Ealing is a wonderful part of London that I won’t stop shouting about (and not just because I live here). The Elizabeth Line can get you from West to East in under 20 minutes and it’s full of tranquil greenery, such as Walpole Park, which is filled with ponds, trees and nature trails. Its drinking and dining scene is also a wonder, with plenty of beer gardens, pubs and incredible restaurants to explore. One of those restaurants is the newly opened Bobo Social, which I had the pleasure of visiting recently. It’s a stunning restaurant that serves up British and European-styled bites, while taking a dash of inspiration from Asian cuisine.
The sleek and sophisticated interiors add to the tranquil dining experience.
DesignMyNight Review Of Bobo Social
First off, this restaurant was a stunner. Its situated in Ealing’s newly established Filmworks leisure destination which boasts a plethora of amazing restaurants as well as a brand-new cinema. It’s got a modern and sleek look on the outside, with huge glass windows that open out to a dining area out front – very European. As you enter, you’re instantly met with warmth and greenery. Its simplistic décor consisted of plants, paintings, low-hanging lights and a gorgeous wooden bar. We were seated at a table right by one of the open doors and, although the temperature outside was a tad chilly, I was grateful for the slight breeze. It was also a brilliant spot for people watching.
We started the evening off with a cocktail. I’d already set my sights on The Last Mexican (£11) which was a chilli-infused mezcal number. It was saturated in The Kings Ginger liqueur, lychee liquor and ginger beer which was the tastiest combination. It was a great twist on a classic picante, and had just the right amount of spice for my liking. My boyfriend opted for a classic Tommy’s Margarita (£11) which was also a winner. It was light, refreshing and left a luscious lingering taste of sweetened tequila in our mouths.
The cocktail list is full of incredible sips, and you can even nab them for £5 during their happy hour.
After taking some sultry sips and looking through the menu about 20 times, we finally landed on what to order. We went for three starters to begin with – the burrata (£9.75), watermelon and heirloom tomato salad (£8.95) and the braised lamb croquettes (£9.45). Long story short, our plates were cleared after about 15 minutes. The watermelon salad was the most light and refreshing dish I’ve probably ever eaten (no exaggeration). The balsamic dressing and feta complemented the sweet juiciness of the melon and tomatoes perfectly. I loved it so much, I instantly looked up how to make it online. The burrata was also a delight. It was light, fluffy and creamy and came with an array of sun-dried tomatoes that were drizzled in balsamic dressing and dotted with pine nuts which was a dream. The croquettes also provided a melt-in-your-mouth experience and were filled with the most tender braised lamb.
Quite possibly the best salad i've ever eaten, i'll be dreaming of this one for a while.
While waiting for our mains, our wonderful waitress recommended another cocktail, the French 75 (£11). This classic was another sweet stunner, a gorgeous combination of gin, Champagne and lemon juice. I sipped my cocktail and people watched out of Bobo Social's huge glass windows which is my idea of the perfect evening.
Despite sharing three starters, we were more than ready to tackle our main courses. I went for the Korean fried chicken fillet bao (£18.95) served with hand cut chips. The bao was so soft and steaming, and the spicy gochujang slaw made my tastebuds explode. I’m a bit of a wimp when it comes to spice, and even I couldn’t stop eating it. The fries were also delicious, although I had to leave a few at the end as I physically couldn’t eat another bite. My boyfriend chose the ribeye steak (£34.95), a firm favourite of his. I stole a couple of chunks from his plate which were doused in peppercorn sauce and it didn’t disappoint. It was medium rare, tender and delicious. We soaked up the steak juices and peppercorn sauce with the remaining fries at the end to ensure every drop was devoured, despite the fact I couldn’t finish what was on my plate.
It's safe to say our eyes were definitely bigger than our bellies.
After entering a food coma and battling with the idea of having a dessert, I decided to sip on one of their sweet cocktails instead. I chose the salted caramel martini (£12), because it just sounded incredible. It consisted of vanilla vodka, Baileys and their very own salted caramel syrup. This was a drink I didn’t want to end. It was the right amount of sweet and the salted rim went perfectly with the rich caramel taste. I was so impressed by the dessert cocktail that I had to have another one (no judgements please). Our lovely waitress recommended the Irish tiramisu (£12) and it was yet another winner. This Jameson, Baileys, and creamy caramel concoction was the perfect end to the dinner. It’s safe to say, I will be returning to this amazing Ealing hotspot.
Bobo Social: Overall
This is one of Ealing’s best kept secrets and I no longer wish to gatekeep. This modern new restaurant will forever be one of my favourite spots for a bite to eat in Ealing. The dishes were incredible and are made with such care (the little Bobo stamps on the food was a lovely touch). Plus, the dessert cocktails were some of the best tasting sweet treats I’ve had. I adored everything from the first sip of my cocktail down to the amazing smelling hand soap in the ladies bathroom. I couldn’t recommend this place enough.
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💰 Price: Around £153 for three courses and drinks for two people. 📍 Address: Filmworks Walk, London, W5 5FA. 👌 Perfect for: Date night or a boujee dinner with friends. ⭐ Need to know: Their happy hour runs daily from 4pm to 6pm and includes £5 cocktails, £3.95 pints and £10 bottles of wine. |
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