Slow, inattentive service, aging dining seats, and food that is Korean in name only, the Hoxton Grill is a restaurant you should scratch off your list We were drawn here by the promise of a hip Korean American themed grill despite reviews suggesting it was anything but. The menu certainly threw up some warning flags, not the least of which was 22 pounds for Jinro soju; this is about 3 dollars in Korea and 7 pounds at local Asian markets FYI just in case you want to know how much this place is ripping people off. Still, maybe it would be Ok. Maybe.... But of course it wasn't. The korean fried chicken was in boring coating and wasn't juicy at all. Beef Shin lasagne was decent but lacked any identity as Korean at all. Kimchi cheese fries had barely any kimchi or cheese on them at all. The food was completely forgettable. The rest of the experience wasn't great either. Despite the place being less than half full it took a half hour to get our food, and rarely did anyone come around to check in on our experience. The seats clearly needed updating as I sunk straight into mine and felt like I was disappearing under the table. Not good at all. Skip it. read more

Stopped in for a few drinks after work- wow! The atmosphere is very nice even if the music is a little loud. The drinks are priced with what I would expect and I personally enjoyed the raspberry mojito. We did end up getting some food (chips, crab cakes and some chicken wings) and I highly recommend all of them. The wings were very messy but wow they were amazing. The crab cakes were also very good. Definitely got busy eventually but was relatively quiet when we first got there around 6pm. Will go back for sure. read more

Hoxton Grill - Bars Near Me - London, XGL

See all

Ambiance Great. I love the red comfortable cushy booths. The restaurant is behind the lobby and the lobby is a cool place to hang out. Food Not great. When I went they didn't have pancakes, which was the whole reason I went. Instead, they served me a sad side of French Toast. The food was bland. You could tell none of the dishes were made with care. If you're an American craving an American breakfast or a Brit trying to dabble in American fare, just know this is not it. Service Slow, which was odd because it was not at all busy when we went. read more

This restaurant is located at the Hoxton Hotel. As I'm a hotel guest, I came in to have breakfast. I wasn't expecting much and it was an amazing surprise. The menu is short, which I learned from life, is always a good sign. I ordered a black cofffe, an açaí smoothie and a pastrami Bagel. It was just wonderful! The coffee, very well brewed, real coffee. The Açaí well prepared as well. The Pastrami bagel, it was just delicious. The right amount of pastrami topped with melted Swiss cheese. What a great start for someone who flew more than 15 hours on previous day and had hard time to adapt to the timezone. The experience was so goood that changed(for better) my experience about the hotel. read more

We were staying at the Hoxton Hotel and one morning we decided to have breakfast at the Hoxton Grill rather than the free bag Pret breakfast that they deliver to each room. We sat outside in the courtyard and had wonderful porridge (oxymoron?) and eggs florentine. The food was good and very reasonably priced for a hotel restaurant. The service was fast and friendly. As for those who are looking for the bar scene, the bar/lobby was very busy every night. read more

Hoxton Grill - Eggs Florentine - Bars Near Me - London, XGL

See all

Food is generally excellent although a overpriced and very hip if you're looking for just the basics. It's a cool swanky place to meet someone for breakfast lunch or dinner. Be warned that it is super noisy no matter what time of day you are there but especially at night. read more

