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Phoenix Bar, Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, Wood Green, London, N22 7AY

Phoenix Bar, Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, Wood Green, London, N22 7AY

Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, Wood Green, London, N22 7AY

02083652121

I went here for lunch. This bar, which is at the western end of the palace, must have one of the best dining views in London. Through the large windows you look out across the terrace, with its wrought iron lamps and wooden tables and the whole city is spread out before you, the Gherkin and Canary Wharf clearly visible, until it all vanishes into the mists of North Kent. The inside is almost as good. It is spacy and wooden with a high ceiling and a central bar with mirrored pillars. Tables are marble with metal chairs or wooden. The music is terrible. Sort of sub techno garbage when I was there. Next door there is a huge (and silent!) palm court with sphynxes, fountains and full size palm trees towering into a vaulted sky-lit roof. There are about a dozen tables, maybe less. I had a coffee here the other afternoon and had the whole palm court completely to myself. Talk about a hidden gem. It was wonderful.

Back to lunch. The menu is the usual pub grub-type suspects - fish and chips, gammon, lasagne, shepherds pie etc. They also do light bites - sandwiches, baguettes and so on. I had bangers and mash and my hopes were not high. In the end they were fine. The portions were generous, the sausages good and as far as I could tell it had not been microwaved. Average price abvout £6. I am in two minds about this place. It was fairly empty and yesterday I was the sole occupant of the palm court. I love having such a wonderful place to myself but if there was ever a wasted opportunity this was it. Anywhere with an iota of catering style, imagination and intelligence - France for example, or Italy or just about anywhere apart from here - some enterprising whizzkid would have seen its potential and turned it into something really amazing. Here I think it is run by the council. Enough said. Also I have not been in the evening or in the summer. Could be a different story then and some clearly yob induced carving in my wooden table did not bode well. The fact it was allowed to remain there also spoke volumes. BUT living in London can be an expensive pain. Now and again we get a reminder of why we do it. This is one of them. So why not get some real value for your council tax for a change and come here for lunch (when you get the view)? Or just have a pint? That view is free.

By Harry at 17/02/2008 - 22:08 | 2008 | Approved | London | North | Review | Traditional | Views | £££/$$$ | add new comment | 153 reads