It’s back. I first went with my sister and brother-in-law for a late supper circa 1980. I last went before Guys and Dolls with an investment banker (retired).
Then it closed. Now it’s open, unlike its sibling Orso. Joe Allen is back on new premises just off The Strand. I hope it hasn’t smartened up too much. I hope it still mixes cocktails. I hope there’s still a pianist. I hope the food is essentially New York diner like another favourite PJ Clarke on Third Avenue. Don’t jump on a jet to go to PJC but if you are hungry and thirsty on the Upper East Side try chilli con carne to go with a spicy Bloody Mary.
Two other favourites have closed; both will re-open under the ubiquitous ownership of Richard Caring and Corbin and King. If you live outside London or don’t go out much they are Le Caprice and Manzi’s. The latter was a lovely, scruffy fish restaurant with red-check table clothes near Leicester Square. I fear under new management it will be a seared glazed salmon excellent restaurant but with all the atmosphere extinguished.
Le Caprice will retain its glamour – that’s what Richard Caring does. Another big player on the London restaurant map is D&D. One of its flagship places is Quaglino’s – much diminished and to be avoided. I wish I avoided it before falling down the stairs.
Oh dear! Tech stocks are, like me, tumbling. It’s a red wall and this is just a snapshot of today’s performance.
Long term investors don’t flinch.
If you glance at least weekend’s Financial Times you will find that the thoroughly reliable and down-to-earth Tim Hayward says he has fallen in love with Joe’s Allens in its new location. Good news. We often used to use the old one as a late night haunt after social meetings of the PG Wodehouse Society and draw reassurance from Hayward’s comments. Definitely worth another round of browsing and sluicing.