Shochu Lounge

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 18 reviews

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Basement,
37 Charlotte Street,
Fitzrovia,
London,
W1T 1RR

0871 971 4039
Note: Calls cost 10p per min plus network extras.

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Shochu Lounge
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Reviewer Paul378
03/06/2011
I like drinking shochu, but it's hard to find in the UK. A bottle which is typically a couple of pounds in Japan can go for as much as thirty pounds in an asian supermarket.

I've been to this bar and the upstairs restaurant a few times. Roku, the restaraunt is nothing special and hideously overpriced. The Shochu lounge is quite atmospheric and if you just want a couple of plates of yakitori and a beer, it's overpriced but bearable.

However, I went there last night just to have a glass of shochu. When I asked for this the waitress said "Which flavour?"

Now the drink shochu is made from either barley, sweet potato or rice, each with its own distinct flavour. My surprise came when the waitress said "Rasberry or jasmine?"

Er, just straight on the rocks please, I asked...To which the waitress said "We just have rasberry and jasmine." followed by "Shochu doesn't have any taste so you have to flavour it." My companion went for the jasmine, at £7 a glass!

This is like going into a wine bar and being offered 'banana or avocado' wine as 'wine has no taste.' I mean, of course you can mix it, but why not be able to just drink it straight? Snooty staff who don't know what they're on about, and a bar called shochu that doesn't sell it.

Decor's quite nice, but otherwise pretty naff all round.
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Reviewer g2010
13/03/2010
rude, rude, rude. horrible bar and waiting staff. not sure what their problem is, but it seems to be serious. don't go there. spare yourself the bother. go somewhere good. try the sanderson hotel bar.... try Weatherpersons... go anywhere but this place. seriously. we all hated it. absolute rubbish.
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Reviewer lisasmith
05/12/2009
I went on a friend's recommendation. All was fine, we were sipping our impressive cocktails and even allowed to sit in the cosy seating section, even though we hadn't pre-booked. Unfortunately my friend then spotted a cockroach scuttling around on the floor, which was no mean feat because the lighting is very low.

We alerted a waitress to the unwanted visitor and she promptly squashed it with a bar stool, followed by a second member of staff who swept up the evidence. Nothing was mentioned to us again, no apology (even though the squashing took place right next to my friend and her bag), no offer of complimentary drink...nothing.

