Bodean's (Soho)

I just love, love, luuuuuurve this GREAT BBQ restaurant!!

I live in Watford but every time I come to London, I ensure that I sup at Bodeans. Their pulled pork and whole chickens combos (and chips) are to die for!! And don't get me started on the whole slab of ribs.

The service really is top notch stuff and you can watch great American sports on telly which i feel enhances the authentic US dining experience.

Highly recommended.
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Jonathan Rodgers - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, August 13, 2007

Ive been in small groups and the food is what I expected; no more no less. A laid back stateside atmosphere helps with the meat digestion. Service on site is overall good.

HOWEVER, when it comes to booking large groups over 7 the story becomes different. First you are subject to a £10 deposit per head. So if I wanted to bring 20 people and 1 dropped out then we lose a tenner - hey, what about the other 19 customers I brought??!! How greedy! On top of that, if you want to go for their family style menu every single person in the group has to go for the same thing and they have to know this in advance when you book!! Cost-cutting and demand-planning incompetencies passed on to the customer, who is clearly of little importance to them.

I used to say good things about Bodean's to my friends. Now I cant. I just dont feel like going there anymore. But here's 1 point for old time's sake.
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Lee
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, June 19, 2007

*texan accent* "Ah! Good ole 'merican BehBehQoo"

I've been to Bodean's twice this year. The first was in a party of 12. We had the party/family menu. Great starters, chicken wings (well-seasoned), quesadillas (crispy on the outside, ssavoury on the inside). Nice hot fries and the bean stew was great (these were free flow for a big group). Mains were pretty ok, ribs were good (not fatty!). The only let down were the pulled pork, sausages and chicken. There is absolutely nothing special about pulled pork. How do you make pulled pork at home? Roast a loin and then pulse for a few seconds in the food processor with some seasoning. Sausages - better onesavailable at the supermarket. Chicken - ditto.

The second time I went back was in a part of 5 - 5 big carnivores. Though I'd give Bod's a second chance. Disappointing. No mention of the family/party menu on the menu itself. Asked for it, was told that it was only for groups of 12 or more. Starters were good as usual - i noticed that the crab cakes were better this time. Mains, once again a let down. Lamb ribs were horrible, obviously not a good cut. Full of fat and skin, a real let down. Steaks were over-cooked leading to a tough exterior. Chicken and ribs - as described above. The corn bread, once again nothing special.

Service was of a good standard. Attentive and prompt despite a friday night crowd.

Overall - just a OK. Nothing to scream about. Useful restaurant for a big group. Great for meat-lovers. Otherwise, might be a little pricey...
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fuzwuzzle - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Saturday, June 16, 2007

I certainly agree with the previous reviewer. I'm a Brit but lived for several years in North America, and really Bodean's doesn't come close to even comparing with an average BBQ eaterie in the US. After eating some mouthwateringly great BBQ in, for instance, Memphis and Nashville, to put it bluntly, this place is a very, very poor imitation. I tried the one in Clapham, and then again, foolishly, in Fulham. Never again.
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Michael
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 4
Saturday, May 26, 2007

As a Yank who loves BBQ, I found this place a bit dissapointing. The ribs are just about ok...but not a SHADOW of the slow-cooked, fall-off-the-bone ribs you'd get at a real, top-level American BBQ joint. The pulled pork is ok, as are the beans and cole slaw. No better than "ok" though, to be honest.

The sauce is good, with quite a smokey flavour. Deserts....pretty good, but nothing I'd write home about. But the place ain't cheap...dinner for two came to £60, with just a couple of drinks. That's starting to be what you'd spend in a real restaurant, and seems a lot for DEAD average BBQ.

The final insult is that they add 10% "service" charge to the bill, then do NOT give it to the hard-working waitresses. In other words, you pay for service, then Bodean's rob their own employees. What is THAT all about??

A small place in Wapping called Rhodes is light years better in my view, though much less conveniently located.

All told....I'd give Bodeans a 5. It may be beetter than most other "BBQ" places in the UK, I don't know....but be under no illusion that it fairly represents real, topl-notch American BBQ.
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Ronald
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 1
Saturday, May 19, 2007

As an ex-pat, Bodean's is quite frankly my new religion. I must go at least once a month, and spend the rest of the time itching to go.

American sports on the big screen, ribs, pulled pork and cornbread on the table... it's a little taste of home. Service is friendly though not in your face. Also good for wing cravings. The "Pig Out for a Tenner" deal is particularly good value, and you generally will end up with more food than you can eat.
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KL - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, May 02, 2007

We come here on an almost weekly basis - it's just that good! And now they are doing lamb ribs! These by the way are massive and very fatty, I'd recommend trying them the once but I'll be going back to the standard pork version next time.

Anyway, great food, a good bit of Americana, US sport on the tv, good beers, freindly and efficient staff. Also Pig out for a tenner on Monday Wednesday and steak night on Tuesday are great value.
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Peter, Fitzrovia - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Thursday, April 26, 2007

Came here again, for what must be the thousandth time, on Saturday. Great. Wings, ribs, steaks and sausage all great. Sides of beans and coleslaw, great. Cheap cocktails, great. Ice cold beers, Duvel served in a Duvel glass, great. Charming waitress, great. Bill remarkably small, great. Ice hockey playing silently on the screens, great. The Stones on the stereo, great. What am I trying to convey about this place..?
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Boz
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, April 03, 2007

"The best ribs in London", one review claimed. Bodean's had a lot to live up to. I was reticent to go in case the pre-rib excitement I was feeling was soon to be replaced with the acrid taste of disappointment. We went after going to the theatre on Tuesday night and were only just in time - at 10:00 - to procure a rack of their finest pork ribs. As the restaurant was winding down we were able to grab one of their much sought after booths. Perhaps it was the various Western memorabilia hanging from wood lined walls that led me to opt for the Cowboy Martini. Whilst I've never noticed one of these in any of the Spaghetti Westerns films, it was possibly the finest drink ever to pass my lips. Then came the ribs...

Having taken a moment to calm myself I took my first bite. The meat was tender and juicy with a wonderful barbeque flavour. Whilst I would have preferred more sticky barbeque sauce, I have to say that Bodean's - and its enthusiastic reviewer - did not disappoint. I'll definitely be back - next time with a posse in tow...
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Gareth
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, April 02, 2007

Went on a Friday (Jan'26) with some friends after work. Was very busy when we got there just after 8 (when they opened their doors). However, people were receiving their food sufficiently quickly after placing their orders, no fuss. This branch is very busy on a Friday and also quite crowded because it's quite a small restaurant although downstairs was fully booked. The waiters/ress' were effecient given the overcrowded restaurant and people were still coming in and waiting to be seated even though it was standing room only! I suppose this added to the atmosphere, very buzzy and lively.

The food is good but not great. the chips, however, were overly salted. Just like it is in USA. Couldn't eat it! The ribs were nice as was the chicken but the sausages was excellent.

I would agree with a comment my freind made "Nando's with pork and ribs".

Good food to fill you up without being heavy on the pocket but nothing amazing.
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Mike
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Monday, January 29, 2007