So this is a strange one for me. As a guy from Chicago I am not 100% sure why my co-workers were so eager to bring me here (Maybe for me to tell them how legit it was or wasn't) but to be clear I don't even know what a "CLASSIC CHICAGO GRILL, BAR & LOUNGE". I am not sure if I've ever actually been in one? I feel like this was the equivalent of an American taking a Brit to a "pub" in an American strip mall and serving them microwaved fish and chips while bafflingly drinking a Guiness. The beer list was an amusing place to start. Brooklyn beer but none of the Chicago breweries. That's okay. That would have been a bit outrageous to expect and honestly not what I want in London anyway. The food menu added to my confusion-- cornflake chicken with mayo? zucchini fries? sweet baked potato and macaroni and cheese with chorizo and jalapenos? This is supposed to be Chicago inspired fare? So let me start off by saying-- none of this food is Chicago anyway. If they wanted to do Chicago fare... they could have done Chicago street food (Italian beef, hot dogs, weird tamales on hotdog buns that I've never seen anyone actually eat) but this food is 100% American southern comfort food. Which is -fine- My dinner companions had the baby back ribs and the skirt steak. As a guy who has a smoker at home, ribs are a tough sell pretty much anywhere. However, the Londoner eating with me seemed to really enjoy them and said they were delicious so maybe they were aligned with the British palette. I found them bland and the sauce to be less than mediocre. The skirt steak looked good but our dining companion didn't share a single bit. She just devoured the entire thing. I got the macaroni and cheese with chorizo. I was expecting like crumbled chorizo... something that would mix in nicely with the cheese sauce and give an interesting blend. That is not what I got. It was basically a chorizo sausage chopped up and tossed on top. The decor of the place was actually really nice (well the lounge side) and the hotel lobby was great. The Hoxton Grill was....weird. Red vinyl seats, exposed brick wall. It seemed out of place in the overall ambiance of the locale. I doubt I'll ever be back but considering how busy it was when I was there I don't believe they'll miss me :) read more

I've heard a lot about this place and tried their cocktails but never got to sample the food. Visited on a very busy Sunday afternoon-ish with a couple friends for a quick bite. The restaurant was full but the hostess told us we could sit in the lounge. We soon sat down and had the menu in our hands. We all opted for a burger, one of us had the chicken burger and we got some onion rings on the side. You can have your burger with salad or chips. Us being carb-consuming monsters, we went for the chips. The food was outstanding. I've tried both the beef and chicken burger and they were both delicious. Cooked as we ordered them and with a full taste profile. I really liked the chicken burger, next time I'll be getting that for sure. It's affordable but its also easy to spend a lot of money on the food here. All in all, an excellent choice. read more

Hoxton Grill - Bars Near Me - London, XGL

Venue - 3 Service - 2 Food - 3 Value - 3 Overall - 2 We decided to have late brunch/lunch at Hoxton Grill on New Year's day. I have always wanted to try this restaurant as I walk past the trendy hotel frequently. The restaurant is set on the ground floor of open planned hotel, occupying half of the space at the back. There are 2 dining spaces, with the larger 'indoors' american diner area which is next to the open kitchen. There is a second, smaller dining space, which looks like a conservatory with natural light. The restaurant was fairly busy but had quite a few empty tables, which had not been cleaned. We were instantly told that it would be a 10 mins wait for the table, by a not very friendly front-of-house, and without a smile. We waited at the bar, and eventually after about 20 mins, a table was ready. Our waitress was helpful, but clearly overwhelmed as she was covering about 10 tables. Food took a while to arrive (Eggs benedict and eggs & avocado), and was slightly cold on serving. The poached eggs were runny and done well otherwise. Overall, the experience was underwhelming. read more

Hoxton Grill - Eggs Benedict - Bars Near Me - London, XGL

See all

Not sure why the reviews aren't better but I thought this place was great! Service was fast and very amicable. I had the Flat iron chicken with side of Green beans. Chicken was perfect and the veggies were good as well. Paired with a glass of Malbec, boom! Great solo dinner. The lobby is a very popular drinking spot and it literally sounds and feels like a disco but I liked it. If you're looking for a quiet, romantic place, probably don't come here. read more

Never had a better meal, come here every time I'm in London. I have always thoroughly enjoyed all the meals we have had here, and the drinks are quite amazing too. Very creative chefs with some amazing talent cooking some of the best meals I've had in my life, no joke. This stereotype of British food being bad has been crushed by this place alone. On this trip I could tell they have gained quite a lot of popularity because it is always so busy, and rightly so. Make reservations and plan for a great evening. I would say attire would be business casual. Prices are so extremely fair for the absolute wonderful quality of food you get. I will always come here anytime while in London. Don't pass this place up, inside the Hoxton Hotel in Shoreditch, London. read more

