Eat & Drink
Originally published on Tuesday, 31st July 2012
HELIOT
A slice of Vegas in W1
Cranbourn Street, Leicester Square, WC2H 7JH
www.hippodromecasino.com/heliot
In a Sentence
A slice of Vegas in the heart of the West End: the Hippodrome lives!
Vibe
If you like Vegas, you’re going to love it here. The smell of tobacco hits you from the moment you walk in and the gambling floor was bustling at 7PM. The Tom Dixon designed light fixtures and private room with a nod to Firmdale décor attempts to bring a hint of London style to the overall feel. The theatre – where Polly Rae is currently performing – is where you’ll find us. The pennies on the floor were a nice touch too.
Flavours
Think room service menu with a few expensive offerings thrown in. This is not gourmet dining, but it is extremely well executed comfort food. The triple cheese mac and cheese with egg and truffle was indulgent, as were the lobster fish fingers. We loved the lobster spaghetti and (bespoke for us) mini ice creams. The drinks are good – the cocktail menu is a tome – and the champagne was properly chilled (surprisingly hard to find in this town).
Top Tip
Go here at four in the morning. People watching will be great and it’s not members-only so you can go with a group you’ve just met at a party, sans hassle.
Highlight
It’s fun! Something a little different for a night out. And it did feel like we were in Vegas. Mini vacation in W1!
