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Recommended Reviews - Brass Rail Salt Beef Bar
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the salted beef is stringy and rubbery. most of it would up in my napkin bc I could not swallow it. I asked the server if that was how it was supposed to be and he said yes. the matzo ball soup is decent. servers are friendly and the food came pretty quickly. however once the sandwich was delivered i had to flag someone down to order soup and more water. not A recommend.
This place has been around forever and even though I come to Selfridges every time I visit London, I've never eaten here before. The menu is simple and so are people's motives - the salt beef sandwich. I take a wooden tray and walk up to the lady behind the counter, standing with her knife poised and ready to cut into huge slabs of salt beef. I look up at the menuboard and prepare myself to place my order. Q1: Should I get the half, the regular or the large sandwich? Generally, bigger is better, but on this occassion, I wasn't very hungry. I'll settle for half a sandwich Q2: Out of wholewheat, rye, foccacia and bagel, what should I get? This one is easy, I'll go for rye. Q3: Meat. The menu board says: "Choice of Salt Beef, Tongue, Pastrami (or a mix)" I ask the lady behind the counter for a mix because I'm indecisive. Q3a: The lady then asks me: "What mix would you like?" Oh god, this was more thinking than I thought I'd invest in a sandwich. "Could I do all 3?" *crosses fingers* She lets me. *sigh of relief* Q4: Mustard. English or American. I live in America but I go for English mustard. It tastes better. Q5: Gherkin? Hell yeah gherkin. I freaking love gherkins! So here I am, two slices of soft rye bread stuffed with 6 layers of juicy meat. I don't care if other people are judging me for being a fatass and getting all 3 kinds of meat in my sandwich - this is beef sandwich heaven. The meat is tender and was a perfect mix of salty beef, tender tongue and peppery pastrami. Each bite was just as wonderful as the last. I may or may not have closed my eyes after each bite, to savor the flavours running amuck in my mouth. I'll be dreaming of this sandwich tonight in my sleep.
flashforward is back and this is my tribute to the tv series:) "on oct 6 2009, the planet blacked out for two minutes and seventeen seconds the whole world saw the future........." in my flashforward, i was queuing up for a salt beef sandwich fix. the queue was long but the service was fast. they cut and assemble made to order salt beef sandwiches with japanese style just in time precision. you get a choice of bread, cut of meat(salt beef, pastrami or tongue) , type of mustard and extras like gherkin. i chose a combination of all the meats with english mustard on white bread. the meats are so juicy, tender and yet full of texture. the bread though soft, yet held the sandwich together well. the mustard is a must for that extra kick up and down your orifices! if you saw the same future that i saw, it is definitely in your interest to check them out asap!
If I was a vegetarian (which I am not) I would revert to my carnivorous or is that omnivorous ways to be able to eat here. Damn tasty Salt Beef sandwiches!! Pricey though..two salt beef sandwiches + two gherkins and two diet cokes (not all for me) at £19....maybe I am just cheap.
The Brass Rail is the salt beef 'bar" at the Selfridges Food Hall. There is always a massive queue of people eager to get a large sandwich of sliced salt beef. I don't really agree with all the 5 star reviews. The brass rail is overrated if you ask me. As someone who has had his fair share of salt beef bagels, there are many a place that serves better salt beef (Reuben's in Marylebone, Beigel Bake on brick Lane, and even the stingy old man who carves it up occasionally at the exmouth market). Now don't get me wrong the sandwiches come with generous portions of meat and the requisite strong english mustard and are perfectly edible. However, If you also come later in the evening, the beef and bread can taste a bit stale. I've also had mixed experiences with the meat---the pastrami can sometimes be overly peppery. Note that the meat is not kosher. The atmosphere is also lacking. Yes, there is a brass rail, but the dining area is rather cramped and is no nicer than any other food court. 3 stars---it's not a bad sandwich per se, but only worth going to if you are already in Selfridges.
Great salt beef (aka corned beef sandwich)! Fresh rye bread and tender beef, just wish there was more of it. Also they need spicy brown mustard and kosher pickles to make this sandwich next level.
