Little Bay Restaurant

French Restaurant in Hampstead & West Hampstead
Little Bay Restaurant image
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No longer at this address

Our records show that Little Bay Restaurant is closed.


8 / 10 from 12 reviews
Address
228 Belsize Road
Hampstead & West Hampstead
London
NW6 4BT
Map
Cuisine
French
Nearest Station
Kilburn High Road
0.10 miles

Catering for private parties of up to 120 guests available upon request.

All In London Review

The cheapest gourmet meal in London

If you saw a plate of moules marinière on a menu for £2.25, would you be suspicious? What about a chargrilled lamb steak for £5.25? It’s going to be rubbish isn’t it? Sinewy, chewy, made with the cheapest cut of meat and slopped on a plate. Well, you’d be mistaken, for despite Little Bay’s knicker-dropping prices their food is almost entirely delicious. Almost, because the pieces of chicken breast in the halloumi salad are a tad on the dry side, and the cutlery on the table is a little bit greasy, but when dinner is only £7.75 before 7 pm and the first course consists of two juicy pig’s cheeks with creamy mashed potato and a rasher of smoky bacon with madeira sauce, how can one complain? Other great dishes are two baked Portobello mushrooms smothered in a sweet, red pepper hummus, and place fillets with a mound of garlicky spinach and crab meat dumped atop them, served with ribbons of cucumber billed as “spaghetti”. Portions are huge, and just in case the chicken salad isn’t filling enough it comes with a side of Soviet-style boiled potato, carrots and cabbage. The desserts are equally scrumptious – a pistachio and white chocolate parfait oozes sinfulness. It’s no wonder this minuscule Kilburn eatery is full, and to make use of space the four corners of the room have steps leading up to individual tables, a little like royal boxes at the theatre.

There are other branches of Little Bay in Farringdon, Battersea, Croydon and Brighton, all owned by the enterprising Peter Ilic, also responsible for Just Around The Corner, the now defunct Finchley Road restaurant without prices, where customers paid what they felt the chef deserved. This welfare-ist approach to dining out continues at Little Bay, as our meal comes to a grand total of £21.

Reviewed by Leila
Published on Oct 10, 2011


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Cheap, tasty and theatrical sum up Little Bay. Throughout the day a main dish costs as little as £5.45, the food is surprisingly good, and all of their branches look like the inside of a jewellery box.

User Reviews

Sooz

May 16, 2014

Went here a while back and loved it then, still love it now. Cosy, friendly atmosphere, good service and amazing value. You really can't go wrong here!
TOBEOWEN

Feb 24, 2012

I love this place, I go all the time. The food is lovely and great value for money. The interior is unlike any restaraunt I have been to before, it is full of private candle lit coves, perfect for a romantic meal out. But most importantly the staff here are always welcoming and friendly. They never have any problems reserving us a table and cannot do enough to be helpful on the night. Would most definitely reccomend it!
mowwykins

Oct 16, 2011

This restaurant is fantastic! The food is amazing and the prices are so cheap! I was very impressed with my experience at Little Bay. I really loved the decor, very funky and weird...good weird! I will definately be returning. The only thing I was disappointed with is that they don't take card payments. It's cash or cheque only and I unfortunately found this out at the end of the meal. Luckily a family member had some cash on them so make sure you take plenty of cash with you when you go there.
nice guy no problem

Dec 29, 2010

We visited Little Bay before but were disappointed by our recent visit, the service was less than adequate, the vegetables were overcooked and there were a lot of offencive drunken Australians. If this is your bag this is the place.
Anonymous

Dec 21, 2009

Last Saturday, 19th December, I ate at this restaurant. The restaurant was full and I thought rather cramped. Even more cramped was my table although I wasn't uncomfortable, as luckily I don't eat with my elbows sticking out, and my seating partner was a family member. The food was very good and the price reasonable; the service also good. My only sadness was to see my plate come with water smears, which made me want to send the meal back, and did affect my enjoyment. The knife and fork reminded me of school (yes, I just about remember those days), but they just about managed to cut my mushroom. Thankfully the main course came with a steak knife. The wine glasses were not as clean as I would have expected from a restaurant that cared, so I drank quickly with my eyes shut. (and didn't point this out to my other guests). Would I eat here again??..No. Unless I can have smear free plates and clean glasses, with a proper knife and fork for starters.

Overall. 10% for Good food, 9% for good service, 6% for the unacceptable plates, cutlery and glasses. Decor wasn't to my taste but ok for a restaurant.
Anonymous

Feb 22, 2009

A very excellent place to dine. I love the decore and the food as well as the atmosphere. One of my favourite places to go in London. Cest bon!!!!!
Anonymous

Feb 5, 2009

I ate there every sunday for about three years either by myself, family and friends. This is the best for evey taste and budget and the food is excellent - and thats coming from me - a chef! Try it and if you dont like it, Mc Donalds will always take you back!.........bon appetite

ej
Anonymous

Nov 11, 2008

Little Bay is value for money, delicious food and tasty deserts. The decor is quirky but very cosy and the service was good. On my list of value for money favourites....
Sooz

Aug 26, 2008

This has an amazing interior - really different and fun, with some seating on 'stilts' above other tables below...cosy is the word! I also can't get over the prices - absolutely amazing value with really well-presented and good quality dishes at literally half the price you'd expect to pay. Mains are around £6 and starters £3 or so...fabulous and well worth going back.
G2

Aug 9, 2007

We visited Little Bay in Kilburn a couple of weeks ago and the food and service was excellent. The decor is very interesting, quirky and fun. The food was very fresh, fragrant and inventive and also very well priced. I would definitely recommend going to Little Bay in Kilburn for any type of occasion.
TheMog

Jul 6, 2006

Had a meal here last night. The restaurant is quite small and some of the seating is quite cramped (or cosy). The food is really very good, the menu has plenty to choose from and the quality and presentation of all of the meals we ordered was very good. I'd be happy to pay London prices for meals here, but that's the nice surprise, it's actually very cheap considering the quality of the food.