Indian Restaurant On 280 Upgrades Facility, Brings In New Chef
BIRMINGHAM, AL — One of Birmingham's most popular Indian restaurants just gave itself a face lift, so to speak, at its U.S. 280 location. Bay Leaf Modern Indian Cuisine & Bar announced Wednesday the opening of indoor and outdoor dining at its re-imagined location near Greystone.
The dining room has been remodeled and features expansive and colorful mural walls. A new executive chef in Pritam Zarapkar, along with a new name, menu, kid's menu and ownership, round out the changes at Bay Leaf 280.
“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,” Zarapkar said. “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.”
The Bay Leaf brand was purchased in May 2020 by The Spice Library Group, a team of local entrepreneurs with a passion for innovation and good food, and an interest in bringing Alabama its first modern Indian cuisine restaurant concept. The Spice Library Group met Zarapkar two years ago while he was working in the Washington, D.C. area, and they encouraged him to bring his culinary skills to Alabama.
Zarapkar is an expert in Indian, French and American cuisines, and he has successfully launched more than a dozen restaurants across Europe and the U.S.
“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,” Zarapkar said. “The new Bay Leaf menu features dishes that are Indian delicacies with a tantalizing twist; while we have updated traditional offerings, such as tikka masalas and biriyanis, we also have unique additions, such as crab lollypops and tamarind-glazed short ribs. We even have fried okra on the menu; our karari bhindi is thin-cut, fresh okra coated with gram flour that is flash-fried for ultimate crispness.”
Bay Leaf Modern Indian Cuisine & Bar is fully equipped to ensure the safety of its guests and staff, with a comprehensive COVID-19 safety plan established by local physicians. During this time, seating is limited, so reservations are encouraged.
This article originally appeared on the Hoover Patch
