Bodean’s

I’ve been to a few different Bodeans and this has got to be the best one. It’s often quieter than the one’s based in central so you’re bound to get a table.
I liked the décor of this restaurant, with funky antlers on the walls and quirky little lamps. There are booths and tables with a bar in the centre of the restaurant.
The food is always consistent and there’s a wide range of goodies to choose from on their lengthy menu. I recommend ordering several different dishes to share amongst friends.
Definitely the best Bodeans to go to in London.

As always I always feel satisfied after visiting Bodeans, one chicken leg starter which compromised of 6 wings covered in BBQ sauce, 2 celery sticks and a cheese sauce (shared), a regular Soho special sandwich (the large only changes the quantity of meat on your serving) which is a serving of seasons chips coleslaw and a sandwich bum filled with pulled pork.
To drink I had peach ice tea to drink and one of their Christmas special drinks I wasn’t too fond of. I have to admit I’m a big fan of the Soho special and a lot of the time I go there just for that but I have tried a lot of their other food and it is great.
The service was prompt and very friendly and I didn’t feel rushed which I usually do. It was a week night so not as busy as it usually is on the weekend but still busy enough there was a nice atmosphere.
I was originally seated under the air conditioning which isn’t great for me so I asked to move and because it wasn’t so busy there was that option. However on the weekend you might not be so lucky.
I would recommend to everyone who is a carnivore to go, I would like to see more vegetarian and possibly vegan options on the menu which is why there’s only 4 stars.

This restaurant is awesome for a hearty feed! Serving sizes are generous and all meals I’ve had there have been delicious. I can highly recommend all the burgers and chips are the best in town! Have yet to try the ribs. The prices are reasonable for what you get and there are often specials and offers to take advantage of. Service has been friendly, quick and efficient each time I’ve visited, with staff looking like they enjoy working there. The atmosphere is relaxed and décor charming American rodeo, with horseshoes for your coats.

This place was recommended by an associate. He raved about the bbq and the mac n cheese. I had the baby back ribs, mac n cheese and corn on the cob. All were okay just nothing to write home about.
Our server on the other hand was absolutely wonderful. It was at least 13 of us and she was very attentive and patient with us.

This was my first trip to Bodeans after hearing so many great things, and it didn’t disappoint.
We sat at the bar when we first arrived to have a few cocktails, they are pricey but worth it. The selection is great and the bar staff were very friendly and knowledgeable!
I ordered the pulled pork meal which was absolutely fantastic. The only thing I didn’t enjoy was the BBQ Beans side dish, which was very overpowering and quite synthetic tasting. Apart from that I can’t fault the food I had.
A great dinner and I definitely hope to return.

Bodeans always disappoints me a bit, like I think the idea and look of it is a lot better than the actual food. The caramel cheesecake was OK but pretty sickly and I have the sweetest tooth ever and the honeycomb milkshake was good and tasty but not as thick as I believe a great milkshake should be.

The Bodean’s in Balham is my preferred South London spot for my fix of American BBQ mainly because it seems to be much calmer than its Clapham Common cousin plus there is an outdoor area which is a bonus in summer. It is located between Tooting Bec and Balham tube stations, although I would say that Tooting Bec is marginally closer.
The food is the same you would seen at other Bodeans locations, which is why I come back so often. I would recommend the baby back ribs which are priced at either £10 or £14 if you have room for a full slab. They also do takeaway, which could be dangerous for my waistline.

You definitely need to book a table here or you’ve got a big wait ahead of you.
We sat at the bar for dinner rather than a table. The giant buffalo wings… really are giant! Plenty of sauce with them too. The chips were undercooked, and my ribs and pulled pork were quite fatty and dry which was disappointing, however you can really taste how long they have smoked the meat for, which adds to a great flavour.
This is expensive for what you get, but it’s one of the best in what it does.
Plenty of drink options too. As we were at the bar, the waitress forgot to give us cutlery or sauces for our meal and we had to ask two different people to bring us some, while our food was quickly cooling down on the plate. Other than this, the staff were lovely, the food came quickly and overall it was decent. Great place to watch the NFL too.

I had my birthday lunch here back in March just before the end of my off season the buffalo wings are the boom!!! Did have ribs and steak which were great… my only criticism of the place is the long wait to be served!!! Will definitely going back there in November

Been here half a dozen times now — it seems I can’t leave it alone! Fans of BBQ, craft ales and fine bourbons will know all about the excellence of the fare and its fantastic value here, as well as the friendly and efficient waiting and bar staff. But what’s new and well worth trumpeting from the rooftops is they now do live music on Monday evenings. Called Blue Monday, the theme, as you would expect from the food, drink, décor and overall vibe, is rollicking, rootsy Americana — and it’s all free. This week a guy called Steve Boltz was amazing with his Dylan, Stones, Beatles, Byrds and John Leyton covers delivered with a warm voice and flamenco-​punk acoustic guitar. He’s toured with The Who, and you wonder why such a thrilling, entertaining rocker is not a massive star. The week before, Marcus Malone is authentically American, and with his band playing semi-​unplugged it was like Free, no less, were providing the floorshow while you tucked into ribs and Sleeman’s. IMHO, the best fun you can have in South London with your clothes on.

Aside from the insane table wait — thankfully we were prepared for this as we’ve been to Bodeans elsewhere before — we had a stonking dinner here.
The wait is a bit of a problem in this location which is why I’ve given 4 stars not 5 — it’s about an hour to an hour at typical dinner time and although they text you when your table is ready and they have a newfangled online queue checker (addictive watching!), you get ten minutes to return in time. Balham central is a *brisk* ten minute walk away, otherwise you’re looking at the 2 or 3 pubs/​bars in Tooting Bec which are a limited choice. Yes, there is a bar in the restaurant: I have never seen it not full! In short, book a table!!!
But on to more important matters — the food and drink. Drink: expensive, but a great selection of beers including a delicious honey lager from, er, somewhere which I muchly enjoyed. Having lived in the States the price of Sam Adams seems extortionate but it does make an ideal partner for the star of the show… the barbecue. Be prepared to eat A LOT. Be prepared to get messy. Be prepared to love it.
We had the sharing platter which was even better than I’ve had at other branches. The burnt ends are simply amazing (every time I go, I swear I’ll order just them, but we always take new people and then the sharing platter is the only way to go!). Special mention to the mac n cheese which is good and has a hint of chilli flavour.
Our waiter was really great, friendly, funny and turned up just when we needed him (when more beers were required).
I’ll be back!