When I was a student the height of sophistication was probably Champs on Ecclesall Road, or the Pizza Express on Devonshire Green where one of my male house mates always took his potential conquests if he wanted to impress :-)
Sheffield has changed a lot since those days and one new addition is the glitzy West One Plaza, located at the corner of Fitzwilliam Street and Devonshire Street. The 'Plaza' felt a little soulless but we went there specifically to check out Anchorage, a bar and 'East Coast Kitchen' which had caught my beady little eye.
http://www.anchoragebar.co.uk/
The menu is extensive and varied with a good selection of American cut steaks and even a meat and cheese Deli counter. I'm a sucker for a Reuben and so it was a given what I'd have as soon as I clocked one on the menu. The Anchorage Reuben was the best I've had (although I've not yet fulfilled my dream of a visit to NYC which could change things). The salt beef especially was darn good. I wasn't quite so sure about the Blonde's Mac 'N' Cheese burger,which started off very tasty but morphed into a ball of stodge which she was ultimately unable to conquer.
The restaurant, situated upstairs, was quiet when we arrived early on a Saturday evening but quickly filled up. Service was perhaps a little on the rapid side but friendly and efficient, if a little impersonal.
After eating we retired downstairs to the bar and sampled some of the great beers (I especially liked the Tiny Rebel beer they had on tap and could not resist a bottle of Berliner Kindl).
The cocktail menu looks impressive too. The atmosphere in the bar was laid back and welcoming, with an exceptionally friendly bouncer, as is the Sheffield way.
Anchorage is so well run and well thought out it almost has the feel of a chain, not in a bad way, just the slick 'thought of everything' ness. The bar is run by the Rootstock Trading Company, a Sheffield based events and marketing company who also run a couple of other Sheffield bars and the city's Tramlines festival. They also manage Monster Energy's presence in Ibiza, which gives you some idea of the level of slickness. So,while not entirely convincing and authentic, if you suspend your disbelief and go along with the vibe, there is plenty here to make you want to drop anchor for a while.
http://www.tinyrebel.co.uk/
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