Bébé Bob

The team behind Bob Bob Ricard have made a smart move with this rotisserie chicken-focused concept. Vegetarians and vegans aside, we can’t imagine people’s enduring love for the stuff wavering any time soon, and in a world where we’re all too often saturated with choice, it’s somewhat refreshing to be presented with a menu where the only decision we must make is between ‘chicken or chicken’.  

Simple the concept might be, but staid it is not. Firstly, Bebe Bob is beautiful. The dining room looks like an art-deco installation straight out of a Hollywood movie – all soft edges, royal colours and dim lighting. There’s a curvaceous cocktail bar at the front of space, fitted with dinky table lamps and cobalt leather stools, while towards the back and raised slightly above the main floor, is a crimson hideaway complete with circular booths and bespoke artwork. 

Clearly not wanting to stray too far from Bob Bob’s trademark glamour, the option is there to upgrade your experience to be as lavish as you please. We start with a glass of Taittinger and a trio of caviar, for example, served with warm blinis and a quenelle of crème fraiche. If you don’t fancy shelling out £40 for a starter, there’s a very good prawn cocktail for the more modest price of £12 that’s sweet, vinegary and refreshing. The star of the show – supremely juicy, golden-skinned, deeply-flavoured rotisserie chicken – is some of the best we’ve eaten, while a selection of mix and match sides include oozy truffled cauliflower cheese and crisp chicken fat roast potatoes – both must orders. The dessert list ranges from boozy truffles to chocolate fondant to ice cold lemon vodka shots, as well as a fantastic, layered honey cake finished with bubbly honeycomb and gold leaf.  

Whether you’re looking for an elevated dining experience in central or simply fancy a top-notch chicken dinner, there’s a place for all at Bebe Bob. It’s brilliant fun, and we’d do it all again in a heartbeat.  

From the team behind Bob Bob Ricard comes Bébé Bob, with a focus on rotisserie chicken and well-priced fine wines and Champagnes in the heart of Soho. Open for lunch and dinner, you can find the 56-cover restaurant off Golden Square, just a stone’s throw from Bob Bob Ricard’s original site on Upper James Street. Bébé Bob sees the brand go in a slightly different direction with this more casual offering, although diners can still expect plenty of the brand’s signature glamour.

The interiors have been designed by Daniel Monk, a London-based studio that’s responsible for previous Bob Bob iterations. The team have drawn inspiration from the original site, from the red and blue colour scheme to art deco-inspired details. The main dining room features soft leather banquets, a bespoke geometric-pattered carpet and glass screens to create intimate corners. When guests enter the site, they are greeted by a 12-seater circular bar with a granite top and terrazzo flooring.

Rotisserie chicken is the focus of the food menu, which heroes two types of chicken from different regions in France: Vendee and Landes. These are served whole at the table, carved in front of diners, and served with a chicken jus. Alongside this hero main is a variety of sides and sauces, including truffle French fries, winter leaf salads, sauteed kale and albufiera sauce. Kick things off before with starters such as egg mayonnaise with anchovy, or white asparagus with hollandaise, while desserts feature the likes of a chocolate fondant with cherries, crème fraiche and kirsch.

To drink, a short and dynamic wine list honours classic white and red Burgundy, as well as a few crisp rosés. Many are available by the glass using a Corvain system, to offer guests the very best when it comes to quality. It also employs a cap on the mark-up of fine wines to £75, to offer great value for money wherever possible.