Dabbawal in Newcastle upon Tyne

Consistently excellent, 3rd or 4th time been recently and every time the food has been superb. The chicken is tender, moist and flavourful and the curries are excellent. Good selection of drinks and excellent range of Indian food. Absolutely superb.

Lovely people, good food and careful service but overpriced with small portions. £4.75 for a Peshwari naan, £2.95 for a plain one and a small ones at that. The chicken curry was three (largish) pieces of meat only. City centre prices I guess, but one can ignore expense or small portions but the combination of both I thought worth mentioning as I was a bit dissatisfied.

Great food and a great concept. You can have large plates or a selection of small plates giving you lots of choice to mix and match meals. The food choices are excellent and everything we had was rich in flavour and very tasty.

My daughter booked this and the food was excellent and the service was second to none. Friendly/polite and the atmosphere was brilliant. 100% recommend

It was freezing cold in the restaurant. The food was OK but the portions were a bit miserly, too small. I still felt hungry afterwards. I wouldn't rush back to Dabbawal's.

Food was pretty good and reasonably priced,drinks were expensive though. Had a meal with a group on a working trip to Newcastle, and the waiter had a real issue to provide individual bills for 4 people and said it couldn't be done. He asked his manager, who then came to explain how other people were happy with the way it had been done rather than do what was asked. Eventually they managed to produce our bills but it should not have been a problem and customer service went out the window.

Beautiful restaurant, unique and very delicious meat biryani

Lucky to get last-minute booking for early dinner on Saturday. Took family from London visiting Newcastle for the weekend. Great central location on High Bridge Street and they loved the cobbles too! Restaurant was busy and buzzy and positively teeming with lovely, helpful staff. Service was fast, friendly and with a smile. Food was delicious and they cheerfully packed up what we left to take home for supper. Definitely worth a visit.

I had come for lunch on a Monday, from the get go the staff was just amazing. As I arrived I was greeted well by the host and was asked if I was comfortable where I was being seated. The food was just extra ordinary, I always come back for the more Smoked Broccoli and Achari paneer shashlik and my all time favourite drink Elderflower presse

I visited this restaurant with friends on a busy Saturday, and despite the crowd, the service was exceptional. The staff were attentive and friendly, ensuring we had everything we needed. Baba had taken care of our table so well and my friends were quite happy with the recommendations he gave. The atmosphere was lively yet comfortable. Overall, it was a great experience, and I’d definitely return!

Located in city centre Newcastle.. the food is outstanding… authentic North Indian cuisine… would highly recommend their aloo (potato) kulchas with yoghurt, and Bhel Puri.

I had a disappointing experience at this restaurant. I arrived at (10:10 pm) well before the closing time, as clearly written on the notice board outside. The person in formal attire wearing specs denied my entry by saying the kitchen is closed. The way he spoke to me was completely unprofessional and made me feel extremely unwelcome. I clearly seeing other customers inside having meal. I kindly asked if I could at least place a takeaway order, which was eventually accepted. I definitely have to say the food was genuinely very good, which makes it even more disappointing that the service didn't match the quality of the kitchen.

We went for dinner and we shoved in a corner out if the way by the toilets. Unfortunately none of us could get signal and when we asked for the Wi-Fi we were told they don’t have. In this day and age all establishments that I’ve been to till now offer free customer Wi-Fi. Onto the food . It was actually decent but the portions are so small for the price yo7 need to order double what normally would . Then the prices of the beer , £9-50 for a bottle of Wylam , £8 for a cobra . This place is a ripoff and I highly recommend people spend there money elsewhere

Had lunchtime Thali which was very good & a very filling meal & only £15 per person. Only downside was only bottled on offer with only Cobra on offer which was expensive.

That is a great place to eat in Newcastle, absolutely perfect! Food is very good and service is magnificent. I would describe the food as having a flavour with "gentle touches" in comparison with other Indian restaurants. Probably sublime place to eat for customers with delicate tastes. 5 stars!

