Glass Restaurant & Bar

A good bar should have about it a sense of reassurance, a feeling that it remains something consistent in the sea of turmoil and out of control change that are part of everyday life. The Glass Bar has just this feeling of consistency.

Mirrors and splendid pot plants abound. There are flourishes of art deco throughout and the alluringly lit bar reclines along one wall. Large armchairs, some with mock zebra hide covers, beckon the weary. Comfort and solace. Have a sandwich, the bar menu offers several; roast beef with horseradish for £5 and at the same price, honey roast ham and smoked salmon among others. Larger sandwiches, baguettes and burgers cost a little more and one can have afternoon tea from 3:30pm–5:30pm for a very reasonable £9.50.

The bar leads into the restaurant which is festooned with mirrors of all shapes and sizes. The a la carte menu is imaginative and seeks to excite the palate with unusual combinations of taste and texture. Consider the roast fillet of cod, pea puree, crisp bacon and lemon butter sauce or the fillet of beef parsley crust with red pepper marmalade jus, or starters such as marinated salmon with beetroot and chervil. And there are “Old Favourites” – pan fried calves liver, bubble and squeak and sherry vinegar jus as a starter and a main course of saddle of venison, glazed shallots and spring greens. A more traditional choice of desserts and British cheeses may be there for a calming effect. This exciting menu is available for £16.50 for two courses and £23.50 for three, very good value indeed. In the evening, lights are dimmed and candles are lit.

The wine list is extensive and is thoughtfully arranged in terms of palate, thus Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc is found under lighter bodied white wine and Gevrey-Chabbertin, Burgundy under fuller bodied reds. There is a wide selection of wines for under £20 per bottle.

The Glass Bar & Restaurant is an ideal place to visit for a business lunch, to meet friends before theatre, shopping or other entertainment or simply to spend a few dreamy romantic hours, glimpsing something of times past and, above all, relaxing.