1st June 2008

Argie Barge-y

Tatton Spiller bravely crosses the river for lunch
If you work in Canary Wharf, you probably wouldn’t consider crossing the river to the O2 for anything other than a night watching Dolly Parton shakin’ her hits.

But think again.  One of the realities of working in the shadow of London`s tallest buildings is that, while there are dozens of restaurants ranging from the sublime (Ubon) to the ridiculous (Cafe Rouge), only a few are worth visiting.  Hence, for those Canada Water veterans who have been riding shotgun on the DLR for years now, restaurant fatigue has no doubt started to set in.  “Been there.  Sick of the place,” becomes the mantra when trying to arrange a venue for luncheon and an Aristotle or two of balls-out Malbec.

Help is just a barge ride away (oh, all right, you can use the tunnel or DLR if you must).  That the Gaucho Grill turns out the most consistently decent fat steaks in town is no news to those in the know, and the wine list , featuring big Latin reds, is decent.  And the setting is funky – imagine Hugh Hefners bedroom designed by the man who styled the iPod.  Head for the jetty –n the good-time barge is about to hoist anchor.