Hoxton Grill - Bars Near Me - London, XGL

See all

Was here late night so this is just a review for drinks and music. Nice place to finish off a weeknight out. Not too crazily crowded, ample space to sit back and relax while having some drinks and chatting or to stand around doing so. You can also make your own dancing space over by the bar area where there's more of a mob. There's private rooms if you want with karaoke, saw a few companies/groups enjoying this. Pretty large spot open late. read more

Ordered: 1) Flat Iron Chicken, roast garlic, oregano (comes with fries) 2) Side of broccoli This was hands down one of my favorite meals in London. Then again, I'm also from America and it's possible my reaction is slightly heightened due to being homesick after staying here for 2 weeks :). Either way, I thoroughly enjoyed this meal. The chicken was ridiculously juicy (like seriously), with great flavor, and was balanced with the perfect amount of saltiness for me. I also love garlic, so the cloves of roasted garlic around the plate just added to the magic of the dish. The broccoli is actually broccolini and is what you'd expect it to be (steamed). I soaked it in the chicken juices/sauce and cleaned up the plate. Service was friendly and there's a really cool, chill vibe in the restaurant. Needless to say, I'd definitely visit this restaurant again. read more

Hoxton Grill - The best chicken I've ever had. - Bars Near Me - London, XGL

I have to confess I love this place! the atmosphere, service, food, music, people ... everything at Hoxton Grill is great! I've been there many time and I was never disappointed by it. They have the best cheesecake ever! If you are there you have to try it :) they have great cocktails and good wine selection It gets very busy so if you want a table you better book it or be there early ;) great place for a meeting with friends and family read more

See all

Nice place to go for (expensive) drinks. Do nice food though not cheap. Surprisingly the rooms aren't that expensive compared to other hotels in the area. If you want to drink to impress, not a bad place to come, also stay open late. read more

Hoxton Grill - Outside - Bars Near Me - London, XGL

Another one of those London hangouts where the free wifi and half decent coffee has attracted the good, the bad, and the hipsters... Ok so finding a seat is basically a game of musical chairs but if you do decide to go after work, the wine is nice, it's open late and it's always got a buzz about it. Not for the shrinking violets but strut your stuff and who knows who you'll bump into for a conversation. Just be warned: Foxtons have an office opposite ;) read more

Hoxton Grill - Soho Negroni... Classic - Bars Near Me - London, XGL

When walking past this Hotel I had always liked the modern design interior so one day we went in for some tea in the afternoon. The ambience was relaxed and cozy. I went a second time because I had a feeling the bar would make some awesome cocktails. I wasn't disappointed. They prepare all the classics (I loved my whiskey sour) and have a few HOUSE TONICS (like the SOHO NEGRONI) too. I didn't find the latter all too yummy but the atmosphere made up for it. Unfortunately the service was useless. There were some waiters running around who never stopped at our table, although it wasn't crowded. Eventually I ordered our drinks at the bar and had a lovely chat with the charming baristas instead. read more

Hoxton Grill - Whiskey Sour and Soho Negroni - Bars Near Me - London, XGL

Well this is a turnaround for the books. I'm afraid I'm going to have to revoke my oh so flattering four star review of The Hoxton Grille and give it, instead, a measly two. "In the name of what?" I hear you ask. "It's appalling service" is my honest answer. I returned to The Hoxton Grille to take advantage of its Lucky 7 early bird menu. No, I'm not a pensioner but a £7 steak sandwich with chunky chips is just too good to forgo in the name of a fragile ego. Granted, the food was amazing, I had a couple of fruit martinis again, both good with the passionfruit being better than the watermellon but oh, what's this, another Shoreditch establishment with truly abysmal service. From forgotten drinks to missing cutlery, rogue ingredients to the sight of our gorgeous looking food waiting ten minutes to be delivered to us by waiters too busy talking about their 18th Amendment jeans, the service at The Hoxton Grille is nothing short of appalling. We had five waiters in all which I'm pretty sure is a cardinal catering sin and worst of all, having waited for half an hour for someone to give us the bill a member of staff approached our table and asked us to leave because they wanted to seat some other patrons. Shockingly bad service which is a true shame because the food is beautiful and I'm totally down with the early bird specials. read more

