5 /5 Tim Robertson: Two of us visited the Bay Leaf for supper last Friday. The attached cocktail bar is a lively place and was very busy so we went straight through to the restaurant.
Luckily, we had booked a table for 18:45 - fortuitous as the restaurant was packed, even at this time of the evening. Clearly it was a popular choice. The dining room was very clean and nicely appointed; the decorations simple and classy.. unquestionably, a good atmosphere and a sense of up market.
Service was immediate despite the number of people coming in. We started with a couple of papadums and these were served with the usual fruity sauce, yoghurt and chopped onions. Perfectly good but nothing special. But then came the starters - we both opted for the Chicken Tikka starter which was elegantly plated and serviced in decent time. (photo attached).
I went for the Lamb Rogan Josh and my friend went for the medium chicken jalfrezi. The Rogan Josh was beautifully spiced and perfectly seasoned. The accompanying pilau rice provided a relief from the chilli and the familiar texture of a complete curry. The lamb was soft and deeply flavoured.. I could not fault it. My friends Jalfrezi was for him, quite hot but again, he said he would order it again - that says it all!
I would thoroughly recommend this restaurant. The staff were excellent; attentive but not overly. Service was a one would hope - not too fast and not too slow. We will definitely be returning!
