I like this little bar so it breaks my heart to write this but come here for cocktails and dancing, not the food. As we were a group and our leader had already negotiated a semi-set menu with Mews which got us off the hook of the usual minimum spend thresholds, it is difficult to know what it might have been like had we been the normal restaurant-goer. But a restaurant shouldn't take your booking if they don't think they can do it justice so here goes… The starters were an odd mix: a plate of hams, some hummous, calamari, a cheeseboard and some edamame. Now, perhaps our leader had agreed to these (and don't get me wrong, I love edamame) but what is a Japanese bean doing on this Brit menu anyway?! Mains were the real issue. Having been asked how we would like our food cooked it was a bit disappointing that, when the steak sarnies were delivered to the table and we asked how they were cooked, the waitress could only say, with a gormless blank face, “vegetarian sandwich anyone?”. Hm, the answer should be a variation on “rare”, “medium” or “well-done”. Do not ask customers how it they want it cooked if you are not going to do it that way. Unsurprisingly it wasn't good and it is difficult to decide which was more dismal: the greyish, tasteless, as it turns out well-done, tepid sliver of steak, with its 2 slices of cucumber on top, or the bread between which it was served, which tasted as if it had been toasted 2 weeks ago, put in the freezer, and then reheated. It was a sorry sight too, all lonely on its plate, but perhaps the chef didn't want to embarrass himself further with a garnish or accompaniment.
On the upside, the bar is quirky and cool and it's in a great location in a cute, tucked away, courtyard near Bond Street. Cocktails are good, although service can be a little slow, and the DJ effortlessly weaves together everything from Run DMC and Rihanna to Arrested Development and Black Eyed Peas. So, a great place for an early evening drink or a night of dancing but if you want quality food look elsewhere. I would hope the next door restaurant Mews tries harder on that front.