I'm a real Indian food nerd. I've been to India and enjoyed the amazing cuisine in Kerala. I've cooked Indian food for years and I'm pretty good at it: my Hyderabad chicken is unbeatable. This restaurant is a real find . Each dish has something extra from the usual Indian dishes. I can't recommend it more. Last night was my third time visit over the last few years . I live in south london. Wonderful dishes. I recommend a few small plates with a side of yellow Dahl and rice. Fantastic. The staff are brilliant.

Love everything about this place.

Was there with a couple of friends on Friday night, 31st January, after a theatre visit. Everything about the restaurant was perfect. Top scores all round. Staff were really friendly, didn't disturb you or hurry you, just let you have a lovely evening. Chicken madras is amazing. We tasted each others dishes and they were all amazing. I'd highly recommend this restaurant if anybody is looking. I will definitely be back to try more of the menu. Thank you for a great time

Well what a fantastic surprise! This was the third time my partner had visited and hence I’d heard good things.. but it exceeded my expectations! From the second we booked we were received with impeccable service, amazing food and a truly wonderful atmosphere. The decor is so different and atmospheric and creates a truly wonderful environment to eat your sumptuous food! Met by attentive staff our whole evening couldn’t have been better! Thank you Dabbawal High Bridge, we shall be back!!! Cannot recommend enough!!

Dabbawal is a spacious restaurant with a cozy atmosphere, and it was bustling even midweek. Despite not having a reservation, we managed to get a table, which was much appreciated, though it was near the restroom entrance—not ideal but understandable given the circumstances. The food was incredibly flavorful, with a variety of small dishes offering a delightful mix of tastes. One dish we didn’t order was mistakenly brought to our table, likely due to a communication issue, so we didn’t finish it, but everything else was absolutely devoured. Price-Quality was also really good! The restaurant is centrally located in Newcastle, making it very convenient. They offer vegetarian options, which is great, though even more variety for vegetarians would be welcome!

This is a difficult review. I've been to Dabbawal on several occasions and have lovely food. NYE four of us dined and it was disappointing. The starters were tasty but delivered whilst one of the party were at the toilet! The main courses were pretty bland (these included chicken madras and another dish that included green chilli) neither of which even had a hint of heat. The waiter then tried to take plates whilst one of the party were still eating. Disappointing.

Visited last night before a trip to the theatre. I have been here a few times and it never fails to impress. Great food and lovely service. Always busy so best to book to avoid being disappointed. Can’t wait to return.

Started going here before evening matches. It’s always busy.The service is very good for such a full restaurant The food quality is excellent. It’s also very good value for money

Serving me in perfect food that wassnt nice and adding stuff to make it taste horrible The food could have been a little better the Dall was a bit dry the curry was ok was diffrent the got the diffrent nans witch could have also been better the place is nice inside kinda small and tight it's kinda pricey aswell the drink was not as I spected wanted the tahli but wasn't available in the evening but disappointing

Food was not as flavoursome as I was expecting and they serve small portions. We were also made to feel rushed. However, the food did arrive relatively quickly.

Really tasty food and great atmosphere.

I am extremely delighted to share my experience at this wonderful Indian Restaurant in Newcastle city centre. Yesterday I went for Black Friday shopping and when I felt hungry I remembered this restaurant suggested by a friend of mine a couple of weeks ago. From the moment I walked in, the peaceful ambience set the perfect tone for a relaxing meal. The service was impeccable. The staff members, especially the waitress Jincy and bartender Jeswin were friendly, attentive and offered great recommendations. As for the food, it was one of the best Indian meals I have had in Newcastle. Specifically the chicken chilly fry and the Lentil and curry soup the I had were flavourful and perfectly spiced showcasing the rich diversity of Indian cuisine. Overall Dabbawal Highbridge exceeded my expectations in every way, a truly memorable dining experience that I would highly recommend to anyone looking to enjoy authentic Indian food in a comfortable and welcoming environment. I can't wait to return!

