Reviews of Bala Baya. (Pub) in London (London).

Bala Baya

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360 Comments

Pub

Middle Eastern restaurant

Arch 25, Old union yard arches, 229 Union St, London SE1 0LR, United Kingdom

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Information of Bala Baya, Pub in London (London)

On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.

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Reviews of Bala Baya

C. V.

Fantastic experience! The restaurant gives off cool modern vibes and we loved the ambiance as soon as we walked through the door. We also enjoyed the music in the background. As for the food, the marriage of flavours was truly extraordinary. Everything was excellent, we absolutely loved every single dish all the way down to the smallest detail. The staff was very approachable and friendly. We definitely recommend!

N. T.

Generally a nice play and great outdoor seating. I had the vegan options (about 5) and they were all good, my least favorite was the mushrooms and the best being the cauliflower steak. Good choice of drinks and cocktails but found the service slow and unattentive. Food also arrived at different times which I don't mind but wasn't forewarned. Prices are moderately high and I'm not yet convinced I would come back for more. Great place to meet friends and have a good social time. Plenty of seating inside on 2 levels and I liked the gender neutral facilities.

F. G.

What an amazing experience at this Israeli restaurant. Certainly an eye opening tasting different dishes on the menu. We went for a shared brunch option although I personally feel going for the individual dishes if you know which one you want might be cheaper but the overall brunch platter was good! I really enjoyed the aubergine mess - the sauce and flavour were succulent and tasty! For our main dishes, my beef brisket on that pita was fantastic! Didn’t realise the combination of flavours would give this dish an elevated taste. Lamb shakshuka was also mind blowing! Loved the spicy ness and the amount of gravy you have in there. Finished all of them at the end as it was so delicious!! Lastly, the desserts - my personal favourite would be the cheese cake but I think if you eat together with the Malibu malabi, that is just a divine flavour that you wouldn’t find it elsewhere. It is definitely a place I would recommend for some good Israeli-an cuisine. Also amazing food presentation!!

G. Q.

If you've never tried Israeli food before or want to try different ingredients and flavour combinations then I would highly recommend Bala Baya. Their tapas style dishes are fresh, clever and taste great, making you want to try and more from the menu, a really good menu selection to try in a group. Some dishes you may think are heavy on the citrus or another flavour, but remember this is Israeli style food and their keeping it as authentic as possible. Highlight dishes were the hummus with slow cooked beef brisket, lamb dumplings, tempura monkfish and the aubergine mess. Prices are what you would expect for that area in London and the quality of the cooking, so not cheap but it won't break the bank if you come in a group. If you're just ordering food, the prices are pretty decent, it will be the drinks that will rack up the bill. The staff were really chilled and friendly and service was great and made sure we had everything we needed (even though we were a walk-in group on a Friday night!). Dishes come as and when they're ready, but we weren't really waiting too long between dishes except for the 'canoed seabass' dish which I expect takes a bit longer to prepare and cook.

C. C.

What an excellent night!!! Food is amazing, service is outstanding, wine selection is great (with surprisingly good Israeli wine). We had prawns, cauliflower steak, aubergine mess, chicken and artichoke. The food presentation is awesome, extremely tasty. Highly recommend. Will be coming back certainly!! Please do visit!!

A. B.

Really worth it I would say if u are going for new year's or just important ocassion. Some people would say overpriced but hands down one of the best restaurants I been in London in a long time. Service was incredible, and food arrived faster than expected.

R.

Delicious and interesting concept - I will say it was a fusion middle east restaurant where each dish has an incredible taste and flavour combinations - service was helpful and friendly - the aubergine mess is a must! - definitely recommend and definitely will get back! -

I. L. (. G.

I like this restaurant with Lebanese delicious food good service location I can tell him some of these pics it's mentally busy just got plenty of seating for outside as well. I'll be happy to come back here again only wish that the tasting menu had some cooked meat in it but it was out of season.

G.

Overall great service from the staff, and the dishes we chose were really delicious. Kebab dumplings, king prawn baklava, brisket doughnut and also the beef Hummus. Great dishes and good share portions. We wish there were more on the plates. Tough to give five stars but consider this 4.5

M. M.

The service was excellent, the restaurant is beautiful and the food was perfect. The brunch tasting menu is the way to go! The steak and eggs and fish pillows were both delicious main dishes and all the desserts were fantastic. Gazoz with Prosecco?! In a jug, is a must. My only disappointment was not being able to purchase one of the Bala Baya jumpers!

B. p.

Great service, atmosphere and most of all the food was perfect! The tasting menu was sublime and great value through Fork’s 50% off festival.

O. M.

Very good food and really nice atmosphere! We had hummus, cauliflower stake and cabbage roast - super delicious!

Z. J.

Great food . Fresh and tasty and a very modern take on this type of cuisine . We had the tasting menu

S. P.

I feel so fortunate to have this fantastic restaurant nearby. The food is always interesting and delicious (fish & fennel was amazing); the drinks selection is creative - they make their own drink syrup for wonderful cocktails. It’s works for a casual meal or a special celebration. And the service is always first class. Michael looked after us last night, and was a great example of someone that is exceptional at customer service. They’ll try and fit you in even if full but definitely worth booking.

A. P.

Bala Baya (meaning mistress of the house) ticks of all boxes with tasty fresh modern Israeli dishes, epic service and refreshing non-alcoholic drinks. Split across two levels, the ground floor is an open kitchen, with counter seating opposite, a bakery at the back where their pitta bread is baked, and a busy bar. The upper floor is more atmospheric but considerably louder, seating about 40. If you are visiting Bala Baya for lunch during the weekend give the Brunch Set Menu (£32 per person) a try. The set menu starts with six mezze plates including olives, grapes & feta, hummus and an incredibly tasty aubergine mess dish. The humble pita at Bala Baya is a world removed from the kind you buy in a supermarket — a warm, fluffy pillow to mop hummus from the plate. Following the mezze you can choose one main dish from the brunch menu. The lamb shakshuka was full of flavour while the braised beef doughnut was juicy and tasty. The last course is a sample of three treats including a chesse cake and a burnt babka. To close it off, the service is epic, warm, efficient and constantly available.

G. E.

Really lovely food and attentive and helpful service- really enjoyed the tapas like menu, lots of very interesting and varied dishes, beautifully presented- would definitely recommend!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

H.

Really enjoyable brunch and a bit different to the standard brunch menu you find in London, which I was absolutely delighted about. Only complaints for 4 stars and not 5 is that it’s quite expensive and the portions aren’t massive (wasn’t realllly enough food for me) Still recommend this for a fun atmosphere and a brunch that’s different to the norm!

H. B.

Has to be one of the tastiest meals I’ve had in London in the last couple of years. Great for a sharing experience with delicate and incredibly flavoured food. It’s in a quiet and private road and the atmosphere is low key and discreet. I’d recommend everything we ate but the aubergine mess, cauliflower and a grapefruit/thyme/gin drink was also super memorable. The staff were all brilliant, attentive, funny and made our evening special. I’ll be coming back for sure!

N. C.

The food is amazing! So unique and tasty!!! I loved the monkfish, the king prawns, the beef doughnut was tasty and the beef hummus is out of this world! The music is loud though, turn it down a bit!

A. G.

Great food, would recommend going with the set menu option that allows you to taste their best dishes and includes a drink and dessert. Really friendly staff who politely laughed at and played along with one of my friend’s poor sense of humour. There’s always one I guess.. Excellent atmosphere and seat arrangements for larger groups. Particularly enjoyed the aubergine mess, cauliflower steak and Tunisian tartar

K. B.

Lovely restaurant hidden in the union arches off the main Southwark road on Blackfriars road so literally 5 mins walk. The place itself had a lovely sort of cavernous feel industrial style. We were greeted and ushered upstairs to what was a lovely space w a large chandelier. Our booking was at 6:30pm so place was quite empty this surprisingly got packed quite quickly which was great and very entertaining. The service was very attentive from our greek waiter ‘michael’ who was very lovely and bubbly. The food itself was splendid a mix of Palestinian/Israeli dishes with a twist. The lebneh freekeh was fantastic with a touch of harissa with the cauliflower main w harissa and tahini perfectly charred. We ordered the lamb dumplings which was very filling and tender. The monkfish fritters were also nice and crispy and meaty. The dessert was the patty piece being the babka w cherry compote which was very delectable. All in all a very enjoyable evening in a lovely setting.

B. S.

Just as the description on the website reads: adventurous Tel-Aviv eating by Eran Tibi. Dishes are very crative, colourful and delicious. And so are the coctails. Amazing exeperience with fusión of Middle East flavours that make up Israeli cusine which is influenced by many cultures. For 2 ppl we've ordered 4 plates (Black Bream Ceviche, Tempura Monkfish, Tunisian Tartar and Aubergine Mess) and had an amazing feast. The portions are reasonable size so if you're not a big eater 4 for 2 are more than enough. All of the above were cooked to perfection and tasted amazing. Can't decide if Ceviche was my favourite or Aubergine though. For dessert we've chosen (after spot on recommendation from our waiter) tonka cream cheesecake with lovely banana tempura and fantastic Malibu Malabi. The coctails we've had were equally delicious and as beautifully presented as the food. After trying, Unusual Negroni, Flying Camel, Summer High and The Cure I have to say my favourite was The Cure. And let's make it clear that's not only because of the name conection to one of my all time favourite bands 😜 Definitely recommend, we'll be back to try Prawn Baklava which sadly wasn't available in lunch menu.

S. Z.

Very excellent Israeli food served sharing platter style, in a wonderfully lovely place with excellent ambiance. Our only complaint is our extra serving of pita took so long to arrive we'd almost finished the food, although we got an extra set of bread and it was so yummy, which made up for it. Cocktails were also excellent, try the champagne martini. Would heartily recommend!

R. C.

Fantastic food. So well spiced and flavours. Great combinations with layers of different flavours and textures. All perfectly cooked and presented. Staff are friendly too. The perfect place for a date or an outing with friends

U.

Absolutely spectacular food. The prawns are one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. 3rd visit here, and I already can’t wait to come back. Sit at the kitchen counter and watch the chefs in action, and order the prawns, cauliflower, aubergine and ask the chefs their favourites too

A. R.

Many thanks to Sam who looked after us today, as we celebrated our friend's birthday. Sam was personable and informative, and you can tell the rest of the team seem happy to work here, which only adds to a great atmosphere. All the food is delicious, but especially, the cauliflower, and the monkfish tempura... I'm looking forward to going again.

J. L.

Went there with the eat out to help out deal. They didn’t present the eat out to help out/special menu at first, so make sure you ask for it to get a better price. The cauliflower was tasty, didn’t expect a cauliflower to be tasty at all, very impressive! The fried chicken had a bit of orange taste, which was new. Will go back again.

S. K.

Lovely place and really friendly staff. Food was good. Unfortunately the day we went for lunch they had some issues in the kitchen so we didn’t end up with some dishes from our order. We tried the short rib shawarma,crispy sticky crunchy chicken and hummus. For dessert we had the delicious burnt babka. We would definitely go again to try the other dishes on the menu.

