Swiss Butter London: Is This Viral £19.95 Steak Deal Actually Worth the Hype? Even Halal Friendly

If you’re on food TikTok or Instagram, chances are you’ve already come across Swiss Butter. It feels like every other video is calling it one of the best value-for-money steak spots in London, with queues stretching outside the restaurant and people raving about their famous butter sauce. Naturally, after seeing it pop up on my feed countless times, I had to see what the fuss was about for myself.

What caught my attention was the price. In a city where steak dinners can easily cost £40–£60 per person before drinks, Swiss Butter offers its signature menu for just £19.95. That immediately raised the question, is it actually good, or is it simply popular because it’s affordable?

I headed over to their Holborn branch to find out. We arrived around 6pm and managed to walk straight in without any wait. By 6:30pm though, there was already a queue forming outside, so timing definitely makes a difference. One thing to note before you visit is that Swiss Butter doesn’t take reservations. It’s strictly walk-ins only, so arriving earlier is probably your best bet if you want to avoid standing in line.

After trying their famous steak, signature sauce, and a couple of desserts, here’s everything you need to know before visiting.

About Swiss Butter

Swiss Butter originally started in Lebanon before expanding internationally, and its London branch has quickly become one of the city’s most talked-about casual dining spots. Located in Holborn at 114-118 Southampton Row, it’s conveniently situated near the British Museum and just a short walk from both Holborn and Russell Square stations.

Unlike many restaurants that offer pages and pages of menu options, Swiss Butter keeps things incredibly simple. Instead of overwhelming diners with choices, they focus on doing a few things well. The concept revolves around choosing your preferred protein and pairing it with their famous Swiss Butter sauce.

The restaurant itself has a casual, modern atmosphere with an industrial-style interior. It’s not somewhere you’d visit for a fancy steakhouse experience, but that’s also part of its appeal. The focus here is on straightforward comfort food, generous portions, and reasonable prices.

Its popularity has grown massively through social media, attracting both locals and tourists looking for a steak dinner that doesn’t completely empty their wallet.

What is Swiss Butter Known For?

The biggest reason people visit Swiss Butter is, unsurprisingly, the Swiss Butter sauce.

Every main dish comes covered in this rich, creamy sauce that has become the restaurant’s signature. When I tried it, it actually reminded me quite a bit of a mushroom sauce, with a buttery and savoury flavour that works particularly well with steak.

Swiss Butter is also known for its simplicity. There aren’t dozens of steak cuts, sauces, and side dishes to choose from. Instead, you can select from steak, chicken, or salmon, and the meal comes with fries or a baked potato, salad, fresh bread, and chilli flakes.

Another reason for its popularity is value for money. Finding a steak meal in Central London for under £20 isn’t exactly common these days, which is why so many people are curious to see whether Swiss Butter lives up to the social media attention.

It’s also worth mentioning that Swiss Butter is halal-friendly, making it a popular option for diners looking for halal steak choices in Central London.

What is the Experience Like at Swiss Butter?

The overall experience feels relaxed and casual. It’s the kind of place where you can meet friends after work, enjoy a satisfying meal, and not feel pressured into spending a fortune.

We arrived at 6pm and were seated immediately. Looking around, it was fairly calm at first, but within half an hour the restaurant became noticeably busier. By 6:30pm there was already a queue building outside, which shows just how popular the place has become.

Since they don’t accept reservations, there is always an element of luck involved depending on when you arrive. If you’re planning to visit during peak dinner hours or on weekends, I’d definitely recommend getting there earlier rather than later.

One thing I appreciated was how quickly the food arrived. Our meals were brought out in around 15 minutes, which was surprisingly fast considering how busy the restaurant was becoming.

The service felt efficient and the atmosphere was lively without feeling chaotic. It struck me as a good option for a casual dinner when you’re craving steak but don’t necessarily want the formal experience of a traditional steakhouse.

What is the Food Like at Swiss Butter?

The menu here is all about keeping things simple.

For £19.95, you choose your protein and receive a complete plate that includes fries or baked potato, salad, bread, chilli flakes, and of course, the famous Swiss Butter sauce.

We opted for the steak because if you’re visiting Swiss Butter for the first time, it almost feels like the obvious choice.

