Bala Baya

We heard about Bala Baya from a friend. Encouraged by good reviews on Google, we decided to pay it a visit. It's a very pretty and welcoming place with a nice middle eastern menu and gorgeous decor. Things seem to be perfected to every detail, from the choice of cutlery and plates to the drinks and dishes. What seemed like a lovely choice for a lunch turned out to be rather a disappointment. The portions are very small. In fact, we found them so small we had to order a second course. The prices are not low so our bill grew quite quickly. We understand that all food places in the city have to deal with cost of living crisis now and portions cannot be as big as in the past, however this felt really tiny. Don't get me wrong, the food wasn't bad. The presentation was amazing. Dishes looked gorgeous and as mentioned before, seemed planned to every detail, however when it comes to the taste or what we could get from the menu it was nothing outstanding or anything you can't get anywhere else. Overall, I am giving this place two stars. I don't think we will be coming back.
May 1st, 2023

Really authentic Israeli food - everything we ate was delicious - definitely try the aubergine and the babka
Apr 30th, 2023

Great restaurant if you like middle eastern cuisine done creatively yet traditionally. This is the second time we eat here and we'll be back for sure. The food is top level, my only criticism is the tasting menu was a bit hectic, with waves of plates crowding the tables, and the service was a bit awkward, the main waitress who served us was great and on point, but the other runners at some point were piling up things on the table and just seemed a bit clunky. Our main waitress sorted everything out professionally and promptly, but you'd expect, especially for a tasting menu at a restaurant that is not exactly cheap that service would run a bit more smoothly. Still, a great restaurant, one of the best in the neighbourhood and definitely worth trying if you're local or dining out in the area.
Apr 29th, 2023

Very small portions and very pricey. Do not go here if youre hungry. Dishes were interesting and creative but still not worth it in my opinion with all the other restaurant options available in London.
Apr 29th, 2023

Very expensive and overpricey. I would simply not recommend it. Small portions, not many choices (for my taste). Be careful, google prices are not updated (exemple 3 prawns for 21pounds)
Apr 28th, 2023