Leamington’s got itself another new addition – from an award-winning Warwickshire businessman.
Baabzi Miah, who runs an award-winning Indian takeaway in Warwick, has tamed up with business partner Naseer Hussain to open Eleven Spices in Spencer Street, Leamington.
It marks a proud return to the venue for Baabzi, who worked front of house at the same location 26 years ago when it was called Shalimar.
He’s now back as owner and says they’ll be offering something different in the town, offering Bengali cuisine with the opportunity for people to enjoy relaxed dining or drinks plus a tailored bar food menu in the bar.
“I worked at this exact site many years ago and kind of lived through a ‘baptism of fire’ type experience in a very challenging restaurant to say the least,” said Baabzi. “It means a lot to redefine this location and offer up honest, flavour-
packed dishes and plates for this wonderful Spa town.”
The restaurant name, Eleven Spices, also has its own meaning, he said.
“It’s a special number to me for lots of personal reasons, including it being the birth date of my twins. It’s also the number on the door! But, importantly, we work with 11 central spices and over the years have blended and cured them to create one distinct flavour.
“This unique blend of spices will play a part in each and every dish adding just that something special. Fitting then we open on the 11th of the month!”
Baabzi and Naseer hope to build on the local reputation of multi-award-winning Baabzi’s Indian Takeaway in Coten End, Warwick, including Best Takeaway in The Good Food Awards 2021; Best Local Takeaway in the 2021 British Curry Awards and, this year, the Blue Ribbon Good Food Award.
Baabzi said: “There are some fantastic restaurants in Leamington Spa and that’s wonderful. We intend to be truthful with our offering, to set out a menu reflecting some unique tastes and expressions of well-established dishes and plates of Bangladesh. We have recreated dishes that go back decades and given them a new lease of life.
“We totally appreciate the amazing options everyone has in Leamington Spa when it comes to restaurants. We feel our menu will offer our unique take on some wonderful Bengali dishes that complement the existing offerings by other restaurants.
“The menu offers an authentic reflection of Bengali Cuisine at its most honest. I come from a family of chefs, importantly influenced directly by my grandfather and father. Food was used as a way of expressing love, togetherness and family. It wasn’t easy for that generation to verbally express how they felt, so I always noticed their love and gratitude through the food they prepared for me.
“Traditional Bengali Cuisine is a result of many influences mainly through India, Pakistan and South Asia. Bangladesh is a melting pot of culinary deposits and a vast array of flavours can be experienced wherever you find yourself in the country.”
The restaurant, which also offers takeaway, is open every day 5.30-11pm (12am Fridays and Saturdays). For further information, or to book, visit: https://www.elevenspices.co.uk/