T. L.

Excellent food, excellent service. Loved all the vegan options. Thank you!

T. A.

No other words to describe my experience: MAGICAL !!! From start to finish, I can not wait to return and try all other dishes. Everything was so delicious and we both left with so much taste for more…thanks Baya Baya, for the unforgettable birthday experience, my partner was super impressed and definitely love me more for that 🙏🏻

M. A. R.

An amazing experience all around. We had the tasting menu for the whole table -- I have specific dietary requirements, so I was worried that wouldn't be an option without everyone missing out on something, but the staff made sure that I had substitute dishes with the same flavour profiles as the "standard" ones whenever required. Everyone was really friendly and helpful, and last but not least, the food was delicious!

M. S.

We had a jolly evening last Sunday having tried a range of both vegan and meaty plates. We also drank a remarkable white wine - Binyamina Gewürztraminer. The waitress whose name I never asked for (I only know she was Italian) attended to us with highest standards of professionalism and friendliness. I shall definitely return soon.

J. D.

Excellent food and service. Hummus is delicious. On weekends for brunch the unlimited formula is very worth it. Special mention for the shashuka, that is packed with flavor.

L. C.

Really good food and cocktail, slightly overpriced. Service is nice but very long.

B. W.

What an experience. We choose the journey through the menu option and it was exceptional. The highlights were the aubergine mess and the bland de blanc. The Bala Baya cocktail was lovely as well. If you’re in the area I can’t recommend it enough.

l. l.

Went for the Michlin tasting menu. Fantastic food.great service. Very reasonable.Highly recommended.

f. j.

This place is outstanding, food was exceptional and tasty. Had the aubergine mess, tempura monkfish, hummus and kebab dumplings, everything was delicious and enough for 2 people. Washed it down with a bottle of red from Dan (northern isreal) - the Argaman. First time i tried Isreali wine and wont be the last..

M. S.

Great place to eat, meet and enjoy. We'll presented arches location. Fantastic menu.

M. S. L.

Amazing food and lovely staff. We had a great time thanks to the very friendly staff who put a great effort into making sure all allergies and dietary requirements were met.

J. N.

Had lunch here after some friends recommended the place. The restaurant was a lovely atmosphere and the drinks were good, but unfortunately I didn't really rate the food and we tried quite a lot of the menu as we were a large group! Nothing stood out except maybe the salmon and the flat bread came with nearly all of the dishes so we assumed it's be good but it wasn't crispy or anything special at all. My fave was the pretzel for dessert which was dense with some crunch with caramel/choc Pistachios. I heard the menu had changed from when my friends went so maybe I'll try it again and see if it was just a one off.

N. H.

Wonderful Israeli kitchen based on a tapas like sharing concept. The restaurant is located in a cozy little alley in London’s Southbank quarter. The service was great and the food was delicious! It’s a wonderful experience to taste all the oriental flavors in such a cool place like Bala Baya.

N. S.

Food was excellent! Some of our items didn’t arrive and were still on the bill, they were extremely busy, overall we enjoyed ourselves and I would return.

F. M.

Food was delicious! The service was amazing and felt very spoilt as some of the dishes were adapted to make them Vegan just for me! 10 out of 10!

D. w. D.

I have been here before about 2 years ago and it was time to go back. Their summer menu is succulent and equally match the flavours of the dishes. These two photos are the aubergine mash and Cauliflower steak. The flavours though, unbelievable. For two of us we found that 5 dishes was plenty of food.

D. A.

Delicious and very tasty food, we were able to try new dishes and discover new flavours. We got the sharing course, so the chef cose for us. Beautiful atmosphere and great service!

E. L. G.

Turning off Union street onto the charming Old Union Yard Arches I knew I would be in for something special when I visited Bala Baya, a Tel-Aviv style eatery and bar offering Israeli sharing plates. On arrival, the first thing that struck me was the split level dining and the overall ambience which brought a wave of sophistication to the restaurant. The incredibly happy and friendly waiter who greeted us on arrival ensured me that this was also a very down-to-earth and comfortable place to dine! I felt this all the more when we were told that “all guests receive pitta and dip on arrival” and sorted us out with the greeting food and some water for the table immediately! There are a total of 16 sharing plates on the menu, with seven being veggies, four fish and the rest a mix of lamb, chicken, pork and beef. So whatever your food preference, there most definitely is something for everyone! Some plates are quite small and others much bigger – for instance if you choose the Fish and Fennel you’ll get a whole seabass – and this is definitely reflected in the price. We were recommended to share about five of the smaller dishes between the two of us, so we chose: Cauliflower – with crumble syrup yogurt £9 Smashed Roasties – with celeriac, macadamia puree, nutmeg and black truffle £11 Prawn Baklava – 3 King Prawns with bitter lime syrup, lime cream, Persian lime and pistachios £14 Pig & Pomelo – Pork belly with spiced caramel, kohlrabi pomelo and salted peanuts £11 Saffron Beef – braised beef with saffron dumplings, blackened tomatoes and pecorino cheese £16 All of the dishes were really colourful and flavoursome. I felt that some of the dishes, especially the smashed roasties, ,were quite on the small side for a sharing dish. The roasties were incredible and one of our favourites with the truffle flavours really making this dish something amazing. It just didn’t seem have as many roasties themselves in it as I would have liked! Our other favourites were the Prawn Baklava, the Pig & Pomelo and the Saffron Beef. The prawns were incredible, and although you only get 3 in the dish, they were huge! Really plump and meaty and we loved the combination of lime and pistachios on them. The Pork belly was how you expect a good bit of pork to be cooked – soft and succulent on the inside with that fabulous crispiness on the outside – definitely a winner for us! The Saffron Beef was juicy and soft and we loved the saffron dumplings! They made this dish quite rich and very filling, and you also get a really good sized helping of this too which is great. As you can imagine, after devouring all of that we were pretty full! But the options for dessert were so intriguing that we just had to try one! So we opted for the most intriguing of them all – the Parsnip and Honey Semifredo with butterscotch and honeycomb (£8). We really weren’t sure what to expect as we both love parsnips but to us they usually reside within a Sunday Roast, so we were very much looking forward to trying them in a sweet way! I have to admit, they did not disappoint! On first observation, how colourful this dish was really struck us. Beautiful notes of purple edible flowers and yellow parsnips and honeycomb really gave this dish the “instagrammable look”, and it tasted just as wonderful! The thin pieces of parsnip were a crispy delight and were complimented so well by the gorgeous chunks of honeycomb and the smooth butterscotch ice cream. This dessert really was a lovely surprise to us! We loved our time here at Bala Baya and thoroughly enjoyed the food. This is a great place to come to celebrate a special occasion or if you’ve got some cash to splash as it’s not the cheapest, but most definitely worth a visit!

L. A.

We had a great time at Bala Baya. The restaurant looks modern, has a lovely staff and serves great food. I really recommend the 42£ Michelin menu.

J. J.

Great food, even better staff. Really cosy restaurant, hidden away amongst the hustle and bustle. I imagine this is what all of the food in Israel tastes like!

O. D.

We came for a brunch put on by Boom and had such an incredible time! We will definitely be back to try more of the delicious menu - still dream of the Aubergine Mess!

E. L.

The hummus was one of the best I've had in London, and the aubergine was also very good, however, the rest of the dishes disappointed. The baby octopus was stale and the black sauce it arrived with was slimy. the laffa with lamb arrived cold and the bread itself was under baked and very dense. Too bad, the place has a lot of potential. I hope they read the reviews and improve their dishes.

P.

I Loved this place! The atmosphere is really lively, with a unique style and decor. The food is great, service good. We had a tasting menu for four people and it was quite abundant, however we got take aways for the food we didn't manage to finish! But every single dish was superb!! Glad to have been there, can't wait to be back!!

J. D.

Nice Israeli restaurant in a great atmosphere. We shared the tasting menu which was good. In the beginning our food came super fast but at the end we needed to wait a long time for dessert and coffee. The staff is very helpful and cheerful. I would recommend trying some craft beer with the tasting menu.

E. W.

This place is an old favourite for me, I return at least once a year and am always impressed by the delicious variety of flavours. The hospitality is very good but not excellent.

O. M.

I was there at daytime menu which was nice and exciting. Well executed complex flavours that makes you raise eyebrows with surprise and excites at the same time. Nothing heavy buy satisfyingly comforting food. I can't wait to try out the evening menu for dinner!

L. L.

Literally ordered one of everything from the menu. Most dishes were fairly good but a few were a bit over salted. Good service.

N. S. P.

Fantastic food and great atmosphere - enjoyed every time I had the pleasure of visiting. They also have a new beautiful terrace. Highly recommended

N. S.

Israeli fusion restaurant in Southwark, upstairs and downstairs, great atmosphere. Open kitchen, food freshly cooked. Ok products, friendly warm service, limited wine list but pretty good for such casual place. All dishes are beautifully plated and generous. Worth the stop if you're in the area. #LetsGuide

E. O.

I went to Bala Baya for a dinner and had one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever enjoyed. The food was brilliant, we got the kebabs dumplings, fiery labneh, cauliflower steak, aubergine mess and our favourite, the cured halibut. All the food was delicious, with all the plates providing something uniquely brilliant. The service was also fantastic, with very friendly staff that made sure we were well looked after and all our needs were met. In general, a gorgeous experience I won’t be forgetting anytime soon- and I urge you to go as soon as you can! I can assure you you will leave delighted with your decision!

C. d. C. M.

It was a very amazing food experience. The plate and dessert were so good and tasty. I strongly recommend it.

K. S.

I love this little gem underneath the train arches. The food is sooo glorious, reminds me of the best Tel Aviv bars. The cauliflower crumble, smoked aubergine and lamb hummus are my absolute favourites. The staff are super polite and attentive, but not over the top, which is a perfect balance:) Will go back time and time again!

T. H.

Absolutely amazing experience ❤. Food and service amazing

K. L.

Just a good restaurant. Israeli food is being serviced but the portions are small and expensive. The food is tasty and it approaches the Mediterranean culture. Even though the staff forgot to service one ordered plate, instead the management offered dessert free of charge for the slip. However its ventilation system was not so efficient (if it is available? ??) and when we went back home all clothing must be washed due to its kitchen awful odours....

N. A.

Really nice spot, luckily we were early and managed to get a table for a Friday night, which later got busy. The prawn baklava was a delicious combination of flavours. My partner orders the Lamb chops which he said was cooked perfectly. Dessert was good, very lovely rose flavours

T. O.

Aubergine was amazing, staff excellent, not cheap but excellent quality, loved it.

D. T.

Great railway arch bar and restaurant. Serve Israeli beer, terrific. Lovely restaurant area upstairs, also loads of outside space. Staff were absolutely wonderful. A lovely little corner of London. Do visit!

A. S.

The food there is actually better than in Israel. Every dish is full of surprising flavours. Highly recommend this place.

