New Tayyabs

Went there because of the hype. Tried to book on the same day (a Friday) but were told they do not take same day bookings.

When we got to the restaurant we could see there was a significant queue so we asked how long the wait was, we were told approximately 30 minutes.

45 minutes later we asked again how long the wait would be from our position in the queue, this time the wait was an additional 22 - 30 minutes.

Considering we had already waited 45 minutes, this would have meant we would wait at least 1 hour and 5 minutes before being seated. Seems like each time you ask the standard response is "30 minutes sir", no matter where in the queue you are or how busy they are. Rubbish. Its clearly a ploy to keep you interested.

2 hours later we were seated and the food in no way lived up to they hype. It was OK but there are at least 20 places in London with better food.

I would never go there again.
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6 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Monday, February 07, 2011

I went here with a group fo girlfriends on Saturday night and was appalled by the service - probably the worst I've experienced in London. Or anywhere else.

The place was bustling, with a queue around the door, but we were seated very quickly (within 5 minutes) because we had a reservation. I thought this was a good start - how wrong I was! We were rushed to order, and had waiters and then given about 15 minutes to eat before being milled over by every employee (about 8 in total) in the place to try to get us to finish.

It turns out the reservation next to us was larger than expected and they wanted to hurry us out to get the extra seating at our table. Instead of explaining that, or offering another table for us to continue our meal, we were pressed to leave and then had to try to finish our food while the waiters (and the waiting guests from the next table) glared at us from across the room. Our request to speak to the manager to explain our dissatisfaction didn't yield any great response and we were slammed down the bill with our dessert.

The food was good, but would have had to be spectacular to mean I'd put up with such awful service every again.
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3 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 3
Monday, January 10, 2011

the queue, i can stomach that, usually with a few bottles of cobra to tide me over....the service, can deal with that as well..never needed a sommelier in tayyabs...what does give me the hump tho is that the food isnt as good as it was...especially the curries which are now ghee heavy and any vegetables aren't fresh as they used to be...saying that....the charcoal stuff i.e. the lamb chops, the shammi (sic) kebab, tikka etc are still far better than anything else ive had in the area and i live behind Whitechapel station...so go for that..load up on them with some naan and some beers from the nice couple at the offy next to vallance road and youve done alright.
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Matty C
5 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, December 01, 2010

Just eaten at the famed Tayyabs restaurant. Probably the best curry factory in the Uk. Until it comes to paying. Credit card machines don't work...can I have the cash from an unfriendly waiter. Not only that, demanding people hand over their empty plates so we can get the waiting masses in....except there arn't waiting masses. Is the shine wearing off. I think so.
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Chris Boon
5 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 7
Saturday, November 06, 2010

Went to Tayyabs with some friends and from a previous experience was pretty excited. We booked a table for Friday evening, we turned up at the right time and seated 30 minutes later and placed in the VIP area (as there was little room anywhere else.) We were then accosted by some of the worst service I have ever had. When choosing our items on the menu, our waiter would bark ‘AND’ after every item and his voice would get louder and louder, so much so that it felt he was screaming at us. This may be a cultural thing but I’ve been to other restaurants in the area and it was not like this. He seemed perturbed by any questions with menu selection and just bent on getting us in and out as soon as possible and it was just plain rude. We asked for a jug of tap water half way through our meal (we already ordered a variety of lassi’s and food) and he told us that since we are in the VIP room we can only get mineral water (even though we didn’t ask to be placed there) and that if we wanted a jug of tap water, we would have to wait and he will move us to another part of the restaurant (we were half way through our meal as he was saying this). The service was just appalling and I’m gutted because I liked the place once.
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5 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, November 03, 2010

1. Was told table would be ready in 15 - 20 mins, however got the table after 45 mins of waiting in the freezing cold.

2. Food came, was good, but have had much better food at other places. A curry was missing and so were half the naans. Told the waiter & he started arguing that he already brought it. Later on, he did bring the missing food.

3. Bill came & they added on stuff that we did not even order. Again, the waiter started arguing that we ordered randon things.

4. Took 10 mins just to bring the card machine to the table as they couldnt find it.
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3 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 3
Monday, November 01, 2010

Tayyabs is a gem in the east-end of London, somewhere brimming with immigrant culture that is slowly being ruined by the influx of rich kids who think it is trendy to live somewhere struck with poverty.

Tayyabs represents everything that has happened to the east-end in the last 10 years. Having lived in London all my life, it is saddening to see the restaurant (somewhere my father used to go to back in the day) as the new hipster hang out. The place used to be fantastic for a nice night out or when in the area locally to pick up a wrap. I even liked the dodgy wallpaper and the fact that most of the clients were locals.

Now, Tayyabs is a victim of its own success. The food, delicious though it may still be is now priced a lot higher and the portions so much smaller. I ordered a chicken wrap (after nearly bawling my eyes out at the size of the queue) and lo and behold its smaller than it once was.

The staff are not at all as rude as other reviews say. They don't do it personally, there are different perceptions of rude in different cultures. They are getting the job done.

If you are rich, just moved in from a village and go shopping in Brick Lane you will love this. Experience 'culture' as much as you like, this isnt it. Because as my old man says 'Tayyabs isnt Tayyabs anymore. Its the local Bengal Village down the road, just busier'
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OriginalLondoner
3 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 1
Monday, September 06, 2010

Most rubbish experience of our lives. No parking space, food was cold, inadequate seating, really congested, rude and unprofessional waiters, with incomplete plates and cuttlery.

They served incorrect order and than insisted that this is what we had ordered. Really small quantity served and extremely over priced.

Never ever going back again.
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0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Sunday, September 05, 2010

Attended today being attracted by all the hype-what a let down...

Booked for 6.30pm, this was fine was shown to a crampt table, thrust with a menu which has no discriptions of anything, the place was so loud there was no chance to ask anything other than to scream ones order..

Everything came at once, starters,mains,drinks,popadums, bread everything all on this tiny table.Really felt we were on a conveyor belt as when wede finished we had hardly stood up the next couple were practically on our laps..

The food was uninspiring, all the dishes we tried were geared around the grill, even stirfried saucy dishes had the meat taken from the grill, though spices were used well the predominant taste was the grill.. the chicken was dry the chops tough looked huge but were mostly bone. Had to salt everything as the spicing was fine but the food lacked seasoning.

Was one of the fastest meal ive had which left me feeling rushed, uncomfortable and just another punter, no attention to detail whatsoever.. and not cheap...£41.00 for a mixed starter, bread a small portion of rice, the keema was awful and chicken tikka masala, popadums were given not offered and charged for and 2 soft drinks...

This place survives on hype not the food or service..This is a pity, will not return there are a lot of much much better similar restaurants in London cheaper and nicer serving exuisite food...
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john b
4 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 2
Thursday, September 02, 2010

The food is quite good but incredibly rude staff, made a reservation but is not respected. Had to wait for more than an hour and a half n was brushed aside everytime we asked about how long the wait was. Extremely chaotic n noisy n disorganized atmosphere n staff is so rude. Definitely not the place to come for a date nor with friends.
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2 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, August 31, 2010