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Certain areas notoriously lack certain things -- Battersea needs a tube station, Pimlico needs some nightlife, and West Ham needs a football team. Finally bringing Islington a steakhouse: Meat People, soft opening tomorrow night.

From a local who'd long lamented the lack of a decent nearby cow-sizzler, the northern neighborhood's first dedicated steakhouse abides in a grade II building where steel tables await your feverish protein inhalations, and Victorian tiles run above the skirting, so they can get a good peep at your ankles. Start salivating now for apps like meltingly tender 5hr pork belly, seared scallops slathered in chickpea puree & Criolla sauce (like Argentine salsa), and pan-fried rainbow trout w/ papaya, mint & mange tout -- French for "eat everything", but obviously beginning with the pan-fried rainbow trout. Argentinian bovines will provide the bulk of the bigger stuff, from 250g grilled rib eyes, to flavoursome onglet (skirt steak), to 400g slow-grilled short ribs covered in chimichurri; meanwhile, the ocean will provide the likes of pan-fried sea bream, sided by potatoes covered in huancaina sauce, a Peruvian spicy cheese number (inca-se you were wondering; how's that for cheesy?).

Save room for caramelized banana carpaccio w/ dulce de leche ice cream & pistachios, or a flaky, whipped-creamed "filo tower", and wash everything down with "retro" cocktails and steak-paired vinos, because there's nothing more ignominious than being relegated to a dry dinner.

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The soft opening's at 50% off, and pretty reasonable to begin with -- make a booking at MeatPeople.co.uk