Clifton Restaurant

I went to this place for my birthday and was very disappointed with the service. I was told something on the phone when booking that i'd get the thali and priced as per heads and when we got there it was the opposite, even my table for 30 was not ready. If anyone decides to go there please make yourself clear or just expect the worst .... actually don't go there! I enjoy going out for meals, my partner owns one himself but if i was to compare with others i'd say this was one of the worst places i've been to! interior was well presented but its not just about the looks, we pay for food and service!
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Dil
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 4
Tuesday, July 08, 2008

I had heard rave reviews about the authenticity of the food at cliftons so as an Indian I was eager to check it out. The decor is great, certainly one of the more upmarket looking indian restaurants in the east end of london. Service was also good, although this was not too difficult given the fact that at 8pm on a sat night only ourselves and one other table needed to be served by 5 waiters!

The food is by no means authentic, in fact it is not Indian at all but is, as many of the east london restaurants are, bengali. We ordered an array of dishes, each one being worse than the previous, with the chicken tikka massala as arguably the worst I have ever had - I think it had in excess of 10 table spoons of sugar in it and was sweet enough to class as a desert! As for value for money, again another failure for Cliftons as portions were small, the food had little substance and drinks were steep.

Overall there is no way I could possibly recommend this establishment to anyone. It looks good but the food leaves a lot to be desired, which explains why it is so empty on a sat night.
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Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 4
Thursday, April 10, 2008

Went there a few days ago. BAD service. waiters ignored us (they seemed more interested in laying down tablecloth) and managed to mess up the order. Our starters came after our main course and we had to ask for both because it took so long.

The food was ok, the chicken balti was especially nice. The cocktail ('shirley temple') was good too but again the waiters had no idea i had ordered it until i asked for it.

If only they had put in as much thought into the service as they did for the decor then maybe this place would have been a winner.
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Jam
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 5
Saturday, February 16, 2008

ABSULUTLY APPAULD. I had gone there with my husbond recenlty and i can honestly say that it was the worst restaurant experiance ever!!

We went to Cliftons in the first place because of the beutiful decor which everyone talks about. We thought that the food would be as 'beutiful' as the food.

Sadly, we were mistaken.

It was a Friday night and we came in and the restaurant was near to empty. The music was atrociously loud.

We ordered our drinks and waited 15 minutes for them. When we finally got the waiters attention, we orderd are starter. It took 40 minutes for them to come and when they arrived, the bottom of my husbond chicken was burnt and bland. We then ordered our main, when it arrived after a LONG time, it was cold and once again bland.

We didnt wait for the desert, because we did want to wait for it until the next day for something that tastd like burnt rubber.The short amount of time we did see the waiters, we felt as thought we were constanly being talked and laughed about. It was EXTREMLY UNCOMFORTABLE.

I advise people to think twice before coming here. Then think again.

Overall Extremly poor. i will definatly not be coming here again.
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Judy Ward - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 1
Friday, November 30, 2007

I have been to Cliftons in Canary Wharf 3 times and have thorougly enjoyed the food - not only it is really tasty, it is good value for money. The only downside is the over enthusiastic staff who are quick to take away your plate as soon as youve finished yourmeal and hence making me feel that I should quickly pay and leave! Also, I know the staff and only being friendly but not quite sure I like being asked 2-3 times if I want starters /dessert when Ive said I dont by different members of staff!
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Julia
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Sunday, November 11, 2007

I've eaten here twice, once on a weekday evening and once on a Saturday night and both times I could not understand why it was so quiet!!

The food was extremely tasty and good value, waiters were friendly and decor was good. Worth a visit.
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Welsh lady
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, August 28, 2007

I love the Cliftons - I am going again tonight. The food is delicious and the staff are great. The atmostphere is really cool and the bar - well any cocktail that you do not see on the menu - just ask and they will accomadate you.
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Michelle
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Went to Cliftons last friday, what a atmosphere! When I first saw Clifton i thought it was fine dining place. When i got into Cliftons it was very trendy. (has a bit of a twist) i really liked the decor and felt like i had come to a very posh place.

Here are a few points

The Positives:

Service was great it was fast, staff were very nice.

The food had to be the best ive had the rice portion was a bit small but it was all good! You got to try out the lamb chops, very tasty!!!!

The music was a bit loud but the music was great!! It really does set the atmosphere. Reminded me of the good old days! Perfect music for the perfect resturant.

This place is very value for money, as it was based in canary wharf i thought it will be over priced!! my boyfriend had a briyani for only £6.95 couldnt belive it!

Negatives:

Toilets (note for Cliftons) it was a bit smelly and should have been air freshend.

Overall loved it, will be going back

Shara
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Shara Waters
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Saturday, October 28, 2006

Fantastic internal decor.Comprehensive menu. Some different items available (makes a change from the usual Brick Lane stuff). very good value for money. A bit of attitude from the head waiter, but I guess that was him just showing off! the rest of the guys were cool. Food tasted great, good quality ingrediants. The vegetarian items were fantastic, okra and tarka dal for example. One of the best restaurants near to the wharf, worth the walk over for a fab friday afternoon lunch. This is upmarket Brick Lane on the Wharf. a BIG 10/10 from me. Prices were good also.
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P Asar
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Friday, September 15, 2006

A beautiful restaurant, with impeccable and friendly service and a great atmosphere.

Food was very nicely presented, but unfortunately rather disappointing.

The popadoms and pickles were spot on, but unfortunately it went downhill from there. Both of our starters - spinach and paneer pancakes, and the duck starter - were ok but a bit tasteless.

We both chose fish as a main course, mine the fish rogan and his something else (I forget what it was) and we both agreed that although it looked good, it was quite inedible and didn't finish it, mine because it was ridiculously hot and his because it had in it a putrid-tasting fruit "exclusively from Bangladesh" - keep it in Bangladesh, my Asian partner said.

The wine, we had a Sancerre at about £30, was acceptable, but nothing special.

I'm pained to say I won't be returning, because other than the food it was a lovely experience, but if the food ain't good the service and surroundings can't make up for it.
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Lisa Beaumont
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 5
Thursday, August 31, 2006