Smoke & Mirrors

Glitz and glamour is the name of the game at Smoke & Mirrors, where the order of service is shisha then cocktails and then food, with a short signature menu of bites and mains that fuses European and Eastern and even American cuisine for a quick fix between smokes and sips.

The contemporary dishes developed “with the help of some creative and experienced chefs to enhance your social experience” include lots of variations on chicken dishes: think sweet chilli or BBQ glazed wings, skewers with a choice of sauces, Caesar salad… Inspiration from the East is apparent in the likes of teriyaki salmon served with Japanese udon noodles and stir-fried vegetables or Thai fishcakes with a sweet chilli dipping sauce. More tapas-style flavours rock up in the chilli and garlic prawns on ciabatta, halloumi fries and sauteed Padron peppers. From across the pond, tender beef short ribs are brushed with a Jack Daniel’s sauce then grilled, there’s American-style creamy mac and cheese, loaded potato skins are topped with cheese, onions and chives, and there’s a choice of burgers (beef, chicken or meat-free) with Monterey Jack, tomatoes, salsa and onion rings. Desserts don’t disappoint: we like the look of the zesty lime posset with berries, margarita sorbet and homemade shortbread; also catching our eye is the dark chocolate parfait number with amaretto.

Talking of boozes… the mixologists “add the Midas touch” to your evening out, offering classic cocktails alongside signature drinks and shots. On the one hand, there’s an espresso martini, on the other, the
cappuccini with coffee liqueur, Baileys and Goldschläger. And of course there’s the heated shisha garden with its very own gurus to offer advice on flavours…

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