Barchick Says

What was once an old BP garage on Goods Way behind Kings Cross is now The Filling Station. All white curves with a candy green neon sign, this Carmody Groake designed building comes straight out of a Dennis Hopper Photograph of the middle American soul. On the canal side of the building under the original 1960’s prefab BP canopy, is Shrimpy’s, the latest hangout from Pablo Flack and David Waddington, the guys behind Bistroteque and Studio East.

Shrimpy’s has a long bar where you can’t book, and tables where you can. Perch at the bar to order from the pan-American menu which takes in both continents: chicharron and guacamole, ceviche, pork scratching and the already famous Shrimpy soft shell crab burger, a huge pile of crab on a glazed bun with avocado. Delicious and messy!

Many of the dishes are fried, in keeping with the roadside diner theme, and all go well with the cocktails invented for the Americas. BarChick loved the Blue Rinse which is made from tequila, lavender, blue Curacao and lemon juice and definitely try the Shrimpy’s Fizz made from Cachaca and pineapple lime juice with some Cava thrown in for good measure. We had more than one Habanero Margarita (we love tequila) and the Rock Hill, a bourbon, Benedictine and Martini blend was perfect to sip outside watching the canal life go by.

In a way it’s a destination place; quite near the offices of the Guardian newspaper, but at the same time standing all by itself, so the crowd is slightly older, thirty something, eclectic, intellectual, hip. A good place to have some fun.