Fluid Eating's Review of Piano
Plink plink biz.
I first came to this jazz bar earlier this summer when it had just moved to its new location (it used to be based somewhere down the road). The friend who brought me here refused to tell me over the phone where we were going which either signals that 1) Said friend is going to kidnap me, or 2) This place is somewhere he wanted to keep secret.
Obviously I havenít been kidnapped and, heck, I can keep a secret if you can.
Situated directly opposite the tube station, a discreet doorway leads you up to the Piano Bar & Restaurant where a long white room with a piano at one end and a bar at the other will greet you.
Thereís something so very comfortable about Piano Bar and itís not just the black leatherette banquettes. No sirree, itís the buzzy atmosphere, some great live music (Baz, the owner, sings and plays most nights) and the likeable, eclectic crowd who are encouraged to play/ sing if they want to.
Prices are pretty average with house red (Cabernet Sauvignon) costing less than £4 a glass or £12.50 for a bottle. Food hovers around the £7/ 8 mark but isnít much to shout about; a salmon tortelli (like ravioli) was on the bland side. But if youíre less bothered about being wowed gastronomically than having a great night out then give it a go. Christ, just donít tell anyone else about it.
(Incidentally, on a Tuesday the Piano Bar was pretty empty which is fine if you want it chilled but I advise you check it out later on in the week to get the full benefit.) (Updated 10/01/2005)
Piano Food & Drink Menus
Listed below are few sample food and drinks items available at
Piano. These lists are not enhaustive, but are instead designed to give you an overview of the venue's
offerings and assciated prices.
Piano Food menu
The Piano Bar offers delicious snacks as well as complete dishes.
| Item |
Price |
| Main Courses |
£7.50 |
| Noodle Salad with marinated Tofu (suitable for vegans) |
| Main Courses |
£9.00 |
| Homemade Burger with Chips, Cheese, Salad & Pickled Cucumber |
Piano Drink menu
The Piano Bar offers a range of fine wines and champagnes.
| Item |
Description |
Price |
| Red Wine (glass) |
Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah, Domaine de Baudare Vin de Pays de Comte Tolosan.
Two favourite grapes in one bottle. Supple Cabernet with rich Syrah.
Good body and length.. |
£3.85 |
| White Wine (glass) |
Santiago Sauvignon Blanc, Chile – Maipo Valley.
Crisp, dry white wine with melon and citrus fruit overtone.. |
£3.85 |
“My husband and I went to Piano on a Saturday night for our 5th wedding anniversary and had an amazing time.
The atmosphere was perfect, classy without being pretentious. It was actually nicer inside than the photo on their website, with lots of tea lights to set the mood. Also, it is very well designed as both a cosy restaurant, and a bar (which it evolved into later on in the evening).
I had read reviews that the food wasn't the main attraction, but was pleasantly surprised. We had dips with flatbread to start, which were very tasty and well presented, followed by Organic Chicken with mash, red wine Jus and Sweet Potato crisps which was beautifully cooked. My husband had a Mushroom Risotto which was delicious. We followed with creme brulee for dessert which was delightfully subtle, served with rich ice-cream and fresh mint.
The wait staff were relaxed, yet attentive and there were plenty to go around.
We anticipated that the music would be the highlight of our night, an”
Rating: 
— Patricia, London
(26 Nov 2007)
“A great night out with good food, especially the cherry tomato and basil bruchetta (wow) but don't expect massive portions..... a little cramped but a good atmosphere with some great piano playing. Something different!”
Rating:
— Sandra, Chelmsford
(11 Feb 2007)
“My wife and I had a fabulous time. The music was superb, the food good and the atmosphere great. What made it even better was the attention from both Baz and his staff, which was the best we have ever encountered. We were made to feel very special.
Thank You!”
Rating:
— Paul Cooper, Cirencester
(28 Aug 2006)
“Wow! What a place. While i was in Bazz's extremely talented sons sung for us. The one i liked the most was matt, who was a very handsome young man although only 13 years old. I highly reccomed the bar for anyone wanting a good time with mellow jazz and rock'n'roll.
Amazing.”
