Stanza Restaurant and Bar (Soho, London) review on Fluid Eating

Stanza Restaurant and Bar Overview

Stanza restaurant & bar exudes slickness and style, as one would expect having only recently been refurbished. Opening at the end of June 2007, Stanza has a new leash of life on the site of the previous incarnation known as Teatro. Both the restaurant & bar are open to the public with the restaurant overlooking the bustling Shaftesbury Avenue. It achieves a balance of intimacy and liveliness with background conversation and chilled music. If dining late in the evening be prepared to sample the delights of the DJ's tunes breaking through from the bar & dancefloor. There are plans for a glass dividing wall between the restaurant & bar to make the two areas more distinct.

With a passion to share knowledge and learn more James overseas the bar with a wonderful selection of cocktails - both traditional & contemporary. Proud of details such as using Agave syrup, a sweetener naturally extracted from a catcus like plant native to Mexico, also used to make tequila. For James this small touch helps to bring the original taste of tequila back into the margarita. It works.

Staff throughout Stanza were attentive and helpful. Visiting this bar by yourself would not be a problem as the bar tenders and waitress were full of energy, bursting with information about the beverages and cuisine. They'll also escort you to the small smokers terrace, if you're still struggling to kick the habit.

The food menu has been created by Stuart Tattersall who has produced a simple menu with a focus on traditional British cuisine with a contemporary twist. For me the limited choice on the menu, it has just seven dishes to choose from for both starters and mains, is always a good indication of a freshness. Although the options aren't wide we still took time considering which to go for, (for those interested organic ingredients featured quite heavily). Starters start from £6 and mains from £10 - very reasonable for the quality and location.

Even though the time of the year was mid summer the temperature wasn't up to much so I opted for the potage of summer broadbeans perfectly blended with gammon hock, tashkin mint & organic rape seed oil whilst my partner chose the pressed goosnargh chicken, treacle bacon, foie gras terrine, with onion marmalade and toasted whole brown bread. This was a terrine how a terrine should be: luxurious slices of cold meat loaf! For main course I opted for a traditional pork belly with a delicious crackling, a strong and typical tart sauce, squared baked potatoes, carrots and spinach. Opposite me the dish picked was a Rump of herdwick lamb with spring greens, jersey royals, pedro ximenez sherry, thyme-highly. Difficult to put into words the sensation of tasting such a beautiful piece of meat.

Different to the food menu the wine list is extensive - as it should be! - but don't worry you will not feel lost as the wine is listed by style (four for both red and white). We opted for the 'negro barbera d'alba' a fine, structured, intense Italian red that was a perfect accompaniment to our meat dishes. House wine is £13.50 and average wine price is about £29

Stanza was fairly quiet on the Friday evening we dined so our advice is to visit the venue now and enjoy both the restaurant and bar before it becomes popular which will surely happen. With prime location on the border of Soho and China Town, Stanza will appeal to a combination of theatre goers, professionals and soho's media as well as the night time revellers.

Paul

As well as Stanza Restaurant and Bar is the stylish and elegant private members club, named Teatro. With its own entrance, adjacent to the Stanza Bar, the Members club aims to become a top spot for fashion, film and theatre glitterati as well as guests who live and work locally. The members bar will be open from 9am to 3am from Monday to Friday and from 5pm until 3am on Saturdays. (Updated 23/07/2007)

Additional Info: Private Rooms, Cocktails, Security, Late License, Food Recommended, Cloakroom, Members Only, Food, Non-Smoking Area, Outside Drinking

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