Excellent bar snacks + good cocktails from Mark Hix
LOCATION
I used to be a big fan of the Hix group of restaurants but I remember being sort of unimpressed the last time I went to one, which was a while ago. However I’ve always liked Mark’s Bar for drinks because of the laid back vibe and attractive setting. Hixter which has a Mark’s Bar in the basement is literally across the road from where I’m currently working (Bankside) and after a LONG day at work, a colleague and I wheeled our way here.
THE SPACE
Mark Hix is well known for kitting his spaces out with modern art and particularly with work by the YBA’s. The ‘Cock and Bull’ by Damien Hirst stands proud on a plinth in Tramshed (his steak and chicken restaurant in Shoreditch- same food concept at Hixter), works by Sarah Lucas feature in Hix Soho and the neon sign in Hixter is by Tracy Emin. The space in Hixter has a contemporary look and feel to it – I wouldn’t call it luxe but it’s definitely quite smart and upscale.
FOOD & SERVICE
We had a glass of wine each (c.£6) and a chocolate dessert (c.£7), a sort of a sponge and ganache mash up which was good. A few days later the office closed early because they were doing some building rearrangement, so we pottered across the road for a cocktail and ended up having some bar snacks here too: fries (£4.75) and buttermilk chicken wings (£5.50). Both were excellent – the fries came out hot with a good crispy shell but fluffy inside and the portion was quite generous. The chicken wings had been carved in a way so as to allow you to eat like a lollipop (the bone acting as the stick) and enabled you to still appear refined as you chomped away at it. The chicken itself was well flavoured with a firm but not overly crunchy coating; the spicy mayo sauce that came with it had a proper kick to it and was super tasty. Based on this, I am definitely keen to return to the Hix empire for a main meal to see if our love affair can be reignited. In sum, for bar snacks and drinks it is good – will report back when I’ve had a proper meal here.
VIBE
Hip but not achingly so.
MOOLAH
It’s not cheap but the portions are fairly sizeable.
RATING
8/10
Cuisine: Chicken & Steak
Cost: c.£20 for bar snacks and a cocktail
Address: 16 Great Guildford St, London SE1 0HS
Tube: London Bridge
Reservations: No (not if you just want drinks)
Hours: Open Mon-Sun (see website for full details)
Phone: +44 (0)20 7921 9508
See website for full range of restaurants from Mark Hix
http://www.hixrestaurants.co.uk/restaurants
LAST VISITED NOVEMBER 2015
K A N N D I D 
Pingback: MODERN DINING – K A N N D I D
Pingback: KANNDID DIRECTORY OF LONDON RESTAURANTS – K A N N D I D