Uniformed staff serve French-inspired and modern British fare alongside inventive cocktails in opulent Art Deco surrounds.
At Your Service spent a pleasant Friday lunchtime ensconced in a private booth at Bob Bob Ricard Soho, the iconic London restaurant, renowned for its classic British and French menu served to an eclectic clientele in one of London’s most glamorous dining rooms.
Creative cuisine
From a menu studded with such classics as Chicken Kyiv and Beef Wellington, At Your Service dined on starters of a bright and fresh, handpicked crab salad St Petersburg and a punchy Stinking Bishop soufflé, double baked with hazelnuts and a comté sauce. Service was prompt and sweet. Unobtrusive yet keenly aware.
Mains comprised of a moist Scotch beef steak haché, oozing cheese and topped with a fried duck egg; while a warming lobster macaroni and cheese arrived crisp on top and unctuous within.
One side of fries became two and the afternoon slowed down a pace.
One of the draws at Bob Bob Ricard is that every booth or table comes with its own "Press for Champagne" button on the side wall. In fact, Bob Bob Ricard is famous for pouring more Champagne than any other restaurant in Britain. Dangerous? We'll say. Especially if you are prone to stretching out your elbows.
Dessert came in the shape of a sweetly-scented poached meringue floating in crème Anglais, and an ingenious BBR Signature Chocolate Glory. A decadent dark chocolate and praline crunch is served with coffee mousse and crunchy hazelnuts and drenched with hot chocolate sauce until the bountiful ball collapses. The presentation was spectacular and perfectly paired with a glass of Sauternes.
Go for the buzzer and stay for the buzz. Bob Bob Ricard has still got it – and then some.
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All images © Paul Winch-Furness