Bife, a new family-owned restaurant proudly serving ‘Argentina’s best’, has opened in Aldgate at 40-42 Middlesex Street, E1. At the heart of the menu is prime Argentinian beef, cooked on a charcoal grill. Bife also serves a variety of cuts of meat from around the world, alongside traditional Argentinian specialities and vegetarian and vegan dishes.
The wine list is drawn predominantly from Argentina, with a strong focus on Malbec and Malbec blends, as well as a selection of hand-picked wines from both Old and New Worlds. Bife also boasts a dedicated Gin & Tonic menu, offering sixteen gins each served with a speciality tonic chosen to complement the particular spirit.
Bife is the first joint venture for brothers Juan Pablo and Jose de Alzaa – co-founder of the popular Moo Grill – and their cousin Ricardo, who is the restaurant’s parrillero or master-griller. The restaurant has been decorated in rich jewel colours, with an open kitchen and the custom-made charcoal grill as focal points.
Among the free-range, wet-aged Argentinean steaks are a 280g rump, 310g rib-eye, 400g sirloin and 220g fillet. Starters include Argentine empanadas with a variety of fillings, Chorizo criollo, and Grilled Provolone cheese, while desserts feature Flan with dulce de leche and Don Pedro – vanilla ice cream, nuts, chocolate sauce and whisky.
In addition to the main menu, daily, weekly and seasonal specials will be offered, the first of which will be the Bife Grill Box – a mini charcoal-grill brought sizzling to the table, comprising 400g of Argentine sirloin, 310g of rib-eye, USDA short ribs, pulled chicken, Spanish chorizo, black pudding, grilled Provolone cheese, red peppers, onion, carrots and bread, serving 2-3 people.
At lunchtime and early evening, a selection of Argentine specials including Lomitos – gourmet sandwiches native to the brothers’ home city of Córdoba – Chicken or Steak Milanese, and a Vegan Philly Cheese Steak are available to eat in or take away.
As Jose de Alzaa explains, “Bife is more than a steakhouse; we want to showcase ‘Argentina’s best’ to as many people as possible, which is why as well as prime beef we have lunch specials and vegetarian and vegan options. Our dream is to see students and tourists sitting alongside City workers and locals, discovering the best food and wine of Argentina, whatever their budget.”