Bala Baya 229 Union Street, London SE1 0LR

"Delicious food, great atmosphere (inside and out), and super friendly staff. Hummus was really smooth (slightly too salty but really tasty), the aubergine dish melted in your mouth. The three of us did the tasting menu for £68, it was a great selection but we were slightly disappointed when only two small desserts came out for the three of us to split, there were plenty of dishes for the main course but this seemed a little stingy considering we were paying +£200 on food. I’ll definitely be back but won’t do the tasting menu as I didn’t think the value was worth it."

"The restaurant is hidden in an alley, great ambience, staff are very friendly although a bit slow. Great for conversations. Food portions are small and pricey. We ordered six plates between four of us but not enough for everyone. I liked most of the dishes. The hummus is creamy and well seasoned. The grilled sea bass is really nicely grilled! My favourite was the prawn baklava, very clever and tasty dish but I forgot to take a photo of it. Would still recommend but wish portions are larger!"

"Some of the BEST food I've ever had. And my partner says this is the best hummus he's had in his life (and he loves hummus!) Everything was fantastic, every bite made us close our eyes in bliss. Prawn Baklava was another top favorite but honestly it's hard to choose. Can't wait to come back here."

"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."

"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!"