Lebanese food in three grey bowls, including fried tofu and some meat

Lebanese restaurant Bay Root is set to spice up Elephant & Castle when it opens this spring

Get ready to enjoy home-cooked Lebanese cuisine at Sayer Street’s latest opening, Bay Root.

Food and drink
  • 5 Mar 2020
Get ready to enjoy home-cooked Lebanese cuisine at Sayer Street’s latest opening, Bay Root.

After the huge success of Bay Root’s Camberwell Road eatery, the Lebanese favourite will be opening its second outlet on Elephant Park’s Sayer Street this spring.

As the name suggests, customers can expect to tuck into the street-style food enjoyed in Beirut, such as barbecued meat and hot and cold mezze, which have become so popular with Bay Root’s loyal customers. However, diners can expect some new additions at the Elephant Park address, in the form of healthy superfood salads and plenty of options for vegans and vegetarians.

Owner Yasser Elmoussa, who runs Bay Root, tells us about his hopes for the new Elephant Park eatery.

Tell us about Bay Root?
I opened Bay Root six years ago because I felt there was a market for this type of food in London. I am the owner, and my head chefs and I pride ourselves on providing fresh, delicious, Lebanese home cooking. All of our food is freshly prepared and cooked by us on our premises. We don’t buy anything pre-prepared; it’s Middle Eastern comfort food at its best. We offer quick and tasty lunches for customers in a hurry, or a more relaxing setting for those who are visiting, to sit and share a selection of meze, followed by classic Lebanese main courses. We also provide an established catering service to businesses in Elephant & Castle and beyond.
 
What can customers expect from the new Sayer Street restaurant?

It will be similar to Bay Root on Camberwell Road, offering a simple but creative menu. It’s a new unit, so it is very bright, fresh and inviting. It will have a casual-dining feel, offering customers the option to sit in and dine or to take their food away. Customers will be able to choose from dishes that are cooked to order or pick up a light, ready-prepared lunch from the chiller.
 
Tell us a bit more about the food?
We use organic, Fair Trade ingredients so we can offer our customers fresh, healthy food. Our bestsellers are the meze dishes, as well as our lamb and chicken shawarma, which is a slow-cooked, thinly sliced kebab. Our pastries are also very popular; they’re all handmade on site by two women who just make pastries. Customers can also create their own ‘lunch box’ and choose from a choice of meat options, sauces and sides, starting from just £7.
 
What makes Bay Root different?

The quality and the passion that we put into everything we do is second to none. I own a farm in Lebanon, where I source many of the herbs and products that we use, such as oregano, thyme and wild rosemary. We offer a small selection of wines and beers with our food that you won’t find in the supermarkets. Our wines are carefully sourced and we offer beer from nearby Orbit Beers, as well asBay Root Beer, which is brewed in Lebanon especially for us and we supply it to local restaurants and supermarkets.

 

Why Elephant & Castle?
I have lived in the area for more than 20 years and it’s a great place. It’s close to central London, the regeneration has made it an attractive area for new businesses looking to move into the area, and it will continue to evolve. There are lots of different cultures and communities in Elephant & Castle who enjoy our style of food. I believe it is a really good opportunity for Bay Root.

Bay Root will open on Sayer Street this spring. For updates on the opening date, menu and more, visit bayrootrestaurant.co.uk

What do you predict will happen to the food and drink scene in Elephant and Castle over the next five years?
I can only hope to see the variety of activity in the area continue. You see different things in Elephant and Castle daily, and I love the multicultural feel. I also really hope that more small, independent businesses such as mine pop up around the area; it’s great to have so many already, but it would be great if this expands.

There is so much happening in and around Elephant Park. Check out our events so you don’t miss out.

If you would like to read more about restaurants in the area, take a look at these: