The Draft House - Paddington (Bar)

Top 10 things you need to know about The Draft House Paddington:

1) Paddington on a Sunday is wonderful. Well, it’s definitely wonderful wandering along the canal in the Paddington Basin near the station. Quiet and residential, it’s the perfect place to grab a quick one.

2) The Draft House is a chain of independent beer pubs and meat restaurants. The beers are craft and the pizzas are decent, meaning that if you – for whatever reason – decide to journey to Paddington, it won’t be a wasted trip.

3) On this particular Sunday, you haven’t found the particular thing you were looking for whilst shopping and your disappointment is shrouded in hunger; a hunger you’ve begun to know quite well since your other half turned vegan and now insists you do the same for “moral support”.

4) The restaurant is empty but there’s music playing and you can finally eat meat for the first time in ages. You rub your hands with glee and take a seat.

5) Mixing New York accents and artwork with more everyday-style décor, The Draft House’s ode to The Big Apple is noticeable enough to comment on before you begin perusing the menu. Pizzas, burgers, and fish and chips are scrutinised for temptation factors. You opt for the half moon, jalapeño mac ‘n’ cheese balls, onion rings and a paddle of three small beers.

6) The mac ‘n’ cheese balls are well cooked but not the greatest in flavour if not for the accompanying chilli mayo. They go down well with the small glass of Fat Stout by Mad Hatter Brewing.

7) You swallow them whole and drain a second glass of Fat Stout, marvelling at the warmth it fills you with.

8) The folded calzone pizza arrives. You feel good as you take your first bite. Meat and cheese fill your mouth and your eyes cross. It’s the best thing you’ve tasted for a long time. Wiping sauce from your mouth, you sip your last beer in the paddle: Evil Twin’s Nomader Weisse; perfect with hints of apple.

9) Sated but not finished, maybe you will have a dessert. Whilst none of the desserts are the most advanced or even inspiring, the Oreo sundae will finish you off. It’s not the biggest of servings but it’s ice cream and that will always do.

10) You leave full, happy and ready for life and shopping once again.
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