LHT Urban Bar

The bar’s recently been revamped– my boyfriend and I went there as a matter of convenience last month following a hospital appointment. I’d never thought much of the place but he was up for a burger and they had a new Spanish themed kitchen with a big burger menu. I wasn’t expecting much– just your overpriced ‘gourmet’ gastropub burger which tastes like pretty much everyone else’s. Oh, how I was wrong.
Literally, these burgers are the best I have ever had, hands down. And, I am American… so I’ve eaten a lot of them, haha! The toppings are really interesting– I had the bravas one and my boyfriend had the Irish themed one with mustard an onions. The toppings were obviously carefully selected and prepared themselves and were in perfect proportion the the deliciously seasoned, perfectly cooked medium rare meat. The grind of the meat was nice and thick and they were obviously made from good quality steak, not basic cheap mince. Honestly everything about them was perfect– sloppy savoury deliciousness. And the bravas chips were a brilliant take on the classic tapas potato dish.
Service wasn’t bad either. I want one now. Mmm. Highly recommend.

One word — horrific.
I hate to write negativley about somewhere. But these points justify my opinion:
1) naf neon stripy paint décor on the outside
2) Alcoholics and tramps that drink outside on its benches during daylight hours
3) They stock naff fake smirnoff Ice drinks (nowhere remotely ok sells these anymore)
4) They don’t hold good events, apart from salsa classes
5) They don’t offer any normal bar snacks e.g. wasabi peas
6) Nasty carpets inside.
7) Old man pub style without being quirky — is in fact full of old men on the dole rather than young cool people wearing old man jumpers and cardigans (you get the distinction)
8) The fact it is called ‘Urban’ bar — it has no ‘urban edge’.
9) The music — I got dragged there on a house/​techno night. the crowd was intimidating and rough round the edges.
Maybe its not pretentious enough for me? But it doesn’t represent East London in any way. If I was not out with a group I would have felt unsafe there.