Bombay Bicycle Club

[Crankarm]

Giles Coren of the Times has just written a review of his recent visits to this establishment (The Times saturday 14th August). He gives it a mark of minus ten, yes, - 10.

I always fancied going there to eat but never got around to it. But alas will never get the chance to sample their fine fayre as it has been taken over by a group with links to Shilpa Petty who appear to have slashed costs, quality and the menu.

Coren says of his experience,

"We ordered. It came. It was terrible. Don't want to talk about it. Seven bowls of brown waste" ..............

Having a bicycle themed name, did anyone eat there?

 

[ianrauk]

Eat at the Bombay Cycle Club in Fulham quite regularly. Very nice place & good food. A little more expensive then your run of the mill high street Indian.

 

[goo_mason]

I read the review the other day and it was hilarious. I especially liked his description of it being "cloacal waste"

 

[benb]

The band is good though

 

[HLaB]

I never realised Bombay Bicycle Club was the name of a restaurant too. I just thought it was the name of a band and some of their stuff is

Just googled it apparently there is one on Broughton Street, I must pass it often but I've never noticed it

 

[Crankarm]

I read the review the other day and it was hilarious. I especially liked his description of it being "cloacal waste"

Apparently he previously held it in high regard favouring it over his local curry place. He highlights the change in ownership for it's decline in quality and variety of dishes on the menu. Apparently everything is now cooked off site in a central kitchen using mass produced cheap ingredients. The number of dishes on the menu has been greatly reduced.

The review is written in his usual abrasive rabid style. If the Bombay Bicycle Club is now as bad as he maintains then this criticism is thoroughly deserved. I don't normally read his column as I find him rather objectionable but the headline caught my eye. Thinking shall I read it or not, it will only be a diatribe, I felt it rather amusing, fair comment on a place that he clearly states was previously really rather good. My question would be, are the current owners seeking to offer the quality food and service that the restaurant clearly previously delivered?

Coren's article on dogs was funny.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Wonder what Giles would be doing if it wasn't for the family connection.

 

[gavintc]

I never realised Bombay Bicycle Club was the name of a restaurant too. I just thought it was the name of a band and some of their stuff is

Just googled it apparently there is one on Broughton Street, I must pass it often but I've never noticed it

Yes, it is on the left as you head from Tolcross main junction into the Meadows. I had my stag night dinner in there and whilst I would not place it -10, I would certainly agree it is not great. There are many, many better. It was booked for me by one of the guys as he knew that I was into bikes.

 

[mangaman]

The original one I think was in Wandsworth.

I remember in about 1986 being taken there by my brother, who lived in Balham at the time.

It was fantastic. Curry houses were still relatively new, and mainly (certainly for me) post-pub ways of getting some food and a pint.

The Bombay Bicycle Club near Balham was the 1st Indian restaurant I ever ate in that tried to cook nice, genuine, regional Indian food.

I believe it got taken over by the woman who appears on the BBC programme "The Restaurant" and she turned it into a chain.

I may be wrong - I couldn't be arsed to google it - I know I had great meal there in 1986 though.

While we're dishing out scores - can I give Giles and Victoria Coren -10 for their TV presentation skills / writing skills

 

[Crankarm]

The original one I think was in Wandsworth.

I remember in about 1986 being taken there by my brother, who lived in Balham at the time.

It was fantastic. Curry houses were still relatively new, and mainly (certainly for me) post-pub ways of getting some food and a pint.

The Bombay Bicycle Club near Balham was the 1st Indian restaurant I ever ate in that tried to cook nice, genuine, regional Indian food.

I believe it got taken over by the woman who appears on the BBC programme "The Restaurant" and she turned it into a chain.

I may be wrong - I couldn't be arsed to google it - I know I had great meal there in 1986 though.

While we're dishing out scores - can I give Giles and Victoria Coren -10 for their TV presentation skills / writing skills

Certainly, foretold is forewarned. I wasn't aware that he or his suffering other half presented anything. Mind you I don't watch TV which might explain this.

I like your use of the culinary pun ~ dishing out scores.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I wasn't aware that he or his suffering other half presented anything.

Yuk! I didn't realise he was married to his sister!

 

[Aperitif]

Yuk! I didn't realise he was married to his sister!

She's taking a bit of a gamble there... Poker anyone?

 

[rich p]

She's taking a bit of a gamble there... Poker anyone?

Anyone watch her on Only Connect?
She's strangely alluring in a satin dressed, husky-voiced way not heard since Fenella Fielding muttered, "Would you mind holding my crutch, daahling"

 

[Globalti]

You will struggle to find an Indian restaurant that makes real curry rather than just using the sauces. Here's a typical example of caterers' curry sauces sold on the web: http://www.csconsulting.co.uk/pushPage.php?node=20

The only way to avoid it is make an appointment to go at a quiet time and ask the chef to make you a special meal; I did it once with some Syrian visitors who wanted to be sure of having halal food and the chef really took his time, preparing everything fresh. Having eaten sauce based curries all my life I was absolutely amazed at the tastes and the quality of genuine Indian cooking.

 

[Jezston]

I fancy Victoria Coren.