New Tayyabs

83 Fieldgate Street, Whitechapel, London, E1 1JU - View on a map
Telephone: 020 7247 6400

Details
Overall 3.6
Food 4.1
Service 1.9
Atmosphere 3.5
Value 4.8
Based on 8 reviews

what the critics say

TimeOut

Guy Dimond - 4/5

Wednesday, October 28, 2009 - These days, it's rare to find Tayyabs without a queue on any evening of the week. It throngs with post-prayer Muslims, boisterous groups of suits, and young and trendy members of the East End's latest wave of immigrants. The food (and its low prices) remains the main draw - we've enjoyed mild dhals with baby aubergines, sweet and puffy peshwari naan, succulent, herby seekh kebabs and, of course, the dish that crowds flock from miles around to try - the famous barbecued tandoori lamb chops.

The Independent

Terry Durack - 15/20

Sunday, September 07, 2008 - Tayyabs is more rough-and-tumble than refined, but it has something magical that makes it 10 times better than committing hurry-curry in Brick Lane. It simply does an excellent job of keeping everyone happy. Though unlicensed, you can take a bottle and the waiter will toss you a corkscrew.

your comments review this restaurant and win a bottle of champagne

Went to Tayyabs for the first time last night for a friend's birthday. NEVER AGAIN!

We were served by an extremely rude and pushy waiter who refused to write our orders down (despite being a table of 16!). He rushed us shouting 'NEXT!', clearly not listening to us. He continuously clinked a glass with a knife to get our attention. All the other tables were looking, it was humiliating.

Low and behold, lots of the food was wrong and when we asked for what we had ordered, there was no apologies. We were instead treated like we were a nuisance.

Unbelievably stressful and unpleasant experience. Food was average but never worth the appalling service.

AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!
Comment on this reader review


Overall rating 2 stars
Food 4 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 2
Friday, May 03, 2013

Very rude staff! definitely not place for a family
Comment on this reader review


Overall rating 2 stars
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 4
Monday, April 01, 2013

When we arrived for our reservation last week, I was amazed to see the queues outside. However, I thought the queues meant that that food would be amazing. Well, the food was ok, the service however were abysmal! The waiters insisted that we have our starters and mains at the same time - obviously to get us out of the door quickly! However, the table was not big enough to accommodate both....so everything was crammed on to the table!

The best thing that I had at Tayyabs was the mango lassi - this was delicious. The naan bread was also delicious as were the dips that were on the table. They were very very good but, be warned, if you don't like spicy food, take it easy as they are incredibly spicy. Everything else verged between okay and nice....

I had the paneer which was nice but lacked in spice. For my main, I had a lentil dish which again really lacked flavour.

My complaints would be that the table wasn't big enough for all the food, particularly as starters and mains were served at the same time, the waiters were rude, and also we weren't able to have tea or coffee afterwards as we were told that someone wanted the table...I don't think the food is good enough to warrant a return to be honest.
Comment on this reader review

- View all reviews by this user
Overall rating 6 stars
Food 6 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Monday, January 28, 2013

WOULDNT GO BACK!

So Saturday night 5 of us arrive at Tayyabs having pre-booked a table 3 days in advanced for a party of 8 altogether. Arrived on time even though it took us over 20 mins to find street parking. As soon as we arrive we were standing around for a while until we had to call one of the waiters to tend to us. Once we spoke to him we were advised we only have an hour and half to eat as their next table booking would arrive after this time so we would have to leave!

Furious to say the least, only to have walked in to be told we would be practically be timed and made to leave at exactly an hour and a half after arriving was very unwelcoming to start with and unsettling to know we had to rush our food especially with 3 people yet to arrive!

To continue, the waiters were hovering around our table watching us like hawks waiting for us to order having just been allowed to get comfortable; the service was fast yes but I’m assuming it’s because they wanted us to leave as soon as possible!

Waiters were not only rude but happened to shove one of my guests out of the way whilst he was eating his meal as appose to asking him politely to move his chair inward (all the little things count!)

It was overcrowded with people queuing inside and outside the restaurant; it was a very tight squeeze to say the least.

Not only did we feel pressured to leave before we had been sat at our table we felt as if we were under constant surveillance the entire time. Did not enjoy the meal or the service at all and would never go back there.
View/Add comments (1)


Overall rating 1 stars
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 2
Monday, January 28, 2013

What's wrong with you people? This is hands down the best place to eat in London. We visit regularly and the service is fab, the food is amazing and it is so cheap. The best thing on the menu are the lamb chops and Dahl with baby aubergines. Go here you won't regret it.
Comment on this reader review

Rosie
Overall rating 10 stars
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, October 24, 2012

I have never written a review before esp about a restaurant BUT this place was so BAD that I felt others deserved to know so they don’t make the same mistake, it has to have the worst service ever.

I was in and this is what we experienced: very noisy, very confined (even though they have 3 floors of seating area everybody is squashed up!), extremely rude & unhelpful waiters, took over an hour to get our starters, tried to give us our main before we even got our starter, food split over one of the group by waiter who did not have the decency to apologise, had to wait another hour for main, the main meals were very greasy – more oil than anything.

At the end we decided to speak to the manager as none of us could eat the mains BUT they still wanted to charge us!! The manager who was at the till, rather than overseeing the whole restaurant, could not care less which summed up the whole ethos for this place, he just said ‘this is how it is here, if you don’t like it you don’t need to return’. The restaurant was still extremely busy so he did not care what a few people where complaining about!! We were about to miss the last tube out of Whitechapel so paid him in FULL and left. The food and the service was bad.

