Bavarian Beerhouse, Old Street  

Forget 'Fancy a pint?' (or even 'Stellen Sie sich einen Pint vor?'), this one's more 'Fancy a litre?', as it serves up the German beers in those huge glasses. It also keeps with the theme by making the waitresses don the dirndls (though oddly enough, the chaps aren't in lederhosen) and keep the decor simple with long benches and tables. It's a new recruit to the Old Street drinking circuit and will no doubt prove popular with City folks looking for something a bit different. We have to say though, that we weren't totally convinced on our visit. Sure, the beer tasted good (and stretched beyond Erdinger and Paulaner) but we felt we were being overcharged for the pleasure. The food was OK to us but the German group next to us seemed distinctly unimpressed. And whilst drinking wine here is no doubt frowned upon, just offering on the menu bottles of red and white for £19.50 just doesn't cut it. As for the music booming out from the PA system... Well, let's just say it made DJ Otzi seem the height of sophistication (was that really a cover of 'Agadoo' that we heard?). One probably best enjoyed in a large group, but not one we were totally won over by.