Beach Blanket Babylon
our comments
It made more of a ceremonious impact than Cleopatra's barges when it hit the restaurant scene 17-years ago. We'd heard it had gone through a bout of complacency, but had just revamped its ways. So we went to investigate the result.
Through the entrance you're instantly hit by a showcase of baroque opulence. It's more like walking into a set of Amadeus than a Notting Hill restaurant. There' are touches of nouveau camp everywhere, with topiary, marble-busts and jewel-encrusted statues. Some of the annexe rooms are due to be opened as a private members' club in late summer.
BBB hasn't skimped on its decadent ambience. But the test has to be in the food. The three course menu can be tactically navigated if you don't splash out on extras. As a starter the Foie Gras terrine is a more slender portion than you'd expect, but the smoked salmon is a sound choice of caviar and crème fraiche.
We say stick to the mains which are difficult to fault. The beef' was a succulent slab of Argentinian prime meat, which melted tenderly on the tongue, and came with a lip-smacking red wine jus. The herb-crusted lamb was a generous mound of chops, dripping with juices and served with pomme puree. The fuller-flavoured Italian Chianti' was a decent pairing, poured by a Maitre D' who lists David Beckham among recent customers. On the non-meat side, there's pan-fried sea bass that's been notching up favourable reports from punters. The dessert menu hits a more delicate balance to the hearty mains, with fragrant flavours in the rose-infused pancetta and a white chocolate brulee.
The dining space is segmented into different themed areas - chapel and scullery underground crypt while stonework is encrusted with flecks of gleaming tiles in a style that deliberately aims to ape Gaudi's Barcelona. Although the cultivated edge may be compromised by screens showing Fashion TV and a cocktail named after recent jailbird Paris Hilton. Sometimes, it can come across more LA than Ladbroke Grove.
BBB is often recommended as a venue for a first date, but we say it's a better bet for a second or third. It 's definitely quite flash. So it’s equally good to breathe romance back into a flagging relationship or for a business meeting with a sense of humour.
One tip: Specify clearly where you want to sit, and aim to come on a weekday. Bag a seat away from the kitchen area if you want something intimate. Some tables are right under the service area.
Beach Blanket Babylon is due a much-anticipated opening in Shoreditch this summer, complete with open air cinema.
A.J. - June 2007
your comments review this restaurant and win a bottle of champagne
Tacky place, over priced and incompetent, rude staff. You will get better service from fast food chains, which is where I will be going in future. What a total waste of money.
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Overall rating 
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Friday, August 29, 2008
Well I went here for dinner yesterday - never again! The food was awful, my steak had not been cooked (medium rare) properly and tasted like rubber and my potatoes were cold too. The vegetables were overcooked and my mate who was with me did not like the fish at all (too greasy / oily).
The staff were rude and slightly arrogant and we had to wait over 20 mins to get a table although we had pre-booked.
I would not recommend this place to anyone and feel I wasted my hard earned cash. As a side note, the customers were extremely snooty and loud, almost shouting to one another at their tables for all to hear. This pretentious restaurant should be avoided at all costs. I couldn't wait to get out of there!
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Steve
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Since I live just nearby I've been many times to BBB for drinks with friends (usually joining other friends). Apart from the deco, eveything else is really horroble. Cocktails very expensive, staff alternatively rude or utterly incompetent. It is definitely the worst service I've seen ever in London.
The fisrt time I went to the bar and tried to order 4 cocktails. There were 4 waiters and I was the only person standing in front of them. They were all joking between then and when I required some attention after 5 minutes they all stared at me. When I was finally given a chance to order, I asked for passion fruit cocktails and the waiter simply said "No". When I looked at him in disbelief he said they don't have it. I couldn't believe I had to pat £50+ for 4 drinks with such an awful service.
Last thursday we went for drinks with three friends. The took a table outside and it was not clean. We asked the waitress to clean it. She said OK and then came back to take our orders without cleaning the tables. She then forgot half of what we ordered everytime we ordered anything. Not to mention that she brought the food first then the drinks then the olives we repeatedly asked for!!
If this place cannot even manage to serve drinks properly I will not even try them for dinner.
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Karim
Overall rating 
Food 4 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
BBB fails in every aspect . Its not romantic or good at all. The crowd is really tacky and tasteless. The feeling of what hellhole have i entered starts from the minute you walk in to the minute you leave. Its the most ridiculous example of a restaurant, if you can call it that. The food is really sub standard and awful. We could not wait to leave. Its tacky beyond description. It looks like a transvestite without any taste has gone shopping in Argos and Woolworth to decorate this naff place. Will never ever return even if you held a gun to my head.
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Anthony
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Friday, June 13, 2008
Despite having read 'orrible reviews of BBB I booked a table for our 1st wedding anniversary. There were sweaty palms as I sat down with my wife, but my fears were unfounded. I'll start with my only criticism, the only Achilles heel of the evening, which was my starter, the Cornish Crab. It was...indifferent. And short on crab.
