The Adam & Eve

I’ve always been wary of the word ‘funky’. Maybe it’s because I am the antithesis of funky. Too gauche to pull off any kind of swagger and too self-involved to invoke the necessary levity, I am to hip cool what the guillotine is to hairdressers.

So imagine my concern upon entering the The Adam & Eve pub on Wells Street to find the wordy ‘funky’ written in large purple letters. Behind it a similar model of the word ‘cool’, another word with which I have poor relations.

As decor goes, it really isn’t my cup of tea but then the venue hasn’t been built around my whims and complete lack of cool. The refit takes its cues from its proximity to Oxford Street with Selfridges, H&M and Topshop, and the fittings are not just two foot high letters. The walls are lined with black and white photos which evoke a much more sober sense of style. A nice touch is the Smoking Garden of Eden, although given the capital’s plunging temperatures, it is unlikely to house many people willing to transgress.

Thankfully, the food is in no way connected to the world of fashion. There are no tiny portions coming with an exorbitant price tag. A prime example of this is the cream of tomato soup, which is light and very full of flavour.

The rib-eye steak is also worthy of commendation and goes to show that The Adam & Eve does the simple things well. I was quite taken with how the meal was presented. Rather than coming on a plate, the steak along with mushrooms and chipped potatoes was artfully arranged on a wooden board.

The Adam & Eve menu is composed of dishes that you would expect in an establishment such as this but they are done to a decent standard and presented with suitable style. You are unlikely to find the windows plastered with Michelin stars, but it offers a cozy and nearby respite to the traffic of Oxford Street. Even if you are averse to the word funky.

The Adam & Eve
77a Wells Street
Fitzrovia
W1T 3QQ

Tel: 020 7636 0717

Monday-Saturday: midday-11pm
Sunday: midday-10:30pm