Taj Mahal

Thanks Abbey for a nice meal, was out with a group of friends and we ended up here after a few drinks elsewhere. I can honestly say the food was excellent, I really enjoyed it and will be back soon. We had a variety of starters and main courses and all the dishes were tasty, highly recommended.

I don’t know how mediocre mush has become the standard in this country, but my party wanted a traditional Taj Mahal like experience so I knew what I was in for.
This was no monument to love, only the memory of what food used to be.
Our predictable order began with:
Popadoms– not crispy, mango chutney (blended– possibly watered down left overs? –urgh), raita (not the freshest), dry mint in the yogurt and lime pickle out of an economy jar, no doubt. This confirmed my protestations about going in, I was punting for a Moroccan but was out voted. Sad times.
The food was acceptable, nothing I couldn’t have done myself with a jar of unilever Pataks at home, so boring.
I don’t understand how the 80’s and 90’s paved the way for generic uninspiring, pre-​prepared Indian food when there is the potential for it to be so much better.
Indian (and also Chinese restaurants too) restaurant chefs!!! Please use fresh ingredients. Fresh herbs. Simplify your menus, did darling Gordon Ramsey’s Kitchen Nightmares, not put the fear of Ghee in you, today’s dining expectations are so much higher. And if this sort of food is acceptable for you and you think this review is harsh then you are seriously missing out.
A cold surly welcome, was smoothed over at the end by his colleague offering a mixed tray of sweet Corkey’s shooters possibly after my party loudly commented on the disposition of our waiter. Corkey’s bubblegum and After Eight flavoured shooters weren’t our bag, but I guess this is a student city. Not I, however the obligatory 90’s cliché, an actual after eight thin mint sliver with our bill cheered a couple of us up no end.
I would love to campaign for the thousands of Indian restaurants in the UK to cook like ‘their mamas used to’. Stop buying prepared sauces, stop describing everything as flavourful and tender, it shouldn’t need a fanfare it should just be good, standard.
Sorry to pick on you Taj Mahal, but I do believe you have rebranded yourselves as the New Taj Mahal and there is nothing, new about the experience you offer at all.

I went here for the all you can eat buffet on a Sunday. It was queued out the door. We had to wait a while to be seated, but I guess that just means it’s popular! Licensed bar and good food. Could have done with a bigger selection, but what they had was delicious. Reasonably priced and friendly staff.