Bodeans Soho 7/11/2009
Apparently they have the best ribs this side of the Atlantic, so with trepidation of the possibility of being shown up I went there with my wife and daughter yesterday………
How disappointing! The starters turned up, the platter to share looked like it had been thrown on the plate. The ribs were undercooked by about 2 hours (if they are indeed using a smoker), the chicken wings were dripping in oil which was a bit of a concern as my daughter was having them for a main course……… the crab cakes, what can be said about the crab cakes……. Soggy I think sums them up perfectly, and the taste? Well tuna mush?
We ordered Mixed main courses, Chicken, Beef Ribs and Pulled Pork for myself, Chicken, Pork Ribs and Pulled pork for the wife. My daughter had chicken wings and chips, we had to place these on a napkin to soak up some of the oil before we would allow her to touch them, as it was she wasn’t interested.. The biggest critic in the world is a hungry carnivorous 5 year old.
The pulled pork had absolutely no flavour and was dry. I can understand why people love the pulled pork sandwiches because it is vast and smothered in BBQ sauce, I think it is a mistake serving it dry on the platter. The beef ribs, I tried both sides and top of the 2 short ribs received with the meal and gave up, They were tough! I mean real tough. The chicken was the only saviour although the bbq sauce that it had been coated with during cooking had turned into charcoal, but leaving that at the side of the plate at least I was able to eat something.
While outside one of the kitchen staff (in whites) was rolling a cigarette and I took the opportunity to ask him what type of smoker they used, the response, “ummm it’s a big thing from America and it goes round and round” I just stared at him blankly.
I think the passion that started Bodeans has been lost, I am certain it will keep growing and will become a London based TGI, the biggest advantage Bodeans has it that most of its customers actually believe this is how BBQ should taste.
Toby Shea