Fri 18th September 2015
It was seven O’clock on a Friday eve. We found ourselves in Old Street, a lively area of Central East London. We were here to give our friend a proper send-off before he ran off to Oz, to start a business to build energy storage systems for the home, from discarded cells (Relectrify.com). Good for him!
Tonight was particularly bustling. People everywhere. Not just because it was a Friday, tonight was the start of the RWC 2015—Opening Ceremony followed by England’s first pool match against Fiji! After a few pints at the pub, we couldn’t resist our rumbling stomaches any longer and a liquid dinner just wouldn’t cut it. We unanimously decided to have a change of scene and move on to somewhere good to get a bite to eat.
9pm, we got to Bodean’s, BBQ heaven. The smell of meaty goodness hit my nostrils as soon as I walked through the front door. The place was still heaving. The decor falls somewhere between a sports bar and diner—leather-cladded wooden dining booths, and you have view of a TV screen showing sports no matter where you sat (tonight, of course the RWC 2015 was on the screens)—fun. All booths were occupied, but we decided to wait by the bar, which features an extensive list of Stateside beer and cocktails. 15 minutes (and a nice pint of Samuel Adams whilst enjoying the Friday-night live music) later, we were lead to our booth. We eagerly ordered up an array of smoked meats perfectly cooked from their oak-burning smoke pits. Baby back ribs, spare ribs, pulled pork and chicken were all well marinated and oh-so succulent, completed with coleslaws and seasoned fries. Juicy Buffalo chicken wings were covered in finger-lickingly good sauce that had the right balance of limey acidity and chilli heat, and accompanied by the blue cheese dipping sauce. I was brought right back to my trip to the U.S. with my husband last winter. The verdict: good food, great vibes and amazing company—the making of a perfect evening out! Thanks Bodean’s. I cannot complain.
Details
Barbecue
Cost: a meat combo £16.45 (served with fries and coleslaw), sharing platter £12.95/19.45 per person
Address: 10 Poland St, London W1F 8PZ
Phone: 020 7287 7575