Bubba Gump’s Shrimp Co, London Review
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co
Trocedero, London
Reviewed by Emma Rogers
If you’re a fan of the 1994 Forrest Gump film or just the three decades the film represents, then you’ll love this new themed restaurant in the heart of London’s Theatreland. The restaurant is on the upper floors of what used to be Planet Hollywood, and can only be entered through the merchandise shop on the ground floor. The shop itself is testament to the longevity of the film, which at 20 years old and a phenomenal amount of Oscars and Golden Globes, including Best Actor for Tom Hanks.
As you walk upstairs, the iconic pose of Forrest Gump sitting on the bench waiting for a bus is all you can see. The 400 seater restaurant is covered with memorabilia from the film or the 60s, 70s or 80s eras. Booth or window table, there is a lot of choice of where to sit or the kind of surroundings. Towards the back of the restaurant, there’s a private dining room which looks a lot like Mama’s guest house on the inside. Large TVs show the film on continuous loop, with the occasional sports game.
On the night we went, there were copious amounts of cocktails on offer, most of them juice drinks with alcohol for good measure! All of the food and drink has either a film-related theme or Southern States flavour. As you would imagine in a restaurant named after the shrimp company made famous in the film, shrimp features largely on the menu. The menu itself is quite extensive, but don’t come here if you’re on a diet – large amounts of the food on offer are deep fried! I can recommend the stuffed shrimp though, which in this part of London, is not something you expect to find on any menu.
The desserts are pure self-indulgence – Southern Style. Mama’s Bread Pudding is a classic that again, you don’t find on most restaurant menus nowadays, but we tried the chocolate brownie and then the key lime pie. They were both generous portions, and were drowning in guilt but both very good. Watching other tables’ food come out, there were also snacks and smaller portions of food, but you get the idea in an American restaurant!
The whole trip if for those who love the themed restaurants but prefer proper establishments with good menus. I would approach a trip to Bubba Gump’s as a treat for the whole family with the complete package of themed entertainment, good food, and alcohol for the grown-ups. If you’re feeling naughty though, pop in after going to the theatre and experience one of the desserts. They’d make Mama Gump so proud!
Rating: 4/5
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co
Trocadero, 13 Coventry Street, Leicester Square, London, W1D 7AB | (020) 3763 5288
