Reviews Bayleaf Restaurant

Most recently I have been traversing the length and breadth of London in search of the most delectable Indian cuisine and the latest stop on my journey was Bayleaf Restaurant. Bayleaf situated in Whetstone, North London is a wonderful find and did not disappoint. 

Bayleaf already came highly recommended, evidenced by its nomination in the British Curry Awards and as such I was already looking forward to sampling their new menu. Bayleaf provides a sumptuous space in which to explore every last one of your indulgences and it proved to be a taste sensation; an interaction of North Indian traditional dishes with a modern twist.

A visit to Bayleaf is certainly a feast for all the senses. The decor is warm and inviting, modern yet classic all whilst emphasising an intimate environment. This all adds greater ambience to the diner's experience and you sense you are about to be let into one of North London's best kept secrets. Keep reading and  you will discover that the secret is about to be shared!

Always one who likes to start my voyage of discovery of Indian cuisine with a papadom. These were crunchy, light and eaten without pause as we enjoyed the six different types of homemade chutneys - highlights being the coconut chutney and corriander and fresh mint. The service is attentive, informed and encourages you to try the variety of dishes presented by the menu. Starters aplenty were ordered and I was ready to eat.

The standout dish for sheer interplay of taste and presentation was the Samander Ki Bhojan described as a dish to impress and yes how it did! Succulent lightly spiced chargrilled king prawns were accompanied by delicately pan-fried king scallops cooked to perfection with a lightly dressed micro salad. The dish arrived at the table with quite simply an unparalleled wow factor in presentation terms. Order this if you are celebrating a special occasion, actually just order this if you feel like a treat. Any treat, any day of the week, just order it. Lajawaab lamb showcased the traditional clay oven with aplomb; the lamb was charred whilst remaining succulent, juicy and tender.

I was entirely lead by recommendations when selecting the main dishes to try and I was not disappointed. Kerala style red snapper and kappa was my favourite. Grilled fillet of snapper served on a bed of spicy cassava with mango and coconut milk-based sauce. Flavourful and delicate, it did not overpower the fish. It was sensational. Darbari Chicken Masala and Lamb Sholay Gost completed our selection. The chicken has a fiery after kick on the palate and the lamb was melt in the mouth. All served with complimentary pilau rice. Remember not to overlook the vegetarian dishes, the Raviya is delicious - baby aubergine stuffed with paneer and mashed potato. Naans are a must also. 

The awards and accolades for Bayleaf Restaurant are clearly deserved and the launch of their new a la carte menu reflects how dedicated Bayleaf are to maintaining and surpassing these standards. Their menu is varied and complex with a host of less familiar dishes to encourage a greater appreciation of North Indian cuisine. The quality of the food, flavours and presentation mean that Bayleaf is one not to miss.

It is somewhat ironic that right after I complain about titles of restaurants being fairly non-descriptive and not providing many clues, (Kitchen Table, I am looking at you), I would then find myself in Bayleaf.  In this case, the name is a kind of a giveaway in itself, to me, it screams Indian.  So this is how we found ourselves in Zone 4 London, far from my usual comfort zone in Mayfair.  Instead, I was lured out with a promise of something special.

Excellent restaurant! You pay more here than most places but the quality or food, drinks and service are a few levels higher. I’ve been three times and each time has been very enjoyable. I recommend to anyone who appreciates good food and quality.

Well what can I say...after what seems like an eternity I finally found my way to bayleaf...defo my new fav Indian spot...knew it was a bit pricier than my normal spots so I was a bit hesitant but after tasting the food theres a very good reason why...can't fault anythin...from the service to the drinks to the food...everythin was spot on...Mitra was very attentive...even gave me a dessert on the house as it was my bday...only thing I'd say is I'm surprised with the food they serving they haven't got a bigger place...place would be packed...as it was today...will defo be back soon...

Unforgettable experience, had totally changed a standard of eating out for me. Everything was amazing. From the moment you walk in you are looked after, honestly so amazing. Service is 100%. The lamb chops are very nice and filling. Drinks are lovely and sweet. They also handled us as a big group and with children, but regardless still stayed professional and was very understanding.

Went there with my family. What a blast day!! Every single item tastes absolutely delicious. The staffs are really friendly and helpful. The owner was at the restaurant. He has a warm personality made us feel very welcome. Btw, the foods don't just taste good but they are very instagrammable as well. 👌

As others have already said, this is a gem of a restaurant that we are fortunate to have in Whetstone! Excellent quality and many items way beyond the usual fare. Impeccable and friendly service as well in a very clean and attractive restaurant. How could anyone resist a menu item that insists ‘it’ll blow your mind’? :)

Absolutely loved every second we were there! We went for my cousins birthday meal. Service was amazing, always helping and checking on us. But the food, just the best! I'm usually quite fussy going to Indian restaurants and my family just fussy in general but this place just ticked so many boxes. The fact we could choose the spice levels helped even more considering me just prefer it that way! And then the little celebratory show they did for my cousin. Honestly, I can not fault this place! Must Go! :)

I went to bay leaf on valentines date. I can’t explain in words how nice was the food and their customer service. I can’t recall when I had such a great time last in a restaurant in london. They have the best mock-tails trust me! I don’t mind to pay a amount for my food if the environment of the restaurant is beautiful, food is delicious and customer service is excellent! Will definitely recommend this restaurant to all. I couldn’t post the main course photos as they I have only filmed them.

We hosted a very special occasion at the Bayleaf. We were blown away by the professionalism and warmth shown to us and every one of our guests. The food was complimented and commented on by all...so tasty, flavourful and presented with panach and plenty of it! They (all staff) looked after us like we were family and catered to our every need. Now we go back at every opportunity, enjoy the style and warmth and of course the amazing food, whenever we can. Mr Miah and his Team are our first choice to deliver a first class, memorable and tasty dining experience.

The food here is excellent so I expected to pay more than a “normal” Indian. It is still on the high side but just about worth it. We all enjoyed every dish and would definitely recommend. The only reason this review is 4 and not 5 star is because of the charges for the poppadums and sauces. These are sometimes complimentary but even if charged for the poppadums I certainly wouldn’t have expected to pay for the sauces to go with it or at least be explained these would be chargeable. Small gripe but worth noting if you visit. Also £8 for a bottle of cobra probably bought from Costco is a little cheeky. On the whole though very good just no poppadums or beer for me next time ! 🤣🤣