So after a little scouting on the Yelp London chat, a few people suggested that a "must eat" while in London was a good salt beef sandwich. Somehow I ran out of time and proper meals to get one on my first trip so I made it a priority on this trip. I first had some hesitation about trying this place because of the fact that it is located inside a department store but the doubt that I had quickly subsided when I started walking around the lovely food hall. If you you only have one stop to shop for all food that is British, this I the place but that's another review... After being lost in jaw dropping awe in the food hall, I finally made it to the Brass Rail about half seven. Upon walking up to the counter I saw the attendant pull a behemoth of a sandwich out of the oven. I asked him what it wa an he said it was a Reuben. I told him that I'll have one of those! He denied my request as the bloke in front of me got the last bun for it.. Sad and Dejected I opted for the largest half pastrami and half salt beef on rye on the menu. The pastrami was a big miss for me. It was thick cut (we are accustomed to thin sliced) and was extremely dry and had to be drowned in mustard to be palatable. The salt beef.... Where do I start... First off it was thick cut just like the pastrami but unlike the pastrami was moist and even a little juicy. The sour/salt bite you get when bite into it is something else... Not like any other cured meat I've ever tired up to this point.. I devoured the half of my sandwich like a starving Marvin and was tempted to get another but I wanted to try some of the many other stands in the hall... Quick tip for dining here: They sell camden town brewery and meantime beers in the food hall! Grab one or two as well as a bag of Guinness crips (chips for Americans) and take it to eat with your salt beef.. You'll thanks me later... Cheers and enjoy
The Brass Rail (Selfridge's) - What Katz deli in NY is to pastrami, the brass rail is to salt beef. It's the perfect texture and consistency. Soft, tender, you can effortlessly peel off bits of it to sneak a bite without the bread for maximum pleasure. It manages to do this while still having enough texture to allow you to bite and chew while giving that feeling of almost melting away. Order on rye bread with mustard and a pickle and enjoy.
So, I caved in and had the salt beef sandwich instead of the miserable salad disaster I had the last time around. After my last visit I concluded that they really have to hate greens here with the treatment they're giving them. But with friends raving about their sandwiches I took a day off my meat-free diet to try one out. Seriously, it's like two different worlds! This. was. divine. I had the regular size sandwich, rye bread with cumin (oh joy! cumin!), salt beef, French mustard and gherkin. It just went perfectly together. The only reason I'm not giving it a 5 is that the meat could have been a tad more juicy - and I prefer shredded beef rather than slices. But it's all a matter of taste. When it comes to beef sandwiches, the quality is high, good service, fast - really good. But avoid all other food items, you're just gonna get depressed.
Here's an example of a conversation that would really stress me out: Friend: Hey I just got back from London and I got one of those Salt Beef sandwiches that you rave about! Me: That's wonderful! Where did you go? Beigel Bake? Pickle & Rye? Friend: Oh no I went to Brass Rail - in Selfridges You won't have a bad Salt Beef sandwich at Brass Rail, but know that it's the equivalent of paying $20.00 for a Philly Cheese steak sandwich or a tener for a kebab - it just isn't right. Star 1: How were the service and atmosphere? In contrast to what you might find at a more industrial, working class mom and pop shop like Beigel Bake, Brass Rail Salt Beef Bar has acclimated to its higher end surroundings. You can pay with a credit card and take a seat while your sandwich is brought out to you. The folks are friendly, but I did feel a bit odd chomping away at a Salt Beef sandwich while the global elite were strolling about me sampling luxury short breads and artisan chocolates. Star Granted. Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost? You know what's probably not cheap? Ample floor space in Selfridges. You know what you probably have to do to effectively put that pricey floorspace to work? Charge eight pound seventy-five for a medium sized Salt Beef sandwich on brown. I'd pay five pounds less for the exact same sandwich at Beigel Bake, and while I understand the economics off it all, you've just got to understand that you're being charged to eat in Selfridges. No Star Granted. Stars 3 and 4: How was the food? Was my Salt Beef sandwich (on brown with British mustard) bad? No, it wasn't bad, and to be entirely honest the meat was of extremely high quality as you can probably tell by the picture. Was it great? No, it wasn't great. Sure the meat was fine, but the bread was plain, cold, and the whole sandwich just seemed like something I could pretty easily dish up at home. Yes, the menu at Brass Rail is significant and I'm partially to blame for my order, but I've had some Salt Beef sandwiches that truly blew me away - and this one didn't. Single Star Granted. Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could? There are better options for Salt Beef sandwiches in London. No Star Granted.
