One of the worst curry restaurant experiences of my life.
The bright exterior is inviting. Turned up an hour before closing time for short meal, to a waiter sitting behind bar, wired to earplug, video-conferencing out loud with his friend. I had two overseas colleagues with me, whom I was keen to share a London meal with.
Throwing the menus on the table, the waiter said "Order quickly and we'll serve you food quickly."
I went to wash my hands and was sickened by a red food-encrusted carpet so filthy that it looked black. Waiter arrived to serve, still with earplug in ear, still video-conferencing. Popadums tasted of rancid oil. Over-cooked vegetables; bland, cold sauce; dull dahl. Potato OK, but copiously-added curry powder did not seem to have been cooked-in. Tepid rice that looked and tasted as if it has been sitting around for hours.
Sorrowfully looked for cutlery to eat. - We had no cutlery and had to ask for this. Waiter hadn't noticed.
None of us finished our food. The waiter arrived unannounced with a bill. £55.00 including added 10% service charge. "Is that compulsory?" I asked, "Yes" he said. They have a Visa/Mastercard sign on the door, I reached for my bank card. "Cash only" he said intimidatingly. "The card machine is closed because it is after 11.30pm." Why had he not asked us to pay before shutting down his card machine? Reluctantly I was forced to pay cash, and tip.
Other reviews confirm this this is not the first time Gulab have insisted their customers pay cash.
If you eat at Gulab Tandoori Cuisine, you may wish to stop off on the way home for a bottle of Pepto Bismol.
Never again! :-( read more