The ViewLondon Review
Leicester Square is never going to be a hotbed of sophistication, but for unpretentious nights painting the town red it certainly provides a decent stomping ground for partygoers. Ruby Blue remains firmly engrained in the party culture that envelops this part of London.The VenueOpposite the Prince Charles Cinema, overlooking Leicester Square is this huge bar spread across two floors. As you enter the basement bar you’ll be confronted by a display cabinet with empty bottles of Pommery Champagne, a theme that is continued around the venue. An underground den with lots of booths and areas to sit in and a big bar makes it popular with a younger crowd who want to let their hair down. With lots of space to dance and a disco ball to get you in the mood, you’re not going to have a quiet drink down here as the music is loud and pumping. Sparkling crystals hang down from the bar in an attempt to add some glamour. It may not be groundbreaking, but it fits well in an area where much credence is given to such decorative touches.
Going upstairs you'll find a second, smaller bar with a definite boudoir feel. The music is quieter here, the clientele different, and the mood more chilled. As opposed to downstairs, up here the decor is monochrome with plush furniture designed for relaxation. Making your way to the back you’ll see an open window that leads out onto a small terrace overlooking Leicester Square. Next to the bar is a restaurant that is kitsch and quite formal. With kooky chairs a gorgeous white baby grand and very professional staff, it is a lovely place to have a bite and is far more tranquil than the rest of the area.
The AtmosphereThe atmosphere at Ruby Blue varies as both bars attract very different crowds. The basement bar, which acts as a club, tends to contain partygoers who want to be raucous and dance the night away, whereas the bar upstairs is more chilled and better suited to having a few quiet drinks. As for the staff, their performance and mood can wildly vary too. Some appear harassed and under pressure that makes for a sloppy, poor service, whereas others are very proficient.
Whichever area you head to, it’s worth noting that the bar can get extremely busy – especially on a Friday and Saturday night – almost to the point of discomfort. Although not unusual for an area that experiences large amounts of people traffic, it’s worth bearing in mind if you want a table you’ll need to book or arrive early. It won’t win any awards for sophistication, but it gives the hordes of Leicester Square what they desire – a large, pleasantly decorated venue to let their hair down in.
The FoodBar food consists of your typical platters (£13.95) and nachos (£8.95) or some tasty nibbles for when you can’t decide what you want. Three dishes for £10 includes, southern fried chicken fillets, Cumberland chipolatas, spicy vegetable spring rolls, spicy kardoula peppers and stuffed vine leaves. For something more substantial, there is a decent selection of sandwiches and baguettes starting at £5, such as a New York style hot dog, fish finger sandwich, or club sandwich.
As well as the bar snacks on offer, there’s also a restaurant if you want a proper sit down dinner. Starters begin at £3.95 for a tomato and basil soup and go up to £5.95 for the classic garlic prawns. When having the prawns, you first have to tackle their shells, but before you begin you’ll b met with the wonderful aroma of garlic. Big and juicy, they come smothered in a thick, comforting sauce. The addition of a bit of squeezed lemon softens the flavour slightly but maintains its delicate flavours. Alternatively, the chicken liver pate for £4.95 is flavoursome and they obviously use fresh ingredients. However, it is slightly let down by the sickeningly sweet chutney, which tastes like mince pies.
Mains start at £8.95 for a beef burger and go up to £19.95 for a ruby surf and turf. For those who just want meat and sticky fingers then the obvious choice is the Ruby BBQ pork ribs (£11.95). Unfortunately, when it comes to mains, it feels that the dishes are overpriced and overdone. With the ribs, for instance, the whole experience is disappointing. The sauce is rich and overbearing and the ribs themselves are hard to get through. The same can be said of the chargrilled sirloin steak (£16.95). At this price you’re expecting something good, regrettably you receive a meal that scrapes average. The meat is tough and it says it comes with garlic mushrooms but there is only one sad ‘shroom on the plate, which doesn’t taste like garlic. On the bright side, the chips are big, chunky and very tasty.
When ordering sides, which start at £2, make your choice carefully. Asking for chilli broccoli (£3) and being presented with broccoli with sweet chilli sauce on top of them, are two completely different stories. You expect the chilli to be infused with the broccoli not just plonked on top with no care or thought. Desserts, however, fare better and at £5.50 are reasonable. The Eton Mess is a guilty pleasure, with tonnes of cream and plump strawberries.
The DrinkThere are so many drinks at Ruby Blue, it’s hard to decide on what to have, with a large cocktail list making the decision even harder. Standard cocktails start at £5.70 with choices such as Long Island ice tea, mai tai, mojito, margarita, and some interesting concoctions like strawberry clouds, (strawberry puree, lemonade, strawberry schnapps and amaretto) or the ever popular bramble, £6.10 (Bombay Sapphire, lemon juice, sugar and Chambord). Champagne cocktails start at £6 and contain all the usuals – including the bellini and kir royal. Alternatively, if you’re feeling brave be sure to try the Jager B (£6).
Wine at Ruby Blue is also decent quality, the house Vita Sauvignon Chardonnay del Vento is just £12.50 a bottle. For the house red Fleur de Lys is available for the same price, but if you fancy splashing out try the Rioja Cosecha at £17.50 a bottle. During Happy Hour, the Pommery Summertime goes down to £25 (usually £50), Moet £36 (usually £46) which is an absolute steal. For those of you who have the big bucks and don’t need money saving deals, you can buy yourself a Dom Perignon for £110.
The Last WordRuby Blue is a venue that caters for what people want - just don't opt for the catering if you want to make the night a memorable one.
Ruby Blue has been reviewed by 43 users