Beach Blanket Babylon

I have lived in Brick Lane for 14 years and have seen restaurants come and go. Beach Blanket Babylon in Shoreditch is very close to the new overground train link and right next door to Les Trois Garcons. BBB is an eclectic mix of bar, lounge and restaurant. It is very difficult to pinpoint one strong area of focus in such watered down dilution. However, what they do best is food. Hats off to the chef! The food smells, looks and tastes great. I had the oysters followed by the steak and ale pie. They make the best pies in London! Downside was and always will be the acerbic Diana Ross look-alike on the door acting as (I use the term very loosely) a welcome host. I arrived a little later than my party of three and was allowed entry by a smiling doorman. Once inside I explained to the ‘host’ that I would be joining three others and gave the name attached to the booking. Meeting a little confusion, I repeated the information. I was swiftly looked up and down and told with the vilest of tones to ‘go back outside and call them’. No list of bookings was referred to at any point. Nearly tripping over the step as I went and after three calls with bad reception to reach my party I was allowed re-entry. I complained calmly to the manager who apologised twice profusely. Later one of my party recounted an incident before I arrived with the 'host' having inadvertently backed into a waiter who had been pushed against a wall. A quick acerbic glance was all the waiter got before the 'host' retreated in search of another easy target. At the end of the meal we were virtually ushered out of the place by the original smiling doorman who was now not smiling. My advice: when the overground train starts running...get on it and stay on it! Excellent food, vile service. I am reminded that we are what we eat.
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Stephan Radcliffe
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 5
Friday, March 07, 2008

Sunday 20th January 2008, was supposed to be the beginning of an amazing Hen Party. Unfortunately we were left with lesser expectations than originally hoped for. To say the least I was very disappointed and embarrassed on the restaurants behalf as I had arranged the meal there. Whilst the service was good and the 3 waiters that we had attending to us on the evening were doing their best to accommodate 20 women, I was incredibly disappointed with the service from the kitchen. The standard I would expect from a restaurant in their class was below average. Main courses came in dribs and drabs, a main was served to one person whilst the neighbouring person had to wait a further 20 minutes before they received their own dish!! A number of guests had finished their main dish and the side dishes were only just arriving! One guest asked the waiter what she should do with the side dish of vegetables as she had already finished the main course - her response was along the lines of - 'Would you like me to eat them as a dessert?' It was at this point that I felt rather ashamed for you. How could this mistake be made? Very disappointing. I was especially conscious of the fact that we were there as a Hen Party and I did not in any way want to disturb any other diners but unfortunately the same was not to be said on behalf of the restaurant. The worse thing being, due to the nature of the gathering it will never be possible to reiterate the evening and give the Bride the night that was owing to her. Further after complaining formally, I still have had no reply as an apology! Very arrogant.
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Sophie Ambelas
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 4
Wednesday, February 13, 2008

The worst experience possible and that's before we even got to arrive! I booked weeks ago, online, and received a confirmation e-mail, for Valentines Night. All seemed well.

However, a week before the actual night I started getting numerous chaser calls to my work, my mobile and my home, from different staff, all asking me if I received a form to fill in to secure the booking (for two people!). The form never arrived, but was required so I could be charged in advance (non-refundable) for the full cost of the meal, at £55 per person.

When I asked on the phone for a run down of the set menu I was being asked to pay up-front they said they were too busy and would e-mail it later (which they never did). I called back three times to enquire, but was always told the person I needed to speak to was too busy. I called back to complain, the same reply, and never a returned call.

I eventually got to the right person yesterday and she said; "I'm too busy to go over the menu, do you want the table or not."

Clearly a money grabbing, couldn't care less restaurant, which seems to be the experience of many (see below) who have dined here.
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Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Monday, February 11, 2008

The best thing about BBB is the decor and the way it looks, but that just sets you up for a huge fall. What a massive disappointment. The service was awful, not to mention, rude; the food was over-cooked, under-cooked or just didint turn up, and it cost a fortune. I wish I'd read the reviews. An utter waste of time.
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Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, February 05, 2008

I arranged a surprise dinner for a great friend and a dozen of her closest; including her sister and brother in law. I booked the table, sent the e-mails with directions and attached the website of BBB. I also praised the venue, having had a fantastic dinner there the year before with 20 or so colleagues from my office.

It was therefore entirely my fault that no-one enjoyed the food, were not impressed by the staff and were consequently outraged by the bill of £100 per person for a three course set meal (and not a lot of wine).

We were all very disappointed with the choice on the set menu. I made my selection (I think it is known as Hobson’s Choice) and had the smallest Tuna “Carpaccio” I have ever seen which had clearly been sliced thinly with a chain saw, a bland Pork Chop on a delicious bed of Rocket and a plate of Cheese that looked like it had been scraped off Father Christmas’s plate a few weeks before (but at least it was decorated with seven loose grapes and a few burnt Walnuts).

