Is Bob Bob Ricard Still A Good Restaurant?
Is Bob Bob Ricard Still A Good Restaurant?
Bob Bob Ricard, Soho
If there was ever a restaurant in London that had cult status, it would be Bob Bob Ricard. Some know it as the press-for-champagne restaurant. Others know it for the iconic dishes it produces, from the British beef wellington to the Russian pelmeni.
You see, Bob Bob Ricard serves an opulent Anglo-Russian menu, and is full of truffles, oysters, Oscietra caviar, lobster – the works. In short, it’s as pricey as it is eccentric.
Admittedly, the last time I actually went to Bob Bob Ricard was something like 6 years ago. Even though it was a while ago, I loved it, and it was memorable. I still sometimes crave their strawberry souffle, or lobster mac and cheese.
Still, not everyone is a fan of Bob Bob Ricard. To illustrate, a prominent blogger recently named it as one of the most overrated restaurants in London. As a result of their article, some important people in the food world agreed on Twitter whilst, on the other hand, their are other bloggers who have consistently loved it.
So, I have therefore been inspired to see if Bob Bob Ricard is as good as I remember it to be or… if its total crap. Wish me luck!
Beef Wellington at Bob Bob Ricard
I have a thing for a beef wellington (who doesn’t) so of course I have to order it at Bob Bob Ricard.
And, is it any good? Let’s see…
Read more:
The Best Beef Wellington in London
The beef wellington is sized for two to share. and is first presented to us whole – shiny and golden and gorgeous.
It’s taken away again to carve up and then brought back, and now you can see the scrumptious cross-section. There is a wafer-thin layer of pastry that envelopes a fragrant mushroom duxelle, which in turn clings to the 30-day -aged, garnet-hued beef.
We each get one slice of the beef wellington, which is then drizzled with beef jus. On the side we order buttered hispi cabbage, in a sort-of attempt to lighten what will inevitably be a rich meal.
Our first bite of the beef wellington is sublime; the slip of golden pastry that sits against the aromatic mushrooms and, at the heart of it all, a beautifully tender fillet of Aberdeen beef. How is this not everyones favourite thing to eat? Ahhh. Swoon.
So it passes the taste test – and its one of the loveliest wellingtons I’ve eaten in a while. But – hot damn – it’s extraordinarily expensive. The wellington is priced at £48.50 per person, and as it is for two people that works out at £97, which seems a touch excessive.
Lobster, Crab & Shrimp Pelmeni
We also order a portion of the seafood Pelmeni, a traditional Russian dish.
The lobster, crab and shrimp pelmeni arrive in a wide-rimmed bowl that allows the air to fill with the most fantastic fragrance. Each little pocket of pasta is topped with salmon roe, and laid out in a tomato and basil consomme. Priced at £17.50, this is a dangerously moreish dish.
Souffle & Crème Brulee
Our opulent lunch at Bob Bob Ricard ends with dessert. My favourite has always been the striped strawberries and cream soufflé, which is effortlessly light and fluffy, and full of strawberry coulis. There is pouring cream too, to mellow out the flavour and to add an extra touch of richness. Mmm.
My companion chooses a crème brulee, which is flambéed at the table. Yay dessert-on-fire.
And so our meal comes to a close. And are we any wiser? Whilst its true that the prices at Bob Bob Ricard can sometimes be ludicrous – even by London standards – the food that we have tried today has been delicious.
So – is it worth a visit? I would say yes – but only if you’ve accounted for how much its going to cost. Factor in £150pp to have a nice time, and anywhere upwards of £200pp if you order the priciest things.
Would I come back? Perhaps, although I have to admit that in the intervening 6 years between this visit and my last, I’ve found equally as lovely food elsewhere, for somewhat less money. But there is no denying that the restaurant has a certain panache, and I’ve enjoyed this visit.
Is the food at Bob Bob Ricard Halal?
Bob Bob Ricard don’t have any halal chicken or meat options. If you were looking to visit, they do have halal fish and vegetarian options.
Have you eaten at here? Let us know your thoughts on our Instagram.
The Details
Bob Bob Ricard, Soho
Address – 1 Upper James St, Soho, London W1F 9DF
Website – Bob Bob Ricard, Soho
Phone – 020 3145 1000
Nearest Tube – Piccadilly Circus
Disclaimer – the halal food status note for Bob Bob Ricard is true at the time of writing. Please phone or email the restaurant before you make a booking to double check the halal food status and anything around cross contamination.
