El Paso is a beacon of TexMex dining and Shoreditch dancing.

The Venue
El Paso is a big place. It has a restaurant area on a first floor mezzanine, a bar area on its ground floor and a basement club below. The size of the bar itself, along the back wall of the venue, means that waiting time for a drink is one of the many things that El Paso doesn't have in common with most other Old Street bars and clubs. The decor is fairly tatty - dark browns and sandy, dirty beige give it a good-looking filth. It’s all a little worn and weathered. It isn't decorated to a strict TexMex agenda, but the interiors do suit the menu and inspire the atmosphere.

The club expands downwards and the real space becomes apparent; where you thought there was no club, it suddenly appears. There are chairs and a few tables scattered amongst some battered leather sofas, but it’s not a comfy area for sitting. The cold stone floor down here is all about dancing and bounces the music around perfectly.

The Atmosphere
El Paso has a strange feel to it. Like its exposed, mixed up interior, it attracts a varied bunch - from groups of laddy diners that ogle the passing Old Street female traffic, to couples, lonesome eaters and groups of drinkers passing through for a Jaeger bomb on the Old Street circuit. There is a distinct lack of 'Shoreditch', so if you're looking to avoid stepping on peoples boat shoes and feel like leaving your checksy at home for the night, then you might deem this place ‘well nang’. It's chatty in the bar and generally jovial, and the staff are pleasant.

The basement has a different feel. Down here it’s darker and shows you that El Paso isn’t just a bar with a late licence, but is capable of a real club night.

The Music
El Paso is a multifaceted venue. Whilst a lot of people go for the restaurant and the bar, the club below can attract with its own merits. It hosts anything from poetry and spoken word, to drum ‘n’ bass, which keeps a fresh cycle of nights running. The variety at El Paso doesn't mean obscure and inaccessible, but does keep you interested and surprised. Once you're up, you'll be staying up.

The Food
TexMex dining is hard to get right. The food here isn't the most authentic fare or the greatest quality, but the portions are large and the value is good. The classic fajitas are a bit of a let down, the mixed meat especially, and the amount of tortilla wraps isn't generous. The quesadillas are sloppy and the rice is fairly stodgy, but TexMex is like pizza - it all tastes good, just different levels of good. As El Paso battles to run bar, club and restaurant, all simultaneously, it does a good job with its food. Don't be scared to order.

The Drink
El Paso only serves Corona and mojitos. No, not really. What bar would so deliberately alienate its customers? It actually has beers from less exotic places like France and Germany. It's a good place to get a drink because its size means there are often free tables and you’ll rarely queue at the bar. You might, however, be delayed as you choose from the large cocktail list, and then a little longer whilst its made. The bar stocks all the other common spirits too and has a long list of shots and shooters.

The Last Word
El Paso has a grubby charm that makes it the endearing venue it is. It could do better, but its ‘why should I bovver?’ attitude makes you want to keep coming back for more.

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