A. S.

An elegant little place in south London where to eat some not so common dishes and enjoy a good wine with friends or lovers more then a family dinner. There is a well selected reasonable wine list that I liked. The food menu has 2 set choises but we decide to go a la carte. No starters or main, portion are Micheline star style, also the presentation as the price seems to aspire a bit at that. The server seemed a bit in rush all the time but was ok. As a dessert lover I ordered all the three to taste and no one was good balanced in flavours, a bit disappointing. Few pound less per item would have been more fair, worth a bigger raccomandation and a more often visit. I will for sure return for a baklava prawns and the pinenuts hummus. To try.

J. J.

My favorite restaurant in London!! Sit at the open kitchen bar and chat to the chefs. The hummus and sticky crunchy chicken are must haves. The menu changes with the seasons and there’s always something new to try. Great vibes, great food, great people. Don’t miss this.

R. L.

Absolutely stunning food. Just had lunch here and I'm so happy to have found my new favourite restaurant. Of the six dishes I sampled, I'd be hard pressed to choose my favourite although the prawn baclava would probably be the one I'd go for. The cocktails here are also incredibly good. The service we received was second to none and I'm sure I'll be dining at Bala Baya again very soon.

嘤.

A buzzy Israeli restaurant in Southwark serving exotic food from Tel Aviv. I love the twist in these ingredients and the rich flavours they put in every dish. Definitely recommend!

S. S.

Modern and vibrant restaurant under a railway arch at the fascinating Old Union Yard Arches, an emerging cultural and artistic hub in London. The ambience is full of character, the food is freshly cooked, delicious and full of favours. Staff are very kind, the atmosphere is informal but with attention to customers and quality. Highly recommended the signature dish based on a surprising prawn baklava.

S. D.

Great service great food. Bloody Mary was bloody good too. Overall really good meal

P. R.

We went to Bala Baya for Saturday Brunch and had a delicious meal. Located in a new foodie quarter in Southwark under the railway arches. Start with a cocktail or a Gazoz drink which is a home made soda. Shakshuka with lamb burnt ends was a dish of eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, chili peppers, and onions, spiced with cumin. together with yogurt and a soft pulled baked lamb. Amazing dish! The Steak and eggs dish was herb flavoured fried eggs on a base of house made pitta bread to soak up the braised steak juices and a harissa mayo sauce. Look forward to trying the lunch and dinner dishes another time

B. F.

Great brunch experience! Loved the unlimited small plates, really tasty and well prepared :) good service and lovely location under the arches.

V. M.

Very great and inventive flavours from food to drink- I adored the pomegranate and ginger cocktail. We had the pita+ dip, block potato, pig and grapefruit dish and the lamb chops. These were all great, the service was also informative and we were given good recommendations. The portion sizes were fine but I think certain items were a little overpiced. I believe that the menu needs to distinguish it's bigger plates from its smaller or if it means to be purely a tapas style sharing menu the prices need to be a bit lower. It was enjoyable, the space is sooo well decorated! It was so beautiful.

J. P.

Delicious food! Definitely one of my top 20 places in London for interesting and tasty food. We got to sit at the counter which meant that we saw everything the chefs were doing which was really exciting and interesting. The waiter that served us was extremely nice, friendly and attentive. The little street the restaurant is located at is very nice and unique too. A great experience!

E. S.

The service was great despite that the placed was packed. Our waiter even bothered to take someone interested in a recipe to the kitchen. The food was good but the dessert was out of this world. I loved the glass dishes.

E. S. S.

A lively and cool restaurant, making good use of the space under railway arches in a hipster side street 10 minutes from Waterloo. The menu is a mix of big and small plates, with a mix of both recommended. The small plates are /small/ - 5 pieces of fried squid, 4 of chicken etc. - but good quality. Limited choice of larger dishes (3 or 4), but excellent and distinctive. The bread and hummus are fantastic. Very good wine list, and friendly staff. Recommended overall, with the coda that it is expensive - moreso than Google's ££ would suggest. Dinner for three with wine and service came to £200. Still, a fun and novel place to try, especially recommended for small groups.

A. X.

Enjoyed the calamari and the rest left much to be desired. Maybe our choices were a bit too adventurous. Busy evening, slow service as such. Friendly staff at least. Perhaps better during brunch?

A. S.

My wife and I really enjoyed Bala Baya. The atmosphere and music brought us back to Tel Aviv. Absolutely excellent service, subbed a drink we didn't like for free and very attentive. Sharing plates were on the pricy side, but good portions and tasty. Loved the beef cheek, spinach side, calamari, and cauliflower. Probably the best home made pitas I've had. We will be returning.

A. L.

Went during soft launch, had the chicken pitta - was lovely and generous portion. Salad good and lovely coffee. Staff very friendly, price on par with other places.

N.

Food delicious, service amazing. A bit loud music wise but as expected for a Friday night.

M. L.

Amazing Israeli restaurant! The food was absolutely out this world, every dish was spot on and service was excellent.

P. R.

Best food i have had this year - Really cannot express how much we enjoyed it.. Every dish was amazing with many layers of different flavour. service was amazing too. if you like good food you MUST go and eat here

D. K.

Great food and decent service (although they do leave you waiting at the door for awhile even if you have a booking). The only complaint is the portion sizes. For the price, they could give a bit more.

P. S.

Amazing food. We ordered quite a lot as wanted to try different varieties. Good veg options too!

S. C.

This restaurant blew my mind. The food was 10 out of 10. Superbly delicious. The chef is a genius. I loved everything, but ig I had to choose my absolute favourites were the aubergine mess and the cauliflower steak crumble. Thank you for such an amazing experience!!! Highly recommend trying this place - you'll want to come back again and again!

V. H.

Great food - looked stunning and delicious. Went with a friend who was veggie so had all veggie stuff. Also had great drinks. Good service

J. T.

Good food! Don’t forget to order the lamb.. it’s delicious. Not the best option with beer and wine but the food is outstanding! Freshly baked peta breads… mama mia…

D. S.

5 Star food and 5 star for the decor, well for the upstairs dining area. We'd eaten there a number of times as a couple and were always seated upstairs. When booking for 6, it's not the same deal, at last on this occasion. Unfortunately we were seated downstairs and the consensus of the table was that upstairs looked nicer. Having dined upstairs in the past I agree. Please don't misinterpret this, downstairs is lovely but relative to the upstairs it's 4 star. I'd encourage Balla Baya to perhaps leave some tips or point out any disclaimers I missed to help future diners expectations. Overall, we got over this detail and enjoyed the rest of the evening.

C. M.

The service is extremely pleasant and efficient, and the arches are a really pleasant location. The food is mostly very tasty with interesting flavours - we especially enjoyed the carpaccio of beef and the fiery labneh. The dumplings however were overwhelmingly pastry with only a tiny amount of lamb, so really not good. The artichokes were OK but a small portion by the time you've discarded the dry external leaves. My discontent is that the cheapest bottle of wine was £32 which is unreasonable. So interesting food but too expensive - 4 dishes and wine for over £90 is excessive. Sorry you're very nice but I felt it was poor value in the end.

T. R.

Came for a friends birthday lunch. Food was delicious. Roasted cauliflower was a real stand out. Sam was amazing. He made our day.

K. H.

Stumbled across Bala Baya last night on the hunt for dinner and it turned out to be a brilliant find. We shared the sampling menu and every dish was flavoursome, and well presented. If you go for the sharing menu be aware it is a LOT of food so come hungry. The service was super friendly and attentive (which always makes a big difference when dining out) and I liked the laid back atmosphere - great experience overall. I have added this to my "favourite London restaurants" list

D. B.

My friend just came across this restaurant tonight because we always struggle to find somewhere decent in SE1. Not ANYMORE! I am a massive foodie and super super fussy....and place just blew us away. We had the best host looking after us (*Chemie) and we sat on the table infront of the kitchen. The prawn backlava, sea bass and cheesecake were incredible. I think I might have to take two other sets of friends there later this week. Just amazing, beautiful food and service. LOVED IT! Thank you!

T. N.

We ate here on Friday night and had a fantastic night. The restaurant has such a great up-beat atmosphere from the music to the attitude of the staff and the decor. The food does not disappoint either. Across the selection of dishes we chose, each was unique and bursting with flavour. The monkfish was a particular highlight.

M. A. Y.

Highly recommended Each dish has it owns perfect ingredients matching all together in them! Stunning stunning stunning

S. A.

Exquisite middle eastern food, delicious, beautifully presented and a great concept with all sharing plates.

K. K.

Incredibly good food plus outstanding staff and service! 6+

j. k.

Best food I’ve ever eaten! Service was amazing we were 40 mins late and still accommodated in a busy restaurant, checked on every few minutes by Michael and Sam who made the atmosphere impossible to forget. So happy with the food which is very well priced and the drinks were great and also well priced at £11 with the main meal being £16 per person for a stunningly presented meal which tasted like heaven.

A. H.

I really liked this place. The food was all really tasty. Service was efficient and friendly. Surroundings are nice. All in all a decent place for a meal. Better for small groups of people I'd say.

O. I.

Had an outstanding meal here a few weeks ago with a friend who recommended it. Food and service were both first class. We had all the vegan dishes on the menu, everything tasted amazing. Liked it so much I booked again to take my mum, wife and daughter on Friday, really looking forward to it!

J. C.

Really great imaginative flavour combinations and fantastic service. We loved Israeli reds

S. R.

They are getting it right in every way - fantastic customer service, food is devine, great atmosphere, lovely decor. Well done to all the team making this restaurant a success 👍🏼

S. K.

Been back three times. The food, flavours and staff are all top notch. Keep up the great work!

E.

I had a very nice experience in this restaurant. Food is very inventive and delicious. Friendly and smiley staff. I recommend

D. O.

Came here for a business dinner and I have never eaten Israli food before. We had an 8 course meal that was absolutely amazing. I didn't care for one or two of the dishes but the rest completely made up for it. The whole seabass was amazing. I'd talk about the food more but I can't remember the name of every dish. There were little dumplings filled with lamb that were really good. The hummus was amazing. Their bread for dipping in the hummus was AMAZING! It had a great smokey taste to it like the bread had been smoked after cooking. I can't comment on the price because my host bought everyone's food, but he did say "you wouldn't wanna pay this bill" lol. Thanks Carl you're amazing!

L. S.

Amazing - perfect food, amazing service and great vegan options

A. T.

Brilliant service. Food is great but they encourage you to order a few dishes like 2 per person but in fact it was far too much. We ended up with a large bill and some wasted food. So order what You feel like.

A. G.

Amazing place, would rate 6 stars if I could. We've booked a table for 1200, arrived at 1145 and were seated despite them not being open yet as it was raining. The dishes are very creative, we especially enjoyed the Prawn Baklava and the Cauliflower Steak Crumble, but everything else was very good too. Bear in mind that this is more of a "tasting" experience rather than a full meal. Will definitely be back!

K. K.

Delectable sharing plates where every morsel is a delight and worth treasuring!! We had the Chickpea & Lamb, Squidelicious (lives up to its name) plus 3 other plates. Def'ly will go back.

R. A. L.

Lovely place with a creative take on Israeli cuisine. Try the prawn baklava and the aubergine mess!

C. M.

Absolutely delicious! Stunning taste sensations with every dish!

N. T.

Wonderful and different dishes. Really enjoyed the service quality and b interesting and tasty dishes.