Previous evenings I've been, this has been a five star place. It has a busy, buzzy atmosphere. There is organized, informal, competent service, it feels like being back in Brooklyn, in a good way. And the food has been great too. Everything's good so no need for me to tell you about specific dishes. But last visit, mid-afternoon, there were very few customers, and all that efficiency was gone. We recognized our dishes cooked, on the counter, under the hot lights. And they sat and sat and sat, with no-one to bring them the 10 yards to our table, us too English to fetch them ourselves. When they finally arrived they were tepid and dry, I sent mine back. I'd like to put that aside as a one off. But they had a large pile of burgers under the same lights (presumably going to a private room) and they took a few every ten minutes or so. We were there for an hour, and there were still some left under the lights at the end. Even McDonalds limits how long the let burgers sit on those chutes. Those would have been some nasty dry burgers by the end. So yeah, overall, do go there, just not at 4pm midweek. read more

See all

We went on 26th December, limited Boxing Day menu, which was basically the brunch menu. Food was mediocre. The burger, no temperature asked, came out well done. Flat iron chicken had incredibly salty skin. Local beer - shoreditch blonde (Belgian blonde style) we enjoyed. They were out of Camden pale ale. Chips were terrible - frozen and undercooked. My green salad was partly rotten and drowning in dressing. Our server disappeared mid dinner. We observed him apparently enjoying his dinner with a fellow employee in a corner while we were still eating OUR dinner. Very unprofessional as he didn't inform us of his break nor did he assign a different server to our table. Wouldn't recommend coming here unless you're desperately famished (i.e. Boxing Day when everything else is closed) read more

As a creature of habit, I noticed that I tend to find 1 place that I love and won't venture out to try new places. I decided that that wasn't going to happen while traveling in the UK. This place was recommended by the concierge where I was staying. There is no place like this that I've ever been to before. I loooved the multiple seating areas that provided space for lounge seating, bar seating, as well as indoor and outdoor seating. I had the Mach & Cheese (which I am always crazy about and have to have every time its on the menu as well as the Quinoa Burger. The Quinoa burger left much to be desired but the Mac and cheese blew my mind. I felt as though there wasn't much thought given to those diners who are making healthy choices What raised my review from a lower score was the service. I find that it's difficult to find great service in the UK. My sever gave me personable attention and had an extensive and intimate knowledge of the menu. He also had a colorful personality that made me feel comfortable since I was dining alone. read more

Hoxton Grill - Bars Near Me - London, XGL

See all

Crowded and Lively with a Bit of a 'tude this eatery makes you feel as if you belong. Then the wait staff approaches With strong Eastern Europe or Russian accents and you suddenly Realize Brexit is Bogus. As a Matter of Fact the 'Help' In London are predominantly not British. And the ones that are inevitably Are Young and Borderline inept. But back to the Food. With a penchant For Steak and Eggs I ordered just that. In All honesty the Food was more than Adequate, Perfectly Cooked steak and Crispy Fries were promptly served yet Not 'Piping' hot which is the way I prefer My eggs. But the Surprise was the Cocktail. The Pornstar Martini for which I definitely Live up to, was a trip thru the Islands and a Brothel. Dirty yet Elegant this cocktail Had to be sipped then added to with a 'Schlup' of Prosecco. The Passion fruit Base lends to such activities, and the Alcohol ratio is dangerous. Drink and Celebrate the Vibe, Food and Life in Shoreditch. And not a Bad life it is. read more

The Mac and cheese was tasty, and the key lime pie was surprising. But the service was terrible...the worst I have received on this London trip. Apparently with the mandatory 12.5% tip added to checks, true customer service suffers. read more