Great food, even greater service! I have been there a couple of times before but I would like to mention my yesterday's experience particularly. Had dinner with 14 of my colleagues and we all had a fantastic experience. As they suggested when we made the reservation, we decided to go for the set menu which they call it the Chef surprise menu. We have had a chance to taste almost all the popular dishes in their menu, because that's how it has been set. The staff were attentive and professional, especially Jincy who looked after our table. The portion size was perfect for average adults, and the price was reasonable. Overall it was a sattisfying experience for all of us.

Great food, even greater service! I have been there a couple of times before but I would like to mention my yesterday's experience particularly. Had dinner with 14 of my colleagues and we all had a fantastic experience. As they suggested when we made the reservation, we decided to go for the set menu which they call it the Chef surprise menu. We have had a chance to taste almost all the popular dishes in their menu, because that's how it has been set. The staff were attentive and professional, especially Jincy who looked after our table. The portion size was perfect for average adults, and the price was reasonable. Overall it was a sattisfying experience for all of us.

We arrived without a booking at 6.15 on a Saturday night and despite being mega busy, were squeezed into a window table for 2. We both had a starter each, a curry and then shared a naan and a rice. The food was absolutely fantastic. Full of flavour and my king prawns were huge. The large Cobra was over 8 quid a bottle which seemed a bit much but drinking with a meal was a novelty for me so maybe thats the norm these days. The only downside for us was just the relentless high volume due to the closeness of the tables. Not a lot can be done about that, but consider the time you are eating and for a romantic meal for 2, maybe half 6 on a Saturday night at Christmas isn't the best idea ha. Would deffo be back again though, look forward to my next visit.

The Sunday lunch time set menu is amazing value for money, such good quality and delicious. The meat at Dabbawal is always top quality, which makes or breaks a meal for me. Highly recommend the chicken pakora starter and butter chicken main.

Amazing food, butter chicken is incredible. The desert was fantastic (can’t remember what it was called). 10/10 would recommend to anyone in the area

Delicious street food, would highly recommend!

La comida era deliciosa y el personal era fantástico. El menú del almuerzo es una oferta brillante, sin duda volveremos.

El menú es limitado, las porciones son pequeñas (5 cubos pequeños de pollo) chips no son chips sus papas fritas. No recomendaría

Called in for lunch during shopping trip, no reservation required and shown straight to a table. We were served by friendly staff and helpful with our choices. The wife chose chicken tikka wrap and I plumped for smashed lamb burger. Both came fairly quickly and were really enjoyable. We will call again

Absolutely fabulous well worth a try food delicious best naan bread lovely size portions and lovely dessert service was excellent and lovely atmosphere not to be missed 👍

Great food with excellent service. Railway lamb was outstanding We had a great night. Thanks to the team Thank you. bbbbb

Busy Friday in Newcastle, all tables packed out. The delivery of service and food was exemplary, from the host who greeted us when we walked in to the chef that cooked my INSANE Madras, all members of staff were a credit to the business. Being able to deliver that level of food and service is outstanding. Credit to the owner and managers who are doing an excellent job. Well done, I’ll be back!!! 🤤🫶🏽

Went with a group of friends. We were ripped off with “chef’s surprise” it was a big surprise of ratio what they sell and portion size versus price. They also couldn't facilitate my friend’s dietary request, waiter was very pushy& rude and served him spicy food anyway. They are trying to stuff as many people as possible on benches and sell as many as possible of “chef's surprises”, saying it there was not enough space per adult. If you are visiting with a group of friends - don't fall for that trap. Ah and don't forget about those 10% tip on top after bad service :)

Absolutely 10/10, was so close to cleaning the plate with my tongue. The food and the staff were so amazing, we had the pan fried sea bass and the coconut pepper lamb and oh my god. The sea bass was gorgeously cooked, sat in a plate of butter sauce seasoned to perfection. I was a bit worried about the lamb as it's notoriously easy to cheap out or cook wrong, but no. It was unreal, slow cooked and melting in the mouth. The pepper and coconut seasoning was honestly indescribable and you just had to be there. The restaurant is fully booked a lot so I'd recommend checking the bookings online.

