Maharani

We went for an early Sunday night curry with some what trepidation after reading the reviews on this site, but were very pleasantly surprised. Very generous sauces with the poppadums, fantastic spicy lamb wrapped in lettuce followed by an excellent chicken bihrani and lamb chops - spicy, meaty and served with fried onion and pepper. Service wasn't over-friendly but polite enough, and reasonably efficient. Price was slightly more than we expected since we had shared one starter followed by two mains, one garlic nan and one pilau rice with no alcohol (nursing hangovers!) - nearly £40, but overall, a very good experience, and we would return!
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Katie
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Monday, November 03, 2008

You lucky, lucky people. Recently it has become apparent that, where there was one type of curry house, now there are two.

The first (and more 'traditional') has any of the following: Candle powered hot plates, flock wallpaper, linen tablecloth, faded prints from india, floral crockery, lager by the pint as long as it's kingfisher or cobra, an old guy in a toupe behind the bar, sitar muzak, a few cutout newspaper reviews circa 1978 in the window, a menu that never, ever, ever changes from the tikka starter to the after eight mint to the coconut ice that nobody ever buys.

The second has bhangra videos banging out a 42" plasma, expensive bottled indian and other asian beer, "fusion" cusine, white crockery, 'trendy' waiters in black satin and a spice tray that contains things other than mango chutney, lime pickle, onion or that yoghurt that according to the colour chips on my desk is pantone 368c (ask your designer mate)

The Maharani in Clapham is the first type, unpretentious and comfortable and something that should never, ever EVER change. The other type is two doors down so you can leave the rest of us to enjoy a pint and a shashlik in peace.
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Toby
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, December 04, 2007

I'm gobsmacked to see all the brilliant reviews for this restaurant, it is unequivocally one of the worst eating experiences I've ever had. The food was bland and badly prepared; rice undercooked, tikka tasteless and shashlik burnt. The only wine by the glass was 'house' which tasted like martini and gave me a headache. Considering the standard it wasn't exactly cheap, and the poor product made it feel a rip off.

However that is nothing compared to the terrible service. Rude, brusque, ungrateful and at points offensive. If you want to feel like you are inconveniencing the staff and keeping them from something more important then this is the place for you. In almost two hours in the place we didn't see one waiter crack a smile or look in the slightest bit eager to serve.

I never like to write a one-sided review but I honestly cannot think of anything positive to say about this establishment.

Truly, truly terrible.
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Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 1
Saturday, December 01, 2007

I hate Indian food!! Always have done since I was young. One night I was reluctantly dragged to this restaurant by friends and I was amazed that I actually loved this food. Quite simply, delicious, better than any Indian I'd tried before and in fact better than any other countrie's food I'd had before too.

A few days later, after having decided I do like Indian food after all and I'd spent my whole life mistakenly believing I didn't, I ordered some takeaway from a different restaurant close to where I live in Victoria. BANG. disgusting.

Maharani is the only Indian restaurant I will touch in London.... Superb.
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Lui
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, May 17, 2007

I found this restsaurant years ago,they used ta advertise in the E>Standard.

I have returned through the years over and over again. They extended the interior and the food remained well priced and just as good as all that time ago.

Very friendly and well worth the effort. Its my wife's 50th and guess what were going to The Maharani.
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frank baron
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Good service the food is the same standard it is of a much better standard than the Golden curry in my opinion
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j
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, April 18, 2007

This is one of the best British Indian restaurant I've ever come across so far. We've been there a few times and whenever we think of Indian food, Maharani is always the first choice. There's nothing on the menu that I don't like. There're lots of accolades on the wall dating back to even 80s. The restaurant is run by family. It's always busy on Friday eve and weekend.
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Tina Johnson
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Monday, February 26, 2007

It is very rare that I would ever class an Indian Restaurant as one of my favourite places to eat in. For some reason I always see them as places to go with the boys before/during/after a few beers rather than than somewhere I can experience an 'event' which is how I like to describe my best times eating out. Most of these take place at 'Modern European' restaurants (whilst tipping my cap to the better japanese restaurants out there) where the service has been inpecable and the food, though expensive, divine.

However, Maharani is a place myself and my wife return to again and again and again. The food always delights, in particular the Lamb Sag which we order without fail. I am also partial to the (wait for it) Balti Chicken Tikka Jelfrezi (!!), cooked to a heat you are comfortable with.

A measure of the regard we hold this place is the fact that whenever we have relatives/friends staying with us (my wife is Australian) we always take them here first - not to some fancy, expensive joint in the city.

They know us by name, our favourite orders, and once again - the food is incredible. The best Indian food I have ever had and having eaten Indian in Bradford, Manchester and Liverpool its saying something.
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Adam
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, December 06, 2006

This place has fantastic classic curry - the services is top notch, the atmosphere is relaxing and the food is plentiful and very authentic and tasty. Some of the waiters dont speak good english, but if they dont understand within 5 seconds someone else is there to help. Great service.
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AJ
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, March 07, 2006

This restaurant is a great find! The food is absolutely delicious! The service is great, the waiters are friendly and attend to your every need. The atmosphere is enchanting, the soft mellow music in the background is the perfect remedy for relaxation. I truely recommend the sizzling platters! Ekeisha Harper-Edet
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douceurnaturelle - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, January 10, 2006