TURTLE BAY has brought the heat and life of the Caribbean to Ealing Broadway, resisting the upcoming winter blues with its heart-warming soul food.

This is Turtle Bay’s first venture into London and is the perfect place for a weekday dinner or a weekend drink.

Sitting at my table enjoying the beach hut decor, under a canopy of hanging lights, it was hard not to feel like I was on holiday.

References to rum adorned the graffiti-covered walls, while neon lights reading ‘one love’ give the restaurant an edgy appearance.

Despite us being late, the friendly staff were attentive and accommodating and passionate about their menu and restaurant.

While we perused the menu, cocktails were brought out: the Jamaican Mule and the Hummingbird were both excellent choices.

With small dishes available for lunch (£6.95) a good selection of starters (£4.95), mains (£9-£13) and desserts (£4.95), the restaurant is reasonably priced.

For starters, I had chilli fried squid, while no visit to a Caribbean restaurant would be complete without lamb patties.

The squid was very nicely spiced and delicious to eat, as was the patty, drizzled in a scotch bonnet and herb mayo sauce.

The menu does include a considerable amount of spice and, for someone who doesn’t enjoy chilli, this was a bit of a problem.

However, I powered through and was rewarded with a main meal of Trini fish curry, salmon, squid and prawns in a coconut sauce with rice ‘n’ peas.

My partner opted for something from the Jerk Pit BBQ, choosing a lamb steak served with sweet potato mash and Caribbean slaw.

The spicy succulent lamb was gilled over allspice and thyme wood, the smokiness enhanced by the mint sauce topping.

Our side dish was a portion of jerk cheesy sweet potato fries, which were immensely tasty with just a hint of chilli.

The sweet potato mash tested our taste buds with its fiery kick but was well complemented by the cool, refreshing slaw.

Pudding was a fantastic selection. We opted for the rum and raisin bread pudding and an after-dinner cocktail called the White Caribbean.

Our tower of bread pudding came with vanilla ice cream, while the cocktail was topped with a dusting of chocolate and cinnamon.

Alongside the dessert menu, we received an ample rum list consisting of various flavours, strengths and tones, which, I felt, finished off the experience fittingly.

Turtle Bay creates a lively, casual atmosphere. the restaurant was bustling on a Thursday night, with the steady Caribbean beats easing you into a sense of content.

As my partner rightly pointed out, it’s the kind of place you want to go and tell people about.

Head to www.turtlebay.co.uk to book a table.