The O2 arena,
Peninsula Square,
Greenwich,
London,
SE10 0DX
(020) 8853 7100
The ViewLondon Review
Located just inside the main entrance to the massive 02 Arena, the American Bar and Grill is a sports bar, restaurant and nightclub with capacity for around 1,000 people spread across three floors, each boasting an eye watering array of TV screens to ensure you never miss a thing.
The Venue
You enter the bar on the ground floor, where sofas and a pool table give off a casual, relaxed air, at least when there’s no major sporting event on. Order your drinks from the exceedingly long (and well staffed) bar - which means even at the busiest times you shouldn’t have to wait long - and then either find yourself transfixed by the 25 screens or rest your retinas on the terrace outside and watch curious onlookers pouring into the centre. Smokers beware, though - as the outside terrace is still technically inside the dome, you will have to nip to the outside proper for a cigarette, but as it’s only a matter of feet away it’s no bother. On the first floor there’s room for 150 diners on snazzy multi-coloured leather seats, and at weekends the nightclub on the third floor opens up for business with punters entering via a separate side entrance.
The Atmosphere
Varies immensely according to what sporting event is on and also, what event is on at the 02. The venue plays host to everything from Brazilian samba nights to Bon Jovi fan club meetings to boxing, where fans take advantage of its 24-hour drink license to watch transatlantic fights in the wee small hours.
It is also worth noting that the bar has the capacity to show four different sporting events at any one time. At quieter times it mainly plays host to office workers sneaking an hour away from their computer to have lunch and catch up on the latest developments in the golf or cricket.
The Food
Very American in its theme, as you might expect, with beef burgers (£9.95), chicken burgers (£8.25), hot dogs (£6.95) and Philly cheese steak sandwiches (£9.50) all popular choices. There is plenty of non-American food on offer too, though, including some with a big Mexican influence - jalapeno peppers with salsa (£4.50), black bean soup (£4.50), nachos (£6.50) and bowls of chilli and tortilla chips (£9.50). It’s a fairly limited choice for vegetarians, with mac and cheese (£8.95) the only main course option, but service is quick and friendly and the portions generous.
The Drink
On draught there’s Guinness, Boddingtons’s, Budweiser, Staropramen, Gaymers cider (£4.25 a pint) and Beck Vier (at £4) a pint, although those in search of more original choices might head for more exotic bottled brands like Anchor Steam, Brooklyn Lager and Goose Island Honkers (all £3.95). Wine drinkers can choose from three to four reds, whites and champagnes, from a glass of Astica Sauvignon Blanc at £4 to a bottle of Pannier Brut Rose at £50. There’s a big selection of cocktails too, with old favourites like sex on the beach, black or white Russians and Long Island iced teas all at a reasonable £7. It‘s not on the menu, but ask the Irish landlord to pour you one of his favourite Black Velvets (Guinness and champagne) to score extra Brownie points.
The Last Word
The American Bar and Grill is all about the sport. And when somewhere is this heavily stocked with TV screens, you genuinely won’t miss a moment of sporting action, however packed it gets.
American Bar and Grill has been reviewed by 18 users