Somewhat of an institution at Selfridges from what I can gather. Came here on a Friday just as lunchtime was starting so we missed any large queues. Lots of comfy seats to choose from. Rather than a sandwich I went for their mac n cheese and added pastrami with a lemonade. It was SOOOOOOO good!!! I ordered the small rather than a large but that was more than enough. The pepper on the pastrami was v nice. Also got to try a bit of the salt beef - which was also really good. Would I go back? Hells yes!
Not a big fan of Brass Rail's smoked/cured meats. Ordered a pastrami/salt beef on rye. I liked the ability to choose the type of mustard I wanted. English mustard still makes me tear up every time, so I chose the American mustard from a squeeze bottle. Both of the meats were on the dry side and very one-dimensional. All I tasted was saltiness. Neither the mustard nor the pickle were able to cut through the salt. I might be spoiled from having lived in NY with access to Carnegie/Katz/2nd Ave, but I think that even in London, your best bet for salt beef are the bagel (beigel) places on Brick Lane.
2 months ago
2 years ago
Set in the foodhall at Selfridges, the Brass Rail Salt Beef Bar was a welcome find. After a full day and nearly 25k steps during our busy exploring day, we came upon this place. I was feeling a little under the weather and just wanted a good chicken soup. To my surprise I found an excellent, flavorful Chicken Matzo Ball Soup here that was so good and memorable. The Brass Rail is set in the busy foodhall at Selfridges. It's partially partitioned off as its own dining establishment. You will be seated by a host and given menus. Now, the only complaint I have about our experience was the attitude of the person what waited on us. She was clearly in a bad mood and made no reservations about the making it really obvious she wasn't feeling her job that day. My husband even asked her if everything was okay, and she just shrugged it off. The table sat next to us about 15 minutes after we got there, literally waited for another 15 minutes to place their order. After the waitress really gave up, they left without having even been given the opportunity to place their order. As to be expected, they were cheery and pleasant despite the waitress intentionally dripping the ball. Fortunately we were able to get our food. I loved the Chicken Matzo Ball Soup. It was fresh and delicately seasoned. Not too salty and just had amazing flavors that made me feel rejuvenated from a very busy, physically demanding adventure in London that day. Even through I'm not much of a beef eater, I would definitely be back based on how delicious the soup was and the exciting atmosphere of being in the Selfridges Foodhall. The service was this visit was poor, but one person does not a business make. read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
the salted beef is stringy and rubbery. most of it would up in my napkin bc I could not swallow it. I asked the server if that was how it was supposed to be and he said yes. the matzo ball soup is decent. servers are friendly and the food came pretty quickly. however once the sandwich was delivered i had to flag someone down to order soup and more water. not A recommend. read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
16 years ago
This place has been around forever and even though I come to Selfridges every time I visit London, I've never eaten here before. The menu is simple and so are people's motives - the salt beef sandwich. I take a wooden tray and walk up to the lady behind the counter, standing with her knife poised and ready to cut into huge slabs of salt beef. I look up at the menuboard and prepare myself to place my order. Q1: Should I get the half, the regular or the large sandwich? Generally, bigger is better, but on this occassion, I wasn't very hungry. I'll settle for half a sandwich Q2: Out of wholewheat, rye, foccacia and bagel, what should I get? This one is easy, I'll go for rye. Q3: Meat. The menu board says: "Choice of Salt Beef, Tongue, Pastrami (or a mix)" I ask the lady behind the counter for a mix because I'm indecisive. Q3a: The lady then asks me: "What mix would you like?" Oh god, this was more thinking than I thought I'd invest in a sandwich. "Could I do all 3?" *crosses fingers* She lets me. *sigh of relief* Q4: Mustard. English or American. I live in America but I go for English mustard. It tastes better. Q5: Gherkin? Hell yeah gherkin. I freaking love gherkins! So here I am, two slices of soft rye bread stuffed with 6 layers of juicy meat. I don't care if other people are judging me for being a fatass and getting all 3 kinds of meat in my sandwich - this is beef sandwich heaven. The meat is tender and was a perfect mix of salty beef, tender tongue and peppery pastrami. Each bite was just as wonderful as the last. I may or may not have closed my eyes after each bite, to savor the flavours running amuck in my mouth. I'll be dreaming of this sandwich tonight in my sleep. read more
