Bodeans, Soho, London

Now I’m not really a ribs kinda guy but I stumbled into this place on a night out on the beer. Well what can I say, I had the full slab of baby back ribs. Smothered in bbq sauce and with a load of added Chalula pepper sauce, they were amazing. They have a selection of beers from small American breweries plus some more well known names, a large basement dining area and seating upstairs. All this in the heart of Soho, its really good, the only weak point is their coleslaw which is a bit of an issue under the trades descriptions act as it is simply shredded carrot and cabbage with no mayo, but hey with ribs this good who cares.

After visiting Bodeans in Soho on Saturday 20th August, I have to say this must be the UK’s foremost BBQ restaurant. My friend and I went for lunch, where we both had the pulled pork sandwich and a beer, and it was so good that we returned later that night for dinner with our wives who had been to the theatre earlier. For dinner we had the meat platter which gave us all a bit of everything, pulled pork, ribs, burnt ends, chicken etc. washed down by a few unusual American beers. There was plenty to eat for all four of us, truly great value.
The next to I get to London I will be heading straight to Bobean’s BBQ, great food, great atmosphere and great value……and by far the best BBQ outside of the States!!!!
……….get yourself there!

Finally got around to trying Bodean's in Soho...for wingggs!!! Yes, had BBQ sauce wings with bleu cheese and a blue moon bottle to wash it all down. I suppose if you're into NHL, NBA or MLB this is your place too. Downstairs is a blast into a 1980s diner / pit-stop past. Will give that a try next time (as well as the spare ribs!) Go!

Bodeans is defiantly a place where I go to indulge in american comfort food! Favourite dish would have to be the burnt ends with chips and coleslaw. great atmosphere with an american sports bar theme. Get ready to get you're fingers messy!

Great food, great prize.

I've (accidentally) been to Bodeans twice this week - the service differed wildly on both visits, but the food was still awesome.

I ordered the Soho Special (pulled pork and beef sandwich served with fries and coleslaw), and loved it so much that I had it again on my second visit. The fries are sprinkled with something lovely, the coleslaw is decent and the sandwich is huuuuuge. And all for £6.50! Minor gripe: My friend bit into her sandwich and got a mouthful of fat. Urgh.

The restaurant itself isn't anything special - expect tartan carpet, wooden booths and flat screen TVs showing American sport (it's a sports bar after all). But don't let the over-bearing masculinity of the place put you off - there's a nice mixed crowd, staff are efficient and you'll be served quickly. Plus, it's one of the few places where you can buy bottles of root beer and they're open pretty late - so much better than a kebab.

The food is superb (can't recommend the burnt ends enough), and the staff are friendly and pleasant.

Whether you can face the braying, obnoxious city boy clientele (get back to the square mile), and paying £4+ for a bottle of beer is up to you.

Despite friends raving about the place, I was hugely disappointed. My ribs were tough, flavourless and dry, and the nachos weren't that much better. Maybe some of the other things on the menu would go down better after a few drinks, but I'll be doing my best to avoid returning, to be honest.

My friend hyped this place up so much that i had high expectations which were not met.
I opted to go for burnt ends expecting them to be chewy left overs. However, they were juicy, which was fine, but not barbequed enough. I got them with fries and onion rings and despite paying over £12 i still didnt feel full!
Also, the woman at the till was a little hopeless. My meal came with a can of pepsi but i wanted a bottle of water. Simple request, but she seemed at quite a loss that i took the pepsi.

Would only go again if my mate really wanted to go. i mean, REALLY.

I've been here a couple of times, I must say food is not of my taste. Heart attack on a plate more like it.
But if you are after some traditional American meat, this is the place to go

I have been here several times over the past couple of years and it remains a firm favourite.

I recently went for lunch with my Dad and the place was packed to the brim. We kept it simple, ordering the Pulled Pork Bap which comes in a plastic basket with fries and mayo. The filling of soft, gooey, tender pork is incredibly generous and given the bargain price of £5.95 I don't know why anyone would consider a flacid burger from MaccyD's.