B. T.

The best restaurant I ever been in London. Everything so sophisticated and get me the climax of taste. Thank you.

D. “. A. C.

Really delicious food. I had the sticky, crispy chicken and potato and onion salad. Was properly tasty. I'm looking forward to going back again soon

A. ..

Enjoyed an amazing brunch today! We chose the unlimited small plates, great selection and taste! We ended up soooo full! The quality of the food was impresive. Friendly staff and lovely place. Thanks!

M. N.

Delicious Mediterranean breakfast - unique menu and the cocktails were lovely. Great location by the arches and lots of outdoor seating perfect for summer.

C. T. G.

You have to have the aubergine mess! It's by far my favourite. All the dishes we tried were amazing. We have been twice and always try something different, and always make sure to have some aubergine mess. Service is very good too, and the place is nice.

B.

The food is so good here! When we went they had a menu of around 10 tapas style dishes and I believe they change the menu monthly. We also had a great bottle of Israeli red wine. They have tables outside with lots of heaters and blankets.

D. Q.

I have eaten here five times in the past few years, and have always had a delicious meal and lovely experience. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming. It feels young and fresh, but my parents - for example - didn’t feel old or out of place when I took them there. Every dish and drink has been a winner. Great range of vegetarian options.

A. K.

Incredible unique différent taste and amazing service! Definitely coming again!

J. T.

Innovative and delicious food. Although a bit pricier than average, well worth the visit to taste the interesting flavour combinations!

J. M.

Outstanding meal at Bala Baya, had the kebab dumplings, prawn baklawa and brisket hummous all out of this world and packed with flavour

S. K.

Food, drinks and dessert, all was absolutely delicious. Plus nice chilled vibe and great service. The girl that served us was really sweet and nice and that really added to the experience. Five starts and looking forward to come back again.

S. S.

Delicious food and super helpful staff. Will come back to try the rest of the menu

A. H.

Friendly, helpful, and attentive staff. Great menu. Very flavorful. Bright decor.

A. C.

Went for lunch today and my mind was blown. The place is a hidden gem with food that I've never experienced before. As for the desserts, I had to get a cheesecake to go just re-live the experience. Have already booked for dinner in a few weeks time. It was was delicious :))))

A. B.

The food was superb, staff were so helpful and accommodating. The perfect atmosphere for a long overdue lunch with an old friend!

R. I.

I've been fortunate to visit many fine restaurants, some of them even have stars from a well known guide. I visited Bala Baya for lunch on a Tuesday and had a very nice meal with three friends, the service was excellent, relaxed but attentive. The food was tasty and very well prepared; I expect to return again.

C. D.

Highly recommend, interesting space, excellent service and delicious dishes. Can't wait to return.

K. M.

Could not recommend Bala Baya enough I celebrated my 30th birthday at this beautiful restaurant on Saturday night with 9 of my friends (we dined outside, under heaters - and were 100% protected from the horrific rain!) The food was absolutely beautiful (we had the sharing menu including the fish) and the staff were so accommodating, friendly, funny and vibrant, making the celebration so special. Thanks again Bala Baya - we will most definitely be back!

K. W.

Interesting location. Great light feature. Happy staff but the flavours didn't quite hit the nail on the head for me. The greatest disappointment was the dessert: advertised as stewed plums, which I hoped would have been hot, sweet and soft but instead they were cold, off sweet and too firm. And too many rose petals for my friend, I didn't mind so much. For mains,we had the sardines and the chicken, again they food was flavourful but not flavours that I thoroughly enjoyed. A good range of dishes, worth a visit though I won't be making it a regular haunt

R. J.

The food is very good, but expensive - notable that the prices go up substantially in the evening (but without the plate sizes increasing...) Good range of small plates and veggie options. Staff are friendly and fun but service can be quite slow, so don't come here if you're in a rush! Enough seating inside and outside and the outside seating has heating so that's a plus

J. S.

I can't rate this place high enough. The staff, the food and the atmosphere are all incredible. The vibe is up-beat, and the volume runs through the food and drink too. I have never had such an amazing spectrum of flavour in one meal, will be back ASAP!!!!!!

E. B.

Definitely a place to go! Great food, nice atmosphere and nice staff! I ordered a vegetarian taster menú, everything was delicious. I recommend it

N. S.

We had an amazing experience at Bala Baya, food was so delicious!! And the staff was the loveliest, they made us have a super fun night and felt so special :)

D. C.

This is my husband and my favourite restaurant in London! The decor is achingly cool and fresh, the staff go above and beyond and, most importantly, the food is beyond compare! Flavour combinations that surprise and delight, dishes that transport you to an exotic paradise and an eating experience like no other. Plus a cocktail list of imagination and pure class. I cannot recommend this place highly enough.

R. M.

Good food nice vibe.

H. M.

Every dish was just fantastic. Can't wait to come back.

M. S.

Amazing food, very innovative. A little on the expensive side so make sure you go when they extend the EOHO scheme in September. Tip: don't trust them when they try to sell you the sharing tasting menu which is good for value (£35pp, min for two). We ordered off the a la cart which is a much better experience. P.S. Not very sure why the staff are not covering their nose or mouth when they wear a mask - what's the point of wearing it then?

G. M.

So, I went to Baya with really high expectations- been traveling to Tel Aviv and Haifa a few times, I experienced genuine israeli food and by far, is one of the most interesting cuisines in this whole world, along with all the influences it has. However, my experience at Bala Baya was average, at it's best... Me and my companion had : the 3 dips pita ( nice, can't fault anything and the dips delicious ), prawns baklava ( they we're OK, interesting layer and flavor ) roasted cauliflower ( well, this was quite a dissapointment- no balance of flavors, felt like being thrown from a side to the other by saltyness, over-roasting, tangyness - being used with the likes of Ottolenghi and his restaurants; the ceviche ( wayyy too overpowering by spicyness - and this comes from someone who loves heat- which took over any subtelty of what was supposed to be a pleasent fusion between the fish, mango and the fermented ingredients - anything, but refreshing ) Lastly, the dessert with orange blossom (Malibu-something)- completely forgetable. However, the Arak-based Gazzos we're very good and I definitely recommened them. The dinner menu in the restaurant VS the one on the website differed, I had in mind some other dishes than what it was available in the restaurant. Probably the menu was made more minimal due to the high-demand for EOTHO evenings and kept the dishes which are less elaborate to prepare? Dunno... So, not sure if it just happened to be a less succesfull day of the kitchen team or what was it missed, I can't say the food was horrible, but not even close to what I had in mind - and here I mean that subtle, artistic way of making the flavors flow from mild to spicy, tangy, etc, not the combination of ingredients used. I might give them another try as most of the reviews are praising the place and of course, the name and caliber of Eran Tibi come with nothing less than above-average expectations. I hope this feedback will be taken as a constructive one and looking forward to try their brunch at some point.

S. M.

Had a fantastic first experience there. It was their first week back after many months of lockdown and constant smiles, warm welcomes and hospitality was greatly appreciated by the Manager and the team. The menu was delicious, presentation excellent and lovely little hidden outdoor social space in Southwark amongst other restaurants with a good vibe.

N. A.

State of Art dining experience <3 Amazing flavours and vibe, one of my fav places in town.

E.

Great service, delicious food. You must try the Baklava Prawn

J. J.

Took my best friend there on Monday night. Great first night out of lockdown. The staff was super attentive and Covid ready. The food was exquisite and the menu suited us both as a fish lover and a meat lover....totally recommend the prawns and the monkfish! Bala Baya’s take on negroni with a banana twist is divine!!! Bringing the best of Middle Eastern cooking to London in my opinion. The owner/chef Eran gave us personal attention that made us feel very special and looked after... can’t wait for next time! One of my favourites!!!

G. V. S.

Best hummus I’ve tried in my life!

f. s.

Need to rectify the review below, increasing it to 5 stars (from 4) after having been here for drag brunch on father's day! Absolutely fantastic environment, lovely service, I am so glad there are places that would host an event like this in such a graceful way. The food was absolutely insane and incredibly well priced. Bala Baya has definitely become one of my favourites! I think this restaurant has a lot of potential! We got the tasting menu which costs 42 pounds and consists of a large selection of vegetarian and meat dishes plus a dessert. I did not find the portions tiny at all, despite some other reviews mentioning this. The food is inventive and very nice. I enjoyed every single dish and I’m curious to try more. The wine list is overpriced. The service was very kind. They forgot to bring one of our set menu dishes and they made up for it by offering us coffee, a digestif cocktail as well as preparing the dish for us to takeaway. I thought it was very thoughtful and they handled the little mishap really well. The only negative is I found the restaurant to be extremely loud given the structure (it is situated in a railway arch), so I don’t really understand the choice of having loud electronic music playing. I think the atmosphere would benefit a lot from changing that. All in all it was a very pleasant experience and I will be back.

S. A.

I’ve been to a lot of Israeli restaurants in London and as an Israeli who’s been living abroad for many years, and traveling the world I tried a lot of modern Israeli food & this is the best one. The restaurant is beautiful, service is really attentive and not intrusive at all. I felt welcome and comfortable. The food is exceptional and the flavors are like nothing I’ve tried before. I specifically liked the prawn baklava, hummus and their freshly home made pitta was fluffy and delicious. I couldn’t recommend it more. I’ve seen some responds below (WOW) , and it’s so disconnected from everything I’ve experienced. Go there and experience it yourself. I doubt that you’ll be disappointed. I’m definitely going back soon!

T. M.

Another "small plates" affair offering a mixed bag of decent and underwhelming dishes at a premium price. For all the exoticism of the menu the flavours were very tame. Service was punctual if rather cold.

S. N.

It's ok. The pictures and menu look much better than the food itself tasted. The cauliflower steak was burnt. The lychee aubergine mess was a bizarre combination. And it wasn't well marked for vegan dishes so I ended up with yoghurt on my dish. The waitress consistently wore her mask below her nose! Average, not sure I'd go back

F. K.

Delicious food with nice and rich flavour, friendly staff.

N. A.

Food was average, fast service, waiter was nice, they charged us 1£ for charity without asking us, the restaurant was smelly our clothes smelled like kitchen. Ventilators aren’t working properly.

N. J.

We went for brunch and omg, that was amazing! The staff is great and you can feel their commitment to good food and service. One of the waitresses came to chat with us and told us a bit more about the place, it felt genuine and welcoming. All the food is made on site and you can tell, it was quite simply one of the best meals I have ever had, everything was so fresh and flavoursome! If you order a main, for an extra £8 you get unlimited small plates and each of them is delightful, with the hummus the best I have ever had!

P. Y.

We booked through OpenTable and were given a table outside (it was 17 degrees). There was no space upstairs we were told. We were served by three waiters in total (1 of them was really nice actually and deserves an appraisal). When asked if we could get a blanket no effort was done from the other two waiters, apart from just looking around and telling us there are none despite that there was a blanket at another table that wasn't used by any of the other customers. The food was good but really I've had a lot better for that price. Given the overall quality of food and service I would have to give it 3 stars I'm afraid. If the service was better I would have certainly given it 4 stars.

m. s.

