On a road that’s almost exclusively full of Vietnamese restaurants, Anda De Bridge waves the flag for Jamaica, and if you’re craving rice and peas rather than noodle soup, then this place is a real treat.

The Venue
Anda de Bridge is a Caribbean bar-restaurant and is somewhat aptly named as it sits directly under an imposing railway bridge on Kingsland Road. The bar is slightly underexposed in comparison to some of the others in Shoreditch but don’t expect this to last for too long. There's another reason the venue's reputation is set to grow - beneath the bar and restaurant sits 6ft Anda, a club and live music venue that's available for hire.

The bridge above this venue blocks out most of the sunlight, and the there are no signs outside advertising the bar or the restaurant, so you could easily walk past without even knowing it's there. One small giveaway is the green and yellow paint outside, this gives punters a slight hint to its Caribbean roots.

Once inside, Anda De Bridge has a rough diamond feel about it. The decor is shabby chic, with exposed brickwork and hanging lampshades offering dim light, and large comfy sofas to lounge in. Several wooden tables and chairs are situated to the left for diners and each table has a small candle on it to give the room a chilled out ambience. To the right hand side of the room sits a well stocked bar, with various bottles of spirits clumsily arranged on the side. There are no fancy elements in this bar, if you are expecting class and glamour, this is not the bar for you. But if you want to relax in a friendly atmosphere and actually grab a seat on a Saturday night, then this could be the place.

The Atmosphere
Anda De Bridge is only minutes away from the concentrated hustle and bustle of Shoreditch and Hoxton, yet it seems worlds apart. The young, rowdy crowd don't seem to bother with this bar meaning it's never stupidly packed. Nine times out of ten you will be able to grab a seat or a stool at the bar, and you can order a drink from the minute you get in, without pushing and shoving your way past a hundred other people.

The clientele seem to be more mature, from regulars who are on first name terms with the bar staff, to young Hackney-types wanting a quiet drink away from the madness of the Old Street-High Street axis.

Anda De Bridge certainly has a Caribbean feel about it. The menu is hand-written on a chalkboard, with no prices advertised, and the food is made to order. A waitress ambles over and takes your order, before passing it to the kitchen. Be warned you can only pay in cash, as this laidback bar doesn't accept bank cards at present.

The Food
Anda De Bridge specialises in West Indian food and the menu reflects this. Expect to find tantalising dishes such as jerk chicken, rice and peas, saltfish and ackee, curry goat and brown stew chicken. Mains cost around £6-£7, but side dishes such as rice and peas, or chips cost an extra couple of pounds. You can also snack on Jamaican patties or rotis should you not want a full meal. The desserts on offer here are also of West Indian flavour, with tropical flavoured ice cream, Caribbean souffle and a fig tart to tickle your tastebuds.

The Drink
The bar has a good selection of wines, beers and spirits. The beers on draught are Red Stripe, Stella Artois, Becks Vier and Guinness, all of which will set you back £3.50. The fridges are stocked with various bottled beers, including Corona, Becks and Budweiser. Anda De Bridge also specialises in cocktails, especially Jamaican ones. For £7 you can treat yourself to a rum punch, passion fruit rum Daiquiri and many more. A house specialty is the Anda de Bridge Martini made with fresh mango, rum and Champagne. They also serve a selection of hot coffees and tea, and soft drinks.

The Last Word
Anda De Bridge brings a much-needed Caribbean flavour to Shoreditch. You instantly feel more relaxed when you enter the bar, and the chilled ambience and tasty menu ensures you leave feeling de-stressed and with a swing in your step.

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