Bala Baya - London

Bala Baya, Southwark - The Southwark neighbourhood, though close to myself, isn't really somewhere that I intuitively go for when I want to dine out.

Came to Bala Baya for dinner after our first full day in London; it did not disappoint; delivering on its promise of a "taste of Tel Aviv in London".

Made a reservation based on the recent NYT review and was not disappointed.

Overall, I had a pleasant experience at this restaurant with lovely outdoor seating. I tried the vegan options, which included about 5 dishes. While I didn't enjoy the mushrooms as much, the cauliflower steak was a standout. The menu also offered a good selection of drinks and cocktails. However, the service was slow and inattentive, and the food arrived at different times without warning. The prices were on the higher side, and I'm not fully convinced I would return. It's a great spot to hang out with friends and enjoy a social outing, with plenty of indoor seating on two levels and gender-neutral facilities.

This restaurant is ideal for impressing your foodie friends, with creative dishes, vegetarian options, and influences from Asian cuisine. While not cheap, the plates are meant to be shared, so 4 dishes would be enough for a satisfying meal for 2 people. However, there are some flaws to note. The venue used to be elegant but now lacks character, feeling like a dull restaurant with canteen-style seating near the entrance and minimal heating. Despite pre-booking a table and arriving early, we were seated downstairs as upstairs tables are not guaranteed if they are full. The service is okay, with a warm welcome but little follow-up and the possibility of leaving with a cooking smell on your clothes, especially if dining downstairs. Overall, the food is excellent but the overall experience does not justify the high prices. It's a shame, as this restaurant was a favorite before the pandemic.