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Now Open: See the reimagined Bay Leaf location off Hwy 280
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Bay Leaf Modern Indian Cuisine & Bar off Highway 280 has reopened its doors with must-see renovations inside and out. Keep reading for a photo tour of the restaurant, plus a look at their updated menus—including a yummy new kids menu!
Bay Leaf, a Birmingham favorite, reimagined ✨
Over the past few months, Bay Leaf’s location off Highway 280 has undergone some amazing changes. In May of this year, The Spice Library Group—a team of local entrepreneurs—purchased The Bay Leaf brand.
With a passion for innovation and good food, The Spice Library Group is bringing Alabama its first modern Indian cuisine restaurant concept: Bay Leaf Modern Indian Cuisine & Bar.
“Bay Leaf has had a presence on U.S. 280 since 2014, and we’re thrilled to expand on the strong foundation established here and evolve the experience.
Whether enjoying our food in our transformed dining room, on our new outdoor covered patio, or to-go, we believe our guests will find the new Bay Leaf exceeds expectations of what Indian cuisine is all about.”
Chef Pritam Zarapkar (Chef Z), executive chef of Bay Leaf Modern Indian Cuisine & Bar
Complete with a name change, new Executive Chef, updated menu and spacious renovations, Bay Leaf off 280 is ready to welcome Birmingham back inside.
Keep scrolling to see photos of the restaurant’s new look and to learn more about its modern Indian fare and unique cocktail menu.
Take a tour of Bay Leaf’s renovated 280 location through photos 📸
Enjoy Expanded Seating, Indoors + Out
The first change you might see upon walking up to Bay Leaf is their new outdoor dining area. Their signature orange tables are spaced to accommodate social distancing guidelines, and the large outdoor fans help to keep guests cool and air circulating.
At 3,500 square feet, their space seats 120 people with ample room between parties. The warm colors and string lights, both inside and out, make it the perfect spot for a cozy date night or a nice family dinner.
Admire Colorful Murals Covering the Bay Leaf Walls
The remodeled dining area inside features expansive and colorful mural walls so you’ll have plenty to look at while waiting for your meal to arrive. One wall depicts the cultural dances of each of the 29 states in India, while the other wall features a colorful look at the various modes of transportation used in India.
Devour Delicious Eats + Sip On Something New
One of the most notable changes is Bay Leaf’s new menu. Their new executive chef, Pritam Zarapkar—also known as Chef Z—is an expert in Indian, French and American cuisines and has successfully launched over a dozen restaurants across Europe and the U.S.
The Spice Library Group met Chef Z two years ago while he was working in the Washington, D.C. area, and they encouraged him to bring his culinary skills to Alabama.
“When you visit major cities in the U.S., you will find modern Indian restaurants. With Birmingham being such a foodie town, we knew this concept belonged here as well.
Chef Z
The Bay Leaf menu features Indian delicacies with a modern twist. They offer traditional Indian dishes like tikka masalas and biriyanis, but have added unique menu items like crab lollypops, tamarind-glazed short ribs and more. YUM.
BONUS: They also have a brand new kids menu featuring items like pizza on special naan bread, Indian inspired quesadillas, dosa (Indian crepes) and more.
Their food menus aren’t the only things you need to try. Their new signature cocktail menu is stacked with unique takes on all your favorite drinks—and it looks gooood. Find the menu here.
Dinner Plans = Made
Already planning your next family outing? Their 280 location is open for lunch Tuesday through Sunday from 11AM to 2:30PM. They are open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday from 5 to 9:30PM and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10PM.
They also have a location in Five Points South. You can make a reservation for either location online via Open Table, or order online for takeout or delivery.
For patrons dining in, Bay Leaf has implemented new safety measures to ensure the health and safety of staff and guests. Some of those guidelines include:
- Social distancing in the dining room
- No-touch ordering at the table, by QR code scanning
- Disposable paper menus for people desiring a hard copy of the menu
- Table-top hand sanitizer + hand sanitizer stations around the restaurant
Follow Bay Leaf on Instagram and Facebook for mouth-watering food photos, delicious cocktails + more.
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