All Bar One is a clean and friendly bar with a fresh, sleek appearance that gives it a little more individuality than you might expect from a chain bar. It also has plenty of dishes to whet the appetite, and an array of wines to accompany your meal.

The Venue
Located at the Shaftsbury Avenue end of Dean Street, this bar fits in discreetly with the clean-cut office fronts of the media industry district that it resides in.

On entry, you are greeted by a much larger venue than you would have expected from its modest doorway. There is an impressive bar that runs along a large portion of the left hand wall, whilst to the right there are various seating arrangements. There is an extensive wine list, which is immediately apparent on entry from the rows of bottles displayed behind the bar like some sort of Victorian wine cellar or a well-stocked library.

The Atmosphere
All Bar One still chooses functionality over character but it isn’t wholly uninspiring with its crisp, polished environment. It is clean and very presentable just like its staff, who are friendly, approachable and professional. During lunch time there is a satisfied hum to the place and it is pleasantly busy, with lunching media types coming in for business meetings, or those refuelling before an afternoon shop on Oxford Street. It has a nice, relaxing ambience perfect for sharing an anonymous drink with a friend. In fact, it’s so relaxing time often runs away without you noticing.

The Food
There is a nicely presented menu that has a good variety to choose from – whether you fancy just a burger or wish to sample their Tapas. The tapas here is great to share and highly recommended - the Hoi Sin Duck is exceptional.

These dishes are reasonably priced varying from £2-£5, and you can buy a few to share for a reduced price in a bundle-package. There are also salads available and light dishes such as the baked salmon with flageolet beans; however, this is a little tasteless and could leave you a little unsatisfied.

You would expect a lot from the burgers, as they are £8.95 without fries, but if the size of the sandwiches is anything to go by you won’t be disappointed. The sandwiches, although of a decent size and costing in the region of £6, are hit and miss – the goat’s cheese sandwich is a little bland and although it has a sweet salad with it, it doesn’t really have the components to offset the sharpness of the cheese. However, the steak sandwich is a satisfying choice for all those meat eaters and doesn’t leave much room for dessert, of which the brownies and marshmallows are truly sumptuous.

The Drink
There is a large selection of wines on offer for varying prices whether you want a nice house white or fancy pushing the boat out for a £39 bottle of Champagne. The bottles displayed behind the bar certainly look tempting and urge you to try something a little more special than you’re used to.

There are also a variety of lagers and bitters on tap at the usual Central London prices of around £3. There is a standard selection of bottled based beers and spirits on offer. Generally, a well stocked bar that should be able to deal with any request and isn’t going to break the bank.

The Last Word
It’s not going to win any awards for its innovation but All Bar One does have its own identity and it’s very presentable. The food is enticing and sometimes very tasty, the wine list is extensive and the service is high calibre.

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