This place has great atmosphere, speedy service and delicious meat.

Highly recommended.

Not for veggies! Great food, good one for the cheap eats list ... you're in for a great feed so make sure you are hungry. Good fun.

Visited for first time recently and was completely blown away by the meat platter. Massive portions, great service, best meat ive had in London,even the whole country. Going back soon.

Beer and a big carnivore-ish blow out = Bodeans.

If know what pulled pork is, and love licking ribs this place is for you!That said, I've eaten a lot of the double vege burgers and they are also v.good.

The atmosphere is is very wanna-be Texas sports bar, there is always baseball or American football, it's relaxed and v.friendly staff.

Don't go on a first date (or the second for that matter)... but you'll know you are comfortable with each other when you're ok with rib juice trickling down his chin and a splotch of ketchup on your hoodie.

great steak house, good with kids

fantastic ribs!! and i love the pulled pork it just melts in your mouth.
Some great deals on for £10, you need to be hungry for this place

If you like meat then you'll be well looked after here! To really get the experience, skip breakfast to attempt their larger dishes!

Ribs, Pulled Pork, Beef Brisket are highly recommended (not all in one sitting of course).

Service is very quick.

Be prepared to have a lie down after an epic eating session at Bodeans!

There is a reason why this place has over 50 reviews, 'cause a Bodeans is much like any other, until it's late at night, you're kind of lost int eh back streets of Soho and you see a shining pink neon light. Yeah it's a pig, and this is pretty much what most people are after after an evening of pinting. Here they are fast and reliable, friendly and American enough (sans accent) for you to feel like you're getting the real deal. And after a mountain of ribs and generous stateside sides you might even have the energy to go back out and finish what you started.

Greedy Diva @ http://www.greedydiva.blogspot.com

If it's big meaty portions of chin wiping, greasy fingers glory you’re after, Bodean’s is not a bad option. It’s probably not Texas, but it might be the most convenient way to imagine you’re chowing through a good ol’ Texan BBQ in the heart of London.

We’ve been a number of times now, always at the desperate behest of The Peanut Gallery, when he needs his fill of American, cowboy hat wearing, testosterone filled, beer swilling, gut thumping stuff. Or when he wants to watch the football on the big screens.

On the ground floor is the casual deli/diner. Downstairs is a dark restaurant which looks like a sports bar. I prefer the ground floor bit.

I always go for one of the gigantic hot deli sandwiches (in hamburger buns) – usually the Pulled Pork as pictured (£5.25) with mounds of juicy pulled pork piled on a toasted bun, topped with BBQ sauce. There are also sandwiches with pastrami, burnt ends, brisket, coleslaw, slow cooked pork shoulder, or combinations of the above. The fries are good too.

The Peanut Gallery recently tried the beef hot dog (£4.95) – just like any junky-in-a-good-way hot dog to me, although he (being more of a hot dog man) seemed pretty happy with it (although it's not in the same league as Shake Shack's in New York). This was, of course, just a “side dish” to his BBQ chicken burger (£6.95). I consider it mandatory that all this be washed down with the beer on tap. Preferably while beating your chest and shouting at the big screen.

The pulled pork and ribs are the signature dishes. The ribs are enormous. Even the salads are heart attack inducing.

I also love the ample trays of USA condiments on offer – condiments make us happy.

You’ve probably been already (there’s quite a few branches – we go to the Soho one). If not, for decent quality cow or pig, when you don’t want to spend your weekly food budget on some of the limited places in London cooking top notch meat, I think it’s a decent goer. If you know a better place for American style barbecue, centrally located, I'd love to hear about it - I'll pass it on to The Peanut Gallery as his birthday present.

If you're prepared to pay extra for some of the best pieces of meat in London, go to Hawksmoor or Goodman - but you won't be able to watch the football and howl at the moon while you eat it.

Used to be a guilty pleasure of mine, but the last few times have been disappointing to say the least... dry, over spiced and a little haphazard. May very well have jumped the shark

www.grumblinggourmet.com