Review: Dion, West India Quay
IN the midst of an economic downturn, a Champagne bar doesn’t naturally seem like the best place to hide out.
But Dion London’s ongoing half-price offer should give you the perfect excuse to wallow in some serious luxury in West India Quay.
The stylishly-minimalist bar has a tempting credit crunch lunch offer for the rest of the month, allowing you to chop your bill in half when you wander out to enjoy the fiendishly-contrary English summer sun.
Dion is also offering its evening canape menu at lunchtime during the summer, and anyone ordering a decadent bottle of Veuve Clicquot 2002 will also be able to tuck into a dozen oysters or two canape dishes.
Dion’s listed Grade II building is an attractive place to while away the lunchtime hours, but the real drawing point is the huge range of Champagnes. You can pick up no less than 82 different types of bubbly from the menu, from the Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label (£60 a bottle) to the prestigious Ace of Spades (£695 a bottle).
The bar is also a big fan of rose Champagne, with around 25 different versions on offer.
There’s also an attractive selection of expertly-mixed cocktails. Fans of spice can sample the Fuego Manzana (£8.50), a blend of Havana Club rum, lime juice, sugar, pomme verte and fresh chilli. whiskey, tequila, Champagne, rum, gin and vodka mixers can also be enjoyed, as well as the award-winning La Mosaquie, a fusion of belvedere, creme de fraise, strawberry puree, grapefruit juice, lemon juice, fresh mint and balsamic vinegar.
The food on offer is no less luxurious, but that doesn’t mean you’ll need a consult a dictionary to spell it. Dion offer classic steaks such as rib-eye and sirloin (£18.95 for 8oz), sourced from Irish meats and matured for 28 days.
And if you’ve had beef already this week, you can always choose delights such as the fish of the day, the risotto of broad beans, peas and parmesan shavings (£9.95) or the roasted lamb gigot steak with red wine lentils and rosemary (£15.95).
Starters include the beautifully-textured foie gras terrine (£9.95), while only a fool would pass up desserts (all £4.95) such as the chocolate brownie with ice cream or creme brulee with shortbread biscuits.
In the bustling bar scene on West India Quay, Dion is a good place to kick back and enjoy a little luxury. Just remember to think up a good excuse for your boss when you wander back from your happy place an hour or so late.
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