All Bar One

Your average bar, nothing special, but does the trick. Can take time to order drinks.

Nice little spot for some afterwork drinks, away from the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street. They have a range of drinks, including cocktails (and the gin cocktails are served in the Copa glass which is always a bonus), they have a happy hour on cocktails (Called «Five O’Clocktails» — love it!) offering a selection of cocktails for £4.95. I also like the sharing cocktails they do, which is served in a teapot.

Just like the other cookie cutter bars in the chain, this is no exception. The décor is the same, the furniture is the same, it’s just the layout that is different. Beer is good and in nice mugs and being a Friday it was packed with people. We got drinks from the bar so didn’t experience the table service, but tables and chairs have really been jammed in there, it’s almost impossible to walk to a table without having to squeeze between something…

This branch of All Bar One acquits itself well for a chain.
Nice décor with touches of wood and brass that contrast well against the bright white paint. The staff here were friendly and efficient, and seemed to be well trained.
Standard offering drinks wise — nothing above and beyond the London norm.
There really is not a huge amount for me to say beyond that!

Popped into this All Bar One the other day with a friend who was working at Selfridges. She had heard the food was good. It wasn’t, um, bad I suppose…
Let’s start with the ambiance. We all know from the millions of these places dotted round town that it’s large, soulless and impersonal, but they do nice drinks. Good wines and beers and such. Next time I’ll stick to that, as the food experience doesn’t live up to their drinks.
Next — the food. We all had burgers, which were all just ok. And not as cheap as they probably should have been. There was one (paper) menu on the table, which the three of us had to share (by reading sideways) as the waiter didn’t bring us more. After the meal on my way to the toilet, I noticed a huge stack of them in the back. Which leads me to my next topic;
The service. Was just awful. Treated us like they just could not be bothered with our existence. Waited for eons for the check, even after having asked for it twice. We didn’t tip. Which would make the second time in my life ever that I have done that.
Also — round noon it was empty, but about 12:45 it was full to bursting with men in business suits, seeming to be screaming at the top of their lungs, making it not a particularly peaceful environment for a meal.
So — I guess I’d go here only if it were for drinks. And only if I had been dragged. And only if I was already drunk.