I was told that Bandaa is swahili for hut. That is not what Google translate says, but never mind. Another translation site gives shed/barn and add moteka so you get banda la moteka and you get garage. I now know two words of Swahili. Bandaa for shed (or in combination with another word meaning building) and safari meaning journey.
Restaurants are always exciting, with increasingly exotic names. They come and they go. Hatch End is a hotbed of hot restaurants. In November 2020 all now can open for delivery and take away only. They have signs and banners eagerly asking for your order online business.
If you want to walk along Hatch End, and survey the scene, follow my footsteps. We'll start from the station, Hatch End station, continue on the same side of the road downhill to the shops. You pass the Indian Coriander restaurant.
Across the side road, on the corner there's another Indian restaurant. Social Dhaba, previously Fellini's Italian and in the Fellini building.
A few steps further is the crossing. Now you see on your right the vegetarian Indian restaurant, Sakonis.
Look across the road and at night you see the lights of Bandaa. Cross the road and you come to Bandaa.
Alternative route from the Hatch End station: When you reach the shops, look for the crossing island, and when it's safe to do so, cross towards B & K.
B & K Salt Beef Bar
My favourite in Hatch End is B & K salt beef. I used to go to their Edgware branch. I used to live in Edgware, not knowing that Anne Frank's father post-war had come to England with his second wife and was also living in suburban Edgware.
For decades after WW2 we just took it for granted that shops and restaurants would be open. This year we customers and the restaurants in every high street in England, and cities worldwide, have new challenges. Covid19 has killed a lot of businesses but it provides new opportunity for businesses and customers with take away food. (Americans say take out.).
Continue along the street and you come to Bandaa.
BANDAA
Looking through the windows or online you can see a decor of elephants' heads.
Their online menu for Bandaa shows starters at seven pounds sterling.
Starters and main dishes include, lots of chicken and lamb dishes, plus potato, sweet potato, rice with coconut - ah, fattening coconut, I love coconut, egg curry, and vegetarian dishes.
On Tripadvisor there are mixed reviews. Some found the food too spicy and others thought it was too bland. Since half my family like spicy and the other half like bland, we should be able to manage with that.
You can order through the main big three ordering companies. According to the website they open from noon to midnight.
If I remember rightly, a husband from South Africa with a wife from further north have been running variations on Indian food, and African, in Hatch End for years. I used to frequent a cafe. Surely the same people? Like 'Mr Fellini' across the road who retires from one restaurant but makes a comeback later with another name and style (First Fellini, now Pizza Minori).
B and K
Meanwhile, back at home, my family are still finishing off the strudel from B & K. When my late father was fading in hospital, unable to eat, he said he was daydreaming of a nice steak, and a meal of salt beef sandwich from B & K. Hatch End has a steak restaurant, and B & K. When I am travelling overseas, I also dream of B & K.
That's Hatch End for you. Social Dhaba, across the road from Banaa, say they deliver free within a four mile radius. Yes, that's Hatch End for you. Indian, Italian, Jewish-style (which I discovered in Poland is Polish style with borsht and bagels). And vegetarian Sakoni across the road from Banda. Lebanese food, Latakia, fish and chips. Hatch End has it all.
Back to Bandaa.
Words you might wish to translate
Maembe seems to be mango (from their translation).
Far too many for me to do today.
Useful Websites
https://www.binnysfoodandtravel.com/2020/09/04/review-bandaa-hatch-end/
https://www.just-eat.co.uk/restaurants-bandaa-pinner/menu
https://deliveroo.co.uk/restaurants/london/pinner
Huge choice of Pizza places, in Pinner and Hatch End, most opening at noon, a few saying not taking orders.
https://www.just-eat.co.uk/area/ha5-pinner/pizza
About the Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Member of Harrovian Speakers Toastmasters International club in NW London; also VP PR for Braddell Heights advanced club in Singapore.
See my other posts on Hatch End, restaurants, and destinations worldwide. Please share with family and friends and colleagues links to your favourite posts.
travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com
dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com
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