At Streatham's service

A couple of years ago I was judging a national cocktail competition at which the victors of many regional heats pitted their creative skills against each other for a top prize of a large bundle of cash and a trip to the Caribbean. The finalists included the usual suspects - the cream of the capital's style and hotel bars, using creativity to the maximum in well-researched, well-rehearsed drinks.

There were a few northerners making vodka and tonics, a Scottish chap who poured a neat malt whisky into a glass and added a glace cherry as a garnish, and a couple of hitherto unknown lads who made some fantastic creations and were only beaten to the top prize by a lemon pip.

Who are these people, where are they from? I asked the PR girl once the judging was over. She flicked through her clipboard and said, 'They're from somewhere called Ealing, I think it's in Cambridgeshire'.

After the result was announced, one of these young chaps came up to me and said, 'I just wanted to show you we can make good cocktails, even though we're not in Central London.'

In less than ten seconds he had done more PR for his company than a corporate giant could do in decades. He worked at Baroque in Ealing, and a visit to the Uxbridge Road, W13, proved that the quality of their drinks was consistently good. And it's recently got even better with the arrival of Geoff Ridgeon from the prestigious but now defunct Mint bars. Geoff's now taken charge of London's other Baroque in downtown Streatham.

Admittedly, the place looks a bit like a student common room done up by the Changing Rooms people, but that can be easily changed. For now, progress in any degree needs to be applauded.

You can also get a pint of beer. OK, so the bottled beer range is humdrum, and draughts of Kronenbourg won't float many boats, but the choice is there nonetheless. But I was pleasantly surprised to find so many people opting for the cocktails. And with a discounted price of £3.50 all day until 7pm, you can see why. The Passion Fruit Caipirinha and the Mojito (both £5.50 at full price) are the best of the long drinks, with a Raspberry Cosmopolitan and Lemon Martini (£5.30) faring best from the list of short cocktails. I would have preferred to see more classic drinks on the menu, but the quality of the drinks that are present is indisputable.

Putting the food and wine aside - which you probably really should - another startling innovation on the South London drinking circuit is the attitude of the staff. They're unnervingly friendly and - wait for it - yes, they provide table service. Watch out for this one, it's a sleeping giant.

Baroque
5 Streatham High Road, SW16 1EF