All Bar One New Oxford Street

Exceptional Service Shines in London Eatery

Ah, All Bar One on New Oxford Street — a charming equivalent of diving into a warm, inviting oasis amidst the swirling chaos that is London. There's just something delightfully reliable about the place, not unlike finding a much-maligned cup of builder's tea at dawn after a long night out. When I recently visited, the ambiance hummed with a blend of lively chatter and delightful clinks of glassware, the quintessential sounds of a buzzing urban watering hole. What truly illuminates this particular venue, however, are its staff. Kira, for example, could quite possibly charm the g-string off a double bass with her exceptional knack for making each guest feel perfectly catered to. Her namesake seems shared among a cast of equally endearing service stars — Rachael, Kiara, and the likes — whose genuine warmth acts as the secret ingredient behind the venue’s stellar reputation.

Not to be overshadowed by the affable charm of its staff, the food and drink offerings deserve a significant standing ovation in their own right. Sip a well-devised cocktail or two, perhaps indulging in their surprisingly spot-on takes on classic favorites like the Aperol Spritz, or venture towards the more adventurous banana Mai Tai — you won’t regret it. My culinary explorations didn't end there, as I buried myself cheerfully in a plate of sumptuous nachos, adorned with guacamole fresher than a polka-dot bow tie at a clown convention. Somehow, this party-of-a-place also manages to maintain a streak of sophistication — the spot-on cleanliness paired with an efficient splitting of our bill was testament enough. Maybe All Bar One isn’t pushing boundaries of the cosmic gastronomic sort, but it echoes timely precision alongside distinctly warm human elements. All said, it's heartening to find such unaffected earnestness right in the heart of London; certainly, no regrets from this unwitting wandering gourmandist. — Milo Tastemaker