Rating:
— Daniel, Surrey
(25 May 2006)
“Some friends of mine had been saying for ages that I 'Must' go to Piano and the other night I went with them. Oh wow oh wow! It was amazing! What a great night! I met Baz the owner who's a superb pianist/entertainer. He created such a great atmosphere and introduced this amazing guy who brought the house down with his unique beatbox style. Man he could groove! The whole evening was full of surprises. Great music, great vibe. Everyone loved it. And the food wasn't bad either! If this isn't THE best bar in London I don't know what is. ”
Rating:
— Borlan Ancito, London
(15 Feb 2006)
“I went to the Piano bar on a Saturday night for a first date. I definitely made a wise choice. It was a bit tricky to find – just a single door between Mc D and the Vodafone shop on Kensington High St, and upstairs, not downstairs or beneath a pasta bar as I had been led to believe. Once inside (about 7.30pm) there were just a handful of tables, all of which were reserved. Fortunately for me I had booked one of them. Baz Norton had just finished a session, and was taking a break. Having sat down and been told by the waitress she would be right back, we waited at least 10 minutes before I decided to go and get the drinks myself. Not a great start to the evening. After I had complained about the wait, the service improved substantially, and we ordered some food. I had a steak sandwich which was ok, and my date had a salad which she told me was good. However, the food is not the main attraction, here. The menu is up-market from the average pub, and great if you are hungry, but this is not”
Rating:
— Adrian, Surrey
(13 Nov 2005)
“Oh my goodness what a bar! I have been attending the bawdy proceedings at Piano for sometime now and cannot praise it enough. Firstly it is in the very nice Kenny High st dahlings and from the moment you get in there you can feel the warmth from Bazz and the staff. As with all things it is people who make this bar and every visit brings new friends with no attitude other than from the old joanna that Bazz carresses into life. Just go there.”
Rating:
— John Tobin, Ealing, London
(16 Jun 2005)
“Fabulous atmosphere especially with the pianist singing . The Piano Bar caterers for most tastes; from a little back ground music, to singing and dancing. Meticulous, conscientious staff, who occasionally burst into polished song. ”
Rating:
— Colin, London
(10 Jan 2005)
“I regularly fly into London on business and would not miss a chance to be at The Piano Bar. The change of venue from the previous location across the way is like night & day. First of all, now that they have their own kitchen, the food is superb. As for entertainment, I can''t say enough about Bazz and his ability to draw a crowd. On the occassion where we were fortunate to hear Bazz''s wife Moya sing, the entire room came to a complete stop and behaved like a proper audience at a West End performance. The professional bartender(ess) staff knows their mixology. Great Martini''s great food, great entertainment and great fun. I saw a single girl, strange to the city come in one night only to return the following night because she felt quite at home.
You don''t have to be a "regular" to enjoy The Piano Bar at High Street Kensington! Five Stars Across the Board....Cheers!”
Rating:
— Steve, London
(11 Nov 2004)
“The most wonderful, fantastic place for a different and very chilled out but fun evening. Bazz plays great music at the same time as really entertaining his guests; and if your lucky will get his wife or one of his very talented sons to sing with him. The bar is done out in classic black and white, the staff are friendly and make great martini''s, and generally the level of customer service and great music make it an ‘must do’ experience. If you''re in the area, drop in; if not, get a taxi over there! ”
Rating:
— Genefer, London
(24 Oct 2004)
“this is a super night of just lazying about and taking in the atmosphere... the music is well performed and the special guests are a surprise and delight. Great place to mingle with cross section of people... there are a few locals, though mostly people who like to live and enjoy.”
Rating:
— Prue, London
(06 Oct 2004)
“The staff at Piano Bar are outstandingly friendly and by the end of the evening the atmosphere is totally magic. The drinks might seem a bit expensive but considering the standard of the entertainment it's still good value. Some people might find it a bit cheezy but "weak jazz" is a preposterous description of what I've enjoyed - loads of classic songs from the 60s thru to the 90s sung brilliantly by professional performers in an intimate setting. Get a seat at the piano itself and just go with the flow. My only concern is that if enough people discover this Kensington gem, it might end up so popular I won't be able to get in the door..”
Rating:
— A L Metcalfe, London
(27 Mar 2004)
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