One of the best Israeli restaurant we have eaten at in London recently. Very trendy in the outside and very laid back at the outside table. Dog friendly. The fried cauliflower and the aubergine shakshuka were amazing, every mouthful tasted delicious and with different flavours! Definitely recommended!

D. H.

Service was impeccable. Small plates/starters were incredible. Veggie main, cauliflower steak was underwhelming, too much cream & sauce covering charred (too burnt) cauliflower. If they had served a properly cooked cauliflower with the dips that were in abundance and left over from small plates it would have been incredible. Friend said her chicken thighs were awesome. If you're a veggie, only go starters/small plates. If you eat meat, dive in deep.

O. T.

I came here for lunch on a Friday and had a mixed experience. Overall the food was extremely good and the service polite, so I would broadly recommend the place. I had the stone bass with a pumpkin salad; the fish was absolutely delicious; cooked to perfection with crispy skin and served with a wonderfully tart-yet-sweet sauce. The pumpkin complemented it well and had a slightly spicy aftertaste which I very much appreciated. My food took a while in arriving, but having worked in restaurants before I know this is sometimes inevitable. My main gripe is that the portion sizes are rather small, so I was not full after my meal and ordered two pastries to fill myself up. One of these was a venison sausage roll, which was a little chewy and tasted like basically any other sausage roll, which was a little disappointing as I love venison. The goat's cheese and spinach swirl however was very flavoursome; stuffed with cheese and quite filling. One of these pastries was taken off the bill given my long wait, which I appreciated. Overall, quite small portion sizes but the food was very good and the waitress who served me polite and efficient.

T. S.

This was our first trip out after lockdown, and they have really upped their game! Absolutely flawless, the food, the drinks the people. Can't wait till we can eat inside, but the terrace is warm and lovely. Great spot!!

D. M.

Beautiful meal with friends to celebrate a birthday. The food and flavours are off the chart - one of the best meals out I’ve had in a long time. Coupled with good service and a nice buzzy atmosphere, this place is a great find. I’ll definitely be going back.

G. W.

I have never tried Israeli food and so I was very excited to try Bala Baya. I have the buzzcard which gave us 15% off. There were five of us so we ordered quite a lot of food. This is definitely a sharing place. We ordered 2 large plates along with many smaller plates to share. The large plates we order would not have been good as a standalone meal because the whole plate was very tasty but quite heavy. I don't think I would have been able to eat that as a main course. The food was delicious with complex layers of flavours which was amazing to experience. The chef cooked food that tasted very different to what I am used to on a daily basis and it was a very pleasant surprise. The bill came to less than £30 pp and some of us had wine, so that was great! Really fantastic restaurants. We pretty much ordered everything on the menu so I don't think we will go back any time soon unless they change their menu regularly!

A. G.

I absolutely love this place, the food is amazing and the service is so so lovely 👍 TOP

C. B.

Amazing food, very accommodating, Sam especially needs an extra shoutout! Will come back :)

B. R.

Food was delicious, especially the labneh, aubergine, and cauliflower. However, the restaurant was very noisy to the point where it was hard to hear across the small table, and the service was a bit slow and inattentive.

P. L.

Nice cutlery and the food surprised me! The food tasted very very good!

H. L.

Wonderful food and great staff. Shown by the fact its busy on a early wednesday lunch service. Would recommend all of the fish dishes.

E. E.

Great tastes. We enjoyed the food very much.

T. P.

The food and cocktails are absolutely delicious - really fresh and lots of interesting options you wouldn't find anywhere else. The main reason I wanted to write a review, however, was to thank our wonderful waiter. Sadly, I didn't manage to get his name (I'm sure he knows who his is), but we came in for a pre-show dinner on 10/5 and were running pretty late. He recommended his favourite dishes which he knew could be prepared quickly and made a note for the chef that our food needed to be made as soon as possible. The food was ready no more than 10/15 minutes later and was so tasty. I can't wait to come back in the future and have some more time to try some of the other dishes.

B. C.

Very mixed experience. Firstly, it is not cheap, as it is tapas style and meat/fish dishes are £14-16. The service was good and the drinks were nice. Our first two dishes, tomato salad and confit mackerel, were delicious. However, the second two dishes were very disappointing. The prawns baklava were much too sweet (much sweeter than any normal baklava) and the octopus was very bland. Also, the octopus was supposed to come with aubergine but it wasn’t there. These were two of the most expensive dishes on the menu at £14/16 each. The portions are pretty small, so they need to be spot on at that price. We were planning to have dessert but at £8/9 each we didn’t bother. £78 for two with one drink each is quite a lot, and I was still hungry when we left. Pity, as the first two dishes we had show that they can get it right.

L. J.

We just had one of the best meals we've had in along time... Absolutely love this place. The food kept coming and it is YUM! Every dish is so carefully constructed and the food is so well thought out. A really yummy change and the cocktails are fab too! Friendly staff and amazing atmosphere! 10/10 can't wait to go back!!!

J. G.

This food is to die for and you get amazing value. Bottomless drinks on Sunday brunch..? Monday s gonna be tough!

K. B.

Came down in a large group at lunch for a friend's birthday and we had the best time. Delicious lunch deal at a great price. Food was incredible and we all plan on returning soon! All of the servers were friendly and the space is nice and light & airy.

M. “. E.

Went here on a date with a reservation which I will recommend. Our seats upstairs were the only seats available as far as the eye could see upon arrival. The customer service was a slow enough to not merit a five star rating but when we were attended to the staff could not be faulted. They were friendly, patient, efficient, the food was served not too long after placing an order. The quality of the food itself was delicious. You will be asked if you have ever been before and will be given a run down on how the food is designed to be ordered and served. They had a good wine selection. The only concern I had were the openness of the toilets. Whilst a direct view to people entering and leaving their cubicles may not be a hindrance for me personally, it may be for others. This would have merited a 3/5 (still a very good rating) if not for the fantastic condition in which they kept the toilet facilities in. The toilets upstairs are unisex just in case you were wondering. As I did not ask if there were toilets downstairs or see it, I cannot comment. Overall definitely worth a visit.

L.

The space is absolutely stunning and the food equally so. Everything we had was delicious, very generous "small plates". Highly recommend the cauliflower and the lamb dumplings dish. Staff were really welcoming, we sat on the counter overlooking the kitchen and the chefs were really friendly too. Great atmosphere, great food, expect great things from this spot.

N. B.

A gem in London. Phenomenal service and fun atmosphere with food and cocktails you’ll leave telling everyone about. Eran’s eclectic and unique cuisine just gets better with time. Book and go!

s. s. s. s.

Food great service fantastic, but bill very high over the moon

J. M.

Such a delicious meal! I had the aubergine shakshuka and olives and chillis to share. Could not fault the meal or the service, both were excellent.

A. P.

I could not have picked a better venue to have my birthday dinner. The food is absolutely delicious, the atmosphere is vibrant and energetic, and the staff made myself and all my guests feel welcome and looked after. Cannot recommend enough!

N. A.

We went on sept after reading they had extended eat out to help out into September. Tasty food, but we didn't benefit from the eat out to help out offer. We were expecting £10pp off on the bill but in the end we paid full price (to top it - surprisingly prices were higher on paper menu than the menu on their website) Go for food but not if you are pocket conscious and want to benefit from the eotho scheme into september

E. X.

Bala Baya is a stylish restaurant with super friendly staffs. I have been here for lunch and dinner, the food is delicious. The cauliflower, octopus, lamb dishes that I had were Devine! The cocktail is also amazing, the pink watermelon cocktail is super tasty. I would definitively recommend!

H. K.

Food, service and atmosphere was good. Overall was a nice place for dinner. I was disappointed with the sudden raise in menu prices though. I had checked the online menu only 2 days prior to my visit, but on the day many of the prices had gone up and I'd spent more than I had planned to.

j. l.

Everything was perfect! The food is delicious but seriously most of all the service here is amazing! We came back for second time and still amazed by the service and the new menu options. We recommend it 100%. 😍

C. T.

The food here was so good! We had seats at the counter to watch the chefs work. They brought us complimentary bread and dip to start. Then we had 4 small plates between the 2 of us which was the perfect amount. The lamb and dumplings were the best thing we had. Definitely recommend going here if you're looking to impress someone

T.

Outstanding!!!! Absolutely delicious. The sweetbread and nectarines are otherworldly good. Highly recommended, also the location is cool.

D. R.

I've now eaten at this place twice in the space of a week! The food really is exceptional. The flavores and ingredients are really unique. On top of that, the cocktails are amazing, the atmosphere is great and the staff are really good and friendly. I'm booked in to try their brunch also - if it's anything like their other food I've no doubt it'll be a contender for the best brunch in London!

R. F.

We had three tapas and shared an entree and a dessert. It was just enough food for two. The kebab dumplings were okay but not the stars of the show. The Crispy, Sticky, Crunchy is basically a party in your mouth -- crispy, juicy chicken coated in an amazing sauce. I also loved the lamb with hummus. Super flavorful.

F. H.

Went with my boyfriend for brunch. We chose the unlimited option and were amazed by the quantity and quality of food that just kept on coming! The 11 little mezze plates were all delicious, with things like date butter, Turkish peppers and the most amazing hummus. And the mains were fantastic too. The staff were very friendly and polite, great music and a relaxed but upbeat atmosphere. Everyone was smiling and by the end so were we. Thanks

R. A.

Yummy food, small plates very small! But tasty. I had the French toast too, delicious

V. M.

Amazing brunch menu - pancakes and burnt babka dessert in particular. Highly recommended!

A. G.

Really delicious food with faithful but modern take on traditional dishes. Each dish on the tasting menu was very well balanced and the whole set went well together. Served by friendly and enthusiastic staff in a lively but relaxed setting on a sunny Summer evening. Wonderful, if a little expensive!

L. O.

I was with a work group and we found Bala Baya for dinner. It was a diverse group but we all found something to try. Every dish that came out was a surprise of flavors. I tried lamb - the lamb was tender and full of herbs and other flavors. I also had a tomato salad where each different type of tomato could be tasted. Both dishes had great freshness, different textures and they celebrated the ingredients. The staff were very helpful in guiding us through the menu. Well worth trying them out

J. *.

Went for dinner with family and were welcomed and shown to our table by their extremely friendly hostess. We had to eventually ask the waiter to come over to take our drinks order which was a little dissapointing, only for this to be instantly rectified by the hostess bringing us over complimentary drink shots to apologise for the wait. She then gave us a wonderful explanation and back story to their food inspiration and how every dish has such spectacular flavour. She was completely right. We ordered two dishes each and every single plate was a culinary master piece. The flavours were incredible and and immediately set of fireworks on your tongue. We were not disappointed by anything we had ordered, but would only say that the prices are a little higher than I would normally like for a small plates option menu. This meant we held back a little on how much we ordered, when we could have quite easily (and happily) ordered more! With wine the bill came to £50 per person and we were sent of as if old friends by the warm goodbye from the hostess. Her lovely presence and the unbelievable food will not leave you dissapointed.

