The Drift Bar, Bishopsgate – Review

The Drift

Buzzing, exciting, vibrant and visually impressive – all terms I would use to describe the Drift bar. The aesthetics derive influence from London`s industrial past, yet flourishes suggest more exotic origins from across seas. Well, it`s called the Drift, what else would you expect but a slight maritime edge? Arriving early on a bustling Friday evening, the bar and restaurant area carried all of the frivolity of the weekend well and made for a truly relaxing experience.

A personal highlight was the friendliness of the staff; they were amicable, funny and genuinely interested in making sure everyone had a comfortable evening. It`s difficult to pull this off without it seeming intrusive or contrived, but the guys did a great job in welcoming us.

The Cocktails

What better way to kick off an evening than with a cocktail?

For those looking to maintain a slender figure and count those calories the menu also provides the nutritional value of most of the beverages on offer, which we thought was rather handy!

To start with we tried a mango mojito (£7.95) with pampero blanco rum churned with fresh mango puree, lime juice and agave nectar. A great balance of sweetness and rum; this was an interesting take on a classic and one that we really enjoyed. Unashamedly moreish and only 115 calories, we had to have another of these! We would also highly recommend the skinny Porn Star; again a classic cocktail, but the twist here being that it is healthy, so you can drink it with a relatively clear conscience (£9.95).

The Food

The sharing board starters are a rustically charming delight and really made for a great sharing experience. With three of us attending The Drift that night, it was the perfect excuse to try not 1 sharing board, but 2.

One dish caught my eye from the off, a peking duck flatbread complete with crispy duck, plum sauce, cucumber ribbons & charred spring onions (£9.95) The freshness of the cucumber cutting perfectly through the duck and making for a great rendition of a classic flavour combination. Spring onions and peppers also oozes freshness and made for a light but very flavoursome ensemble. Fulfilling my constant craving for cured meats and a taste of Spain, the selection of chorizo, lomo, serrano & salchichon really made for a carnivorous treat. Both sharing boards made for great conversation and great flavours to boot. In short, they were tasty and yet affordable way to spend an evening with friends or family.

The mains are also as fresh and rustically enjoyable as the sharing boards. Feeling something fragrant and aromatic, I chose the Indonesian fish curry cooked with fragrant basmati rice (£9.95) and was not disappointed. Aside from the delights of the menu, we were also treat to a rather special special – a flambéed sirloin steak. According to The Drift, `The dishes are made by a dedicated chef at your table so sit back and enjoy this unmissable piece of culinary theatre.`

We loved the flambé experience from start to finish; the drama and sense of spectacle adds another dimension to the meal. Also, the complexity of flavours that come out of a flambé style dish are stunning and really make coming out for a meal worthwhile. I would thoroughly recommend this to anyone who sees this on the menu on their visit, it`s simply gorgeous.

Unfortunately, with no room for desert we reluctantly made a move into the night. Thank you to The Drift and their staff for fantastic meal.

To book your visit to the Drift please click here: http://thedriftbar.co.uk/