Dollar Grills & Martinis Overview
Going out for a dinner in London is always a gamble: it's all about money and luck. But here at the $ Grills and Martinis (a.k.a the "Dollar Bar"), not only are you reminded of it with a massive billboard poster, you also realise at some point you've got a win-win situation here…
Beautiful staff greeted us at the door and led us to our table. The $ restaurant is decorated as though they hired a team consisting of a tres-chic designer, a jeweller and an expert diner burger-flipper to decorate the place. It's a modern design, shiny-diamond chandeliers and artsy kind of place.
The menu is like the décor: posh steak, foie-gras, and gourmet mixed with diner style burgers, sandwiches and a selection of grills. The choice is a difficult one, and we want to order everything. Of course, our respective wallets and partners probably wouldn't agree with the $$$ debit and the calorie credit. But hola, I spot the platters! For a compromising £32 we get a platter of lobster and steak and fries and side salad to boot - score!
The wine is crisp and D-E-L-I-Z-I-O-U-Z, the £20 house keeps us entertained as we wait for the food. But we don't need a distraction; there are the brick walls with beautiful mirrors, the homey lamps and shiny chandeliers and the rickety chairs and leather sofas to analyse. I can't not like this place, it's impossible. I usually hate OTT, hate posh and hate pretentious-down-to earth, but this is clever and genius: I am utterly bemused.
The food is teasing, it seems as if they have an in-house flower arranger on the job of making side salads - you can imagine the rest… At first we eat like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, daintily and carefully with the slippery little lobster. And then when the taste sets in, I forget all notions connecting to the words 'pretty woman'. At some point we realise in our enthusiasm with the food, we've knocked over a wine glass: the silence is deadly. Professionally the staff swiftly wipe, brush and clean, then with a sparkling floor and smile, bring me another full glass of what I lost. Luck be a lady tonight…
By dessert I'm so pleasant and high that our conversation is drifting to the most unbelievably un-called for places. I recommend the foie-gras, and I recommend you treat yourself here sparsely, because either your wallet will pay the price or even more dangerously - you'll start taking the place for granted. Even if you don’t, visit the Martini bar for a taster, or at least the sparkly latrines! Anyt (Updated 09/04/2005)
Additional Info: Cocktails, Food, Children Allowed, DJ, Security
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