Mela @ Herne Hill

I first went to the 3 monkeys when they first opened and was not very impressed. I decided to try it again recently with a party of 4. My advice? If you like Indian food, or know anything about Indian food, then eat somewhere else. There were so many things wrong I don't know where to start but some of the issues were: the rack of lamb from the tandoor was burnt and so tough that we had to ask the chef to cut it from the bone, this took 15 minutes. Two main courses, including the one enjoyed by "Prince Charles and Princess Diana" were blandly awful, and tasted stale. My tandoori chicken was as tough as old boots (note to chef - use powdered mango seed in the marinade) Every other dish seemed to have been cooked with the same 4 or five spices and were almost identical. This restaurant claims to be Indian, but I have my doubts. All the dishes were pretty much typical of bad Pakistani or Bangladeshi food. No onions, garlic, fresh chillis, or any interesting spices were used in any of the dishes. Service lacklustre, lighting dim, atmosphere funereal. I'm sorry that I can't find anything good to say about this, but it was, quite simply the worst "Indian" meal I have ever eaten.
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Sarah N.
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Sunday, October 28, 2007

I ordered a home delivery. I was told it would be a 45 minute wait but it took 2 hours.

The food was in a lovely box and I thought it would taste fantastic as the resturant looks very nice and upmarket.

It was terrible. The coconut chutney was disgusting and I only ordered from the 3 monkeys as I usually love this from other places I have been to.

The curries were very runny and were far too hot. I ate a vegetable curry and there was only one carrot and 4 pieces of courgette slices in it. There was also lots of whole black peppercorns in which nearly blew your head off along with the other spices.

The meat roganjosh was just the same, hardly any meat just runny sauce.

The garlic naan had no flavour and the poppodoms tasted of oil.

The saag aloo was terrible and was not like any I had ever eaten before.

I wasted nearly 30 pounds on a meal for two and half of it was thrown away.
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Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Saturday, September 15, 2007

We took my son and daughter in law there for a meal (middle June) and enjoyed it very much. It was recommended to me and we were glad to find that they weren't the normal 'run of the mill' indian meals. Food was excellent -we all swapped around- so I found some better than others but all good. Service was good and atmosphere too. Look forward to going again.
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Lee
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Saturday, July 07, 2007

we dined here on Easter Saturday.

Though the restaurant was busy, with a buzzing atmosphere, we enjoyed every bit of the evening.

It was a bit slow though on the food to come out and had to ask the service staff in case they forgot but as it is the rack of lamb was from the tandoor and takes 25 mts to be ready or thats what we were told. a long time but well worth the wait when it finally arrived. the chaps were courteous enough to get us some poppadums while we were waiting so not bad.

i liked the food and the attention that was given to us - maybe because the delay in the food and i liked the interior of the restaurant. Clean, modern with a mix of ethnic.

good overall and worth the visit
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john beardsmore
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Sunday, April 08, 2007

been to this restaurant last saturday with my college frnds to have a small party...

food was really tasty and good in portion as well..

all of ma frnds enjoyed a lot as they were having the indian food for the very first time...

the restaurant was very beautiful with dim lights and slow indian music... manager greeted us and offered some drinks on arival...

we spend lovely and quality evening in this restaurant

will surly come again...
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salil
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, March 17, 2007

I went here with some friends on Friday night, the place itself was buzzing and very romantic with dimmed lights.

The service was appalling & slow. We asked for a bottle of Rose Wine but was told they had no Rose on the wine menu, not even an apology or offer of another bottle from the menu, therefore we decided not to drink alcohol.

The food was dreadful, small portions, over powered by too spices and OVERPRICED. Out of 5 people not one of us enjoyed any of our dishes.

I do not agree with the £22 per head as stated above, we had starters and main course, no alcohol just water and 2 glasses of coke and came to £185 between 5 people, £37 per person for a curry which wasn't even a proper curry if you ask me.

My recommendation is to stick to your local Curry House, this is over priced and trying to be too gourmet which curry just isn't.

Trust me I've eaten curry all my life, its part of my culture.
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Nat - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 1
Monday, February 26, 2007

Myself & my husband went for a meal last Saturday as we'd heard so much about the place. It looks so nice to have a romantic meal in but overall fails to impress. The service was awful,our waiter did not speak good english and wasn't very attentive. Our starters were very small and bland.Our main courses were good size portions and the food was lovely but certainly not worth the price. Its not a restaurant I would want to go back to in a hurry.
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s o connell
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 4
Thursday, February 08, 2007

Had a lovely evening... its really very huge and very good atmosphere. the food specially was excellent and even my friends enjoyed a lot.

will surely visit again.
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HERMOSO
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Saturday, January 13, 2007

Walking into the restaurant you are presented with a lovely-looking restaurant....... It's better to just walk in, look around, and walk out.... No value for money, VERY mediocre food, waiters disappear and don't return (the word 'service' would be a sin to use in respect to this restaurant)... At least in Brick Lane you get free paint-thinner-laced wine, so you can't tell that the 'service' is far beyond lacking and the food doesn't really taste like food... and you don't feel ripped off at the end...
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Joel Urbina
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Sunday, December 17, 2006

we love it.

Gorgeous food and exceelent service. Very pleasent atmosphere. I would suggest to all my friends.
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Chris
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Thursday, December 07, 2006