flashforward is back and this is my tribute to the tv series:) "on oct 6 2009, the planet blacked out for two minutes and seventeen seconds the whole world saw the future........." in my flashforward, i was queuing up for a salt beef sandwich fix. the queue was long but the service was fast. they cut and assemble made to order salt beef sandwiches with japanese style just in time precision. you get a choice of bread, cut of meat(salt beef, pastrami or tongue) , type of mustard and extras like gherkin. i chose a combination of all the meats with english mustard on white bread. the meats are so juicy, tender and yet full of texture. the bread though soft, yet held the sandwich together well. the mustard is a must for that extra kick up and down your orifices! if you saw the same future that i saw, it is definitely in your interest to check them out asap! read more
If I was a vegetarian (which I am not) I would revert to my carnivorous or is that omnivorous ways to be able to eat here. Damn tasty Salt Beef sandwiches!! Pricey though..two salt beef sandwiches + two gherkins and two diet cokes (not all for me) at £19....maybe I am just cheap. read more
The Brass Rail is the salt beef 'bar" at the Selfridges Food Hall. There is always a massive queue of people eager to get a large sandwich of sliced salt beef. I don't really agree with all the 5 star reviews. The brass rail is overrated if you ask me. As someone who has had his fair share of salt beef bagels, there are many a place that serves better salt beef (Reuben's in Marylebone, Beigel Bake on brick Lane, and even the stingy old man who carves it up occasionally at the exmouth market). Now don't get me wrong the sandwiches come with generous portions of meat and the requisite strong english mustard and are perfectly edible. However, If you also come later in the evening, the beef and bread can taste a bit stale. I've also had mixed experiences with the meat---the pastrami can sometimes be overly peppery. Note that the meat is not kosher. The atmosphere is also lacking. Yes, there is a brass rail, but the dining area is rather cramped and is no nicer than any other food court. 3 stars---it's not a bad sandwich per se, but only worth going to if you are already in Selfridges. read more
7 years ago
Great salt beef (aka corned beef sandwich)! Fresh rye bread and tender beef, just wish there was more of it. Also they need spicy brown mustard and kosher pickles to make this sandwich next level. read more
So after a little scouting on the Yelp London chat, a few people suggested that a "must eat" while in London was a good salt beef sandwich. Somehow I ran out of time and proper meals to get one on my first trip so I made it a priority on this trip. I first had some hesitation about trying this place because of the fact that it is located inside a department store but the doubt that I had quickly subsided when I started walking around the lovely food hall. If you you only have one stop to shop for all food that is British, this I the place but that's another review... After being lost in jaw dropping awe in the food hall, I finally made it to the Brass Rail about half seven. Upon walking up to the counter I saw the attendant pull a behemoth of a sandwich out of the oven. I asked him what it wa an he said it was a Reuben. I told him that I'll have one of those! He denied my request as the bloke in front of me got the last bun for it.. Sad and Dejected I opted for the largest half pastrami and half salt beef on rye on the menu. The pastrami was a big miss for me. It was thick cut (we are accustomed to thin sliced) and was extremely dry and had to be drowned in mustard to be palatable. The salt beef.... Where do I start... First off it was thick cut just like the pastrami but unlike the pastrami was moist and even a little juicy. The sour/salt bite you get when bite into it is something else... Not like any other cured meat I've ever tired up to this point.. I devoured the half of my sandwich like a starving Marvin and was tempted to get another but I wanted to try some of the many other stands in the hall... Quick tip for dining here: They sell camden town brewery and meantime beers in the food hall! Grab one or two as well as a bag of Guinness crips (chips for Americans) and take it to eat with your salt beef.. You'll thanks me later... Cheers and enjoy read more
