Bayleaf Restaurant- Pumpherston — Restaurant in Scotland

Title: A Delightful Indian Dining Experience at Bayleaf, Pumpherston

What I Enjoyed: From the moment we walked in, Bayleaf sets a warm, inviting tone. The staff were friendly and attentive without being overbearing. The décor strikes a pleasant balance between modern comfort and traditional touches, giving a sense that effort has gone into both ambiance and service.

Food & Flavour: – The menu offers a wide selection — from mild, creamy kormas and rich biryanis to spicier vindaloos and tandoori dishes. – Our starters were excellent: the samosas were crisp, the textures good, and the sauces well balanced — not just spicy, but flavoursome. – For mains, the lamb rogan josh had depth and warmth, with tender meat; the chicken tikka masala was creamy without being too heavy, and the flavours felt authentic. Rice and sides were generous. The naan was perfect — soft, slightly charred in the right spots. – One standout was their house-special dish (if you try it), which showed some creative flair: the marinade was delicious, and the grill/tandoor character came through beautifully.

Service & Experience: – Dine-in felt relaxed. Service was prompt, plates brought in timely fashion. – The staff were helpful when it came to recommendations and adjusting spice levels. – Drinks, appetizers, mains, and dessert flowed smoothly; the place felt lively yet not rushed.

Room for Improvement: – On a busy evening, wait times were a little longer than expected, and one of our dishes arrived a bit cooler than ideal. – Maybe some lighting could be dimmed a tad or softened — certain areas were a bit bright, especially near the entrance.

Overall Verdict: Bayleaf in Pumpherston is a gem. It may not always hit perfection every time, but it comes very close. For a solid Indian meal in Livingston area — with authenticity, good service, and welcoming atmosphere — this is one of the best. Definitely worth a...

How have I missed this all these years. Just a ten minute drive from the Centre in Livingston lies this gem of an Indian restaurant. We were greeted by a very friendly smile and offered complimentary poppadoms. When asked if we would like some dip we opted for mango dip. Seriously, this dip was so good I ordered some as a takeaway! Totally packed with flavour it could well have been little more than pureed mangos with a little spice. My daughter ordered the Goan prawn curry and I selected the Punjabi handi lamb. We both had pulao rice. As I had never tried the Punjabi handi lamb I explained to the waiter that I do like both balti and jalfreizi and asked if he recommended this, he said I would love it. He was so right. It was just about the best curry I have tasted. As you do, we let each other taste our dishes, my daughters Goan prawn curry was creamy and smooth, no wonder she was raving about it. Quite mildly flavoured in comparison with my Punjabi lamb which had a very satisfying kick without being uncomfortable. The rice alone was very tasty. Frankly, I think if I was pushed for cash I would be very pleased to have just the rice for dinner any day of the week, but coupled with these beautiful curries it truly enhanced the entire experience. I think I have found my new...

Food here is mediocre and probably would have got 3 stars based in food alone and that is surprising given the takeaway food is very expensive. One bug bear I have though is attention to detail and this place have none. After placing my order, I went to pick it up, I immediately noticed that the drink I had requested was not supplied. I mentioned it to the server and they rectified straight away, so no problem there. Once I got back to where I was staying and unpacked my order, I noticed that a portion of mushroom pilau rice had also been missed. Since the place I was staying was a minimum 15 minutes drive from the Bay Leaf, I couldn't be bothered getting in touch since I'd have either had to go back and pick the missing item up, or wait on a delivery driver dropping it off. As mentioned l, the food wasn't great anyway and eating it cold would have been even worse. This was almost certainly just an oversight, but come on, how hard can it be to cross check what was ordered with what...