The Bay Tree Café

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• What are these?

• Average price 2 courses:
   £10.50 (lunch)
   £10.50 (evening meal)
• BYOB: (no charge) corkage

• High point: Relaxing and inexpensive
• Low point: Great Western Road instead of the Silk Road
• Food served: Mon-Sat 9am-10pm; Sun 9am-9pm
• Open since: 1960
• Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least 25% of menu), Childrens portions, Childrens high chairs, Take away

The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 is now in the shops.

This review is from the 2007 edition.

This West End stalwart has long been popular with those looking for something a bit different. While the city offers more in this vein today, the Bay Tree remains a favourite of vegetarians and vegans (it was once completely meat-free). It draws regulars from savvy students to mums with kids. The kitchen, which is occasionally illuminated by a flash of grill flame, takes in culinary influences from the Middle East and Mediterranean and the café is heady with the aroma of spices. A mezze plate offers a fine hands-on starter to share: it is packed to overflowing with crisp falafel, smooth hummus, creamy tzatziki and, in the meat option, barbecued lamb and chicken - all of which can be scooped up with warm flat bread. Charred, tender, subtly spiced strips of lamb fillet make up the Arabian tikka, while the potato 'chaps', four hefty meat-filled patties, make for reassuring comfort food. The specials board regularly features a rich, fragrant Moroccan vegetable stew. Amiable staff can recommend nearby off-licences for those wishing to BYOB and there's an admirable lack of corkage charge. Alternatively, a good selection of Bay Tree brews includes a warming Turkish coffee flavoured with cardamom. Everything is available to take away, but the belly dancing on Fridays may convince most to sit in.