Ribs, Steaks, Salads, Sandwiches - These are a familiar sight to regular diners of American cuisine.  As we head for Bobby’s, known to provide the classic American dining, pictures of such gastronomic delights fill our imaginations and its location deep in the bowels of CHIJMES which is a famous spot frequented by the expats working in the Lion City, served only to whet our appetites in anticipation of the marvelous yummies we will be tasting while lounging in the surrounding ambient setting.

As such, we walked into the restaurant, expecting a dining experience nothing short of spectacular. This once American franchise does hold an exceptional reputation for providing dinners of some of the best traditional American fare after all. We were particularly intent on sampling their signature prime rib.

You will certainly be torn between the old and the new at Bobby’s. Since Bobby's has ceased to operate as a franchise under Bobby Rubinos,  the new management, Prime Cuisine Pte Ltd, is being refurbishing the place to a more vibrant, jazzy wine bar and taproom due for finish this coming end August. Established a decade ago, the restaurant prides itself on being an integrated leisure zone; combining a contemporary dining area, a cozy bar section complete with a pool table and a casual al fresco area spilling out into the fountain courtyard of Chijmes. The centralized al fresco section is where most customers usually like to be seen while having a great time chilling and dining with loved ones and friends.

Food will never taste as good if the company wasn’t enjoyable. Rovena Plique, the Marketing Coordinator for Bobby’s, dined in with us and we had such a pleasant evening together. Altogether it was a lovely experience throughout.

• Served
  Appetizers:
  French Onion Soup
  Salad Nicoise
  
  Main:
  Pasta Marinara
  Barbeque Baby Back Pork Ribs
  Rib Eye Steak
  Bobby’s Pizza
  
  Dessert:
  Brownie Sundae
  Chocolate Mousse

We started off with such deliciously light and tasty appetizers! From an authentic family recipe, the simple bowl of onion soup was superbly done. It was the rare kind of good, difficult to find just anywhere. The cheese was right and it was certainly a great serve for soup lovers. Salads came next. The Salad Nicoise was loaded with olives and could certainly be recommended for a delightful lunch, especially for ladies with smaller appetites. It was deliciously refreshing and filling.

We selected several dishes for the main course.  The Rib Eye Steak is one huge slab of beef, easily an inch thick and cooked just as ordered. And our pasta marinara as our second side dish was amply sauced. The pizzas tasted crisp and fresh, with spicy tomato sauce and great toppings. A warning though, some might not favour the pizza as it is done with slightly oily crusts.

Bobby’s has been conferred many awards. The most recent being the Excellent Food Awards 2004 for its exceptional culinary skills in Baby Back Pork Ribs, BBQ Beef Ribs and Grilled Salmon fillet with Teriyaki or Herb Sauce. So indeed, Bobby’s pork and beef rib concoctions certainly has immense popularity. Personally I found the ribs a little too sweet for my liking, but I did enjoy its tender meat.

Although I do strongly recommend the suggestion that everyone should try the dessert served here, considering the large dishes I have already consumed the thick, lavish pieces of brownie were too much for me to handle. My advice therefore is to share a little dessert just for the taste and pleasure of it!

With the services of a local wine consultant, speaker, writer and marketer, Mr. Lim Hwee Peng, Bobby’s will be coming up with a new, extensive wine menu and food soon with an emphasis on crowd favourites so watch out for it...

Service
Sticking to a basic concept of simplicity and focusing primarily on its food and service. The staff are always smiling and polite, immediately attending to you when called upon. Service is attentive and informative throughout. As you leave the restaurant, you walk out contented and filled. Perfect for a party or special occasion, it's big enough to take groups or banquets and yet the atmosphere is congenial enough for a romantic dinner for two. Please call them for more enquiries within.