Bob Bob Cité has to be one of the most anticipated – and long awaited – London restaurant openings in recent history. With numerous hold-ups and push-backs throughout the £25m interior kit-out, Bob Bob Cité finally opened this spring, and Leonid Shutov’s glitzy French brasserie does not disappoint.
And yes, there is still a ‘Press for Champagne’ button on every table.
Located on level three of the Leadenhall Building, aka the Cheese Grater, Bob Bob Cité impresses from the moment you step out of the elevator. You can certainly see why the interiors took so long and cost so much, it’s like stepping onto a train owned by a member of the Trump family; eccentric, over the top, and mirrors adorning the walls.
The interiors are jaw-droppingly gorgeous and sparkly, making it ideal for a girl’s dinner in London, a date night, or even a work dinner with clients or colleagues. There’s no doubt that the new Bob Bob is a very special place, however we were keen to test out the menu, which was created by sister restaurant, Bob Bob Ricard’s head chef. French-chef Eric Chavot joined Bob Bob Ricard in 2017 after holding two Michelin stars for 10 years consecutively, and has created a new British and French inspired menu for Bob Bob Cité, in contrast to Ricard’s British and Russian menu.
After pressing the contemporary-styled ‘Press for Champagne’ button (which causes your table number to light up red on the train-station style ticker tape that rolls around the room) we perused the menu and opted for the Duck Egg Au Plat and Crabe Mayonnaise to start. Both were exceptionally good, setting a precedent for the main course.
Of course we had to choose the showstopping Beef Wellington to share for our main course. 35-day Aged Scotch fillet with truffle jus arrived at our table, along with the creamiest truffled mash, and glazed carrots.
To finish the meal the Île Flotante, a Floating island with Vanilla Anglais, soft toffee and toasted almonds, arrived alongside the Lemon tart with soft meringue. The lemon tart was delicious but not quite zesty enough and it lacked the expected pizzazz and tartness. The Floating island however was a winner, with a soft toffee centre that ended the meal perfectly.
It was a decadent meal in decadent surroundings, and the champagne and vodka shots at –18C combined with the unrivalled atmosphere left my dining companion and I in need of something even more decadent. So we ended up at The Box. On a Wednesday night, with work the next day. If you do one thing this summer, dine at flashy Bob Bob Cité, and then retreat to the cosier Bob Bob Ricard for the winter months.
Related Content
BOB BOB CITÉ TO OPEN IN THE LEADENHALL BUILDING
BEST RESTAURANTS IN LONDON FOR A GIRLS DINNER
BOB BOB RICARD APPOINTS NEW EXECUTIVE CHEF
15 WOMEN MAKING THEIR MARK IN THE DRINKS INDUSTRY
LONDON’S NEW FARZI CAFÉ
CONRAD LONDON LAUNCHES NEW SUMMER PICNIC
10 BEST MICHELIN-STARRED RESTAURANTS IN CALIFORNIA 2019
LONDON LANDMARKS AFTERNOON TEA AT THE KENSINGTON HOTEL
7 GIFTS FOR LONDONERS WHO DISLIKE MATERIAL THINGS
DALLOWAY TERRACE’S SRI LANKAN SPRING JUNGLE
4 NEW LUXURY HOTELS IN LONDON YOU NEED TO VISIT
Catherine Lux is a food and travel contributor at AGLAIA, and a luxury lifestyle blogger documenting her life on her blog, Lux Life London. With Lux Life London having a large focus on travel and food, she loves nothing more than long-haul flights, excellent restaurants, and relaxing with friends in the coolest places in town.
