Nestled in London’s Golden Square, Bébé Bob is the (ever so slightly) more casual sibling of the iconic Bob Bob Ricard, which sits right around the corner, with its Insta-friendly ‘press for Champagne’ buttons. Don’t be fooled by the seemingly simple, chicken-focused concept - this is Art Deco glamour through and through, where every detail seems touched with gold.
A curved cocktail bar gleams at the front of the restaurant, inviting diners to sip on cocktails and tuck into bar snacks, while towards the back, a crimson hideaway of plush circular booths and bespoke artwork offers an intimate retreat for more traditional dining. The charm of Bébé Bob is its flexibility - a place where you can tailor your experience to suit the occasion. A dollop of caviar here, a smothering of truffle there, and, of course, Champagne to wash it all down.
We start with warm blinis, served with a flower of thick-cut smoked salmon, and a quenelle of crème fraîche - buttery and indulgent, as we lather it onto the pancakes. A beef fillet carpaccio, from the seasonal truffle menu, follows. Shavings of white truffle cascade over wafer-thin slices of beef, elevated by fried capers, punchy gherkins, and creamy tonnato mayonnaise.
For mains, there’s only one rule: chicken, or chicken. The limited menu is exclusively poultry-focused, further narrowed by the fact that two out of four options are designed for sharing. We opt for the signature schnitzel, deep-fried and golden - topped with a tableside scoop of truffle butter, which slowly melts into a puddle over the crisp coating. It’s simple, effective, and indulgent enough that we skip the optional Oscietra caviar upgrade. The paper placemat and cardboard carton holder for our side of truffle fries feel oddly out of place amongst the buckets of Champagne and tins of caviar, but it’s hard to feel too pressed by these miniscule details - it’s all part of the fun.
Cocktails, crafted in collaboration with Ryan ‘Mr Lyan’ Chetiyawardana, are just as decadent, with several following the same chicken theme - Chicken Bone Negroni anyone? We play it safe with the 100 Raspberries Royale, a decadent mix of vodka, raspberry eau de vie, and Moët, with lemon cream paint adding a final flourish to the delicate glass. Chetiyawardana is legitimately one of the world’s great mixologists, so to have him overseeing cocktails here really elevates the whole experience.
Whether you’re celebrating with caviar and Champagne or just craving a top-notch chicken dinner, there’s a place for all at Bébé Bob - as long as you like chicken.