New Tayyab
your comments review this restaurant and win a bottle of champagne
i know that all the original patrons of this once great restaurant, will agree when i say that 'the REAL Tayyabs is dead'.
if you are the type of person who dines out just for the sake of dining in a busy restaurant, and couldn't care less about the quality of food and service, then this is the place for you. these days the place is so busy that you're due another shave whilst waiting to get in... which can only be a good thing for the governor of tayyabs.
however; if you are the type of person who dines out to experience a culinary delight in a bowl, who has a fervent desire for honest food, then stay well away from tayyabs. the standard of food and service have dropped radically.
now, i am not trying to say that the old tayyabs was at Michelin level; but, it did have its own magic, distinctive style and elegance that made it a unique and memorable place to dine in East London.
after a long absence from london, i went to tayyabs last week for a curry. after tasting one spoonful, i could tell that the chef who cooked the dish, did not enjoy cooking at all and didn't have an atoms weight of passion for food in his heart. it tasted as though the chef had just thrown all the ingredients in the pan in one go and left them to sizzle for a few minutes. i then informed my waiter that the curry was not satisfactory, he gave me a dirty look and took the dish away. after a long while, i was presented with the dish for the second and it tasted the same. it dawned to me that they pre-cook the curries and heat up the portions in a pan when required...i didn't take another bite, i just paid for the 'food' and left. my advice to food lovers? --DO NOT GO TO TAYYABS--
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Don
Overall rating 
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 1
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Tayyabs is fabulous, the hurried service is all part of the joy of eating here. No corkage is also a bonus. Try and get in before 18.00 and you wont have to queue.
After that it can take anything from 10mins to an hour. You get seated quicker if there's only two of you. I once made the mistake of going in a fivesome and watched dismayed as couples that had arrived twenty minutes later than me got seated while we waited for a larger table.
The starters are worth the visit alone, the curries are all super spicey and hot so don't take any curry wimps with you, they won't enjoy it. I haven't tried the Lahore Kebab House yet but have been told its just as good. However every time I head for it I seem to end up at Tayyabs instead.
If you want "pint lager sir" - "welcome back sir" - After eights and a coffee, this is not for you. If you're a hardcore curry fan, why haven't you been here yet ?!!
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David
Overall rating 
Food 10 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Don't listen to the last reviewer he doesn't know what he's talking about. Tayyabs was is and will always be the best curry house in London. Chaotic, hectic, infuriating but worth it. Tayybs I love you.
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Michael Donnelly
Overall rating 
Food 10 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, June 20, 2008
I started going to Tayyabs about 5 years ago when it was a quarter of the size (and had a little garage garden for the overflow). The food is brilliant. The service used to be brilliant; the waiters would know who you are and make you feel special if you were a regular.
Not Any More. Unfortunately (for us, not Tayyabs - fair play to them) the place has become far to popular. Too many city boys. Too many tourists and a bizarre booking system - you don't get a table, just a ticket towards the front of an ever expanding queue. I don 't mean to be parochial, but the soul of the place has gone. The kebabs and dry meat are still brilliant but from now on I'll be going to the Lahore Kebab House on Commercial Road. Goodby Tayyabs, we had some good times but we're through.
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Matt Foulds
Overall rating 
Food 10 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 10
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Awesome food. Chaotically delightful atmosphere. Very reasonable prices.
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Noah Merriman
Overall rating 
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Can everyone stop writing about tayyabs. its my fave place and it already takes a year to get a table
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- View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, June 13, 2008
After reading the other reviews I was prepared for a hectic atmosphere. The restaurant seemed busy to me as I waited in line, tables constantly being shuffle about, and the noise from other customers was at a constant loud drone, and the waiters seemed to be constantly dashing about, removing empty plates in less time than it takes to blink. It's the kind of atmosphere you get in some Tapas restaurants, though not so bad and without any infernal musicians harassing you.
As I was on my own I was seated fairly quickly. Upon talking to one of the waiters I discovered that this night was actually a fairly quiet evening for them. (It was a Tuesday) He commented it was common for the queue to run from one side of the room to the other!
I was actually looking for a place to take a date so at this stage I was unsure whether it was suitable. However after ordering my food it arrived in under five minutes! Starters and main together, of course, which I had expected. Though ready made it was served very hot and all looked delicious. In terms of taste I always feel biased because I've tasted some incredibly delicious homemade Indian over the years and no restaurant has ever come close. Comparable to other restaurants however the food was very good. The flavors and spices were strong, the lamb tender and the samosa's were the best I've had anywhere.
Overall, the service was good although all the waiters seem perpetually preoccupied with keeping everything under control (how they cope on busier days I cannot imagine), the food was delicious and the atmosphere lively, and very few places could offer food that good for that price.
The most unfortunate thing is that they do not serve my date's favorite Indian dish: cheese curry...well never mind.
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Chris
Overall rating 
Food 8 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
I've been here a few times. The service is usually average but acceptable. The food however is usually of a high standard.
This place to an extent is a victim of its own success, its so popular that on a Friday or Saturday night be prepared to queue for anything between 20 and 60 mins before you get a table. I've never been on a Sunday or weekday but can imagine it to be just as busy due to its popularity.
Tables are a little cramped and the place is always very, very noisy, with people squeezing past each other and waiters running in all kinds of directions often shouting out at one another across the restaurant.
This is a fantastic place for a hardcore curry addict who wants nothing better than a good tasty meal and doesnt mind the wait or noise. However its not the place if you're looking for a quiet , relaxing unhurried meal.
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Hugh Jainuss
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
standards have dropped from decent to poor in the past couple of years. Since the expansion, the restaurant probably serves thrice the number of people it used to pre-expansion. How do they cope with this? By preparing ALL curries in advance and merely microwaving them to order.
The grilled meats are okay because they are cooked to order. Nothing to write home about though. Naan is as good as you'll get anywhere.
Worth a visit for the grilled meat. Not worth a visit if you want to eat curry.
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Foodie
Overall rating 
Food 2 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 5
Monday, May 26, 2008
You can imagine what the quality and quantity of food has to be to get a 10 out of 10. Awesome! Delicious! Palatable - running out of adjectives. If you want to taste authentic Indian food, my recommendation will always be Tayyabs. Also, we have an ambience which is presentable and service is Ok, after all its the food that matters.
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Deeptanil
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Friday, May 23, 2008
