Review: Bob Bob Ricard

Since Bob Bob Ricard opened up in Carnaby Street I have been jealous of all the people who keep posting pictures of themselves pressing the iconic 'Press for Champagne' button - but last weekend this all changed and I became one of THOSE people, feel free to be jealous. Its not just the fact there is a button to press for champagne although that is the best thing I have heard since sliced bread! It's that there is a dress code you have to dress slightly elegantly, making a meal seem a little bit more special. As it was a Sunday I was excited to try out their take on a Sunday Roast better than the same pub lunch you get where the roasties are never cooked. 

Before I go into the review I should tell you that while I was there, it was such a special place that someone proposed. It was very romantic around100 red roses were delivered to the table and then the guy got down on one knee. I was very close to tears and then Adam decided to start off clapping until everyone in the restaurant was; from this everyone in the restaurant received a glass of champagne from the couple which was so lovely.

Right, now that is off my chest let's get back to food and Bob Bob Ricard, the restaurant is beautiful with a red and blue colour theme taking inspiration from the Orient Express and adorned with gold detailing.  Elegance was oozing from every corner, with thought going into the tiny details such as individual booths for diners and a "Press for Champagne" button at every booth. You will not be surprised to hear that Bob Bob Ricard is famous for serving more champagne than tap water! 

To Begin

To start it was essential to start with what has made Bob Bob Ricard famous: Rose Champagne and some sourdough bread.

Starter 

I would not normally go for a starter for Sunday lunch but the food just sounded incredible so it was a great excuse to eat more and try some more items on the menu. So Adam and I shared Wafer-Thin Beetroot & Goat's. Cheese Salad which was light as air and A Russian inspired dish of Lobster, Crab & Shrimp Pelmeni. This is traditional dumplings with Salmon Roe which looked similar to caviar, both starters were exquisite.

Main Dish

I am not going to lie, this dish was incredible and the 16oz corn-fed Arkansas USDA Prime Black Angus which is so good, it's presented on its own on a wooden board taking centre stage. You also get beef dripping roast potatoes, honey and thyme glazed carrots and parsnips, caramelised onion, Yorkshire puds and creamed horseradish with lavish truffle gravy. It literally tastes amazing. It is a bit on the pricey side at £29.50 but can you put a price on love?

Dessert

By dessert we were extremely full but I had heard through the grapevine amazing things about the Bob Bob Ricard Signature Chocolate Glory...what was this??? It sounded amazing and Chocolate is my best friend. The dessert lived up to expectations with chocolate Jiveara mousse, chocolate brownie, berries, passion fruit & orange jelly. This is a very rich and flavourful dessert and a spectacle with hot chocolate being poured over the dome to showcase what's inside.

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Restaurant Review: Aladino's, Alexandrian Cuisine

In the heart of Kensington there is hidden gem serving up Alexandrian (Egyptian) cuisine with an incredible array of flavours and it goes by the name: Aladino's. You don't often hear about Alexandrian cuisine in London but with Aladino's you don't need any more. Head chef Aladino's Barakat has you sorted with 18 years’ experience under his belt from Egypt bringing you traditional dishes with a modern twist.

When you walk in to Aladino’s the décor is beautiful adorned with cream and gold, very stylish, so I had high hopes for delicious and beautiful food to coincide and I was not disappointed. You can my menu choices below but I will go into detail on some highlights. One is the Moorish traditional breads and dips, why do I not have breads and sauces every single day! The big treat about an Indian is that you get poppadoms and mango chutney so what don’t I do this with bread. I feel a new year resolution coming on.

Moving on to the Beef Fillet, I have not had steak in a while as every time I order it as it never lives up to my expectations, maybe they are too high or maybe the restaurant needs to step up their game as one marinated in Whiskey was truly impressive and so flavourful, Whiskey is a new fave. Ordinarily I don’t really mention service in my reviews but at Aladino’s does need a special mention as they seem to be friends with all their customers and I can see why, we were looked after by two waiters and introduced to the owner and the head chef, even had a cheeky cocktail with them.

So there is not much more to be said except for you must try this restaurant out!

Starters

·         Selection of traditional breads and sauces.

·         King Prawns Fried in a light crispy coating with compressed fennel and radish.

·         Seasonal vegetables in a light crispy coating – you can tell we like things fried and this comes with a side of hummus

Main Dish

·         Beef Fillet marinated in Whiskey with an Egyptian spiced cream sauce, tenderstem broccoli, asparagus, chantenay carrot, potato crisp and caramelized onion puree – truly scrumptious

·         Pan-fried wild sea bass in a red pepper and saffron sauce, ratatouille and spinach.

·         Side: Fatta which is a rice and bread dish which is fried and marinated in a light vinegar and garlic dressing. – The more bread the better I say.

Dessert

·         Ice cream and sorbet selection to cleanse the pallet.

·         Then the traditional Om Ali which is a filo pastry baked in a rich cream with a hint of vanilla topped with almond flakes.

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