One of the great things about living in a major city is the number of small bistros and restaurants willing to offer a set price menu to get you through the door. A favourite of mine is Bistro Laz in Soho (also, oddly, named 'Bistro Number One' depending on which business card you pick up), where the menu seems to change seasonally and the food is really excellent for the price. Today, however, we're talking about Little Bay, another budget bistro with an excellent offer - get there before 7:15pm and three courses are less than £10! We've gone to the Kilburn branch but there are four in London so be sure to google it!
I can't recommend the Bay enough for lunch; two courses slip down easy at under £8, and the drinks list is cheap and cheerful. I've been there twice now and me and Kim have had the same starters both times; 'Parson's Pastry' - a delightful smoked chicken and mushroom concoction in a creamy sauce enrobed in a filo parcel - for me, and 'Choux Crab' - two choux buns brimming with fresh dressed crab and served with a hollandaise sauce - for her.
Our main courses have been just as tempting; I've had a sumptuously moist chicken breast stuffed with minted lamb served with a rich port jus before, and the last time we went a hearty bowl of fresh egg tagliatelle with slivers of buttery french bean and smokey chicken was so generous and delicious I was overwhelmed. Kim has so far stuck to a devilishly gamey duck breast on each trip, sliced and served in an asian inspired jus her only complaint has been a little too much ginger in the sauce. A bundle of honeyed and spiced vegetables in a parcel accompanies the duck perfectly, and the staff always provide plenty of bread and butter alongside a charming dish of eccentric vegetables ranging from sliced stewed swedes to minted potatoes, so you're unlikely to go hungry. My biggest gripe is the lack of any variety to the menu; it seems to change very infrequently and a little more seasonality wouldn't go a miss.
One final thing to note is the interior - the bistro is eccentric to a pleasant degree and you're likely to find yourself up a tiny staircase in a second storey private 'booth' on your visit. Peeling prints of Venetian classics adorn the walls, table tops and chairs and the place can get quite lively in the evening, perhaps owing to its tavern-like atmosphere. The staff are always friendly and willing to help, however, and you'd be surprised how quickly they can get up those odd little staircases to serve you...
Till we eat again, Michelle
Little Bay, 228 Belsize Road, Kilburn
3.5 stars out of 5
Meal for two with soft drinks - around £20
