Bar Music Hall

We couldn't help smiling at the idea of Bar Music Hall in Shoreditch, and headed down prepared for a truly soulless night of trendy tapas and posing punters. Instead we discovered a huge bar with a very good kitchen, a welcome addition to this already well-served part of town.

Bar Music Hall is cavernous, and on a Tuesday night it felt a little empty. The decor is uninspired. We were expecting a few satanic touches, but the scariest thing about the place was the gigantic boxy mullet sported by our friendly, outspoken waitress who immediately accused my cocktail order of being 'a bit girly'. Her expert tuition in the lore of pre-dinner cocktails, and the delights of their specialist beers, seemed to confirm our suspicion that this place is primarily a drinking den.

The food came as a real surprise - it was delicious. Bar Music Hall has a short, enticing menu but we weren't expecting anything outstanding from what is basically a busy bar. A mixed antipasto spoke merely of fine local produce, but my dining companion's roasted quail was perfectly done and extremely more-ish.

I followed with a minted fish pie in prawn butter (or 'the butter' as I pronounced it to the waitress in a moment of Freudian honesty) which was superb, a little lacking in size perhaps but obviously made on the premises and very tasty indeed. My friend's steak was expertly grilled and satisfying, and his chips again fell victim to merciless stealing by yours truly. We finished off with some outstanding hybrid Banoffee Pie which really sealed the deal. We always knew Bar Music Hall would have good music and an interesting crowd - turns out it's a great place to eat as well.