We left fairly promptly and I won't be going back :(
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Reviewer J.Kelsey
07/09/2008
I came here a while ago and found it a nice little classy lounge to have a few drinks in. There's a variety of seeting from the bar to the lounge sofas and the table in the centre of the bar with all the big jars of shochu and the big block of ice.
The waitresses are all very friendly and seem very happy. The drinks are nice and service is swift. In review, a very good lounge bar.
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Reviewer Anonymous
06/09/2008
This is a nice friendly lounge, the bartenders are welcoming and knowledgable. And the seeting is very comfortable. The design is like a contemporary rustic look. The prices are a little steep, but are probably worth it for the service you get.
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Reviewer Anna991
04/09/2008
I came here last night and it was fabulous!! The bartenders are cute, and the men here are all the succesfull types. The music was cool, and so were the drinks. They have such a nice variety of cocktails, some of which are perfect for the girlie girls. Try the Hallo Kitty, it's really cute.
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Reviewer Anonymous
03/09/2008
I've read alot of comments on this bar, saying they're pretentious and snobby. I've never had that feeling at this bar. The clientelle might project that kind of idea but I think given the chance the bar here is great, the staff are professional and very willing to have chat. The drinks are astoundingly good. It's just the fact that it's underground that gets me, great for winter maybe not so great for summer.
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Reviewer Anonymous
30/08/2008
When I first came to this bar I wasn't all to impressed just another cocktail bar with something to prove, this was 2 years ago. I returned here last week and found this lounge has become a really stylish and relaxed lounge bar! The staff were exceptionaly helpful, friendly and very informative about the food and drinks. Though the physical bar hasn't changed, the atmosphere has just peaked into a perfect balance of a night out and a bar to just relax in. Good food, drinks and service puts this bar back onto my list of places to take friends. If you haven't been here in a while try it again, if you've never been here try it for your first time, I doubt you'll be dissapointed.
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Reviewer Q.Stocks
30/08/2008
This is one of those spots that you don't really want everyone to know about with fear that they may get too busy. I really enjoy coming to this bar after work. After the second time I came here the bartenders all knew my face and were desperatley trying to predict my drinks (I tend to chop and change when in a good cocktail bar). If you're unsure about what to have ask the bartenders for a recommendation, they'll talk you through the menu and explain to you all the knicks and tricks invloved in the construction of these perfect drinks. I'm sure you've guessed I come here quite regularly and I think I've tried most of the cocktails on the list making me qualified to say "Well done guys I'm extremely impressed with the standards this bar keeps and the quality surounding your work."
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Reviewer Gina Simms
29/08/2008
We booked the central table with the ice block for quite a few of us, most were left standing but the whole evening was great, we had some nibbles which were delightfull, and the drinks were amazing, their champagne by the glass is a "Blanc de Blanc"!!! It's really a trendy place to be. Great for small parties!!
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Reviewer Anonymous
28/08/2008
Another great place to have a drink in London, the perfect place for a hen night. Gorgeous guys, pumping music and enough alcohol to drown in. If you're anything like us avoid the B55's if at all possible. This idefinitley is one of the more happening night spots in London.
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Reviewer Claire.H
24/08/2008
I thought I'd give Shochu Lounge another chance after reading some of the reviews, well they have turned their story around. They still have a 2 hour return on tables, but this is becoming quite common in popular restaurants. The staff are really nice and informative. The prices are a little steep, but it's worth it. All-in-all I'm impressed and will go again.
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Reviewer Anonymous
22/08/2008
Wow!! Don't just come here for a beer! If you want to experience the cocktail culture first hand, this is the place to be. Their cocktail menu is littered with great ideas, and they make amazing classics. A real hint is to ask for a Mai Tai, I promise you haven't had a Mai Tai till you've had one at Shochu Lounge. Great place!! ****
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Reviewer Anonymous
17/08/2008
Just a quick review:Dark, comfortable seeting,good friends, good music, great food and lots and lots of cocktails.If this is your scene you'll love Shochu Lounge!!!Enbelievable!!!! Undoubtedly one of the best venues in London.
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Reviewer GeorgeK
16/08/2008
I went ther last night with some mates for a few post work drinks. We ended up eating dinner on their "Shoch table" where they cut this massive block of ice infront of you. We drank some of the Shochu (Apparently a Japanese spirit) it was really good and definitley for the light drinkers. The place was packed with people, why didn't anyone ever tell me about this place?? It was a really great evening, the staff were freindly and the food oooh the food!! It's definitley worth going again.
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Reviewer Tanyth
06/08/2008
Shochu Lounge offers that relaxed, chilled out environment that most restaurants can't offer. Cocktails to die for, food fit for princes and princesses alike, the whole place is overwhelming. The Rose Petal Martini (Though a little strong, BUT with a rose petal as a garnish) kept me ordering the whole night, I was very impressed with the waitresses knowledge of the food and drinks and their ability to meet nearly all our needs. We all loved it, and vowed to go more regularly. Definitley one of the more happening spots in London.
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Reviewer Anonymous
09/02/2006
Shochu Lounge has sensational drinks and good food. Be prepared it is pricey and if you've booked a table you'll be given a maximum of 2 hours before the staff start hassling you to have desserts and/or last drinks. Shochu Lounge get top marks for food but the over attentive service kills the mood.
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Reviewer Anonymous
22/12/2005
Shochu Lounge is not for those who like their venues simple! Although the styling is haute Japanese and the drinks are to die for the Shochu Lounge is trying to be just a little too elite for my liking.
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