M. P.

Amazing food, service! Definitely coming back ☺️

L. H.

There is such a great vibe at Bala Baya; it's busy, fun and unpretentious, and the interior itself is stunning! The cocktail and wine list are well crafted and interesting, some really interesting twists on classic drinks (please, please try the tomato and cucumber Negroni - thank me later). The food was fantastic - we got too excited and ordered a lot but everything was fresh, fragrant and worked really well together. Surprisingly my favourite was the Aubergine tea dish, which was beautifully smoky and sweet in all the right ways. Take a date - this place is tasty, sexy and cool.

G. P.

We tried this place randomly, curious to taste Israeli cuisine. The food was amazing, especially the lamb, which I'll never forget. Drinks have a special twist, but you can have classic cocktails on request. The venue is special, too, with a modern beautiful chandelier in the middle of bare brick walls. Service was also excellent

J. D.

This wonderful place is back in business after lockdown! Takeaway only but there is plenty of space in the yard to sit and eat food then and there... My first professionally cooked meal after three months of quarantine was as emotional as it was delicious!! Chef Eran and staff as always warm and welcoming, really recommend heading down to support local businesses in this difficult time - you won’t be disappointed !!!

E. R.

Had a great Friday night here sat upstairs. A classic sharing plates vibe with a fabulous array of Israeli. It was my second visit and the food did not disappoint. I'm giving 4 stars because the service wasn't amazing but we had a nice time and will be back if we're in the area.

N. C.

I thoroughly encourage anyone who is tired of cooking for themselves to pay a visit to Bala Baya and get themselves a little take-away sandwich. We had the short rib pitta - hands down the best sandwich I've ever had. The short rib is gorgeous, and then when you hit those plums....oh my. So good!

D. G.

I’ve been to this restaurant (before Covid-19) several times after work with colleagues and a few times with dates since it opened. Bala Baya never failed to surprise me very positively every single time. Clean, spacious, cozy and classy atmosphere. Despite me being totally fussy with food , the range of Middle Eastern options spoiled me for choice. I was over the moon when I heard they’re doing take away and home delivery! Had another delivery today! Goodness me, I’m still drooling! And those deserts! Give this central London gem a go and you won’t regret it!

A. S.

It was nice food. I just found the experience quite stressful . We were told to order 3 plates each (12 in total) and that they would come out as and when. All the plates came out within 5 minutes and we hadn't even ordered some wine. They told us we only had the table for two hours at the beginning but it felt like we were to be rushed out in under one. Fortunately we had great company to make up for it.

A. B.

Incredible plates. Service was below par. To put it simply. We did the tasting menu which was an absolute riot when it got going. Plate after plate of huge, punchy Israeli flavours. Don't expect to have a time for lengthy chat or breathe, it's time to eat! Recommend washing it down with some Goldstat beers. Unfortunately the service just isn't up to standard for the price point. Wine and tasting menus for two is north of £120 and I had to get up from my table twice to find a server to ask for drinks/food order. This is while there are bar/FoH staff chatting and tasting wine. This may have been a one off so your experience may vary. Overall, definitely recommend for the incredible food but hope service will pick up a bit the next time we visit.

j. s.

Felt like a night out in Tel-Aviv, just perfect! The terrace is warm, cosy and the food is delicious. The staff are friendly and attentive, and make sure you're looked after. I will be back asap!

M. W.

Lively restaurant with an impressive menu. As a group of seven we tried most of it and there is little I can fault. The beef and pasta was one of my favourites, but the sides were dishes in their own right too (cauliflower in particular!). We probably ordered too much, inevitable result in a small plates venue, but we were not sorry. Will take it easier on the pitta next time... maybe.

S. M.

Wonderful to be back post lockdown, amazing new menu, great terrace with very good social distancing. Such good vibes after so long away - Bala Baya is the restaurant I rush back to after every lock down.

B. L.

Great food, the quality of the food was fantastic. Although it seemed overpriced for such small portions. You order multiple dishes of around 10-20 each which adds up quickly. The service was also a bit slow, with dessert taking over 30 minutes to arrive.

L. S.

Had a nice dinner here with friends, nice to be out again post-lockdown, and beautiful restaurant we’d wanted to try for ages. Definitely keen to support the restaurant, but wanted to warn it’s not for those wanting a super COVID-safe experience (no hand sanitizer on entry, no face masks amongst the staff, not much distance with the servers and shared menus). We’d asked for an outside table but the rain meant they were limited and we were seated upstairs until one came free but were never moved.

H. M.

The food here was absolutely sublime and packed full of flavour, the cauliflower dish was a particular highlight. Cocktails were also good, if a little pricey. Only reason I haven't given it 5* is the kitchen is really poorly ventilated and we came away stinking of food, despite being on a different floor to the kitchen.

T.

Amazing brunch. Good value for money, sizeable portions. Delicious and flavorful

E. D.

Amazing calamari!! A bit pricey but definitetly worth it!

M. S.

Took my family here cause we felt like Tel Aviv type of food, and it didn't disappoint at all! Hummus with lamb, prawn baklaba, roasted cauliflower... all met the Israeli standard. It's quite a charming venue and service was good. We left the place with full stomachs for 30£ each.

R. F.

Incredible flavours with a seasonal menu. Highly recommended

S. L.

Went there on Saturday and ate from the Weekend Brunch menu. Beautifully presented, tasted amazing. We had the Salmon and Eggs, served on a warm pitta bread and the Open Sandwich (Sabich). I also had the Basil Gin cocktail to compliment the meal and my dining partner had a glass of the House Red that he was very impressed with. Polite waiting staff, food tasted amazing, decor is cool, ambience is lovely. Great little place in Southwark

C. B.

Went for brunch to catch up with friends and had an amazing time! The staff were attentive and looked after us and the food was incredible - felt really fresh and some incredible flavour. Can't wait to come back to try out their dinner service!

N. G.

Bala Baya serves up flavoursome Israeli sharing plates in a lively but laid back venue. Tucked into the railway arches, its exposed brick and slightly too loud background music might be mistaken for style over substance. However, for the most part, Bala Baya delivers on both. The absolute highlight of our visit was a confit potato "brick" in the most delicious, thick beefy broth I've ever had, and the prawn "baklava". But in all honesty, almost everything we ordered was delicious with the exception of a curiously unexciting grain dish. The cocktails were also lovely, and the service discrete and efficient. Great place to go for a friends' night out.

L. D.

Overall a very enjoyable evening, but a couple of things detracted from it being a totally amazing experience: - it was so loud, with bassy music on the speakers, with everyone having to shout. Could hardly hear across the table, which undermined the sharing atmosphere of the place (group with people aged 20-60) This was the main factor that detracted from the experience for us. - service was a bit inconsitent (not super attentive, but all server interractions very good) - the food was mostly very good, a couple of dishes were not so amazing as others Would definitely recommend ordering à la carte, with 2-3 dishes per person (good recommendation from our server). The cocktails were great! It is a great place to go, and hopefully a couple of tweaks will make it just a fantastic experience for everyone. Thank you for a nice time.

A. H.

Nice food friendly staff and definitely recommend and will return again ,thank you

I. M.

Food delicious and service good. However, while another reviewer liked the 'vibrant' atmosphere we found the loud thudding music off-putting. Again, like a previous diner, we all left with our clothes reeking of cooking oil, even though we were nowhere near the kitchen. So, despite loving the food, we won't return.

M. B.

Awesome food, atmosphere and service! Celebrated birthday party there and Uriel the great made it an unforgettable experience for all of us, thank you! Highly recommended!

B.

Great food, great service - a taste sensation - plus great breads and wine. Loving the tunes as well. Update - its the day before lockdown no 2, the welcome is as big as ever, the food is still exceptional and we still feel like we are coming home, it's so so good - thank you for the last 3 years and hoping many more good times to come!

A. B.

I wasn't overly impressed here but that's due to my specific taste which is that I like meat, but I like generic meats like chicken, beef and lamb. On our lunch menu was no chicken, we had veal I think for beef (as one of 2 options) and slivers of lamb. The rest was fish, coliflower and hummus. At least the wine was good, as was the very good table service.

S. F.

Best restaurant I’ve ever been. Never tasted things like this before - in a good way! Really good food combinations, nice location and interior, nice and friendly personal and best food ever! Only thing is the really loud music which is for older people like my dad a bit difficult to handle during a conversation. Highly recommendable!

L. A.

Love this place. It’s hidden away in the railway arches of London Bridge. Decor is lovey with a nice vibrant feel inside. Food is amazing, so flavourful and love the use of fruit and vegetables that you wouldn’t normally get in other restaurants. A dinner in the evening is so different to the day vibe, works really well. Would recommend.

D. N.

Agree with many latest reviews here. Food is amazing, staff courteous, but very slow service. We were a party of 4 and food came 1 by 1 we wolfed each plate within a few minutes. The first plate arrived within 45 mins of being seated. But aside from the slow service, it was well prepared and tasty food

m. p.

Went there few times for work lunches with colleagues. I love that type of middle eastern food so I liked a lot. Very nice quality of the food, good customer service (although it was not particularly busy when I was there). Location is ok and there choice of seating (indoor or outdoor).

R. H.

Nice alternative to typical brunch dishes. Come here for a spread of middle eastern goodies. Service was poor and price was too high. Would be better if they just put a fixed price on the brunch sharing dishes rather than force you to purchase at least one dish off the menu.

V. B.

Nice alternative to typical brunch dishes. Come here for a spread of middle eastern goodies. Service was poor and price was too high. Would be better if they just put a fixed price on the brunch sharing dishes rather than force you to purchase at least one dish off the menu.

A. M.

Amazing food, charming staff, and a magical atmosphere that makes you forget you're in the city. The prawn baclava will sear itself into your memory forever.

D. L. B.

One of our absolute favorites in the SE1! The menu/food is original and delicious. The staff feel like family. Great for a quick brunch or a celebration dinner party. Love it!

R. M.

Loved our visit here - lots of delicious small plates to choose from (and almost half the menu is vegetarian), beautiful decor and friendly staff. Would definitely visit again.

N.

Hidden towards the back of an enclosed area just off of Union Street, Bala Baya does not disappoint on any account. I came here for a wedding so your mileage may vary, but if their quality and service is the same as when operate as a restaurant, you will not be disappointed. Food was cooked to perfection with a variety of flavours originating from Israel - houmous, tuna, potato dishes, tomato salads, steaks, chicken and more were part of their offering. Generally there were good options across the board for veg and non-veg eaters. Drinks-wise, their cocktails and alcohol stores were chock full of high quality beverages, particularly the red wine. Friendly and efficient staff behind the bar and on the restaurant floor really made the drinks flow! The interior was nice, especially considering it's a converted railway arch, but it lends to the authenticity of this wonderfully attentive eatery. With Southwark station within a minute's walk and single yellow lines for off-peak parking on adjacent roads, you can't afford to miss this one of a kind restaurant. Recommended.

J. B.

Great experience, lovely food and great to try a more unusual cuisine. Slightly overpriced for the food you get. Cannot fault the evening I had here catching up with an old friend. Some very tasty non-alcoholic drinks available.

N. S.

10/10 Incredible food, atmosphere, and staff. Thank you so much!

