Equitable House,
1 Monument Street,
The City,
London,
EC3R 8BG
(020) 7623 5446
The ViewLondon Review
With its lavish interior and mezzanine, the Fine Line aims for post-work City chic, and hits the mark more often than not.
The Venue
Situated virtually at the foot of the Monument and next to the Tube station of the same name, the Fine Line is a natural epicentre of activity that businesspeople from both sides of the Thames flock to for a post-work drink. The main standing area is accessible through a door in the huge plate glass windows that make up the front of the building, helmed in by a wooden walkway and partially obscured by vast monogrammed curtains. The main bar is surprisingly small, perhaps simply in comparison to the enormous chandelier that dominates proceedings, however there are tables of all shapes and sizes for everyone, and private groups can be secluded in a screened-off section to the right hand side. Customers in search of a meal are ushered upstairs to the rather unique mezzanine level overlooking the main room (complete with its own bar) which carries on the general theme of baroque decoration, framed pictures and tasteful, dark colours.
The Atmosphere
A firm favourite among City folk, the Fine Line is constantly busy from lunchtime onwards (it even offers breakfast from 8am onwards), especially towards the end of the week. It is never noticeably cramped or unpleasant however, due to the sheer space at its disposal, and has justifiably earned a reputation as one of the best watering holes in the area. Easily accessible and blessed with as blatant a meeting point as the Monument right next door, it would be easy for the bar to take its clientèle for granted, yet the staff are friendly, calm under pressure and quick to advise and assist.
The Food
The only real stumbling block is the food, evidently not a strong point for what is admittedly a drinks-driven bar. The presentation leaves a little to be desired, and the selection, while filling and generally good for an emergency, lacks real strength in depth once the usual burgers (£10.50), sandwiches (£7) and steaks (£18) are dispensed with - anyone trying to be clever will end up with unrewarding and regrettable dishes like the salmon fishcake with hollandaise or pan-fried sea bass. However, as long as you don't stray from the staples, there's no reason your mezzanine meal can't be an enjoyable and fulfilling one.
The Drink
As well as a predictable but dependable selection of beers and ciders (£3.50-£4), the Fine Line has a wide range of wines, from Krug champagne (a steal at £190 per bottle!) to very passable house wines (£4 a glass) and everything in between – the South African Pinot Noir (£33) is particularly palatable, whilst the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc (£23.50) goes some way to redeeming the fish dishes. There are no cocktails to speak of, but spirits and mixers (£4) are in high demand, as are the usual array of shots.
The Last Word
City-goers looking to unwind in style could do worse than head to Monument, and this fine establishment – just don't expect the food menu to reinvent the wheel...
The Fine Line has been reviewed by 5 users