I guess at one time, this restaurant was good BUT it could not cope with its own success. I hope they close down so they can spare any other gullible patrons with the worst service in the country!!
Comment on this reader review

Ikky
Overall rating 1 stars
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 2
Friday, August 24, 2012

My partner took me the other night after hearing good things! I must say it's the worst dining experience I have ever had, I would go as far as saying I have recieved better customer service from Mc Donalds!

We had an extremely rude waiter who had seemed to have a huge chip on his shoulder the moment we sat down and when asked if we could order some samosas he simply cut us off and said finished and never offered anything else, more than anything it was his nasty and rude manner throughout the whole entire evening which has completely put me off in ever going there again! and I certainly wont be reccomending it to anyone with odd staff like that!, even when I was pretty sure I had eaten chicken he said it was prawn and got rather angry, to diffuse the waiters aggresive behaviour I said we are fine to pay it but I wouldn't be eating it and he simply just smiled and went that's good and stormed off!! (how this guy has a job is beyond me)

The pakoras were nice and so were the plain popodoms and I suppose the food was good value (just meant that the service went out of the window!), It's not the best curry I have "tried" eating or the best dining experience, Akbars in Leeds was simply the best indian food and customer service I've experienced as far as in the UK.

Huge shame because the other staff around seemed quite helpful to other customers, just sad because it ruined what should of been a fun evening! Wont be going back!
Comment on this reader review


Overall rating 3 stars
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 6
Monday, August 20, 2012

I used to visit this place quite regularly in the past, especially when I was a student local to this place...It used to be very busy, but friendly, amenable and warm- the food USED TO BE GREAT!

I have visited this restaurant about 3 times in the last 6 months, each time it has been very very busy, but the service is atrocious. Beware don't order your starters and mains at the same time, they will most likely put both on your table at the same time. The service is horrendous, and there seems to be a focus on massive numbers and rapid turnaround. The food has been served to us lukewarm at best, but twice we have been served cold food.

Inspite of it's great reputation I think this institution is becoming a victim of it's own success, and the simplicities of eat out have been forgotten there.

There are a handful of amazing places to eat very close to this restaurant, with the same genre of food...do yourself a favour and give this place a miss.
Comment on this reader review

Dubie
Overall rating 4 stars
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 6
Monday, June 18, 2012

This place used to be fab - now its just cashing in on its fame - refusing our group a jug of water and insisting that we use Tayyabs branded mineral water at £2.50 a bottle is just a rip-off. The starters were pretty good the lambchops and seekh kebabs are good. Howeverowever the mains were mediocre and the portions are much reduced to what they used to be - we ordered karahi lamb - too greasy, baby chicken masala limp seasoning, palak aloo - watery, dhal baingun bland, bhindi meat - okra undercooked.

Seem to to be more focused on turning tables then serving great food.

The queues and shoddy service are no longer worth enduring as the food ain't what it used to be - shame.
Comment on this reader review


Overall rating 2 stars
Food 2 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, April 03, 2012

Very cramped. Very noisy. They didnt wait for us to finish starters before chucking the mains on the table. The so called lamb chops are not nice at all.

Hoovering next to us. No change of plates had to use starter plates for mains.
Comment on this reader review

Rio
Overall rating 1 stars
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, January 18, 2012


what the bloggers say

London Eater

London Eater

Monday, May 18, 2009 - Yes, Tayyabs is very good indeed. It is perfect for large groups and you will all expect to be wowed by an exceptionally large range of spice infused flavours. I think the chefs have mastered the art of balancing flavours and they have indeed honed their epic high wire act. How they can manage to pull in so much vibrance in the spicy end of things, whilst maintaing a neutrality with the citrus is beyond my young palatte. As for the tikka - it is charred to perfection. Realistically, it’s abit of curry and naan bread - how could it go wrong? Few go too far wrong, but even fewer get it so right.

Essex Eating

Essex Eating

Friday, April 10, 2009 - The Lamb Chops arrived first, red hot and sizzling, coated with spices. They were gorgeous - although as is always the way with lamb chops, not much meat on them...so they benefited from picking up and eating with your hands, something my Girlfriend refused to do - so, obviously in the interests of review I had to 're-visit' her barely gnawed chops and finish them off...It is, what it is...and what it is, is a gut bustingingly gorgeous authentic Indian meal for two, the like of which I guarantee you haven't eaten down your local curry house for the bargain price of 28 quid.

World Foodie Guide

World Foodie Guide - 7.5/10

Saturday, March 28, 2009 - Tayyabs is a huge dining area with basic decor, divided into two sections, with a VIP room. It’s also incredibly loud, chaotic and smoky and in the main dining room, you won’t be able to have a proper conversation unless you shout across the table… At the food bloggers’ dinner last week, I was able to try more lamb chops, sheekh kebab, dry meat and tinda masala. I have to say, the lamb chop was even less meaty than the ones I had on my first visit. I’m a enormous fan of lamb chops, just not the ones at Tayyabs. But I can definitely recommend the dry meat and tinda masala.

+ Show more bloggers
You may also like these restaurants:
quick search
user tools
latest blog entry

London Food Fests

Pick Up Gourmet Goodies At A Summer Food Fest
london tweeting

Barrio Bars to open a new site in Shoreditch next month (via Caterer) - http://t.co/DmDQwfUl

save this page
best for...
cuisine
our sites
city eating