i don't eat pig - the door handles are pig's heads, i shouldn't really be stepping in here. unfortunately i have a boyfriend, who also has a plethora of friends, who are seriously in love with bodeans. bordering on obsessed i would say, which is why i found myself eating TWICE in a bodeans over an 18 hour period.
i'm completely the wrong person to review this place, i know this, but i also bet i am not the first person who has dietary requirements that has been dragged here due to friends/other halfs who love it, so therefore i'm reviewing this from the point of view of someone who has restricted options on the menu.
if you're a vegetarian, you have a few options. the menu is not THAT extensive anyway so comparatively i think they're doing alright - i just think the veggie options are a bit boring - mac and cheese, veggie burger, nachos etc.
if, like me, you eat chicken or fish, you have a lot more options such as a couple of fish options (fishcakes, salmon etc), or chicken burgers, BBQ chicken, chicken wings etc. i just get the feeling that eating even the chicken at bodeans isn't allowing you the full experience of eating at bodeans - like their specialities are their ribs, you know? and their ribs, pulled pork, burnt ends (basically their pig!) is what makes everyone fall in love with bodeans, not their chicken.
saying that, i ordered a half dozen chicken wings and a side salad, and i was satisfied. the chicken wings were hot, i didn't think they were THAT hot, but i have a good tolerance to spice. my friend ordered the diablo wings, he is a spice machine, and he was sweating a bit...so i guess that's a good sign! i know it was just six chicken wings but i honestly felt like i was eating forever...it's definitely not a place you go to if you're on a diet, or not hungry! prices in general are reasonably, but not if you're eating the fish - £17.95 for a main dish is STEEP - especially when you can get a game day special for £15.95 (basically a ridiculous amount of ribs, chicken wings, chips, coleslaw and a beer)
this particular restaurant has a fast food/BBQ joint upstairs which is very fast paced, manic and ALWAYS busy (but if you hang around even for 15 minutes you are guaranteed to get a seat, so don't give up!), and downstairs they have a restaurant. i prefer the restaurant but i like things to be a bit less manic. the restaurant always has huge waits, so if you can, book ahead.
they also do good cocktails and have a happy hour. as a frequent visitor to america, i would say that this is a good place to recreate those happy american feelings - they serve american beer, american sodas, and american food, and they do it well. i just feel sad for the pigs! read more