I teeter between 3 and 4 stars. I thought the avocado toast was aite. It didn't strike me as something I couldn't whip up myself (but maybe that's just the nature of avocado toast). While the toast was served warm, it quickly turned cold after a few bites. The poached egg atop the avocado was wonderful, though. The yolk seeped into the toast, a glorious, delicious mess. My friend got the English breakfast, which looked fantastic. He seemed to enjoy it and I believe has had it before. Definitely a great place to brunch and convenient for those living in the Hoxton hotel. I just wouldn't go out of my way to come here. Service was solid, and the teas were good. They didn't use loose leaf for my green tea, which was a slight bummer (I'm obnoxious about tea). But my friend's earl grey seemed to be loose... they just put it in a bag to seep in the teapot. As is true of everything in London, prices are steep! read more

I've been here for drinks a while back but recently stopped by for Sunday Brunch after a rough yoga class @ Blue Cow. We curled up at one of the couches in the lounge which was perfect after a tough work out. I had the black bean burger and ordered a side of sweet potato wedge - now I wasn't expecting a side of chips with the burger but hey, I love me some spuds! I had a little bit of food envy since my friends ordered the breakfast stuff but will definitely be back for that again. read more

Service was terrible and food is even worse. I stayed at The Hoxton Hotel and really liked it but, I would recommend going elsewhere to eat. I arrived in London late night, on a holiday so this was unfortunately my last choice. I ordered the Pulled Pork w/Apple Slaw expecting maybe a pulled pork sandwich. I DID NOT anticipate pulled pork molded and wrapped in bacon. It was disgusting. The pulled pork itself was decent but, the bacon was just unnecessary and the presentation alone made it look like something you'd see on thisiswhyyourefat.com. Now, don't get me wrong. I love bacon. I think it's safe to say that everyone does but, one of my pet peeves is when restaurants used bacon to mask crappy food. Oh it sucks? Let's sprinkle it with bacon cause it's just soooo hipster and trendy. The Hoxton Grill missed hipster and trendy by a long shot. But, they hit gross and not appetizing right on the mark. I will give it one extra star only because I liked the apple slaw. Let's not forget that your meal is served with snooty managers and hostesses. Your food is not good enough to warrant bad customer service. read more

Been here a couple of times and always ended up having a good night. A surprisingly grown up crowd considering the neighbourhood, and also surprisingly large on the inside, the Hoxton Grill is always full but never rammed. Plenty of people stand around but we always manage to get a couple of seats on a comfy sofa. Bar staff and door staff are extremely friendly and attentive, but I am a girl so that helps. The crowd is quite mature even though ranging for the mid-twenties to late thirties range. There are a few bespoke cocktails on the menu and otherwise bar drinks are fairly standard. The have a cocktail call the Pole Dancer which is *amazing*, only glitch is that it's a pig to make and the bar staff, who are all absolutely lovely, take a deep sigh when I order this drink because it is so complicated and takes a while to make, but it is delicious and worth the wait, try it. Music wise the Hoxton Grill could raise its game a little. It plays laid back chillout music which doesn't always necessarily match the vibe of the crowd. Perhaps the venue doesn't have a dancing licence, there is certainly no dancing area, although there are always a few punters (girls of course) having a little boogie in the corner when a slightly upbeat song comes on. I haven't tried the food so couldn't tell you what that's like. There seem to be a couple of private dining rooms in the back for hire if that floats your boat. Also for those who like to know these things the toilet soap is from the paraben free Cowshed range which gets my massive thumbs up (I'm anti-Molton Brown punter in general). Good stop over venue. I like. read more

You would have guessed, that the Hoxton Grill is only known for its good food....but nope, the bartenders also really know their thing - Whiskey Sour par excellence! On a weekend its pretty(!) crowded, therefore the atmosphere is great and cosy at the same time with all those couches. Hoxton Grill - you will see me again soon! read more

Hoxton Grill is located in the wonderful area of Shoreditch in The Hoxton Hotel. It is a very laid back but classy restaurant with pretty good food. I actually have been here a few times (for lunches and dinners) as I was staying at the hotel so I can definitely say I enjoyed it. The service was great and the food came to the table fast. I like the relaxed atmosphere of the restaurant and the bar area. It's just as ok to go there alone and read a book or with a big group and have a great night out. There is a nice buzz in the restaurant and in the hotel lobby bar. I recommend! read more

