This fun, New Zealand themed cocktail bar in West Ealing serves up an excellent range of Kiwi cuisine.

The Venue
Situated on Uxbridge Road, West Ealing, Baroque describes itself as a ‘cocktail bar and funky house club.’ That is only part of the story, as the bar was transformed in 2004 when Chef Matthew Jans and broadcaster Julia Caeser (no, really) took over with the aim of turning Baroque into London’s first authentic New Zealand dining experience. The result is that the venue is divided into two main areas. Half the space is set aside for dining on meals created in the Kiwi Kitchen while the rest is dedicated to drinking and generally chilling out. This can be either in the main bar, with its brightly coloured though slightly worn furniture, or the upstairs happy hour cocktail lounge. There is also a two-tier beer garden, which is more concrete than garden. The upper tier is pleasant enough considering the skyline is dominated by flats and office blocks, but the lower level backs on to the kitchen and is more suited for anyone who likes to keep an eye on the staff.

The Atmosphere
The drinks area is dominated by a screen showing music promos and the occasional sporting event. On some nights there is also a DJ who might just inspire you to set foot onto the small dance floor. Consequently, the bar can get noisy and is probably not the place to go for an intimate drink. The traffic and police sirens on the Uxbridge road do little to help. Despite this, the atmosphere is pretty relaxed and the staff are extremely friendly and helpful.

The Food
This is by far the best reason to visit Baroque. The large menu of New Zealand fare, cooked using authentic Maori methods, will give you an experience that would be hard to beat without investing in a ticket to the Southern Hemisphere. The results are delicious with the ingredients, from Horopito bush peppers to Kumari white bait, being flown in specially. This might not make it the most eco-friendly restaurant in London but you cannot fault the results. The choices are largely based around lamb and fish but vegetarians are not forgotten. There is plenty of information given on the menus to explain the more obscure ingredients and the prices are good for food of this quality. You may find that the only drawback is at busy times the noise from the bar intrudes on your dining experience.

The Drink
The low-lit, smile-shaped bar at Baroque is well stocked with beers, sprits and an especially good selection of New Zealand and Australian wines. The list of available cocktails is long and mouth-watering. If you are venturing into central Ealing for a night out this is a good place to start but the cocktail menu may well persuade you to stay until the small hours.

The Last Word
The high star rating for Baroque is down to the food and cocktails more than the venue itself, and the hospitable staff also deserve high praise.

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