BOBO & WILD - Stratford — Restaurant in London

To write this review, I need to put you in my shoes.

So, I heard a lot about this cafe. My husband and I had tried several times but been outrun by the long queues. Well, today, I was in the area early to watch a performance and was excited to arrive before the queues. Hurray! (Or so I thought).

I marvelled at the presentation of the foods being delivered to other customers and happily ordered a vegan and gluten-free pancake with blueberries and an oatmilk matcha latte.

Tea was gorgeous. Pancake took some time to arrive, but when it did, I smiled as it certainly looked worth the wait. I took a bite and was extremely shocked. It tasted like burnt toast. Can't be, I said to myself. Not a cafe of this calibre. I was convinced I must be wrong. I took a few bites until my mouth was so disgusted by the taste of charcoal. I picked up a pancake and turned it over. I could not believe how black it was. I was embarrassed. But I called the waiter, somehow still in awe of what was around me and not wanting to create a scene. I showed her the underside of my pancake, and she immediately said she would take it off my bill and return it to the kitchen. She asked if I wanted a replacement, and I explained that I had a show to catch.

Another waitress then returned with a bill for over £6. I told her that my tea did not cost £6 and I could not pay anymore than what was due for my tea, due to my experience. She agreed and said she would go and remove the service charge. (Copy of final bill after second complaint, attached showing removal of both the pancake bill and the service charge).

In her absence, another waiter came and asked me if I was ready to go as there was a queue waiting to be served so I told him that I was in the process of being served and he walked away keeping his eye on me, to demonstrate that he was eager for my seat.

I built up such anticipation to eat here, and I was dismayed that the chef went to pains to turn the burnt side of my pancakes in a way that he or she thought it would not be noticed. (No way to treat a paying customer). Strangely, each pancake on my plate was burnt on the underside (not 1, but all!). I was so shocked, disheartened, and embarrassed that I forgot to take a picture of the underside of the pancake. However, I am able to zoom in on one side where some of the top side had also gotten burnt in the process and could not be hidden.

It was a very disappointing dining experience. Although 2 waitresses were very swift about getting the charges removed, once I had raised concern, I felt very disrespected by the fact that I had been served this plate in the first place and then made to feel rushed into leaving.

I wouldn't put anyone off going. The food looks great, and the setting is lovely. But I need to be honest in the hope that nobody else (not even one paying customer) will have to forgo this experience...

What a truly delightful find! Bobo and Wild in East Village, Stratford, proved to be the perfect sanctuary for a relaxing birthday brunch this past Tuesday morning. After a long weekend of festivities, my partner and I were craving somewhere chilled, with excellent coffee and delicious, unique food – and Bobo and Wild delivered on all fronts with aplomb.

The coffee alone is worth the visit. My double espresso was robust and perfectly extracted, while my partner's Americano was equally satisfying. We also indulged in their refreshing freshly squeezed green juice, a vibrant and healthy start to our meal.

While the menu thoughtfully includes classic brunch staples like poached eggs and smashed avo, it truly shines with its more innovative and health-conscious offerings, such as the tempting protein Buddha bowls. I opted for the slow-cooked brisket and smoky slow-cooked beans on sourdough toast with a fried egg, a dish that was an absolute revelation. The depth of smoky flavour in the beans and brisket, studded with sweet roasted garlic cloves, was simply incredible. My partner's choice of wild mushroom truffle eggs with parmesan snow on rosemary focaccia was equally impressive. The eggs were a testament to culinary skill – silky, golden, and gently folded, a far cry from the often-dry scrambled eggs encountered elsewhere. Both dishes were incredibly tasty and generously portioned, leaving us feeling wonderfully full and satisfied.

The service was efficient and unfussy, adding to the relaxed ambiance. Visiting on a weekday meant we were seated immediately, though I can imagine weekend waits might be a little longer – a testament to its popularity, I'm sure! Our total bill of around £50 for two felt incredibly reasonable given the exceptional quality and generous quantity of food. The decor is stylish and welcoming, with clean lines and a lovely selection of books to browse. There's also a great outdoor patio for sunny days.

We both left Bobo and Wild feeling entirely content and already planning our return. We're eager to sample their enticing array of baked goods displayed at the counter, and their lunch and dinner menus are now firmly on our radar. Bobo and Wild is a true gem in East Village, offering a brunch experience that is a cut above the rest. Highly, highly...

We visited with a large group and unfortunately had a very disappointing experience. The service was slow and at times unpleasant. We are all polite people who work in customer-facing roles, and at no point were we unkind or dismissive. However, whenever we asked our waitress for something, she repeatedly rolled her eyes at us.

Not all of our drinks (soft drinks and matchas) arrived, and when we politely asked if everything had been put through, the response we received was very dismissive—“calm down, all of you will get your drinks.” Unfortunately, we didn’t, and one of my colleagues had to go back inside to request them again, as they had been forgotten. Several of us felt intimidated by the waitress’s attitude and couldn’t enjoy the experience. The food itself was also underwhelming.

When it came to splitting the bill, the gentleman behind the counter was quite rude and made it clear he didn’t want to accommodate the request, saying, “yeah but now I have to put it all through again.” We explained we were unhappy with the service, yet he still insisted on including the service charge. Eventually, one of my colleagues had to take a pen and physically write out which items belonged on each receipt. They even forgot to charge for certain items, which we pointed out, as we wanted to ensure everything was paid correctly.

This outing was meant to be a small way of lifting our team’s spirits after a difficult day—we’re two managers who had taken staff affected by the Westfield mall fire out for food and drinks while waiting for the situation to be resolved. Instead, the poor service left our team feeling even more disheartened. Sadly, none of us left with a good impression, and we would not...