The steak arrived covered in the signature sauce, and the first thing that stood out was how tender it was. The sauce definitely plays a huge role in the overall experience. It’s rich, buttery, and savoury, coating the meat and fries nicely. As mentioned earlier, it reminded me somewhat of mushroom sauce, although with its own unique flavour profile.

One tip, don’t ignore the chilli flakes. Sprinkling them over the steak and sauce adds a welcome bit of heat that balances some of the richness and makes each bite a little more interesting.

The fries were crispy and worked perfectly for soaking up the extra sauce, while the salad helped cut through some of the heavier flavours.

Even though we were already pretty full after the main course, we couldn’t leave without trying dessert.

First up was the Pain Perdu (£9.50), which was easily my favourite of the two desserts we ordered. The French toast was light, fluffy, and sweet without being overly heavy. It felt like the perfect way to finish the meal after such a rich main course.

We also tried the Molten Chocolate (£9.95). If you’re someone who loves rich chocolate desserts, this is probably the one for you. The warm chocolate centre makes it incredibly indulgent and satisfying. Personally though, I preferred the Pain Perdu because it felt a little lighter and easier to enjoy after the steak.

For drinks, we ordered a Coke Zero (£3.50) and a Lemonade (£3.50), both fairly standard options to accompany the meal.

Overall, the food isn’t trying to reinvent steak dinners. Instead, it focuses on simple comfort food centred around one signature sauce that people clearly love.

What is the Price Like at Swiss Butter?

One of Swiss Butter’s strongest selling points is undoubtedly the pricing.

The signature meal costs £19.95 and includes:

• Your choice of steak, chicken, or salmon
• Fries or baked potato
• Salad
• Fresh bread
• Chilli flakes
• Swiss Butter sauce

Considering the restaurant’s Central London location, that’s genuinely quite reasonable.

Adding drinks and dessert obviously increases the total bill, but even with a dessert and drink, it’s still possible to spend around £20–£30 per person, which remains fairly affordable compared with many London steakhouses.

if you’re specifically looking for a steak dinner without paying premium steakhouse prices, Swiss Butter offers a strong middle ground between affordability and satisfaction.

Final thoughts about Swiss Butter

So, is Swiss Butter worth the hype?

I’d say yes, especially if you’re looking for a good-value steak spot in Central London without spending a small fortune.

The steak was tender, the signature sauce was enjoyable, portions were generous, and the overall experience felt relaxed and straightforward. The Pain Perdu was a standout dessert for me, while chocolate lovers will probably gravitate towards the Molten Chocolate instead.

The biggest downside is the lack of reservations, which means timing your visit carefully. Based on our experience, arriving around 6pm worked perfectly, but by 6:30pm the queue had already started growing.

If you’ve been seeing Swiss Butter all over social media and wondering whether it’s worth checking out, I’d say it’s worth trying at least once. Just make sure you arrive early.

Swiss Butter is proof that you don’t always need an expensive steakhouse to enjoy a satisfying steak dinner in London. Between the famous butter sauce, generous portions, and £19.95 set menu, it’s easy to see why so many people keep recommending it. Whether you’re a steak lover or simply curious about one of London’s most viral food spots, Swiss Butter is a fun place to add to your list.

Highlights and Tips for Swiss Butter

• Best Known For their Signature Swiss Butter sauce
• Viral steak restaurant that has gained huge popularity on social media
• Signature Swiss Butter sauce served with every main
• Steak, chicken, and salmon available as protein choices
• Halal-friendly dining option
• No Reservation, Walk-ins only
• Recommended Visit Time: Before 6:30pm to avoid longer queues or prepared to wait
• Founded in Lebanon before expanding internationally
• Favourite dishes: Steak, Pain Perdu
• Good For: Affordable steak dinners, casual meals, halal-friendly dining, social media food spots

Details about Swiss Butter

• Location: Swiss Butter, Holborn, 114-118 Southampton Row, London WC1B 5AA
• Opening Hours:
  • Monday–Saturday: 12pm–12am
  • Sunday: 12pm–11pm
• Price: Average £20–£30pp
• Closest Stations: Holborn or Russell Square
• Cuisine Style: Casual steakhouse with a focused menu

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