The Blues Kitchen

I have to say, when my friend said we were going to the Blues Kitchen, I was not that excited. I had been before when it opened and it was not all I had hoped for.

But what a difference! The food is amazing!

We stared with some perfectly made killer cocktail. Then followed the sharing meat platter. Ribs, prawns, beef – all slow cooked and moist. The BBQ sauce was to die for. Pulled pork sandwich for main – another triumph, especially with a rum and vanilla milkshake.

It is now a great restaurant with a fantastic bar and live music – I can’t wait to go back
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hollypolly - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, January 31, 2012

I decided to check this place out last night with the wife. The food is basic American fare done well. My wife had a cheeseburger, while I plumped for the bbq'ed pulled pork. Presentation was fantastic as was the taste, especially the burger, faultless to be honest. American food is ubiquitous in London but rarely is it done as well as this. One minor gripe is the place was on the noisy side but all things considered we had a truly lovely evening.
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Steve Kerr - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Thursday, December 29, 2011

We were eagerly anticipating our visit, as we had heard a lot about the venue. The venue it self is great, and is set up well. We had booked a table for two for a romantic evening out with my hubby.

The food I am sorry to say is a real disappointment. The starters were uninspiring, and looked like they had been pinged in the microwave. The Ribs were as bry as a bone. From the BBQ pit we had the smoked chicken, which was a bit pink by the thigh bone. I bought this up with the waitress, who seemed to have a nonchalant attitude towards the quality of food and the service provided.

The bands were good, as was the selection of bourbons. I wouldn't recomend the food though.
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Susan Willis
3 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 4
Monday, December 12, 2011

Just popped in here for lunch unplanned...

Turns out it's one of those places that pleasantly surprises. Loads of space, big comfy chairs and tables, big scrumptious food, not so big expense. And it looks great too.

Superlative.
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Tim Eccles
10 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, November 22, 2011

This place has all the components for a great venue but hasn't been able to put them together despite having been open now for 2 years.

We arrived early last night to get some food, have a few drinks and watch the bands. Unfortunately when we arrived 75% of the tables in the place were reserved, including all of the comfortable booths, although only half the tables were empty at 7pm and remained so until about 9pm. Some booths didn't look reserved, as in they had been pre-booked (the signs saying 'for diners'), but we were told that they all were. In fact the only tables that were not booked were at the front of the stage, where it was too dark to read the menu, the tables were too small to hold both food and drinks and the air con was artic.

Air con is completely necessary in a live music venue once its busy and the band are due to play, but not 3 hours beforehand on a chilly October day in a half empty venue. The staff did turn it off on request but only with much grumbling.

When we did order food and drinks service was slow and off hand. There were at least 8 staff behind the bar, but they had a policy of one serving, 7 chatting. Additionally no one cleared our table once we had finished our food.

The food itself (we went for the burgers), was suprisingly bland. The chopping baord presentation is frankly unnecessary in a small space, and is definitely fashion over substance (as is the mock-distressed decor), and the buns were chargrilled rather than the burgers. The coleslaw was also most celery and not the most pleasant.

Then to top it off at 10pm the staff stated they had to clear away all the tables in front of the stage - the only non-reserved ones! We hung onto our just, but some warning would have been nice.

Unfortunately we then ended up leaving 3 songs into the first band as frankly, they were awful. No blues, just middle of the road soft rock. Altogether a terrible shame for what cold be a great venue.
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Justine
4 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 5
Sunday, October 09, 2011

I went to Blues Kitchen for a friends birthday. None of us would go back. The staff were miserable, rude and terrible at their jobs. When booking the table we were not told about the 2 hour rule (you had to eat & leave within 2 hours) - but we were certainly reminded of it every 20 minutes when trying to enjoy our food. It was almost comical. The food was yummy but the service terrible. Sauces were never brought to the table (nearly 24 hours later and I am still waiting for my BBQ sauce), In the end I had to go and source ketchup for myself. Drinks took forever to come to the table and staff seemed to lose our orders. In the last half an hour we must have been reminded at least 4 times that we needed to 'pay up and leave' - quite amusing really considering that we had already requested the bill at least twice. The icing on the cake was the look I got when I asked to pay by card and the card machine had ran out of receipt roll. Guess I should have brought my own. Lovely food but not yummy enough to put up with the terrible service.
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Anon
5 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 7
Sunday, October 02, 2011

It seems this restaurant's idea of BBQ stops at bbq sauce- the chicken I ordered was not grilled, but rather poached and drenched in sauce to give it flavor. The coleslaw side was unremarkable at best. My girlfriend ordered the enchiladas which, in contrast, came with no sauce whatsoever. Strange considering it is the enchilada sauce that distinguishes enchiladas as a dish. Overall, we were very unimpressed: the service was lousy, the food demonstrated that the kitchen is unfamiliar with the basic preparation of their own entrees, and for the price, you can easily do better elsewhere.
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Jane
4 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 3
Sunday, September 25, 2011

I've eaten here and had drinks a couple of times recently. It's a great place. The chilli was delicious and the brunch is probably, as they claim, the best in Camden. The service was great too. Highly recommended.
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Gerard
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Saturday, June 25, 2011

This is one unique place to chillax after a hard week in the office, great selection of drinks especially the range of bourbons and whiskey.

The music, not strictly blues, however the music policy provides a good mix of bands.

The food is a real let down though, this is the second time I've eaten at this estabilishment, with really high hopes. With the prices they are charging, the food is poor, it looks and feels cheap. It's the second time I've been ripped off.

Nice bar design, and a really relaxing atmosphere.
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Mark Anthony
2 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 2
Monday, April 25, 2011

What a great venue for the blues scene. The lighting, atmosphere and sound is great. Came here with my girlfriend on Saturday night and were pleasantly surprised to see what had been made of the old Oh Bar!

However we can't say much about the dining experience though, my girlfriend ordered the seafood jambalaya. It was dry, the fish over cooked. My chicken burger seemed stale with fries cooked until they were cardboard. On the up side the buffalo wings were good though.

Would definitely recommend this venue for a good night out, but shoddy food is a let down.
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Lewis
4 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 1
Friday, March 18, 2011