The Drunken Monkey, Shoreditch  

The latest in a long list of restaurants and bars on this site, this one creeps into this guide as you can get a pint here, but it's hardly one you'd come to just for a drink. 'Bar & Eaterie' is how it styles itself, but the emphasis is mainly on the food side things of here. None of your usual gastropub standards, but Chinese food - certainly makes a change from all those places serving up Thai fish cakes and Lamb shanks. There's also been a bit of effort put into the décor, all red lanterns, mirrors and leather banquettes: a nice alternative to the bare warehouse look of the Light Bar up the road. But despite the food and the pleasing interior, this place doesn't have as great a choice on the drinks front as you'd perhaps expect. No shame in that when the emphasis is on the food, but some of the early word on this place had it down as a place for a drink as well as for somewhere to eat. It's certainly a fine venue for a night out, but just don't think it's a pub rather than what it really is: a decent Chinese eaterie with bar attached.

reviewed:
19/3/2004

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