Hoxton Grill - A collage of my lunch in Hoxton Grill - Bars Near Me - London, XGL

Hoxton Grill is a part of the Hoxton Hotel which is where I was put up a few months back when I was in London for work. The first few words that comes to my mind when I think of the restaurant/ bar are : swanky, posh, well maintained, friendly and good looking waiters. The couches are really big and comfortable and seems like this place is quite popular amongst the London Yuppies as its never empty and always buzzing. I opted for a cheese burger (yeah safe but always a winner) which was absolutely delicious and HUGE, but guess what? I managed to demolish that big bad boy all by myself! The burger came along with fries and salad as usual. I have to say something about the fries here because I am a very fussy fry eater but the chefs at Hoxton just nailed it - it was not too thin, neither too fat but just right and very crispy (melts in your mouth). The drinks were reasonably priced too, 4.50 for a Corona is not bad at all I say. The waiters were rather friendly and sweet, he even remembered me the next day when I went to collect my bags and addressed me with my name (I was really touched because my name is not the easiest in the world). Verdict : Definitely going back again when I am in Shoreditch! read more

I can be a little naive sometimes. Don't judge me for it though. When the happy chaps at Casita recommended we head to The Hoxton Hotel to carry on the night, we were dubious. A hotel bar? I was thinking stiff barstaff, extortionate prices and stuffy guests. Nope. Well, drinks aren't the cheapest actually! Big and spacious, almost an extension of Great Eastern St itself, the lobby of the Hoxton is a place for late night revellers, hungry souls and those too stubborn to go home. Oh and those who just can't be doing with queueing and paying to get in somewhere else. One long-ish bar, a huge seated area for those who'd like to eat or rest their legs, and plenty of open space - that's what you're going to get here. They have a DJ playing in the corner; a nod to the party atmosphere, but it can feel a little transient. People coming and going, meeting friends and scamping off somewhere cooler. I liked it though. A good way to wind the night down or consider your next move. read more

Thank you Hoxton Grill - and your friendly, expertise bartenders - for making my sister's last night in London a memorable, awesome experience. I had spied photos of the roaring fire and armchairs on Instagram, and had been to the Holborn version of this Hoxton Hotel's lobby bar/restaurant -- so I already had this place in mind for fellow Yelper Andrea V's third visit to London. On her last night, we dined at nearby Cay Tre, then walked over for a night cap (or two) and to hunker down from the January weather. We each had an expertly made espresso martini, and the bartender was kind enough to make me a chili infused concoction of his own preference that was not on the menu but thought I'd like based on my telling him what kind of stuff I like. I cannot stress enough how key it is to a cocktail-focused business to have a bartender like this. They like talking about different drinks and new mixers and alcohols, and *like talking to people* and then bringing that together for a personal experience. Anyway, I enjoyed the more loungey vibe to this place (compared to the more retro-designer-house feel of the Holborn location) with its books and overstuff chairs, sofas and fireplace. I still feel meh about the menu (though the pics are starting to convince me) read more

Okay - I really like this place, let me go ahead and get that out of the way. I've been a few times with different groups of people and this locale never ceases to provide entertainment. The Hoxton Grille is like 4 places all wrapped into one. You have the bar area which is packed with people trying to get their drinks and reminds me a lot of University. There's a nightclub dancefloor - - which more than once I have had to pull friends of mine off their stage because they were making fools of themselves (one with the English flag). A coffee bar area with patio (haven't been on patio since Septemeber) which is cool and relaxed. And then they have a lounge area off the bar - - with a entire wall that is a window facing into traffic. This is a cool spot from Thursday-Saturday. I really wouldn't mind going here any weekend of the year, it never ceases to put a smile on my face. read more

It's your typical swanky hotel bar lounge, great for pre-partying with friends for the night ahead. Plenty of sofas, loveseats and standing space for large parties. Slightly pedestrian jazzy house plays in the background. Roving waiters are happy to take your order. The talent is of the professional working sort, I'd say mid-twenties to high thirties. Very civil, polished, but noticeably more clique-ish than the pub-cum-club crowd of Shoreditch. read more

