New Tayyabs

Went along and had a great time. Top food. The comment below about turning up with 30 people is madness. Have you seen how small and busy the restaurant is? And you took 30 people? Do your homework.

And to think that you ordered a chicken curry rather than some of the best Pakistani chops this side of the Durand line? The Sikh, chicken, and lamb kebabs are immense. Anything else is madness. Except maybe the dry meat. That's not bad. It's very good in fact.
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alex
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Went here with two friends on a weekday evening. I agree with other reviewers who say the service is awful. We were kept waiting in a standing queue for around 45 minutes, throughout which we were told that our table would be ready "soon". I don't see why you can't put your name on a list and come back later.

When we did get to sit down the food was excellent and better than most curry houses. Great value too. It's just a shame that the experience was let down by the shocking service.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 8
Monday, May 11, 2009

I have to admit the food there is great and quite cheap as well although not a wide variety on offer but the service was awful.

We booked a table for 7.30pm and printed off the conformation e-mail (reference No) only to get there and find that there was no record of the bookingand then had to wait 45 mins for a table, it was then another 15-20 mins before waiter even came up to us to take and order.

During the meal we had plates that still had a little bit on them and they just came up and took them away without even asking if we had finished, after we finished with all the main courses and they took the plates away we were then presented with the bill without even asking for it or if we wanted any deserts. We told them we would like to order deserts first and asked for the menu and as soon as we opened them they were hounding us for what we wanted so we told them we haven't decided yet and then the waiter then said ok so what do you want in a raised voice so we repeated that we havent decided, he then said ok whatever take your time. When we decided of Kulfi ice cream we were then presented with ice lollies in wrapers so we sent them back just to get out of there.

Beware of the staff pushing you out of the way to get past you and being very rude.

Also you have to take your own alcohol
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Loren Shefer
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Saturday, May 02, 2009

Tayyabs is a place that you will either love or hate - I've not met many people who sit on the fence.

Pros: Excellent grill fare. Quick arrival of food. Well priced.

Cons: Can have to wait for a table. Occasionally feel rushed/service standards slip.

I went with a large work group (12 people) who had booked in advance (definitely recommended) and arrived early in the evening (before the main rush hour). I think that other reviewers are fair to point out the large queues, potentially long waits, and at times hectic service. Our table was actually initially set for 8 but they pushed extra chairs on and it was very snug!

Our group decided it would be best to order mostly from the grill menu (which are all under the slightly confusing title "starters") and ordered copious quantities of chicken tikka, seekh kebabs and lamb chops. This is part of the reputation of Tayyabs - each tray was exceptional, and sizzling like mad. Eat it while it's hot - once cold the lamb can be tough! We also had sides of very large pakoras, tarka dhal, aubergine dhal and sag aloo as well as many naans.

The lassi is great. And BYO is handy - the bottle openers were promptly brought to us, along with plenty of glasses.

Everyone at our table enjoyed their meal - good food, promptly served, and really quite cheap (£12/head)!

If you are going to get creeped out by the queues snaking their way past the table, this is not the place for you. Having hordes of ravenous people watching your every bite is tough! But, it really is a measure of the popularity of the place that they keep packing them in, night in night out.
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Kate
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 10
Thursday, April 23, 2009

I went to Tayyabs last Friday with four friends after work for a nice evening meal - unfortunately this was not to be. We had booked a table so we had no trouble getting seated but even from the start the staff were rather brisk and less than friendly. We had to ask for menus and wait to place our order as the waiters kept running past us to deal with other customers. When we were finally able to order we were rushed through it so quickly with a bark of "Next!" after every item that we felt quite harassed afterwards. The food was of good quality but far too spicy for me and not as cheap as I had been promised. Furthermore they kept whipping away dishes and glasses before we had finished with them! The overall feeling was one of being rushed and this was alarmingly evident when they gave us our bill whilst we were still eating our desserts! The final straw came when two of our group went to the Ladies Room and in their absence the remainder of our party were told to leave as they needed our table!!! For the first time ever all five of us agreed that we would not be leaving any tip at all as we felt that we had been treated appallingly! My friend summed the whole debacle up by saying afterwards that "instead of feeling satisfied and relaxed she just felt stressed"! Needless to say none of us will ever go back there again and we can only assume that the people queuing up to get in must enjoy being treated badly!
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Victoria Hearn
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 4
Tuesday, April 21, 2009

the service is what you expect and of the style of the restaurants origin. if you dont know what to expect then you might be a little shocked...fast pace and hectic, however makes for an exciting meal.

Food is top quality and extremely good value. Most tender and delicious rack of lamb!
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Jash - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Friday, April 17, 2009

Tayyabs have excellent food, make no mistake, but because of this fact they have absoloutely no customer service at all. Waiters are extremely rude and if you are not quite sure what you want to order they just walk away...

As i said, the food was great, but this was completely spoiled by the truly horrible service, not to mention the hour you need to wait in the queue just to get a seat.

I would enjoyed it a lot more if the service was not so terrible.
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Felix
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Tried out this restaurant for the first time a few weeks ago, after hearing so many good reviews about it. But to be honest this is the worst curry I have ever had, I wouldn't dream of recommending this place to any friends. If you like salty tasting food then this is the place for you! Although we got seated at the time we had booked for, the service was bad. The staff in too much of a hurry to get you served and out I think i would be too generous to give this place 0/10.
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Mark Ellis
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, April 08, 2009

The worst dining experience ever! (I have been to nearly every Indian/Punjabi/Pakistani restaurant in London) Our table was booked for 8pm and they gave it to us 1 hour later!!!

The staff are very rude and unhelpful. They dont seem to listen. People being there own alcohol in there so they must think everyone is drunk and not with it. (Not Me)

They totally messed up our order. When the main course finally arrived they forgot the nan. It came at the end and they expected for us to have it for dessert.

Worst place ever. Avoid at busy times.

They need more professional waiter staff too many people in the restaurant and not enough stadd
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Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, April 01, 2009

I'd never thought of reviewing this place because it felt silly reviewing a lunchtime curry house near to work. But actually, why deprive such a brilliant place of another great review just because it doesn't have airs and graces?

It's brilliant. The menu is simple. Some grilled meats, a few curries and a few veg dishes. The service is swift and sure. And the naan breads are delicious!

Three of us went for a hung over working lunch and the meal came to £30. Yes £30. We had mutton tikka, chicken tikka, a chicken curry, a dal, a spinach and potato dish and some naan and some rice. You really can't fault it.

They pack 'em in tight here so if you're looking for comfort then steer clear. And be prepared to queue unless you come early or late.

But this place is my favourite curry house around here, miles apart from the ubiquitous stuff on Brick Lane just down the road. Go there in a group and over order. Great food. Great fun.
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benjamin163
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Sunday, February 15, 2009