First time visit last night with a friend. Opted for Indian as both our partners aren’t keen. Had heard good things about Dabbawal. Booked a table for 6pm and pleased we did as the restaurant was very full. I had of course scoured the menus prior to attending and noted they did a special £16 limited menu up until 6.15pm. On the main menu there was a chef’s surprise menu at £26 so we chose that instead. Poppadoms came with tiny dip bowls. Could have done with a lot more dips for the ratio to poppadoms. Then followed some sweet potato chaat which was ok. We then were presented with a plate housing a piece of salmon, chicken and a lamb chop all cooked in various spices. Was very tasty. However my friend doesn’t eat seafood so I think at the outset when we ordered this should be asked as when the main courses arrived one of them had king prawns in. This dish was very nice although very mild and creamy and not what I would order usually. The other dish was butter chicken. It tasted like chicken in tomato soup! A dish of pilau rice, black beans and garlic naan accompanied the main. Certainly value for money but was a bit disappointed with the two main curries as they were very similar and mild in nature. The bill arrived and we noted the wine was charged at £24 despite it being on their website offered at £16. Queried with the waiter and he said you had to order the pre theatre menu to get the wine at that price. That’s not stipulated on the website or at the time of ordering. £94 included a service charge which we were happy to pay as service was good. Would I go back? I doubt it. Visited Dakawala on Grainger Street a couple of months ago and that was much nicer.

I arrived on spec without a reservation and was fitted in immediately. I was in a hurry before going to the theatre and my food and beer arrived very quickly. I have eaten butter chicken in the Moti Mahal in Old Delhi where it is said to have been invented and Dabbawal’s version is every bit as good. Highly recommended.

Stunning starters 👌 Mouth-watering main courses👍 Delicious desserts 👅 Superb service 🙏

Absolute gem of a place. I'd had a late lunch and wasn't that hungry so ordered just a chicken korma and rice but trust me this was next level in the taste department. So expertly spiced and absolutely tasty, wish I'd ordered loads more things. Probably the best curry I've ever had hands down. Damn I wish they were in London too. Proper amazing, cheers to the Dabbawal curry gurus. X

We went here for lunch to celebrate my friends party as a group of 10 here and we had a blast! The staff were very kind, attentive, and accommodating when I was speaking on the phone with them to make reservations and in person. The food was amazing as well; their lunch offer is very filling and worth it. The atmostphere and decor were also pretty and enjoyable. I will definitely be back again. Thank you to our waiter, the manager and Federico!

I came here with a pal for an early evening curry - try the dupiaza, it’s delicious! My pal had the mixed tandoori which included salmon - she loved it! We also had a sag paneer side dish and that - with a Nan between us - was more than enough for 2! The waiters were polite and helpful, and the decor is lovely - great little restaurant!

Biryani is at its possible best

3 of us ,all the food was lovely,lamb chops,bhuna,really good keema nan salads,a really good dining experience, just 3 on atmosphere 3 covers in it was 12pm on a Sunday,more came as we wer leaving.myfriend is indian and he loved his food to.my samosa was a bit mushy and my chai was tepid.apart that that loved the place.defo 1 of the best in North east cheers

First time trying and would definitely come back. Really reasonably priced, fantastic atmosphere and friendly staff. My friend and I started with the poppadoms which were lovely then decided to get a mixture of small plates to share for our main. The salmon was gorgeous, absolutely delicious I would come back just for that! The black lentils again I loved. We got 5 small plates, rice and naan and that was perfect for two very hungry girls! And our entire meal came to around £60 with drinks which we thought was fantastic value. We definitely want to come again and try the chef's special menu!

Food absolutely superb. Not a traditional curry house, but an Indian take on tapas/street food. It was incredibly busy when we were there, but the service was excellent throughout. Really enjoyable meal and will be back.

