50-52 Battersea Rise,
Clapham,
London,
SW11 1EG
(020) 7924 6288
The ViewLondon Review
A retro American bar and diner in Battersea that clearly cares about its neighbourhood status, The Dime is worth the bus ride.
The Venue
There’s no doubt that The Dime is a neighbourhood bar through and through, which is in no small part down to its location in Battersea. The good thing about this bar is it manages to avoid straying into the realm of cheesy, despite an array of American paraphernalia. A mixture of vintage car number plates and neon signs centred around Americanisms like Las Vegas and Jack Daniels are on the garish side but work well within the confines of the theme. The eclectic decor, that mixes up simple woods with Burberry-style prints, bold artwork and a mixture of simple dining tables and lounging sofa-style seating, keeps it interesting and chances are you’ll need to visit this place a couple of times to take it all in. The bar is on the small side but is nonetheless impressively presented with row upon row of spirits. Downstairs are karaoke rooms if you want to release your inner diva – thankfully these are locked away in the basement so the sounds of warbling won’t put you off your onion rings.
The Atmosphere
The Dime calls itself a neighbourhood bar and they’re certainly being honest on that count. Filled with locals – many of whom seem to be regulars – they’ve done a good job of drumming up interest within the community. Good thing, too, as many Londoners from further afield may be put off by the lack of a local tube. That would be a shame, though, as the staff are particularly friendly here and if you’re a new face you’ll be made to feel welcome and encouraged to return. It makes for a pleasant ambience that more centrally located bars often fail to replicate.
The Food
The simple menu – retro styled as a nice added touch – has a blatant American theme... Philly cheese steak, anyone? As such, it’s suitably fatty, bad for you grub that will make you smile. The prices are on the high side but the food is better than the usual bog-standard bar fare. A charmingly named Elvis burger (£12) comprises of a large, cooked to specification Aberdeen Angus beef patty, topped with crisp smoky bacon, lashings of gooey cheese (of course, this is American food after all) and a slightly greasy battered onion ring. Instead of the usual salsa, a spicy barbecue sauce complements the smokiness of the bacon well and adds a subtle sweetness to the burger that’s very pleasant. Served with crisp French fries it’s very filling, although you may have to dislocate your jaw to fit it in your mouth. First date food it is not! Alternatively, a couple of side dishes are a meal themselves. Gooey, wonderfully sickly macaroni cheese is enough for dinner on its own for £8, as is the greasy onion ring stack (£4) and a delicious bowl of just-spicy-enough-not-to-blow-your-head-off chilli (£6).
The Drink
There’s an impressive beer selection at The Dime that includes some unusual options like Sol, Birra Moretti, Dos Equis Especial, Dixies, Brooklyn Lager and Goose Island IPA. Although there’s a wine list, well priced at £15-£26, it’s not the most exciting selection in the world, so it’s no surprise that the cocktails seem to be the most popular drink of choice here. Again, the American theme pops up with drinks like the Uncle Sam’s mojito, an unusual and delicious mix of apple, blueberry, cinnamon, fresh mint, lime and Bacardi Superior. It really does taste like apple pie – and you don’t get much more American than that. The Dude – a reference to Mr Lebowski himself – is a rather sacrilegious mix of chocolate and vanilla cream liqueur shaken with Kahlua served with some Dime bar on the side. Everyone knows The Dude would only ever drink White Russians. Still, it is a delicious cocktail if you like your alcohol to taste like milkshakes. Just be careful as they slip down almost too easily. Priced at £7, the cocktails are reasonably priced. Bonus.
The Last Word
The Dime is the kind of neighbourhood bar that makes you want to move into the area. It doesn’t take itself too seriously and it’s easy to see why the locals have taken to it.
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