Home

Little Bay, 228 Belsize Rd. London NW6 4BT

Little Bay, 228 Belsize Rd. London NW6 4BT

228 Belsize Rd. London NW6 4BT

020 73724699

Little Bay is one of those restaurants that appear in lists - secret London - best bargains in London - 'restaurants for those in the know' type lists. Unlike a lot of them Little Bay really does deliver. It is a bit out of the way, in a sort of no-man's land between Kilburn and its posher neighbours and is in a fairly innocuous little parade of shops. Inside it is anything but innocuous. It is not very big and looks like a cross between a pantommime set and a Turkish bordello. I have never actually been in a Turkish bordello but I imagine they would look a bit like this. It is mysterious, atmospheric and candle-lit, there is a lot of red, gold and wood around and there are secret looking balconies to the left and right and facing you, with little staircases leading up to them. We sat in a discreet table for two tucked away under a balcony and felt as if we were in our own secret world and should probably start plotting something. But in a good way. Tables are wooden with Sylvan scenes let into them. The whole effect is quite decadent but in a cosy Bohemian style.

The reason Little Bay is in the lists, by the way, is because it is very, very good value for money. For example, they give you a basket of bread as soon as you sit down but there is no cover charge. We had chouse beans with crab meat (me) and moules (her) to start, then mains of a chicken and ginger dish and lamb goulash. With a bottle of very acceptable red house wine our bill came to just over thirty pounds. It was all very good and for that price was quite amazing. Service is excellent and the clientele interesting - the sort of people who know such a place exists and make the effort to go there. Some nice enlightened conversations going on - not that I eavesdrop, of course. This would be a perfect place to go for a first date if you are a little financially challenged. Or even if you aren't. You will impress her/him and you won't sacrifice your wallet. You will probably get a result. And even if you don't you will have had an excellent night out and will want to return. For this reason it is probably wise to book, especially at weekends.