Cock Tavern, The

Tucked away in the heart of Smithfield Market you will find a charming and friendly place full of history and character, not to mention the biggest and best steaks in London, and fry ups so good that they're the butchers of Smithfield number one choice. Everyday, the meat traders come down and enjoy breakfast before going home to bed after a long night shift; they know their meat and The Cock Tavern is the proud place that serves it to them.

The walls are adorned with pictures depicting Smithfield through the ages, the building of the original market, the fire that destroyed part of it, bomb damage during the Blitz and visits from the Queen to name but a few.

Speciality of the house is the Master Steak Meal - a 16oz rump chargrilled steak served with a choice of sauce, au poivre, béarnaise, forestière or mexicaine, it also comes with homemade onion rings, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms and chips; plus half a bottle of house wine, a selection of cheeses stilton, mature cheddar or farmhouse brie served with biscuits, and a glass of either fine ruby port or Courvoisier brandy - all for just £23.95.

Whilst the Butcher's Breakfast consists of a carnivore's dream of a 4oz rump steak, Cumberland sausage, bacon, pan fried liver, black pudding and Carmen's famous recipe kidneys, served with a cup of fresh bean coffee at just £7.95. No wonder that it was featured in the Independent newspaper's top 50 best places to eat breakfast in the UK.