Exit…stage left the Cocktail Kitchen. Enter…the Axe House with the same layout (but craft beer, slightly grungy, hipster look replacing the classy wine bar ambiance), same kind of vibe, even the same crowd. I think the only real differences were on the menu, and the addition of pool tables on the far end of the bar (on the left). My better half and I made the mistake of walking in on a Tuesday evening, forgetting it was ladies’ night. It’s pandemonium on ladies’ night. But the girls at the front desk managed to find us a ‘timed’ table…which is a nice way of saying, order, eat and get out within such and such period of time.
Happy hour at the Axe House is a 2 for 1 affair which runs from noon (yeay) to a miserly 20:00 (boo). The only problem with their 2 for 1 is that they won’t hold your second drink and insist on bringing it to the table at the same time – what a bummer. This works for two people who are drinking the same drink, but it sucks for any other combination because, and this applies especially for beer drinkers, you’re gulping down your first pint as fast as possible so the second one doesn’t go flat. Pah! Such are the first world problems we live with in Dubai. And I’m actually writing about this shit…
The food is very, very good. However, do not order the Halloumi Fries – they’re like a (slightly) less salty version of Burger King’s Mozzarella Sticks. Do order the Beer Marinated Short Rib, paying special attention to the fact that it is a single RIB you will be ordering. I think the best thing we ordered was the Market Fish of the Day. It was superbly cooked and delicious. I am not bothering to mention what the fish was because a) they alternate the type of fish depending on what is freshest available, and b) I’ve completely forgotten. Desserts are equally good.
My eyes felt that the restaurant was severely understaffed yet their servers, especially the girls, ran themselves ragged. Considering the mayhem of ladies’ night, I think their entire team did gallantly; my wife and I left happily stuffed, with weepy eyes (from all the bloody cigarette smoke) but with big smiles on our faces. It is noteworthy that the Axe House does NOT have valet parking – bummer number 2. This is something these guys really need to change quickly. In rating them, I am taking a half point each off for their 2 in 1 stupidity and also for the lack of valet parking. These two issues aside, this is a true modern Londoner of a bar-restaurant, and well worth a visit.
My apologies for the very poor quality of pictures. The light was very dim and the new phone I am testing…rubbish.
Waste NOT. Want NOT.
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