Delicious food and comfortable seating ,great service , very pricey especially considering the location but was for special occasion

Took forever to take order, even basic water was not provided for long time. Food was ok nothing amazing.

Went for dinner on a wednesday, no reservation, we got a table right away, restaurant was almost full. The food is surprising, the flavour and textures are great. We were with a friend ftom mumbai an he says most things taste the same. Doesnt get better than this. Congrats! Its a great place with friendly people.

We were a.party of 4 for lunch on a Saturday. 3 of us had the lunchtime thalli which we all really enjoyed, 1 just wanted some chips which went down well too. The staff were really friendly and attentive and the prices were really good.

Best Indian food in Newcastle, The butter chicken was good. One of the staff recommended us railway mutton curry; the curry was the bomb!!! Me and my friends love it so much! The staff were so friendly and nice to us too! Please drop by this restaurant if you're in Newcastle.

While visiting Newcastle, I came across this establishment at lunchtime. I was greeted at the door and then taken to my table. The food arrived, and I wasn't disappointed. It was fantastic. When I'm back in Newcastle, I will definitely be back in. Great food, great service. Loved it.

Food is good, tasty, but portions are very small, and prices are a bit high

I come upto Newcastle on occasion for work and without doubt, Dabbawal High Bridge is always a real treat. Tandoori done as it should be, absolutely divine and fresh tasting food, well spiced, great service and wonderful atmosphere. 10/10

Vegetarian food is great here, some of the best in area. Would recommend.

Only had a takeaway this time but yet again food is delicious and authentic… no added colours… no water injected rubbery meat… had all the chicken tikkas and citrus prawns. Overall brilliant and wish they had one in Manchester.

Butter chicken literally tasted like Heinz tomato soup with 3 bits of chicken breast dropped into it. Very disappointing

Tried this restaurant for lunch. It was absolutely beautiful. Great service, lovely food, and a very nice place to eat.

Called in for lunch at the High Bridge Street branch. Food was delicious - I had the vegetable based Thalis which was a fabulous way of sampling lots of small dishes. Staff were really helpful and attentive but without being intrusive. I’d absolutely recommend this restaurant and I’ll definitely be back!

Sensational, spicy, seriously recommend. Went early lunch time on a Saturday. Very friendly and accommodating staff. Attentive throughout the meal without being intrusive. Food was amazing. Yes, it's pricier than some but I have never had food this good at any other establishment. Never again will I look at broccoli the same way, as their smoked broccoli was so tasty. Same with the okra fries. Totally worth ordering. Their recommendation of 3 small plates and 1 side was spot on. I ordered more and it was too much food for me, although absolutely delicious. The food had some spiciness but in a way that it was designed to enhance the flavour, and not just for the sake of heat. Everything I ate was delicious, including every sauce, and lovely fresh side salads. If I was local enough to go back, I would love to try other menu items. I will not forget this place in a hurry, and have even made some word-of-mouth recommendations to friends in the area.

Liked the starters. The drink was too sweet for me. Service and staff were amazing. Found the curry lil too sweet. Overall it was a nice experience.

The atmosphere is who you bring with you. Food was not tasty very small portions, left feeling hungrier than arrived VERY overpriced, first and last visit would not recommend go elsewhere

The best vegetable samosa chat so far in the UK! And the South Indian pepper lamb was also so yummy. Highly recommended.

An amazing Indian gourmet experience. The lamb Lahori was just yummy.

Went for lunch with my wife. Starters excellent, shish kebab and chicken panoramic Mains sea bass and methi chicken, cooked well but no outstanding taste to either dish. However lunch menu not expensive. Beer however is at £4.75 for small Cobra.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND! Great food. Great staff. Never known a dinner to be so smooth and well ran.

Delicious food and attentive service. They were very accommodating with allergies.

Excellent food. Vegetable samosa chast was the best starter I've ever had

This was a fantastic meal. Truly brilliant. I didn't quite know what to expect when I booked it but it really excelled. I had 3 dishes, the Chicken Pakora, the Tandoori Chicken and the Fish. All were sublime, the tastes were all unique and extremely evocative. Already looking forward to going back.

