The raised bit at the back of Bébé Bob - get a seat here if you can.
What can you tell us about Bébé Bob?
This is the latest restaurant from the team behind Bob Bob Ricard and their founder Leonid Shutov. It's something of a spin-off from the main restaurant and, as such, is doing things a little differently. The key difference here is that the menu centres around just one main course - two types of rotisserie chicken. That aside, there's quite a lot of Bob Bob Ricard that makes its way over to this new incarnation.
Where is it?
It's in the north end of Golden Square, having taken over the space that used to be Folie. More specifically (and we actually didn't realise this until we left the restaurant), it's almost directly across the road from the original Bob Bob Ricard in Soho. So if you ever fancied visiting BBR but couldn't get in, this will prove to be a very handy alternative.
You'll find Bébé Bob on the north side of Golden Square (you can spot that neon sign right across the square)
Where should we go for a drink first (or after)?
There are a couple of very handy places close by if you're approaching from the south end of Golden Square. There's the basement bar of Mezcaleria Colmillo (under El Pastor) which will be perfect if you're after margaritas and mescal. Alternatively, there's the bar at Nessa which is an extremely handy meeting place for a drink in this part of Soho (and this is where we had our pre-dinner drink).
And once we're at Bébé Bob, where should we sit?
We hadn't been to Folie, so we hadn't realised just how long the dining room is here. The best tables, we think, are definitely towards the back of the restaurant in the raised section - see the photo at the top of the page (and you can just see it in the background of the photo below). It feels very VIP-esque, so a table up there should be your aim.
That said, anywhere else in the room is perfectly good and as with Bob Bob Ricard, counter dining at Bébé is also a very good option.
At the front, there are some great options for counter dining.
And what about the food?
If you've been to Bob Bob Ricard, the menu will immediately look very familiar - it's presented in exactly the same style as that restaurant, font, layout and all.
As mentioned, the main event is the rotisserie chicken, but there's quite a lot before you even get to that. The first three sections of the menu are vodka shots (served at -18 degrees), oysters and caviar. So while this may be a smaller menu than the parent restaurants, it still very much has that BBR feel.
Ideally (budget-depending, of course), starting with caviar and pairing that with a vodka shot is the way to kick things off. You have options of Siberian sturgeon, Oscietra or Amurski caviar (£39, £49 or £55) but the best option is really to go with the degustation of all three.
The degustation of three caviars (Siberian, Oscietra and Amurski) for £49. A great way to start at Bébé Bob.
Then, moving onto starters, the baked Saint-Marcellin and truffle honey (£13) is one of the stronger options, but we'd also recommend the following if that sounds a little heavy as a starter:
VSOP Prawn Cocktail - king prawns, crispy lettuce, with VSOP cognac Marie rose sauce (£12)
Egg mayonnaise with Cantabrian anchovies and Dijon Mayonnaise (£9). Sometimes the simple, classic starter is the best.
From there, it's onto the main event - the rotisserie chicken (all served as "for two"). You have two options to choose from, both French and at different price points. The entry-level is the free-range Vendée chicken from western France at £19 per person.
We went for the slightly pricier alternative, the free-range, corn and milk-fed chicken from Arnaud Tauzin in Landes, Gascony. This is being billed as "slow-reared for a firmer texture and deeper flavour" (£29 per person). While we didn't compare the two types ourselves, others who have strongly advised us to opt for the Landes. And, as you'd expect, the chicken is really very, very good here - hands-down one of the best rotisserie chickens we've had in London (and one of us lives very close to Blackstock Road so we know whereof we speak).
Landes chicken for two (£29 each). We also love that this is presented with the chicken oyster.
That chicken jus is incredible.
You'll need sides too. The truffle cauliflower cheese is a must (£9) but the roast potatoes cooked in chicken fat with thyme, rosemary and garlic (£6) are also amazing. We're hyper-critical of roast potatoes in restaurants and these are very fine examples that more than meet our stern requirements.
And what about dessert?
You will absolutely want to save room. If you're after something lighter, but still strong on the alcohol side of things, there are a couple of good options. There are boozy truffles infused with Glenfiddich and Lapihroag (£5), lemon-infused vodka (£7) or a scoop of lemon sorbet that comes with a shot of vodka (£9). Even the tarte fine comes with calvados ice cream, and the chocolate fondant features sour cherries in kirsch.
We ended going for the only two desserts that didn't actually contain booze - but even so, we would strongly recommend either of them.
Honey cake - honey biscuit layers with sour cream filling (£7) - a heavenly cake and surprisingly light.
Paris Brest - Filled with whipped praline cream and caramelised hazelnuts. A pitch-perfect Paris Brest.
And what about drink?
At this point, we have to point out one key element of Bob Bob Ricard that you won't find at Bébé Bob. There are no "Press for Champagne" buttons here. That shouldn't stop you starting with a glass, but there are no buttons to make the process more interactive. The entry-level Champagne is Moet Brut Imperial (£14 a glass, £79 a bottle) or you can always opt for the Krug at £188 a bottle.
As with the Bob Bobs, there's a maximum markup of £75 a bottle, so if you're browsing the upper end of the 70-odd wine list, those wines will be notably cheaper than you'd find them in other restaurants. The entry-level wine is £39 (Picpoul or Bordeaux Superior) which is a pretty good starting price for a restaurant as swanky as this.
Any no/low alcohol options?
There are a few cocktails, including a virgin Kir Royale, bellini, mojito or passionfruit martini (all available as alcoholic versions too).
Anything else?
Not up and running just yet but coming very soon is the Waffle and Bellini Hour. This will run every Saturday from 11am to 12 noon, featuring waffles with berries or bacon and strawberry and peach bellinis on offer. This was once on offer at the main BBR in Soho. We tried it there and can strongly recommend it as a great way to kick off a Saturday.
Overall thoughts
When we heard that Bob Bob Ricard were opening a rotisserie chicken restaurant, we were as perplexed as some of you may have been. But seeing it all in action, we can see how it all pulls together.
It has the same feel and vibe as the main Bob Bobs in that it really feels like a proper night out and, most importantly, the chicken is really fantastic. All that and it's quite decently priced when compared to a lot of new openings in next-door Mayfair. If you're a fan of Bob Bob Ricard or looking for a proper night out in Soho, this certainly comes recommended.
More about Bébé Bob
Where is it? 37 Golden Square, Soho, London W1F 9LB
How to book: Book online
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @bebebob
Hot Dinners ate as guests of Bob Bob Ricard. Prices are correct at the time of writing.
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