The Brass Rail (Selfridge's) - What Katz deli in NY is to pastrami, the brass rail is to salt beef. It's the perfect texture and consistency. Soft, tender, you can effortlessly peel off bits of it to sneak a bite without the bread for maximum pleasure. It manages to do this while still having enough texture to allow you to bite and chew while giving that feeling of almost melting away. Order on rye bread with mustard and a pickle and enjoy. read more
14 years ago
So, I caved in and had the salt beef sandwich instead of the miserable salad disaster I had the last time around. After my last visit I concluded that they really have to hate greens here with the treatment they're giving them. But with friends raving about their sandwiches I took a day off my meat-free diet to try one out. Seriously, it's like two different worlds! This. was. divine. I had the regular size sandwich, rye bread with cumin (oh joy! cumin!), salt beef, French mustard and gherkin. It just went perfectly together. The only reason I'm not giving it a 5 is that the meat could have been a tad more juicy - and I prefer shredded beef rather than slices. But it's all a matter of taste. When it comes to beef sandwiches, the quality is high, good service, fast - really good. But avoid all other food items, you're just gonna get depressed. read more
Here's an example of a conversation that would really stress me out: Friend: Hey I just got back from London and I got one of those Salt Beef sandwiches that you rave about! Me: That's wonderful! Where did you go? Beigel Bake? Pickle & Rye? Friend: Oh no I went to Brass Rail - in Selfridges You won't have a bad Salt Beef sandwich at Brass Rail, but know that it's the equivalent of paying $20.00 for a Philly Cheese steak sandwich or a tener for a kebab - it just isn't right. Star 1: How were the service and atmosphere? In contrast to what you might find at a more industrial, working class mom and pop shop like Beigel Bake, Brass Rail Salt Beef Bar has acclimated to its higher end surroundings. You can pay with a credit card and take a seat while your sandwich is brought out to you. The folks are friendly, but I did feel a bit odd chomping away at a Salt Beef sandwich while the global elite were strolling about me sampling luxury short breads and artisan chocolates. Star Granted. Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost? You know what's probably not cheap? Ample floor space in Selfridges. You know what you probably have to do to effectively put that pricey floorspace to work? Charge eight pound seventy-five for a medium sized Salt Beef sandwich on brown. I'd pay five pounds less for the exact same sandwich at Beigel Bake, and while I understand the economics off it all, you've just got to understand that you're being charged to eat in Selfridges. No Star Granted. Stars 3 and 4: How was the food? Was my Salt Beef sandwich (on brown with British mustard) bad? No, it wasn't bad, and to be entirely honest the meat was of extremely high quality as you can probably tell by the picture. Was it great? No, it wasn't great. Sure the meat was fine, but the bread was plain, cold, and the whole sandwich just seemed like something I could pretty easily dish up at home. Yes, the menu at Brass Rail is significant and I'm partially to blame for my order, but I've had some Salt Beef sandwiches that truly blew me away - and this one didn't. Single Star Granted. Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could? There are better options for Salt Beef sandwiches in London. No Star Granted. read more
Somewhat of an institution at Selfridges from what I can gather. Came here on a Friday just as lunchtime was starting so we missed any large queues. Lots of comfy seats to choose from. Rather than a sandwich I went for their mac n cheese and added pastrami with a lemonade. It was SOOOOOOO good!!! I ordered the small rather than a large but that was more than enough. The pepper on the pastrami was v nice. Also got to try a bit of the salt beef - which was also really good. Would I go back? Hells yes! read more
