The Bridge & Bayleaf — Restaurant in Newark and Sherwood

I had a beautiful meal at the Bridge & Bayleaf earlier this year before lockdown, and I have been craving the food ever since. For my starter, I chose the B&B kebab - gorgeous tender lamb with tandoori sauce - a truly melt in the mouth moment. For my main, I had the Goan Fish Curry with fluffy Pilau Rice and Mushroom Bhaji and a delightful Chilli Naan. For me this was a fantastic combination - succulent flavoursome fish, cooked beautifully with the stronger flavours of the bhaji and bread giving some oomph. Everything was cooked to perfection - and the whole experience was hard to beat. I have been brought up eating rice and curry as part of a Sri Lankan family and I am very particular about the flavours, as well as the heat of my eastern cuisine. Bridge & Bayleaf smashed it. The restaurant is warm and welcoming, the menu is varied with plenty of choice, not so big that you are overwhelmed with what to choose and the service was impeccable. I have recently discovered that Bridge & Bayleaf are concentrating on the take-away side of their business during lock-down, so I'm getting ready to place my next order! This restaurant is totally worth the drive to experience their excellent food and enjoy something that stands out amongst the others. ...

We dined here on my birthday 27th September. The food took a long while to come but when it arrived it was tasty we also asked for some water for the table and had to ask again as it didn’t arrive. Then a young man brought it to our table he apologised the got us some more drinks and it was he who then looked after our table of four and did an excellent job for the rest of the evening. When the bill came even though it contained a 10 per cent service charge my wife wanted to reward our waiter for his service and was holding a £5 note in her hand intending to give it to him, where upon the lady who we think is the owner said is that for a tip my wife said yes she took it from her stating all tips are shared!! We said surely that’s up to the customer as it’s our money she was then quite rude restating their policy!! To make matters worse my daughter handed him another £5 as we were leaving and watched her take that off him as well!!

We have eaten there many times and this has not happened before. We most certainly will not...

Location amazing, decor imaginative, surroundings great as a meal can easily be part of a beautiful walk or a day out and the attempt to open for lunch praiseworthy. Staff are efficient and friendly and will very easily serve a large group. However, it is expensive, quantities miniscule and so there is question of value for money (a grill selection had a miniscue seekh kebab, a 50 pence sized tandoori chicken bite and a small onion bhaji). We did have an abbreviated menu made specially for lunch with just the regular dishes with no attempt to pus the boat out. The food is delicious (try the tarka dal, chilli cheese nan and tandoori prawns) and presented beautifully but the chef does need to reduce the red food colour he uses. The colour of the prawns, chicken tikka and chicken tikka masala make the soviet flag look positively anaemic. All in all, I would recommend the Bridge and Bayleaf. I think an evening meal there will be...