Jazz Food

Jazz Food is, I'm afraid to say unlike Soulfood. There is no rich culture of beans, grits or chittlins stewed to perfection. It is, unfortunately, the thoughtless, tasteless, overseasoned and overpriced fare you are required to put yourself through in exchange for the pleasure of sitting down to live music. With due respect to the history of the daddy of them all, even a complete revamp of the menu failed to elevate Ronnie's above the level of identikit airport food. My last burger there could have met the salt intake requirements of a small country for the day, though I was distracted by rivers of grease that flooded out of my bun and onto my trousers. The band was great though.

Now though, I can tell you all about an exception to the rule. Hideaway in Streatham has the benefit of investment by someone who has clearly been to New York Jazz clubs. The entrance is funky, the bar is long and well lit, and wonder of wonders the food is decent. A warm salad of squid, pepper and tomato was well presented and seasoned. Steak was juicy and tender with a little deglazed jus on top and banana pie vanquished the pastry pangs whilst going easy on the sugar.

Oh, and the band was great