Paul’s Steak House and Rock Bar

A German hut in the heart of Baku, serving cold beer and fabulous steaks

Address: 10 Nigar Rafibeyli, Baku 1001

https://www.pauls-baku.com

A stone’s throw from the bustling Fountains Square you’ll find a little gem disguised as a true oddity. Paul’s Baku Steak House and Rock Bar is a wooden chalet that screams apres ski on the Swiss Alps and the venue we chose for our first Azerbaijani date night.

We get there early, just past 7pm, and only a few of the wooden tables and benches are taken, but we soon understand why booking is fundamental: within a few moments, the place is packed. No mystery as you why: with a limited but bold menu, Paul’s seems to be an institution for Baku expats, and indeed we came here after it was recommended to us by many friends who have lived here for years.

Although the menu offers a selection of burgers and skewers and a small variety of salads, it’s steaks that put Paul’s on the map and we wouldn’t go for anything else. There’s a variety of fillets options, as well as other cuts such as rib eye and prime ribs in a variety of sizes, and a tomahawk to share. As they are out of the latter, we select a large 800-gram sharing prime rib, small (perfunctory) salad, garlic bread, fries, and both the sauces on offer: an aioli that could keep at bay a small colony of vampires (which is a good thing in my books!) and chimichurri. We drink a bottle of Merlot we brought ourselves (corkage is charged at a reasonable 15AZN) but I soon switch to a cold pint of lager (a single brand is on offer, in filtered and unfiltered varieties) to be more in keeping with my surroundings.

The steak is perfect. Gorgeously caramelised, so perfectly seasoned that we forget about the sauces we ordered, and mouth-wateringly rare. Beware: at Paul’s they are unapologetic about their meat temperatures and “well done” isn’t even an option on the menu.

At the end of our meal we are full, but the steak was so delicious that for a second we seriously consider sharing a fillet as a dessert. Alas we don’t: we are both over 30 and there are not enough antacids in the world that would allow us to survive it.

At the end of the meal, we are graced by the owner himself coming to our table: we have friends in common and have been tasked with saying hello to him. Warm and welcoming, he has been in Baku for 25 years and offers us help should we need any assistance with settling in, displaying a sense of community that we have encountered from every expat during our short permanence here. He tells us that he thinks of Paul’s as his living room, which checks out as the place is welcoming and definitely feels loved and cozy like someone’s home, with a menu that clearly is based on preparing a few beloved dishes really well.

Prices are absolutely reasonable and wildly below what we expect to pay for a steak dinner in the UK, and our bills comes up to just over 90AZN. Tips are not included in the bill and customers are invited to tip if and as much they reckon.

Summing up, welcoming and informal, Paul’s is a dinner venue not to be missed. All staff speak good English. Booking is fundamental, and taking advantage of the corkage option is recommended as the wine on offer is local – I haven’t tried Azerbaijani wine yet but have been told on good authority that it is far from unmissable.

We will absolutely be back as the steak we had was perfect.