TUESDAY 18 MAY, 2010

Mama’s Meatballs and a Dry Martini
Giant Robot Takes On Clerkenwell Road!

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past two months you’ll know that Jonathan Downey’s East Rooms went up in flames back in March, the grey-black smoke of its demise darkening the skies of London’s bar scene.

But now, rising from The East Rooms’ ashes, JD’s old Match EC1 on Clerkenwell Road has been impressively re-imagined as Giant Robot – a brilliantly named Italian-American ‘East Rooms Lite’ diner/cocktail bar that trades Match’s 90s-styling for a 50s/60s surf-ish NYC vibe. Now it’s all bare brick and weather-beaten columns, a small sunken bar space perfect for Friday nights and enough cosy, kitsch-furnished mezzanine tables for a cracking lunchtime buzz.

The food inhabits a single page, low-key deli-ish menu of crustinis and fresh seafood, homemade mama-style meatballs, formaggi and a soon-to-be-legendary flaming Baked Alaska. And naturally the drinks are spot-on: the predominantly-Italian wines are well-selected and affordable (and available in carafes – ideal for lunchtime ‘meetings’), the cocktail menu sharp yet unpretentious.

But it’s the little touches that really make the Giant Robot come to life. It’s the relaxed, fun, homemade vibe. The retro vases and punchbowls that just scream swinging West Coast suburbia. The total lack of champagne, in favour of less-pompous (and wallet-wounding) proseccos and DIY bellinis. It’s the service. And the kitsch shot racks. And Italian-edged cocktails, from mini martinis and New York sours to a killer espresso martini with a lemon twist.

So all in all it’s very much the way mama used to make it.

Assuming mama was an oversized retro automaton with a penchant for meatballs, kitsch and 1am aperitifs.

INFO
Giant Robot is soft-launching now
45-47 Clerkenwell Rd, EC1M 5RS
Mon-Wed 10am-12am, Thur-Sat 10am-2am, Sun 10am-10pm

Holding the Man
UJ Subscriber Ticket Offer

As if dealing with your rampant sexuality as a hormonal teen isn’t bad enough – now you’re gay and crushing on the football captain. Whilst it may sound like something straight out of Glee, Tim Conigrave’s account of his 15 year long gay relationship has far less singing and far more moving moments, speaking across generations, sexual preferences and cultures. Based in 70’s Australia it tackles issues like Aids and discrimination and features Jane Turner, of Kath and Kim fame, in her West End debut. We’d have personally preferred Sue Sylvester, but hey, you can’t have it all. What you can have is a top tier ticket for just £25 – down from £44 – by quoting UJ when you book.

Valid Monday-Friday evenings and Thursday/Saturday
matinees until 12th June at Trafalgar Studios, 14 Whitehall, SW1A 2DY. www.holdingtheman.co.uk/about
Call 0844 871 7632 and quote Urban Junkies.
Subject to availability, booking fee applies.

MUSIC – Beatboxer Shlomo's gymnastics of the mouth makes modern musical hits new again. 7pm, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX, £15.

SHOP – Get your holiday essentials sorted at the Juliet Dunn Sample Sale from a fiver. 10am-8pm, Juliet Dunn Studio, 93 Cornwall Gardens, SW7 4AX, Free.

PHOTOS: – Fresh faced and wild eyed - check out the graduate photography talent. 11am-6pm, The Photographer's Gallery, 16-18 Ramillies Street, W1F 7LW, Free.

FILM – Out of Control features David Morrisey in a young-offenders drama followed by Q&A with Dominic Savage. 6:10pm, BFI, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XT, £6.40.