Walking through the door of 77 Brewer Street in London one is greeted by one of what is likely to be many drawing rooms at Wayne Manor. A portrait of the Wayne Family, including their young son Bruce, hangs over the fireplace as a stark reminder of what Gotham has lost. But it also signals that what awaits patrons is an experience unlike any other.
Having opened in August 2021 after pandemic-delays, Park Row is steeped in the murky world of Gotham in the most elegant and subtle ways. In the tradition of Adam West’s Batman ’66 a bookcase opens and ushers patrons down an inspiring spiral staircase to the sounds of Hans Zimmer’s wonderful score from director Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel. From here we enter the deco-rich world of the main restaurant.
For the sceptical: there isn’t a single bat-logo in sight. This isn’t Planet Hollywood for comic book fans. Park Row revels in its nudges and winks to the Dark Knight and his rogues gallery. Playing theatrically with their themes and colour palettes. Diners unfamiliar with DC Comics could be forgiven for simply thinking this a wonderfully stylised venue. But for those of us in the know there’s so much more to enjoy.
The main restaurant is a huge open plan area which features sub-sections themed to different parts of Gotham. There’s Pennyworths, named for Bruce Wayne’s butler, the relaxed lounge area, the Rogues Gallery which features Selina Kyle’s curated (see: stolen) artwork collection, Penguin’s famed Iceberg Lounge with it’s signature statue as the centrepiece and Old Gotham City, a soon-to-launch bar which feature some of the most stunning artwork in the entire venue.
The jewel in Park Row’s crown is The Monarch Theatre, a dining experience which transcends the immersive experience to become something else entirely. On arrival, guests are greeted with an envelope containing coins and dollars which are only the beginning of the experience. The one-of-a-kind gastronomic show starts by entering a small lounge where guests are encouraged to place their dollar bills in one of the Joker’s favourite toys. A fortune telling machine straight from Amusement Mile. The cackling clown decides if guests souls are light or dark, signalling the cocktail which comes next.
The first course, a nitrogen frozen delight is only the beginning of a two-hour experience for up-to 20 guests. On the night we attended there were 13 willing participants on this journey through Gotham’s underworld and we all became fast-friends through our shared experience.
Guests are then ushered in to the dining hall which features floor-to-ceiling screens and 360-degree projection mapping. Each course detailing the story of a particular character from the DC Universe, all expertly choreographed and overseen by the evenings narrator. All of the key characters are here, from Riddler, Penguin and Joker to femme fatales such as Harley Quinn and Catwoman.
The Park Row team cleverly keep each dish shrouded in mystery, revealing them only as they are delivered to the table. It’s only after the performance has finished that guests are given a menu. There’ll be no spoilers here but the food was beyond our wildest expectations. With The Batman soon to hit cinemas this is the perfect experience for any Bat-fan.
Both Neil and James were able to take in this magical performance and both give us their thoughts below:
Neil: I had been to Park Row before and experienced the unique atmosphere which comes with its various nods and winks to DC lore. But I was take aback by the next-level storytelling which takes place in The Monarch Theatre. It takes the experience of the main restaurant and really ramps it up to the next next level (yes next next!).
I’m not the most adventurous person when it comes to food but for a Bat-themed experience I left all my qualms at the door and dived in head first. There was an immediate camaraderie with the other attendees which made each course more exciting than the last as we explored the character and their signature flavours together.
The projections were so meticulously designed and themed to each character. The attention to detail was impressive. As someone who is a big fan of film scores I was also hugely impressed by the musical choices. No part of the performance is rushed or heavy-handed.
As for the food itself? Divine!
I tried plenty of flavours and combinations which I’ve never experienced before. There are weird and wonderful concoctions, textures and presentations. But all of them are precisely chosen as part of one of the most astonishing evenings I have ever experienced.
James: Park Row was an experience I simply wasn’t prepared for. The actual interior is stunning, but what’s really impressive is the attention to detail. It’s almost overwhelming as a superhero fan, there are details everywhere and they all serve a purpose. The entire venue is littered with small nods to Gotham and Batman’s various Rogues. This is a Gotham-themed restaurant, but it’s inclusive to the point where it can be enjoyed by both comic-lovers and food-lovers alike. Entering Park Row is really an experience in itself, but wait until you see the food.
The Monarch Theatre is something else entirely. It’s definitely aimed at the more hardcore Batman fans as you are literally taken on a sensory journey through the DC Universe. It isn’t just a sit-down meal, it’s a luxurious and delicious adventure that operates very much like a grand production. Lights, interactions, a brilliant cast, beautiful sets themed towards certain characters, and the craziest food I’ve ever seen. It is genius. I can confidently say that everything I tried that evening was completely new to me so it really felt like a journey of discovery. Exotic flavours, bizarre combinations, immersive concoctions, and an evening of the finest dining I’ve ever had the privilege of trying.
There are definitely particular courses that stand out to me, but spoiling the surprise would definitely hurt the experience. You have to go through this immersive and tasty experience blind as a bat, otherwise you lose that intrigue and that sense of adventure and spontaneity. I had no idea what was going to be put in front of me and that was an incredibly unique feeling.
Here’s a few more photos from their visit:
For more information and to book for Park Row or The Monarch Theatre then head to the restaurant’s website.
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