron - Complementary ice cream!

    Complementary ice cream!

    Flat Iron - Salted caramel

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    Salted caramel

    Garfunkel's - I've always been fond of good hygiene!

    Garfunkel's

    3.5(4 reviews)
    0.8 miStrand
    ££

    I came here for dinner the night I arrived in London. If you are a tourist, fish and chips is…read moreprobably the one dish you need to try on your visit. Garfunkel's seems to be a casual dining chain here. The atmosphere is similar to Applebee's, BJ's, and Chili's in the US. Plenty of tables and booths inside. They serve a variety of American food, ranging from pastas to pizzas to burgers. I opted for the fish and chips from the British Classics menu. It was £12.95, which is around $16 USD. Kind of a hefty price, but the portion was fair. The cod was cooked well, and the fried batter was crispy. The chips (US - fries) seemed a little soft, compared to the ones I've had back home. I do have to note that the rest of the dishes were a bit bland, but that was also the problem at every restaurant I ate here. Service was a little slow, but it was crowded when we came. Overall, the American menus is lacking, but I definitely enjoyed many of the British Classics offerings.

    We aren't from around here, but I can honestly say that this was one of the worst experiences we…read morehave ever encountered. The service was terrible. The food was even worse. It was so obvious they freeze most of their food and then serve it to you without giving a crap if it is even remotely warm - note: ours was still basically frozen. So disappointing. I highly recommend that if you pass this establishment, you run as far away as possible and never look back.

    Photos
    Garfunkel's - The classic burger

    The classic burger

    Garfunkel's
    Garfunkel's

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    Balthazar - Mussel with chips

    Balthazar

    3.9(234 reviews)
    0.9 miCovent Garden, Strand
    £££

    Cool place on the inside and service was decent outside of the wine. The biggest disappointment was…read morethat the wine pours were the smallest I've ever seen. The bartender said it's a standard pour. As someone who drinks a lot of wine, I can promise it was VERY light. It wasn't an isolated bartender either as a different bartender gave the same pour. Onion soup- 4.2/5- Very salty, which is the way I like it, but not for everyone. Good amount of cheese and good broth. Chicken Ballontine- 3.2/5- chicken was pretty good, came with some kind of pasta and vegetable mix that was very oily. Pretty small dish. Pomme Purree- 4.2/5- very good, no complaints at all, reasonable price. On the google menu they had chicken paillard, which was not on the menu for dinner. Overall, decent restaurant, but much better French spots in London.

    I definitely like Balthazar in NYC better…read more The layout of the restaurant is somewhat similar to NYC, strong French Brassiere feel - which makes sense because, well, it's a French Brassiere. We were seeing a show after dinner so we had to be mindful of what we ordered. We had: - Steak Tartare - very good, comparable to NYC - Salad Lyonnaise - tasty - Pomme Puree (mashed potatoes) - good - Mac n Cheese - bland - Mushroom Risotto - tasty if a bit bland - Paris Brest - tasty if a bit heavy - Christmas Pudding - very good Overall we had a nice meal, just nothing special.

    Photos
    Balthazar - Fabulous bar

    Fabulous bar

    Balthazar - Beef tartare appetizer portion

    Beef tartare appetizer portion

    Balthazar - Atmosphere!

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    Atmosphere!

    Smith and Wollensky

    Smith and Wollensky

    4.3(45 reviews)
    0.9 miStrand
    ££££

    If you're looking for a high end steakhouse look no further. I first came here 7 years ago on a…read moretrip to London and have dined here several times since. Service was quick and personal, the atmosphere was great and we had some amazing food again. My filet was spectacular and thats comparing to many top steakhouses in the US and Australia. My only negative comment is the cost. Compared to similar steakhouses overseas its more expensive. Despite that I'll be back next time I'm in London.

    This is a beautiful restaurant, very classy with elegant lighting and a very old school vibe…read more Waiters in white coats bustling food deliverers, etc. The service and attention to detail were impeccable. My partner and I visited on New Years Eve. I'm not sure if this is always the case, but the music playing was primarily American rock - like The Eagles, Neil Young, etc. It's fine, but not very in line with the classic, upscale feel. The bartending staff was top notch. I had a martini and my partner had a house Manhattan, both were perfect. We shared the iceberg wedge to start, a personal favorite, and this one was spot on. Great bleu cheese dressing, still warm lardons, and crispy, fresh iceberg lettuce. For mains, I ordered the aged Irish ribeye and chose to have it "gorgonzola encrusted". This was the first misstep. First of all, the grass fed beef stands on its own, I would never choose to add a sauce, but this was encrusted, right? Not so much. Here's the definition of encrusted from the Oxford dictionary: "Covered or decorated with a HARD surface layer". What I received was a steak smothered in (a very lovely) gorgonzola SAUCE with some bacon and spring onions. Had I known it was a sauce, I would have skipped it, or at the very least had it served on the side. Slightly disappointing, but the steak was perfectly medium rare and delicious. My partner ordered the hake. It was served with a prawn and a very tasty tarragon pesto. She said the pesto was the star. The fish was delicate and also well prepared. We shared sauteed spinach and roasted mushrooms, both delicious. For dessert we shared the banana and toffee mousse. This was the second misstep. This was a tasty dessert, but it was definitely not mousse. It was a very small sliver of banana bread (?). It had strong banana flavor and was served with rum raisin ice cream which was nice. It was also thankfully a very small portion as we were stuffed. Overall, a very decadent and elegant meal to ring in the new year!

    Photos
    Smith and Wollensky - Kiwido cocktail

    Kiwido cocktail

    Smith and Wollensky - Steak au poivre

    Steak au poivre

    Smith and Wollensky - Table

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    Table

    The Fat Bear - tradamerican - Updated July 2026

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