Barluga

Barluga recently closed for a month for a revamp and the results have revitalised and lightened the place up — most importantly, regular customers approve.

The Venue
Set in a big stone building with metal tables and chairs outside, inside it’s all rather Tiffany, quite dark, with the prevailing colours of oranges and blacks.

The floor is wood and stone, lamps hang low, there are metal plant pots in the window and a smooth, slinky black banquette on the left. There are window blinds and the walls are adorned with drinks posters and a big gold mirror. Most intriguingly, if you look up there is a series of metal leaves on a rod which move back and forth rhythmically wafting the air like some mechanical punkah wallah.

Upstairs is the dictionary definition of a mezzanine with its Barluga logo-ed orange and black carpet, glass cabinets full of bottles of Champagne and its own small bar made of slatted curved bulging wood and a metal top. There’s a new stone terrace with big plant pots and four wooden tables with chairs.

The People
It’s the most business-minded crowd who partake of Barluga’s charms — from pin-stripe suited gents to demurely dressed and bejewelled ladies who lunch. It’s a good place to bring a first date, especially if you can bag a seat upstairs.

The Food and Drink
Amstel, Heneken, Guinness, John Smith's and Strongbow are on tap and in bottles there's Peroni, Sol, Budwieser, Becks, Leffe, Magners, Tiger and Budvar. There are Champagnes and sparklers, but highly recommended is the Prosecco di Valdobbiadene made in Treviso with native prosecco grapes (£24 a bottle).

On the wine front, a Californian Rex Goliath Chardonnay is a good buy at £4.95 for a large glass or £14.50 for a bottle. It’s one of a long list which includes over 20 bottles, priced from £14 to £26. Cocktails are around £5.50 to £7.95, and you’ve got all the classics. Their signature blend is Sex At Barluga (Absolut vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry and orange juice).

It’s not your usual pub grub here, with mussels and chips (£7.95) and smoked haddock hash with soft poached egg and a dill and lemon butter (£6.95). A chickpea, carrot and shallot salad with pomegranate molasses costs £5.25, and it’s worth noting that between 5pm and 7pm you can get two courses for £9.95.

For a lighter bite, sandwiches are around £5 to £7. Instead of having coffee, impress your date by ordering a flowering Jasmine green tea, which blooms when it's immersed in a hot water.

The Last Word
Barluga has improved its look and is more seductive than ever. You won’t be the first to fall for its charms.

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