Christian Slater: It's the weirdest thing coming to Joe Allen in London because it's exactly the same as Joe Allen in New York. It's lit in the same way, with the same archways and layout - I think the New York one might be bigger. The New York one is such a staple, after a Broadway show everyone goes there. Like separating smokers and non-smokers they keep the actors and the public separate - keeping the riffraff away from the decent people, although you can decide which is which.
Frances Barber: I come here almost every night if I am at the theatre. I never have any food at home. My friends say that I cook medieval food. In fact I am such a regular that the pianist, Jimmy, who has been here forever, plays a special entrance tune for me. They always have a table for me and the staff are the nicest in London. Also I can drink ever so much of the house wine and it never gives me a headache.
CS: Doing a show is a real calorie burner, so you need to know a place where you can get a good burger. You don't want MSG or any of that kind of crap.
FB: Yes, but the burgers aren't actually on the menu here - although everyone knows that you can get them. It's true that you need something when you get off the stage - it's like you miss dinner, because if you eat before the show you get all sluggish.
CS: But then when you finish the show you are so ravenous.
FB: Which is why everyone comes here after the theatre and everyone always recognises everyone. They don't kick you out at midnight either.
CS: It's the same in New York - I was doing a show when Nicole Kidman was doing The Blue Room on Broadway, and I saw her in Joe Allen all the time.
FB: So it's a real institution, just like here?
CS: Definitely. I started coming with my mom whenever she took me to see a show. People used to get me to read reviews out loud, and one time some guy gave me an awful review to read, which had impossible words in it for a seven-year-old, like 'incongruous'. That show did not stay on for long.
FB: You know I love it when you don't understand English slang over here. Like when someone said you were the 'dog's bollocks' in the dressing room, and you had no idea if that was a good thing or not.
CS: The craziest thing here is that they have a poster with my name on it from when I was in a film as a kid which feels really bizarre. I don't really cook and I'm a creature of habit so I love that there is somewhere I can come and get the right food. Although Joe Allen in New York does a great sort of stew with vegetables, which I don't see on the menu.
FB: Do you mind the food over here?
CS: Do you know what? It's actually OK. I have a problem with the amount of butter in the sandwiches and the hot dogs you guys eat in the cinema are absolutely fricking huge. I'm the original all-American eater, but they are ridiculous. The pints are good over here. I also like the fact that I can smoke in here, because you can't smoke anywhere in the States.
· Christian Slater and Frances Barber are in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest at the Gielgud theatre until 22 January 2005.
Joe Allen
13 Exeter Street, London WC2 Tel: 020 7836 0651
History
Joe Allen was opened in New York in 1977 by Richard Polo and Joe Allen. The pair came to London with the idea of opening a restaurant serving quintessentially Yankee food. Located in Covent Garden, it has remained consistently popular since it opened here in the same year. There are also branches in Maine, Miami and Paris. Jimmy Hardwick, the pianist in London is an institution and has been has been tinkling the ivories for 27 years.
Popular dishes
Black bean soup (£5), Caesar salad (£6/8), barbecue ribs (£13), eggs Benedict (£9), cheesecake (£5.50), chocolate brownies (£5.50). The original famous burger can be ordered from £6.
Famous customers
The management have a discretion policy and will not discuss any of their customers, but pretty much everybody from Nicole Kidman to Maggi Hambling.
Open
Mon - Fri 12pm - 1am
Sat 11.30am - 1am
Sun 11.30 am - 12pm
