The Empress

I love this place. I'm genuinely shocked to see some bad reviews. The food is excellent (try the Nazakat for a starter) and I've never had any issues with the food or service (despite the bad review stating the opposite). Great menu and good prices means it's a total bargain. Give it a go. You'll taste the difference to any standard restaurant.
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10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, January 03, 2012

I've ate in there occasionally for the last 10 years and it's ok.

The best restaurant in London it is not, it's a Brick Lane standard restaurant with a photo shopped photo of Anthony Worrall-Thompson with the staff, need I paint a bigger picture.
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Danial Harrington
5 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Sunday, October 23, 2011

After getting introduced to the local cuisines in London a close friend had suggested that we visit the empress in leman street.. At first i was pessimistic about Indian food as it had always made my stomach upset after eating it.. when we had entered i found a nice welcoming atmosphere with waiters ready to take orders and even so serve just as promptly. I had been served my starter within a few minutes of ordering which didn't keep me and my partner waiting too long... soon after we had a very delicious meal which i must say changed my view on Indian cuisine altogether. I would definitely recommend the Empress for first timers or any curry lovers.. especially the Lamb Rajshahi which was most sublime... 5 Stars.
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Sarah
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, March 15, 2010

I tried to book with my Tastelondon card last week and was told that they wouldn't accept my booking (party of 6), I also sensed a bad attitude from the guy who answered the phone.

It seems that The Empress don't actually want customers in their restaurant! From reading the below review it looks as though the management at the Empress have turned away 76 diners in the last week!!!

We ended up booking at Cafe Spice instead which is on the TasteLondon card and it was fabulous. Michelle, if you want to find somewhere that is willing to accept your custom i would highly reommend it!
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Bish
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Saturday, March 28, 2009

I called the restaurant to make a booking and requested to speak to Ali (the owner) as it was a very large party for an extreamly important event and wanted it dealing with properly. The person that answered the phone meeting my request to speak to Ali with all of 4 words - " call back next week" and then proceeded to hang up on me before I could mutter another word! bad customer service I thought but I'll try again... i redialed the number and told this person again that he had just hung up on me and that I didn't think this was very professional and that he didn't even ask why i wanted to speak to him or if he could help in Ali's absence. he then told me that there were other calls coming in and that he was very busy. i told him that if the phone lines were open earlier in the day and not directed to someones mobile voicemail I might not have caught him at a busy time but either way it was very bad customer service to be speaking to me the way he was and verging on shouting at me that he didn't have time to speak to me even though he didn't know what it was that I was calling for. I managed to get his name before he hung up on me for a second time!!! His name was Husain.

This was not one of my 1st choice restaurants to begin with as i feel the food is over rated but the guest of honor loves it and dines here on a regular basis with his friends and family. After this shocking experience i can honestly say i will not be returning to this restaurant and neither will my Uncle after I had relayed this story to him. i will be taking my custom, and the 70 party guests elsewhere; there are plenty of other better Indian restaurants out there where we wont be shouted at or hung up on.

I hope when Ali does arrive back he will be speaking with Husain and keeping him away from customer facing positions and avoiding hiom damaging his business and trade any further.
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Michelle
2 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Friday, March 27, 2009