Review on Bala Baya
Israeli restaurant Bala Baya occupies a beautifully renovated old red brick railway arch, steps from Union Theatre in the heart of Southwark. A buzzy venue with lively background music, it's an all day affair laid out over two floors.
Designed and co-owned by Greek-born designer based in London, AfroditiKrassa to reflect the Bauhaus architecture of Tel Aviv, it features pink and black terrazzo floors contrasting with black slate table tops and burgundy red leather banquets with salmon pink fabric upholstery. A stylish dining room decorated with palms, it's flooded with lots of natural light from the huge arched window, with exposed brick walls and a lovely breezeblock fresco imported from Israel. The ground floor decked out in pristine white has stools set around the gently curved zinc counter of the open kitchen, where you can watch all the theatre of the chefs in action.
Head Chef is Eran Tibi who formerly graced the kitchens of Ottolenghi in Islington. In the morning the kitchen sets out its stall as a bakery serving delicious sweet and savoury pastries and snacks until lunch time, when you can order one of their tasty pittas. The cooking moves up a gear in the evening when guests can choose a series of dishes designed for sharing along the lines of braised pork cheeks, plum and lemon thyme salsa or spiced squid, sweetcorn mayo, chilli and grape relish. To finish enjoy the intriguing dessert called The Filthy, mascarpone, tahini, tonka cream, milk caramel, sesame crumble and banana compote.
Bala Baya has a concise wine list to complement the dishes as well as tasty cocktails.
Bala Baya is also featured in: Michelin Guide
Rate this RestaurantCuisine
Middle Eastern / Tapas
Chef
Eran Tibi
Restaurant Opening Times
Breakfast: 10.30am - 4.00pm Sat & Sun)
Lunch: 12.00 - 2.45pm Mon-Fri
Dinner: 5.00 - 11.00pm Mon-Fri (6.00 - 11.00pm Sat)
Accepted credit cards
Visa, Master Card, American Express