The Brilliant Restaurant

We had heard that briliant had won the best restaurant award from the british curry awards and wanted to visit to see what the place was all about. I love Indian food and am not a bad curry cook myself so was looking forward to a treat. We walked in and got a table straight away as we had booked, we were recommended a few items by our charming waiter and the starters arrived swifly, thank god because i was starving. The food was wonderful, so fresh and absolutely full of taste and amazing flavours. The main course was also fantastic, the black lentils went ever so well with the roomali roti bread as suggested by the manager and the karahi gosht, vegetable soya mince and masala king prawns were perfectly spiced as well. The service was excellent, we were well taken care of, worth every penny! It was the perfect evening out, probably my favourite Indian restaurant as of now!
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Jenna
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, July 18, 2008

My wife and I went to a family wedding reception recently at the Brilliant Restaurant. We had a couple of disabled wheelchair bound guests with us. The reception was held on the first floor. There was no access for the disabled to the first floor. The manager offered to arrange for the two disabled guests to be carried upstairs in their wheelchairs. I had to decline the offer on the grounds of health and safety. The were already 100 guests of all ages upstairs and in an emergency I could just imagine the consequences. The two disabled guests, my wife and I were given a table on the ground floor and we had to accept this under the circumstances but at a price of not being a part of the function upstairs. May I add that the manager and the staff were pleasant and helpful during the course of this event. I have recommended to the manager to consider arranging access to the first floor for disabled guests so that it can be an enjoyable experience for all concerned.
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 7
Monday, May 19, 2008

Good food, terrible service!

My fiance and i went to Brilliant recently one evening with high hopes - having done an internet search for Indian restaurants in the area i found the Brilliant website and seeing they were awarded 'Best Indian Restaurant in the Suburbs 2007' i thought we couldn't go wrong.

Our table was booked for 9.30pm but on arrival we were asked to take a seat by the bar. One other couple who were waiting were seated shortly afterwards but it was then 25 minutes before we were shown to a table!

During this time no member of staff came to apologise for the delay or to let us know how much longer we would have to wait, and whe nwe finally were seated there was still no apology!

We then had our meal which admittedly was very tasty but the whole service felt rushed - our main course plates were put in front of us before my fiance had even finished the poppadums we had ordered to start. After the main course was brought to us the waiting staff never came to check on how things were or if we wanted anymore drinks despite me finishing my drink part way through the meal. Other tables around us seemed to be getting much more attention, i don't know, perhaps they just didn't like our faces or something!

I was then quite annoyed to be presented the bill with a service charge included - if anything i was expecting to have free drinks or something after being made to wait 25mins for our table! I asked for the service charged to be taken off and the waiter looked rather shocked but said he would ask the manager and it was then taken off.

Judging by other reviews here it seems we were unlucky and obviously booked on a night that was busier than they were expecting. I wouldn't have minded this so much but it was the fact that there was no apology, explanation or compensation for the delay.

I can only assume that since having won their award Brilliant Restaurant has become extremely popular, however overbooking and then giving no apology for a delayed table is no way to live up to such an award!

I bet Prince Charlie boy didn't have to wait!!
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O Sanders
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 5
Monday, April 28, 2008

probably the best indian restaurant in london, if not the uk. The Brilliant serves the best Indian food, just as i would eat back home, absolutely wonderful
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RAVI
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, March 25, 2008

We held a birthday banquet for my daughter back in april 2007, and we couldnt of asked for a better venue. The food was just FANTASTIC, each of the dishes were just amazing, the quality of service was impeccable, the waiters were so friendly and really helped out with all the birthday celebrations. Food was served on time, and they were regularly topping up the dishes, they made sure that all my guests were looked after. We also made use of the entertainment they offered - we all had a really good disco, the lighting and sound were really good - for a restaurant!! What a fantastic night!

I would definately book there again, I am hoping to visit again soon!

Well done Brilliant Restaurant, in my books you're the best!
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Bal
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Reading these reviews i am TOTALLY shocked that ANYONE can rate this place higher than even kebab vendors operating out of a caravan. This place is totally and utterly abysmal. No offense to kebab vendors intended.

8 of us went on a Saturday night and by 8pm this place was packed. Each and every one of us couldnt understand why. The food was way below average, the waiter was an imbicile, the prices were extortionate for what you get and to top it off, towards the end of our meal we had a party of four placed right next to us. Picture your arm brushing up against a stranger's. I couldnt believe it! How pathetic of the management. I felt i had to introduce myself to my new neighbours seeing as we would be dining together that evening we were that close.
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Sukhjit
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Friday, November 09, 2007

Well this has knocked spots of anything else I have tried in my 20 odd years of curry eating. Totally unexpected, business meal at 20:00 hours and two hours later and four courses of exceptional food later I felt euphoric. This is the first time I have felt compelled to write a revue for anything I enjoyed the experience so much.

Well done and keep it up.

see you again next time I am in London, there may be twenty odd of us and in Carlisle united FC strips.
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Eddie P...
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Just came back from Brilliant, it was packed as usual and yet again stupidly i did not book, but we managed to get a table after about half an hour. The food us usual, superb, the decor, well fab and the service is excellent. Take my advice and go straight to brilliant, because its BRILLIANT!
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bassy
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, May 06, 2007

I have heard about the place many times and seen it advertised in the Evening Standard too. I have been three times, probably never again and have come to the following conclusion:

Food - it was nice, but nothing special and a lot of them seemed heavily coloured to make them look better.

Service - good service, waiters ensure that you are happy; although one did mention to me that the owner takes most of the tips. Someone else also mentioned this to me.

Atmosphere - if we were in the 80's or 90's fair enough, it now looks out-dated, very out-dated in fact. They have been recently changing the interior, but it does not look nice when an establishment looks incomplete, while trading for business, especially in the foods industry.

Value-for-Money - for the price, one could go to a cheaper restaurant and get the same quality of food.
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Steve Jones
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Saturday, April 21, 2007

After having been away from home in South Africa for almost two years now, we didn't quite think we will find any restaurant in england that remotley resembles the scrumptious tastes of Mum's delightful cooking - but Brilliant has changed our view completely!

The food was excellent- haven't eaten such good Indian restaurant cooking in ages. The waiters were very friendly, well attired and extremely helpful

The presentation of the food was great and rather appetising! Try the king prawn starter- it's a must! The other dishes we had were very tasty indeed - lamb chops, chicken karhai, dal makhani(yummy) and bombay alu - and the best part is that they make it as pungent as you want!

We will definitely recommend this to all South Africans who miss good home cooking - you will be pleasantly surprised!

About the atmosphere...sorry guys ...but the sports TV thingy kills the ambience, especially if you have a rowdy bunch of diners screaming

"GOOAALLL RONALDO!!! " right in your ear when you are trying to appreciate every bit of the food in front of you! However, if it's a business strategy and it works well bringing in the Sports Bar crowd for an evening drink and a bit of sporty fun - then who are we to complain!

Keep up the good food - we will be back!

Anyway, well done
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Yakeen and Adeshtha
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, April 11, 2007