Punjab Indian Restaurant

Reviews

• One of our favourite Indian restaurants

  When we want a good-quality Indian meal that won't blow the budget we head for the Punjab restaurant. The food is consistently of a good standard, the service is friendly and (amazingly for this area) we've never yet failed to get a table.The restaurant claims to be the UK's oldest Punjabi restaurant, having been opened in 1947 by Gurbachan Singh Maan, and is still owned and run by the same family. The menu combines traditional curries and tandoori dishes with Punjabi specialities such as pickled chicken. Starters are about £3, main courses around £8, breads about £2 or £3 - very reasonable for such tasty food in this part of London.I particularly like the anari murga, a chicken curry flavoured with pomegranate, and they also do great mushroom dishes. Unlike many Indian restaurants, they succeed in using plenty of spices but with subtlety - the spices don't dominate the dish but enhance it.

  Sarah_w
  Review Date: 05/04/2009 Report review
• wonderful dining experience

  A charming experience in every way. This little restaurant used to have two separate dining areas, one for smokers, the other for non-smokers (quite progressive, 10-15 years ago!). Some years ago it built an extension at the back of the restaurant, which you cannot see from the street, so it now has plenty of seating, so no fear of it being full-up.The menu is extensive, but not at all over-the-top, as some mainstream Indian restaurants can sometimes be. There is plenty of choice, without there being too much choice. Service is friendly and relaxed and the staff here seem to know their stuff. They certainly know their customers and on each of my visits, they know one of every two customers by name or from a previous visit - very impressive, and a good sign (why would you visit time and again if the food was lousy?)One memorable experience here was the 'Chicken Tikka Special' we ordered. This is normally served by one of the Sikh managers, who delivers it to your table, straight from the tandoor and red hot. Before you know what he is doing, he pours a bit of brandy over it and lights it!Prices are average, certainly for Covent Garden, and the quality of the food has always been good, sometimes excellent. One of my favourites is their Chicken Jalfrezi, with a lush paprike/capsicum and ginger flavour and ever-so-tender chunks of chicken. That, together with their excellent Kulfi is enough to keep me visiting again, and again,.....

  Navajo_pete
  Review Date: 11/10/2008 Report review
• an institution

  If 6-star ratings were allowed, this would be one!Not only is it one of the UK's first authentic Indian restaurants, it is also a place to meet friends, to catch up on the Covent Garden gossip, and to relax.Since the extension was built at the rear, the restaurant has gained a quiet dining room. The front of the restaurant is still busy, bustling and lively - it often resembles a family dining room!The proprietor, Sital, his brother and his son run a fantastic show. Sital's showmanship helps to lift spirits, but the foor is dependable, solid and always done to a high standard.No fusion, no pretence, no nonsense. Instead, excellent food in a magnificent atmosphere.After a couple of Cobras and some Chicken Chat, the rest of the evening seems too short.The service is excellent, very friendly and informal.I would find it very hard to fault this place!

  Bristle
  Review Date: 10/09/2008 Report review