Located in Soho, the bustling heart of London, Bob Bob Ricard is a Russian-inspired British restaurant that attracts a large number of visitors every year. Diners must book a table at least a week in advance to get a seat. With the impression of a regal space and a luxurious menu with a unique wine list, many diners wonder if Bob Bob Ricard is a Michelin-starred restaurant, but the answer is no.
The highlight of Bob Bob Ricard is its unique and splendid art deco interior. The entire restaurant is decorated with lots of gold from the tables and chairs to the ceiling. A big part of this success is the luxurious lighting design that highlights materials such as leather, velvet, precious metals and marble.
Many customers come to restaurants just to try pressing the wine button.
The menu is varied with dishes that blend British and Russian styles, including Egg St. Petersburg, Chicken Kiev and Beef Wellington. In addition, the restaurant also serves fine seafood dishes such as raw oysters and caviar.
Surprisingly, despite the adoration of its customers, Bob Bob Ricard has been panned by food critics. Tanya Gold of the Spectator sarcastically described Bob Bob Ricard as a restaurant for “innocent half-wits.” Elsewhere in The Observer, art critic Stephen Bayley described the restaurant’s design as “strange and bizarre,” destined for “the dustbin of history.” And AA Gill of The Sunday Times called Bob Bob Ricard a “Texas toilet.”
