Bob Bob Ricard is one of London's most well-known restaurants, with its original location in Soho being frequented by celebrities and high rollers alike. I visited to celebrate my partner's birthday with an indulgent dinner out.
An iconic London restaurant, perfect for very special occasions
Bob Bob Ricard is a restaurant in London that has two locations. The first location opened in Soho in 2010 and was followed by a second one in City, which opened last year. The new restaurant offers more space than the first one (1,700 square feet vs 1,200 square feet), with room for 130 diners compared to 92 at its older brother.
The décor inside is decadent without being overdone. It looks like a psychedelic train station and if you drink too much before going to loo you may never find the exit. Think gold leaf wallpaper, black chandeliers hanging from high ceilings and dark wood tables surrounded by leather seats which look like they came straight out of an art deco movie set! The main dining room is large, with plenty of seating and tables, but there are also smaller rooms off to the sides that can be used for private functions or groups (if you're willing to pay).
The food on offer at Bob Bob Ricard is a mixture of British and French cuisine, with some inspiration coming from Russian culture too! We decided to splurge as it was a special occasion dinner and had caviar, lobster raviolis, beef Wellington and champagne. The crème brulee was delicious but sadly the éclair had nothing French about it and when we asked the server before ordering he assured us that it was an authentic French éclair. The menu was designed by Simon Rogan who also runs The French House (which serves modern European cuisine), Pied A Terre (a fine dining restaurant serving contemporary French cuisine) and L'Enclume in England as well as L'Escargot Blanc in France so no wonder I expected something special from this place and don't get me wrong it was delicious.
Overall, it was an excellent restaurant for special occasions! BUT, the service is nothing special and it is overpriced at over £300 for two for a three-course meal and two drinks. The food was great and the décor is interesting and while we were very impressed by Bob Bob Ricard, it is not something we would recommend as a regular place to eat. The service is subpar and the prices are too high for what you get. If you're looking for somewhere special though then this may be the place for you!
Find out more about Bob Bob Ricard City at bobbobricard.com