Exchange Bar

The Exchange Bar is long stretch of a diner, half-​sunken into Old Hall Street and with a décor that was probably quite suave and sexy back when Reagan and Thatcher bumped uglies. Now it feels dated, but not in a way that makes you want to distance yourself from it.
Sectioned into red and black booths like a tired Manhattan tavern, the place would work well on film if you need a shot of a weary private eye cradling a bourbon, while the barman dries a glass and calls him ‘Mac’. On the subject of barmen, the one I met here was as a cordial white-​haired hobbit of a man, as friendly as they should come but often don’t. I hope one day he calls me ‘Mac’.

I think the review by Emma-​Louise is spot on. I think this place might have changed name. It still has the bright red neon Exchange Bar sign but the menu boards have «Clark’s Bistro» written on them.
The specials include sweat and sour pork rice, quiche, cod and chips. There is also a two course special with starters of either soup or prawn and cocktail and mains of either the fish and chips with peas or Lasagne and garlic bread. At £7.95 the two course special looks good. If you are in the commercial distict give this place a try.

You know what I really love? A place that looks dated. And by that I mean dated with character. Like, something’s so retro, it’s gone beyond tacky and all the way back round to being cool again. Well, this is just about the only way to describe the décor of the Exchange Bar on Old Hall Street.
If for some inane reason you can’t get down with the vintage vibe (what’s wrong with you?), just block it out, blindsight yourself and get stuck into the food. This is darn good tucker right here, I was really very impressed. Everything is made fresh, even the bread which you can dip in olive oil as an appetiser. Plus the locally sourced emphasis is definitely popular. Thankfully, it hasn’t fallen into the tourist trap and Exchange manages to get a little crowded but not so silly that you can’t get a table. And it’s reasonably priced too.
Get involved before this little hidden gem gets uncovered!