T. G.

Nice idea but the food overpriced and over complicated. Wine list pretty poor and very pricey. Lovely staff. I left with my clothes and hair smelling like chip fat though. I think their extractors must have been broken. Shame as the place had lots of promise to me.

M. P.

Stylish place, well presented & tasty food... however the concept & offering (for those that are hungry & have eaten Israeli food before) is lacking, annoying & expensive. The bottomless meze comprises of tiny little dishes (which if there are more than 2 of you) will barely get a taste before you need to ask (& wait!) for them to be refilled. The 1st 2 or 3 times it was fine, but the longer we had to wait the more annoying it got..especially when you ask for pitta bread (when there are 6 of you) & you are only given 3 or 4 tiny pittas that we had to share!!.. Come on, really!! Your food is tasty..but stop being such קמצנים & give a normal plate of houmous, pitta etc.. & use your little dishes for the rest! Finally the Cocktails again tasted nice, but put a decent shot of alcohol in if you are going to charge the prices you do... Merry & happy diners tip better..& return (with their friends)!! Others write disappointing reviews & go instead to Palomar!

T. R.

High ceilings, open kitchen, two floors of goodness! Amazing Israeli food, with a creative twist like prawn baklava or crispy chicken. Even boring sounding cauliflower is a culinary experience. Totally recommend sharing plates (or someone will get jealous). Service and wines match the amazingness.

J. D.

Really good food..! It is, of course, pretty expensive too but, the colours and the freshness of the food are just very good. The crusts, the temperatures, the fishes, the hummus, etc, it felt very good! :-)

N. F.

This is the third time at Bala Baya and I have been very impressed every time - not only with the food, but with the hospitality and buzz of this restaurant. For a lively evening choose a seat at the bar or kitchen downstairs. This was my first brunch at the restaurant and while my favourites of sticky chicken and roasted cauliflower were not on the menu the bottomless selection of small dishes more than made up for it (see pic). Slight food envy after choosing the Shakshouka, which was delicious, but then seeing how amazing the steak and eggs looked. I'd recommend going for an Arak and the Burnt Babka to finish. Good food and atmosphere with a real welcoming feel.

G. B.

I went the first day after lockdown and couldn't believe what I was eating. The tastes were unbelievable, the atmosphere electric and the staff were out of this world. I can't wait to return. Sensational!

M. J.

Great food and drink, but it's the enthusiastic and affable staff that make it stand out. Might be too popular to qualify as a 'hidden gem', but a gem nonetheless.

B. G.

I have been here a few times, fantastic food, service is very good. I'm so glad they have reopened after the lockdown and I've booked again. London needs more places like this.

T. M.

Very tasty food with a good variety of dishes. Recommend 6 plates max for 2 people, with a bottle of Israeli wine. Only downside was that the food all came out at once, making it seemed rushed.

M. B.

A raw blast of Tel Aviv style and taste, this is just a great restaurant. The cooking has flair, freshness and distinctiveness. Everything is a bit messy in the best possible way: bursting with warmth and cool and flavourful ingredients. It has shades of Moro, or Ottolenghi, but absolutely does its own thing. From perfect warm pittas to some of the best salads in London, love this place and very much recommend.

L. T.

Food very tasty. Service ok but the waitress decided to argue with us...rather than not. Quite slow service though not that busy. Great location. Nice atmosphere. Allergies not labelled. Would give a second chance.

D. G.

Lovely food. Lamb is a must order.

P. C.

It's in the style of Palomar (in Chinatown), but you don't have to wait so long for a seat (possibly because lots of people haven't discovered it yet) - and it's cheaper. The food is amazing and the staff really nice. We sat at the bar, where you can see the food being prepared, which I can recommend. It seems to shut quite early (we were some of the last to leave, around 10:30).

C. E.

Wonderful night spent at Bala Baya - loved every single dish with the 'feast' dishes being a particular favourite! If you go you must try the gazoz cocktails and the basil and mint sour - yum!!! Every bite you could taste the amazing flavours that have been lovingly created by the team of chefs and to top it all off the staff are super helpful and made everything perfect!!! Go pay them a visit!

L. D.

Distinct Place - Israeli eatery under a railway arch. We went there on a Sunday (only brunch menu is available - wasn't aware) but still went away with fond memories. The brunch portions are huge with a lot of proteins/meat. Lamb burnt ends were mildly spicy and the steak and egg was subtly sweet, with a lot of middle eastern character. We'll definitely be going back again for the normal menu. One thing to note - the extractor fan in the building probably wasn't working well so our clothing was drenched with cooking smells. Don't go with fluffy jackets! :)

b. i.

Amazing Tel Aviv style restaurant with sensational food and wonderful cocktails. Ok it's not the cheapest place but this is London and every dish I tried was packed with ingesting flavours. Very friendly Israeli waiter was really helpful in suggesting drinks.

H. D.

What an amazing find, will definitely be back! Excellent food, loved the flavour combinations and relaxed but professional service. Recommend this great restaurant if you’re in the area.

P.

Lovely fresh delicious food cooked right before your eyes if you are at the bar, luckily we were and the smell flavours drinks food service and atmosphere were great just a shame it seems to be a bit crampt in the entry level, upstairs was empty but we were placed at the bar. That said it's a nice place with great food and service. Maybe next time we will have a better seat :)

A. F.

Delicious unique food with great service. The staff was very accommodating and friendly throughout the dinner. Definitely will be coming back

K. P.

I recently had the pleasure of experiencing the new Bala Baya in Southwark, located just minutes from the underground close to the Old Union street Arches. From the moment we walked in we were hit with a buzzing and impressive setting, there wasn't a table spare so make sure to book before you go. The staff were young, friendly, fun and knew everything there was to know about the menu. Being the gluttons that we are, we proceeded to order 80% of the menu, not one dish disappointed. A few favourites were the braised beef shoulder, crispy chicken and the warm humous with ox, simply divine. Don't forget to finish off with the Burnt Babka for dessert, the perfect ending to a fantastic meal. Bala Baya gave us a great evening filled with everything that's important to us when venturing out for dinner, atmosphere, service, food and general vibe were up there with some of our most favourite in London.

N. R.

Disappointed that fish was classified as meat. Furthermore the fish was not boneless.

G. E.

The service was friendly and welcoming, however the food was not up to the standard I would expect for such a highly rated restaurant. The sharing plates were tiny and the bigger meals were barely enough for two people let alone three. I would expect bigger portions for the prices charged.

K. M.

The food was inconsistent. The pig was tasty, the lamb was raw, the chicken slightly dry - the salads were wonderful. Great atmosphere and excellent service.

N. D. (.

This was one of the most interesting meals I've had for a while. The lime aioli on the calamari was very good and also the sticky chicken was some of the best I've had recently. Star of the show was the cauliflower however, which had such different flavours including lime and pomegranate. Although sitting at the bar wasn't the most comfortable (my own fault for booking on a Saturday morning for a same day reservation), it meant that I could ask the chefs all my nerdy questions about the food and ingredient combinations and they were only too happy to talk to us about it despite being knee deep in a busy Saturday night service. Babka was also superb! We shared 4 dishes which filled us up but then had to get desert as well. Drinks-wise, had the tomato and cucumber negroni, which was again a very interesting combination and had a very refreshing vodka shot with watermelon and mint. Although was not the cheapest, was all in all such a lovely meal and I felt that I learnt some new flavour combinations to try at home. Will definitely be back (probably a few more times than my wallet would like).

D. H.

Fantastic! Loved it. The staff were so friendly and the menu was unique and special. An Israeli twist on Christmas dinner which I can't wait to try again.

n. b.

Went for diner yesterday. First the music is loud and booming so not very good for romantic diner or business. Most of the dishes where good, some great ( the flower dish) except the salmon. Too much emphasis on spice and small portion ( cevishe had 4 pieces of fish ...) . The desert however we're a very big disappointment. One was really bad the tahini one ( even though we hardly touched it and told them it was not good, they charged it - they should have try to understand why we did not like it) and the malaby was just ok. So 3 star....

M. C.

Great food - fantastic atmosphere but their website is misleading. Unlimited small dishes for brunch only come if everyone orders and if people order a main. It’s blatantly misleading with no indication until you come in.

K. E.

Too pricey, the food was nice but too small for what you paid to the extent that you left hungry because you thought you would get more for the price (£15-£20 will get you a plate, you probably need to get 3 plates for an average eater and 2 for light eaters). The flavours were good, but I have had better.

R. M.

££££ The place is nice, the staff are friendly but there are drawbacks. The food portions are super small and pricy, I can go to shard for same expense where you get nice food but also pay for the experience as well.

K. L.

Love the flavours of Israeli food. I like how the head chef always updates and improves the menu. The dishes are perhaps more on the rich side- would love to see more fresh lighter seafood dishes.

L. L.

Unbelievable food and really nice staff. This place came highly recommended and it's clear to see why that was. Make sure to have the crispy sticky crunchy chicken with the kim chee garnish - gamechanger.

M. S.

As someone will acquainted with Israeli good, this is as authentic as a hotel in Vegas. Everything is served with some form of pita bread, but never inside a pita. The dishes aren't big and the selection (at least on a Sunday) is limited. This place seems to place a strong emphasis on cocktails.

K. P.

Food was probably abit more exotic than I liked, but definitely great value and staff were great. Would recommend for people who like to try more exotic tastes and like to experiment, not for the conservative!

M. J.

The waitress said that the 'feasts' were for 3 people and the 'plates' were for sharing. In reality the former were only enough for 2 and the latter for 1. Good tasting food but, in common with many other metropolitan eateries, portions were 'fashionably small'. I'm sure that in Tel Aviv, which the website claims to be inspired by, portions are large enough for people with normal appetites, and to create a feeling of togetherness and bonhomie.

H. C.

The hummus and wine was excellent. The octopus, bread and tomatoes were very disappointing - over cooked and bland. Nice atmosphere and kind waiters.

J. A.

Had a wonderful dinner at Bala Baya last night. Amazing food, great service and a fab selection of cocktails and wine. Will be back very soon!

L. O.

Been hear a few times for Friday work lunches and always a great crack. Food is always fresh with really interesting dishes and team always full of energy. Thanks Bala Baya gang for looking after us! :)

F. A.

Food was OK the "pocket of love" small bread with meat ball in middle seemed expensive for what it was £15. Location nice but food expensive. Only after you've ordered a full breakfast item then you can spend extra £8 for essentially side dishes at counter. Service unfriendly.

A. S.

The was really good and with a good vegetarian option. With a reservation, the first floor is really cozy and quite so you an really enjoy your meal. The Israeli food is amazing too. Highly recommend this restaurant.

L. M.

Absolutely delicious food, every dish was spot on. The atmosphere is great and very lively, although quite loud if it that's a problem. I would definitely go again.

B. P.

One of my faves in London, everything I've ordered was great, but in particular the beef saffron and the brick potato were mouth watering. Special thanks to Carlos, our waiter who treated us as if we were his family.

R. K.

Extraordinary to find somewhere in London that took us all the way to back to our holiday in Tel Aviv. The sharing style plates are fun and loads of thought has gone into each from the cauliflower to the lamb and dumplings, both personal favourites for sure. Delicious cocktails as well.