The rest of dinner, however, was wonderful. The service was discreet and friendly, with glasses topped up and dropped forks replaced toute suite. The decor, well, you know - it is famed for that, after all. We were in the Chapel in a seat booked for us by the friendly receptionist, for whom nothing was too much trouble. My crab starter had left me feeling a little crabby, but 'Er Indoors kicked off with a delicious quail with foie gras, which we shared. Next up, rump of lamb and a burger (her choice not mine), both cooked to perfection. A bottle of how's-yer-father to wash it all down, and we couldn't have been happier. Well done to all the team at BBB - if you were getting bad reviews you have clearly upped your game.
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Tom
Overall rating 
Food 8 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
When searching for a nice romantic restaurant where to celebrate our anniversary, I looked forward to go for BBB, unfortunately the reality was very different, we were sat in a corner under the service area which was very dissapointing after walking by faboulous rooms.
The quality difference between the starters and main course was incredible, the starters were amazing, the main courses were the opposite: The Wild mushroom risotto did not have any wild mushrooms, only plain ones and the burger had been cremated and only tasted of charcoal (even though I ordered it to be cooked medium) I brought this to the attention of the waiting staff which did nothing about it and still charge us for a dish that was not eaten. They did however, tap our wine and water every 5 minutes which turned out to be very annoying as it didn't give us much privacy.
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M Crespo - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Monday, June 02, 2008
We went to the Shoreditch restaurant for a friend’s birthday. Before going I read some of the reviews and from all the negative responses I was a little anxious that the night would proceed without any trouble.
Most of the comments were on the service and how rude some of the staff were. Well, the staff were not rude, but their complete lack of service may have contributed to this conclusion.
Why it’s a restaurant is above me. We had pre ordered a set menu and on the night were given the choice of two very simple dishes – chicken or fish. They got this wrong and more chicken dishes came out! The waiters did not wait at all and continued to pass the excess dishes around like a game of pass the parcel. They weren’t rude but completely inept. I put it down to lack of training from senior staff. They just didn’t know what they were doing.
As such I would say of the 25 of us at any one time about 5 of us would be eating while the others waited for their food. When one of my friends complained he was nearly thrown out.
We had booked an area down stairs and as there were quite a few of us we had a good laugh anyway. I would say this place is more of an up market Chicago Rock Café –expect any more and you will surly be disappointed!
Do not eat here. Go for drinks especially if you like cocktails however it’s very expensive. If your looking for a special night out with a true culinary experience then save your money and go some where else. Average food, no service. Staff not rude but there was no sense that they knew they were not really up to it. Perhaps their sense of self is lost on the pretty décor.
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Overall rating 
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 0
Sunday, May 04, 2008
I went to Beach Blanket Babylon with my friend who had told me about this place a lot and it was just good and positive things. So i really was interested to visit this place.
When i went there i realized that i really like the decor of the restaurant. We booked the table few days ago, so when we came there it was no problem with it. The manager was very friendly and polite. She had to show us to our table and asked:"Do we like the table?". Each minute more i started to like this place more and more. the atmosphere was really cozy and stylish. I cant describe the style in one way, because it is so diferent. It looks like you came to an old English castle with elements of cave in some parts of it and in same time with eastern decorations, and warm beautiful fire places near the tables. To sit there was so comfortable cause sofas were so soft with stylish animal fur blankets on them. The light wasnt bright so the atmosphere was really romantic and chilled out. The music was relaxing and not lound, which was really good.
The food was delicious and with a rich taste to it. The portions were quite big as well so we were thinking whether to order desser or not. The desert was brilliant and definetly cooked by well known chef like the main dishes too.
The service was really good. Waiters were very friendly, polite, tried to help you to choose the right dishes with the right drink, but in same time they were not noisy.
Prices were very good, so we didnt spent a lot. I would definetly come there again, soon!!
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Rada Mishunina
Overall rating 
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
I attempted to attend this venue for a private function in the weekend. When we arrived we were stopped by the door staff and told we couldn't enter. The staff were extremely rude, and inconsistent with the reasoning for why we could not enter. I am still unclear as to why we were not given entry: the venue was not at capacity and we were not dressed shabbily. Our friend who was holding the party was so upset that the whole party inside up and left.
I would never even attempt to come here again. I felt humilated by the door staff, who gave the impression that civility was beneath them. This venue offered the worst service I have encountered in six years in London.
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G Coatsworth
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Monday, March 17, 2008
I went for lunch at BBB on Sunday 9th March 2009. BBB has fairly new brunch menu and it looked quite interesting. I had the chicken sandwich which was, surprisingly (and quite shockingly), made of pre-sliced white bread. The fact that lettuce pretty much smothered the bread led me to believe the chef was trying to disguise this fact. I was amazed that BBB could charge over £10 for such a lazy meal. In fact I would have got a much better sandwich at one of the delis in the area for one third of the price. The most shocking thing was to follow, however. The waiter asked for a tip on top of the 12.5% optional amount with the excuse that the 12.5% was to pay for the other staff and not him. The fact that BBB allows this to happen is quite shocking, to say the least. I really believe that it should sign up for a Gordon Ramsay makeover. I will never eat there again as this is the fourth disappointing meal I have had there. I caveat this with the fact I have not been there for dinner.
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Atholl
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