First time having brunch at this place after a yoga class and I really liked it. First, I like the venue and the atmosphere of the restaurant and the hotel, and the plus is that there is a free wifi which seemed to worked really well to me. Then, the food, quantities are quite huge for a sensible price compared to other restaurant, which is already a good point, but it is also very tasty. I had the avocado and poached eggs toast, and had a bite at my friend's club sandwich and all was very tasty. Try the cheesecake too for dessert the only thing I would say is that the service was maybe a bit slow and absent-minded but at least they don't rush you out which is really good! read more

Hoxton Grill - Avocado toast - Bars Near Me - London, XGL

A typical hotel establishment - while modernist and streamlined, it doesn't shake that austere and inauthentic feel so pervasive in most mid-grade hotel lobbies. I dashed in here, mostly in search of warmth, one early evening when I'd tired of waiting outside for someone to finish up with work across the street. I sat down at a sofa and was surrounded by business types tapping away on their laptops. The service was professional and prompt - I was quickly noticed by the staff and handed a very corporate looking drinks menu. Something that surprised me about the places was the inexpensiveness of the libations... there was a wine promotion going on, and a whole list of martinis could be had for under 6 quid. I ordered a pear mojito, which was inevitably too sweet for my taste, but certainly seemed in keeping with the surroundings, so I wasn't exactly let down about this. Mostly, I felt appreciative of the fact that nobody bothered me about being a solitary customer... everyone seemed completely absorbed in their own thoughts, such that the crowd, and the cocktails, and the surroundings were all secondary...and I was left to wait alone in peace. read more

My friends like this bar a lot. I'm not completely convinced, but I understand the appeal. Went back to this bar on Saturday evening after a few month long haitus. There was no line to get in, but it was packed. Packed is good. I like packed. But I also like drinks and not waiting too long to get drinks. Even with the multiple bars I found this aspect difficult. But once again, I see the appeal. The dance floor in the back will get hot, sweaty and generally pretty sexy. The crowd it attracts are some of the best in Shoreditch - which is something coming from me considering my overall distaste for Shoreditch and hipsters. And I always have some fun here when I go, just never enough to say that this bar is great. A-OK? Yup that's about right. read more

Okay, I love drinking in hotel bars. For my birthday this year, I kind of want to do a crawl of just hotel bars. Pretentious ones, quiet ones....and one stop will definitely be at the Hoxton Grill. A goodie both during the quieter week days and the overflowing weekends, it's a place where the city workers melt with the ultra-trendy eastenders, creating a much less annoying version of both. Can only vouch for the wine and spirits (which were actually the same price I'd expect to pay in the area), but the food smelled amazing. Maybe I'll give it a go next time. read more

This place is hopping with a bar area in the front with a TV playing the olympics (since we were there during the London Olympics) and a bustling restaurant in the back. Luckily the place was pretty loud because the 8 of us were contributing to it. Service isn't bad here except our one waiter seemed to be understaffed and a little disgruntled. We finally ordered after waiting awhile and I got the short ribs. I am a sucker for short ribs and I'm pretty convinced it's hard to not make it taste delicious. The piece of meat I got looked really savory and I couldn't wait to take a bite out of it. To my dismay, the meat was actually dry. It had enough sauce to keep the flavor, but it wasn't enough to save this great piece of cow part. read more

So my friend suggested going to the Hoxton Grill to eat dinner and seeing how I really do not know much about eating out in London I obliged him. I was a bit late but when I reached the restaurant I found him sitting in the back. The venue is nice, dark but very vibrant and popular. I believe the night I was there the front half was packed with business people who just got off work. Anyway looking over the menu I ordered the pulled pork apple slaw sandwich while my friend ordered the half rack of St. Louis pork ribs. For an appetizer he really wanted the mini hot dogs. We both ordered beers while we waited for our meals. The food came out and it was exactly as the name describes. The meal was nothing exceptional...maybe because BBQ style food is just better in the US? I'm not sure but I was definitely now WOWed. If I was given the option to go again...I most likely wouldn't. But the environment is super chill and other patrons seemed to really enjoy it. read more