Y. M.

I'm really picky when it comes to food but this place impressed me with an every single dish I tried! With every new bite I felt an explosion of different flavors and they were delicious. Highly recommended!

I. L.

Awesome place. Food was fantastic. The service was a bit slow, however, although this is common for most places in the uk and particularly in London. I went for lunch and it wasn’t too crowded. Relatively close to the southwark tube station.

P. T.

Had the weekend brunch - really nice food and decent service (forgotten a little towards the end of the meal). Would recommend just sharing lots of the starter small plates with their fresh bread for lunch - these were on the whole a lot better than the mains we ordered.

J. S.

Shared several plates, some humous and a few pittas with a friend and we were both blown away by the flavours of each dish. Amazing. Service was friendly and a little slow but we weren't in a rush to leave so wasn't an issue for us.

A. H.

Great spot for brunch, with excellent service, and a big menu

J. O.

Food here is absolutely delicious. Staff is very friendly and helpful. Place itself has a very special vibe. It’s just a great restaurant to eat in :)))

S. M.

Great atmosphere and good food!

W.

Lovely brunch spot in pretty setting. Yummy small plates to go with pita bread and we had the shakshuka which was not bad. Great service as well and good looking waiters

N. B.

Great food and cocktails. Carinho was a fantastic waitress. Will definitely be back!

A. D.

Food excellent, vibe fun, but don't go hungry, you don't get much, had to go for a pizza afterwards. Wine finally arrived after half our meal was finished. Meh.

M. S.

I've been here for brunch several times now and the food and service have never disappointed me. Utterly delicious plates - small and large - some really friendly people and possibly the best pittas I've ever had, all offered up generously.

A. G.

You have to try it all as he food is superb, the flavors rich and exiting, and the plates imaginative. Tucked into an arch, its Bauhaus interiors enhance the atmosphere of Bala Baya, transporting you to buzz and energy of Tel Aviv. The staff is welcoming and the view of the open kitchen adds to the experience.

E. P.

Mixed feelings about this place. Food is good but overpriced and service was inattentive and slow. It was small stuff but made a big difference. Could so easily be really good. If you do go ask for a table upstairs.

T. C.

Amazing food, amazing atmosphere! Staff are incredible nice. First time and definitely looking forward to go back.

A. D.

Woah! The new vegan rice-cake dish!!!! So glad to be back out kudos for the new outdoor covering. Could spend all night there.

R. D.

Really interesting food with influences from round the world. I am no fan of fusion food but this really worked. Decent wine list and pretty good service. Buzzy but by no means too loud to converse.

O. T.

The atmosphere and the design is really nice but to be honest the food is very average and doesn’t leave to the high standards of fresh Israeli food. I was very disappointed as I was looking forward to eat there for a while.

S. (.

Food was fantastic and staff were mostly nice however they seemed to have no idea about the food. They would serve it and when asked not know what it was they were serving. Also slightly on the more expensive side.

D. K.

Went for Brunch, amazing food well presented and at a god value. We also ordered a side dish each however couldn't finish as the mains are quite big.

A. N.

Pork and strawberries, butternut squash and dill, lychee and aubergine, don't know if this is Israeli food but it was delicious. Agree with small portion size but it's not about quantity it's about quality and flavour ;)

L.

Had delicious meal there. Imaginative menu and lovely outside seating.

V.

Today it was perfect! Excellent food and quick efficient service. Sitting at the bar and watching the chef cooking "catch of the day" was the best experience I had today. Thank you Chef!

N. H.

Fabulous food. We all had a power lunch and it was superb. Friendly staff. Great decor. Can’t recommend this place highly enough. Bravo!

S. A.

What an amazing experience! Best Israeli food in town - Everything was delish and the service was on point. Do not leave this place without trying the Prawn Baklava And the Burnt Babka !!

D. S.

Delicious. Don’t miss the pork belly or the aubergine, outstanding. Saffron Beef excellent too, if a little rich. Highly recommend.

J. T.

Lovely food, very friendly staff- they noticed our toasting happy birthday when we started and dessert arrived with a candle. Not the cheapest meal but delicious.

F. F.

Helpful staff, exciting flavours, great atmosphere and presentation. Conveniently situated and reasonably priced. Definitely worth a visit to experience something original and new.

S. A.

Great vibe, amazing cocktails! 🙌🥳🥰

J. V.

Had a very nice brunch here. Attentive and friendly staff and tasty food. The aubergine shakshuka had just the right amount of bite to it.

W. H.

Good food, although needed more seasoning for our tastes. Strange medley of Art Deco and terrible chart music killed the vibes Extortionate cocktail prices!

M. -. S. C. w. m.

Very tasty food and strongly recommend Hidden gem

G. G.

Nothing to say about the quality of the food (the hummus was delicious!) but some portions are ridicolously small for the price. Also the music doesn't really fit the place.

B. G.

Wow! The flavours were insane! An amazing setting. There were 8 of us for a special occasion and we loved it. Not cheap but it's London and a special treat.

N. R.

The room is great. The service is very good. The food is marvelous. Best hummus dish in years! The lamb was particularly good.

P. A.

Had a great time at Bala Baya. All but one of our courses were seriously good. Highly recommend the Pork Cheeks, Cauliflower, and Banana Cheesecake. Immense!

M. W.

Astonishing little restaurant. We ate at the bar and spent our evening chatting with the chef, who was brilliant. All our meals were exceptional and I wouldn't hesitate to go back

D. C.

I had the pleasure of dining here during the soft launch. The food is absolutely fantastic and the atmosphere is positively buzzing! Can't wait to come back again.

C. M.

Always an interesting menu with unique combinations of flavors and ingredients. One of the best restaurants in London, particularly in terms of innovation.

J. C.

Went there for dinner and had one of the best and more unique dining experiences I think you can get in London. Food is outstanding, the atmosphere electric and the staff delightful. What more can you ask for?

F. W.

5 starts experience altogether. Fabulous food, very attentive service and lovely cocktails. Thank you! We will be back.

K. K.

Nice relaxing environment and amazing plates (hummus, aubergine, prawn baklava). Portions are however small and expensive. I left feeling hungry

D. K.

Came here for dinner, food was delicious and service quick

R. B.

Great food and brilliant service. Only 4* because the food was described as “tapas”, which for the price, I interpret as being ‘small plates to get you to buy more’. Worth a visit.

L. D.

Really enjoyed the food. It was clear that they put a lot of effort into each dish. They used interesting combinations and the ambiance was very nice.

O. M.

New menu is next level!! This place keeps getting better and better! So happy we can eat here again :)

A. S.

Great service, super friendly staff. Lovely location. Food was great too, definitely on the pricey side but totally worth it.

N. C.

Most amazing Israeli menu in London. Loved every single dish and the atmosphere is just superb ! Thanks guys :)

C. P.

Great food and atmosphere!

T. B.

We got off to a bad start when they didnt have a table ready for our booking and they made my pregnant wife stand waiting for half an hour. Food was tasty but very very oily.

V. P.

An amazing restaurant, great food, location, service and all very reasonably priced. Would highly recommend the Tasting menu for groups and to visit this place before you can’t get a reservation!

G. C.

Loved it! Came here for brunch and we are still talking about how good the food here was a few weeks later. Love the unlimited small plates!

A. R. C.

Excellent food and service. Especially thanks to Giorgio, he deserves a break! - btw put espresso martinis on the menu!

J. B.

Food is consistently good, the chicken dish and the beef shoulder pita are both very tasty as is the squash. Staff are always friendly.

L. A.

I've never tried Israeli cuisine, but after being at this restaurant, it's definitely one of my favourites. Very friendly staff and tasty food!

K. M.

Lovely restaurant, amazing food - every dish was a delight. Friendly staff and a great atmosphere. I can’t wait to go back.

M. V.

Popped in for a quick lunch and had the Braised Beef Shoulder Rocket and radish salad, date glaze, tahini & tomato pitta with side salad. Very tasty indeed :)

N. B.

Incredible food, well worth the visit. Great vibe in the restaurant too... Service could be a bit better though

F. M.

great food, energetic atmosphere (downstairs) , excellent service. On the pricey side, but ok considering the interest and variety of the dishes.

T. T.

Bacause is friendly cosy decorated. Lovely test of ISRAEL food and warm people to be with.

E. M.

Nice food. had a selection of the tapas plates which I found very tasty even if a little on the pricey side. recommended though

J. L.

Good tapas style restaurant with very tasty options for anyone craving Persian dishes. The smoked aubergine is delicious.

M. S.

Great evening with friends, very tasty food and a nice bottle of red! My favourite cuisine done perfectly!! Top marks and highly recommended!

k. J.

Always a great experience, the worst part is having to make a decision between the dishes! First red wine on the list is great :)

E. E.

Really enjoyed the food, and the venue is nice. A bit overpriced. Would have loved to see more Israeli wines on the wine list!

N. J.

Amazing brunch, everything was delicious!!

J. P.

Best restaurant in London Thank you Michael and Solomon for making my mums birthday the best! Always your food is amazing

I. C.

Good but not worth the price

A. S.

great food, got a nice little outside spot. hopefully they will get some heaters and we can return during the winter

J. S.

Lovely building in the railway arch with great interior and great tasting food. However, service was slow and this is disappointing given that it's definitely on the expensive side.

B. J.

Very friendly, very delicious food. Warning: You're basically going to want to try everything and end up spending more than you expected. It ain't cheap, but if you're prepared for that...

L. C.

Lovely venue u der the arches, the food was really tasty and some great dishes. Veet good wine list too.

B. V.

Great modern ambience under the train arches, friendly staff, innovative flavours. However, portions could be a bit bigger as the prices are in the higher end of the spectrum.

C. C.

Baklava prawns were a fave

F. C.

Finally managed to try this place after a year and half of meaning to go. Very inventive cuisine, great flavours, nice staff.

P. R.

Great food, great service.

D. S.

Tantalising food, palette cleansing cocktails and sleek bauhaus design, Bala Baya brings the very essence of Tel Aviv to the heart of London - worth a Shekel of anyone's money!

P. O.

Food is excellent, service is good. Yeah, nice place.

M. W.

Absolutely the best pita in town. The hummus forms with amazing spices, and the aubergine mess is to die for.

A. M.

Very interesting food and a great space. I've really enjoyed most of the dishes, but mostly the hummus.

V. S.

Great food and the staff are pretty cool too. Highly recommended.

A. S.

Fantastic experience, lovely food and service. Would highly recommend. S Shetty

V. G.

The food is absolutely amazing, staff is excellent and very friendly

m. s.

Lovely food, lovely staff and service. Interesting and varied choice I'd come back to try dinner or cocktails

T. B.

Returned and really like their new menu. Healthy Tel Aviv food, nice change! Music upbeat.

r. Z.

Nice place, reasonable good food, but uninterested staff is a dealbreaker . 12,5% service fee added.

N. a. C. D.

Great Mediterranean food. Highly recommended.

J. D.

Amazing food, I would highly recommend getting brunch on the weekend work the unlimited plates. You definitely won't be disappointed

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