Steam, Paddington

If you want to set yourself up for the ultimate disappointment head to STEAM. This is truely one of the most out of place (and worst) bars I have been to in my last decade of drinking in London.

The design is mis-leadingly cool. Upon entering, you definitely feel like you have found a hip place. The bar looks like somehing way too hip for the Paddington area. However, the management and staff are also out of line with the cool surroundings.

It took our barman over 15 minutes to mix up a dry martini. He had no idea how to make one, and spent several minutes asking every other bar staff what he needed to do. Needless to say, not one of 5 barstaff including the manager had a clue about martinis. I was asked, do we need ice? do we need Vodka or Gin? and when I mentioned the olive they really got confused. 15 minutes later I got a 2/3 full (1/3 empty) martini glass with plenty of crushed olives, and a liquid that resembled oily sewage more than a dry martini.

If you're only having a beer you may be all right at this joint, but anything else and you're confusing yourself with the modern interior of the place. It's just a pub with poor service in disguise.

11 Feb 2006 18:23