Manager Login
Beach Blanket Babylon Shoreditch London Review
Book a table
Book a table at Beach Blanket Babylon Shoreditch
If you're not beautiful then don't even think about walking into BBB for either drinks, food or a job. The advert in the toilet, which I'm not sure complies with employment regulations, states clearly that if you're beautiful, talented and experienced then this is the place for your next career move. I instantly slap on the lip gloss and a layer of touch éclat...and head to the perfectly manicured bar to taste the extensive cocktail menu. First up is the porn star martini, a mix of vanilla vodka and passion fruit, served along with a shot of champagne. As I gaze around the bar I see clones all indulging in the porn star lifestyle. Boys don't even think about coming in here if you have any sort of insecurities. The guys who work in BBB are primed to have the ladies gazing into their eyes and hopefully ordering the most expensive cocktail at £250 a pop. Steve, the very handsome bartender, tells me that if he sells 4 in a night then he's happy. I wonder how he gets anyone to hand over 250 shiny pounds for a liquid sensation...then I work it our pretty quickly.
I'm interrupted from gazing at the beautiful things adorning the bar, the sweet smelling lilies, the bowls of fruit, and of course the bar tenders, to be told my table is ready. My date for the evening, wisely chosen, is Jessica, she's a vegetarian. So is Steve. I wonder if we'll ever make it to the table as they begin to chat about their shared love for lettuce and tofu. This place is Harry's Bar, 1940s chic and crude decadence all in one. We're seated in a corner booth type table, with a view of all the restaurant and bar. On top of our napkins is a small picture of a male model and the address details on the back. A talking point to go in my wallet I think. We order a bottle of the New Zealand Sauvignon, at £25 it's reasonable and it's good quality, a change from the sweet cocktails. I have trouble choosing what to order, but Jessica although impressed with the vegetarian starters is not engaged with the two mains, risotto and vegetable patties.
I race through the crab and avocado starter, which is delicious and pretty filling and help Jessica out with the pan fried wild mushrooms, which are sweet, the egg is pickled perfectly and the mushrooms flavoursome. My fillet of beef for main is cooked to perfection and tender and rich. We discuss the plates. They don't fit in, they're not elaborate and beautiful and because they're too small some of the food falls off. Jess isn't mad about the vegetable patty; she says it's dry and clumsy. She wishes the starter had been her main. The desserts make up for it in a huge way. We're so excited by the choice we order three and lie to the handsome French waiter about another friend coming to join us. The brandy crème brulee is laced with alcohol, the blueberry cheesecake is light and fluffy, adorned with big plump blackberries and the chocolate brownie is rich and accompanied perfectly with pistachio ice cream. We only then notice the famous look-alikes in the bar - there's Woody Allen, the cheeky girls (although gladly there's no Lembit Opik) and I'm sure I can see one of the guys from Razorlight. As we leave, full of cocktails and delicious food, we step outside to the cold Shoreditch air and we decide that Super Tuesday should be renamed tempting Tuesday and agree that we'll be back...tomorrow night.
Melissa Davis (11 02 2008)
Beach Blanket Babylon Shoreditch London Description
BBB Shoreditch occupies an old imposing warehouse on the Bethnal Green Road, comprising of four floors and a roof garden. Each floor is characterised by its large scale striking features and high ceilings. On the ground floor a 100 seater restaurant with open theatre kitchens and a very large central marble bar, whilst downstairs the cocktail lounge, equiped with an even larger central marble bar can accommodate up to 300 guests features a VIP area with banquet seating.
Atmosphere:
Value:
Quality:
Average Customer Rating (13 Votes)
Extremely disappointed with the service and food. Waited almost 2.5 hours for a meal as the waiter forgot to put our order through to the kitchen. Although the manager apologised I did get the impression that we were not the first ones complaining that evening nor the last.”
Atmosphere
Value
Quality
Anjani P, London (19 11 2008)
H&M chic, over styled décor and ok food describes this venue best. It certainly isn’t the buzz that has been made of this new Shoreditch ’fashion’ venue.
Under staffed and poorly planned menus led to a disappointing evening which was suppose to be ‘fabulous’
Even the manager with his charm couldn’t fix a failing combination of dim witted staff, poor kitchen preparation and OK food.
No amount of charm could have save this train wreck.”
Atmosphere
Value
Quality
Scott Pearson, london (12 10 2008)
Very disappointing evening at Beach Blanket. The food is over priced for the standard and portion. The staff are ok but not knowledgeable about products. Cocktails too sugary and diluted. Not very busy but took ages to be served. Lacking in style and substance. Give it a miss unless you are very patient and don't have high standards and like to mingle with out of towners that have taken British Rail into Liverpool Street.”
Atmosphere
Value
Quality
Howard Montes, London (17 08 2008)
I have never been so annoyed with a restaurant before. Firstly i was charged 12.5% to drink at the bar while 'waiting' for our table to be ready. It was a ploy for us to have drinks as our table was already available as we could see that there weren't many people there from the bar. The service was incredibly rude and slow. The staff looked liked they did not want to be there. We later found out that most of them have not been long as they have a huge turnover of staff. The food when it finally arrived was disgusting. All four if us could barely bring ourselves to take a second bite. All our complaints are responded by shrugs of what do you want us to do about it. It was so hot and sticky in there and the only cooling system was a standing fan and two open windows with the stench of rotting fish wafting through. The staff told us the air conditioning was out of order but one of my observant friend pointed out there aren't any ducting for air con. To make matters worse, another friend told me the chef is Rex from Big Brother. I cannot bear this arrogant bully and i really felt like throwing up after that information. The clientele here has no class and are real wannabes. Will tell all my friends to avoid Beach Blanket Babylon.”
Atmosphere
Value
Quality
Really Upset, london (14 08 2008)
I would like to:
Extra Info
- Food
- Non-Smoking Area
- Children Allowed
- Cloakroom
- Dancing License
- Disabled Access
- DJ
- Security