Not a big fan of Brass Rail's smoked/cured meats. Ordered a pastrami/salt beef on rye. I liked the ability to choose the type of mustard I wanted. English mustard still makes me tear up every time, so I chose the American mustard from a squeeze bottle. Both of the meats were on the dry side and very one-dimensional. All I tasted was saltiness. Neither the mustard nor the pickle were able to cut through the salt. I might be spoiled from having lived in NY with access to Carnegie/Katz/2nd Ave, but I think that even in London, your best bet for salt beef are the bagel (beigel) places on Brick Lane. read more
Walking about London, I kept seeing signs about "Salt Beef". What is this salt beef? I've never heard of it, so I asked my good friend google. Low and behold it's another name for corned beef. Like a moth to a flame, deli's and I tend to find each other. The Brass Rail Salt Beef Bar had the reputation for the best Salt Beef, so like the good American Culinary Jew that I am, I have to go. Now I have my concerns. The British, while masters of stuffing all kinds of meat inside of pastry, have never really figured out what to do between two slices of bread. A sandwich over this side of the pond, will usually consist of white bread with the crusts cut off, a little butter, a couple thin slices of cucumber, and shaped like a triangle or some dainty geometric shape. The Woody Allen at the Carnegie Deli however, would most likely have made even Winston Churchill surrender. So I go into the Brass Rail, with tempered expectations. I know right away this isn't going to be a Jewish Deli experience, it's an order at the counter take to your seat style thing. I get the large sandwich, which turns out to be a sandwich and a half on the same plate. Only about 4 thick cut slices of meat between two slices of seeded rye bread. We ordered 1 Salt Beef sandwich and 1 Pastrami with some whole grain mustard on the side. The name doesn't lie, this is some salty beef. Maybe a little too salty. It's also very lean. It is well steamed so not dry in any way. In fact I'm impressed with how moist it is with that little fat on the meat. It's also my favorite of the two meats. I didn't like the Pastrami at all here. I'm guessing that clove is the main spice added to the rind of the pastrami. It was so strong that's all I tasted. Combined with the generic rye bread, this just isn't a sandwich I can recommend. 3 stars for the Salt Beef, and 1 star for the Pastrami. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/brass-rail-salt-beef-bar-london?select=aTh6KUAbafWvkSP3M0m9tw#bSCt5aoPaC482Z7p8D25Dw Now there is something on the menu that I can highly recommend. The Russian Salad. This is a potato egg salad mixture with cooked carrots and peas in a mayonnaise dressing along with some diced up pickles to give it a slight relish flavor. Oh wait excuse me that's (flavour) for my English friends. This is topped with shards of Salt Beef. Here the saltiness of the corned beef works very well mixed in with the salad. It was so good, we got another container of it to go. This isn't the first time I've had this salad, as a Persian neighbor of mine used to make it. Seems like Russia isn't the only country who has a claim to it. However, she never made it with the salt beef, and the Brass Rail's version was outstanding. 5 stars. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/brass-rail-salt-beef-bar-london?select=aTh6KUAbafWvkSP3M0m9tw#z1uMyawm8rUfi0u7Kva91Q The best thing about the Brass Rail is that it's in Selfridges Food Hall. While not quite the same level as Harrods Food Hall, there are still plenty of good looking items to take home along with your Russian Salad. read more
17 years ago
13 years ago
15 years ago
10 years ago
Great salt beef sandwiches! A mixture of service and self-serve. Of course gets busy during lunch hours. read more
13 years ago
7 years ago
11 years ago
13 years ago
Hmmm where shall I start? Maybe when I first fell in love with salt beef sandwich in London. This is the second "restaurant" that I have my usual craving. Quite a queue in one of the most expensive, well-known selfridges in London... ordered the sandwich without much hassle, sat down at a very American diner like chair and table, and took my first bite. Oh well not bad but can't beat the usual salt beef sandwich near Victoria station. Good to try for people who crave for the sandwich but absolutely not the best. Will continue to hunt the next salt beef sandwich in London. read more
14 years ago
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More info about Brass Rail Salt Beef Bar
Selfridges London
400 Oxford Street
London W1A 1AB
United Kingdom
Marylebone
Directions
020 7318 3115
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