The building is fabulous. We were in the vaulted basement (ignore the fact that the bricks were made out of plastic) reached via a little chain-hung bridge. We had an open fire and the atmosphere was lively, the atmosphere expected in this part of Town. What a pity I cannot praise any other element of this establishment. It has all the ingredients of a winner but only the appeal of Michael Winner.

Don’t go unless you are a Bulimic who wants to look trendy, wealthy and have never had the pleasure of fine dining.
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Charles Howard
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 0
Thursday, January 17, 2008

I have to agree with all the bad reviews about this place . It seems that the owner does not care about the service or quality of food as the same problems occur year after year. I gave it a chance despite the horror stories and now I know its not unfounded.Now I have my own horror stories to tell.

The service was appaling, nobody seems to know whats going on. After waiting ages to order even though it was quiet and waiting for an eternity for the food to arrive, it was such a disappointment and the portions were miniscule for the overblown prices they charge. Everytime we tried to enquire about our food the staff tried to avoid eye contact and when finally cornered had no clue. Cocktails were very unpolished and they used poor quality ingredients.

For me its all hype and no substance,whoever is responsible for their pr should be shot for misleading the public.The interior in Notiing Hill may have been well known when it first opened but now it feels like a dated changing rooms kind of way.Its obvious the new owner is trying to ride off the back of the creator of this venue. It never works when you are just peddling someone else'

s ideas. Its a shame that clients are being fleeced by the hype.

Its also strange that every time there is a flurry of bitter reviews, someone post a perfect , complimentary review to confuse prospective clients.
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Jenifer
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, January 02, 2008

It seems a recurring theme that this restaurant/bar delivers appalling service and unfortunately I can't dispell this myth.

We had arranged to take another couple out for a sociable evening in London (they were visiting from Austailia) and wanted to take them to a 'reputable' restaurant.

After eating a very uninspiring meal we retired downstairs to the bar to order some cocktails. We waited 30 minutes to be served, once we eventually attracted the bar staffs attention we were told that last orders had been called and we couldn't be served... even though they knew we had been waiting 30 minutes.

After speaking to the Manager, he was unwilling (or incapable?) of hearing our complaint and instead passed us over to the doormen.

Even though we were merely complaining about the service the doormen were rude and threatening, and after spending the evening there (and a considerable amount of money) I was shocked that we could be treated in this way.

I would definitely not recommend this restaurant to any of my friends. I regularly visit the bar in Notting Hill however this experience has put me off visiting either of them again.
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Sara
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Saturday, December 29, 2007

The place is nicely laid out, being unique and bizarre as the name kind of implies. The food is below average. The duck was dry and the tartin was both cold and upside down (so not tartin after all). On the occasions we tried to explain what was wrong the waiter came up with marvellous examples of customer service like 'I didn't cook this' (complete with shrug and surprised look).

It's hard to believe that a place at this price-point could boast such terrible service and food.
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Chris B
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 3
Friday, December 21, 2007

"At the tables of Babylon where we sat down, ye-eah we wept, as we remembered decent restaurants".

What a horrible experience. It is without doubt the worst restaurant I have ever visited.

Let me humour you with a blow by blow of our experience:

•    A booking was made for four people for 7.30pm. Both couples turned up separately. Upon our arrival my wife and I were shown to one table and my friend and his wife were shown to another, at which we respectively waited until 8.45pm before bumping into each other by accident at the bar and raising this obvious mix up with the manager. He firstly asked if we were trying to offend him to which we replied that it is us who should be offended for this mix up. He then advised that we had booked 2 tables but could not show us the second booking on his records. He finally led us to our table without an apology. He did however offer us a drink. We advised that we would take it later.

•    At the table for “4” we were seated in such a way that my chair was wedged between a pillar and the table. There was no room to move. It was apparent that this was a table for 2.

•    We waited 1.5 hours after ordering before we received our starters. When we enquired as to the foods whereabouts, we were told that the kitchen was “very busy”, again with no apology whatsoever.

•    We waited 30 minutes for a mint tea.

•    We waited another 30 minutes for the bill. When it arrived it had not deducted the drinks offered to us at the start and had added gratuity! (I suppose we should have been grateful to have received the food at all, which was average). After 20mins arguing our case the manager removed the drinks from the bill.

•    We spoke to the group of 4 beside us who were also shown to a table for 2, but argued with the manager and received a table for 4. This was some 1.5 hours after their initial reservation time.

•    One of the party beside us returned their mashed potatoes as they were ice cold, the beer however was warm.

Conclusion

If you are happy to wait at the wrong table for 1.25 hours, wait 1.5 hours for your food, wait 30mins for a drink and another 30mins for the cheque plus a further 20mins to resolve the issue then I am sure that this restaurant will meet all of your expectations.
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Lynchie - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Thursday, December 20, 2007

I took my girlfried here for her birthday, and was very disappointed by the food and the service. The food was very very average and the service was probably the worst I have ever had. The only good things about this place is that it has an amazing atmosphere. The cocktails are also damn good but cost a small fortune, but potentially worth it.
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Rupert
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 3
Monday, December 17, 2007