Food - great!! Service - friendly Restaurant - a little bit noisy, not optimal for conversation Overall, I definitely recommend. We had a great night.

I had been thrice before. Tonight was a works do. The taste is great. The decor is attractive and the staff were fully clued in and sound with it. For my naturally greedy inclination I'd score this a two star because I felt the portions were skimpy to say the least, and I wasn't alone in my viewpoint. However I know that size ain't everything! If you need a tonne of cheap grub after a session, then go elsewhere. If curry is to be the highlight of the night and you want to shell out somewhat, then this is a great joint to hit make no mistake.

Best Indian food I've had outside of Croydon. Recommend the small plates and do it like a Turkish Mezze

We selected the chef’s mystery special meal and it was a great idea. We quickly got some delicious starters and snacks and then a selection of wonderful curries to share. Excellent food

Great food with a nice relaxed atmosphere. The service was very quick and the staff very friendly. Will definitely go again.

Not suitable for family as they are not serving as first come first serve and provide priority to bachelors

Update May 2024 Passing through Newcastle again so a table booked online for the Dabbawal. Still as wonderful as ever. Superb food, excellent service and great cold Cobra. It really couldn't be any better than this. Liked the paint job on the front of the restaurant, very smart. Update June 2023 In Newcastle once more on our way home. HAD to book a table for dinner. Not as busy this evening but still fantastic staff providing the best in service and of course, the very best in food. How I wish we had a restaurant of this quality where we live. Five stars seems quite mean, I would be more than happy to give double that. Update Dec. 2022 Back in Newcastle on our way back home to the north of Scotland, so booked a table for dinner. Very busy but still superb service from the hard working staff. 5* food, 5* service. A truly fantastic restaurant. Original comment. Was recommended to try this restaurant. What a find!!!! Went early before attending a concert at the Sage. The Chicken and mixed pepper jhalfrezi was absolutely superb and beautifully washed down with a large bottle of ice cold cobra. Will definitely visit again when I am next in Newcastle.

We have been here in the past and always enjoy going back. The atmosphere was lively but not rowdy. We wanted to try something different and our waiter Nanda was very knowledgeable and made some excellent suggestions. The food was amazing as always and we enjoyed the choices Nanda made. Definitely will go back again.

Out for a few drinks with a friend and we get sick of the usual pizza so we went to Dabbawal for a change. We had been before and decided to treat ourselves. Food was fabulous and the service excellent. Food is piping hot and very tasty. We ordered the 3 small plate menu to try different dishes. We will definitely be back on our next trip into town.

Try the chef’s surprise menu. Let the chef decide for you! You won’t be disappointed.

Amazing staff, stunning food, lovely atmosphere.

A nice shop on a side street. Great ambience and very nice service. Enough choice so that you can stop here more often. We loved it nice atmosphere an nice service, with patience for tourists. We will definitely come back at our next stay.

Firstly the staff were so friendly and helpful could not fault the service one bit. The restaurant although quite small has a really nice feel with all the decor and a great atmosphere. Now the food WOW! Nothing like a conventional Indian my partner had the korma and I had a lamb passanda with peswari naan and rice. Both meats were melt in the mouth tender and the flavour of both curries was something I've never experienced before, absolutely nothing like what you'd get at a bog standard indian. Naan was exceptional as well. Honestly could not fault the place at all will 10000% be revisiting. Thanks

Exceptional meal. Dining solo, had 3 starters/small plates. Kind, helpful staff with great recommendations, exceptional quality cooking (samosa chat was divine and house mango salad was an incredible flavour). Would travel to eat here.

Fabulous food. Staff were so friendly and professional. The atmosphere was great. Lovely place nice decor. Will definitely be back.

We couldn't rate Dabbawal highly enough for there ordering process and top notch food! We placed our lunchtime order with Leonardo in the events team, for 29 Dabbabox's for our team in Newcastle. Nothing was too much trouble, and the food was delivered piping hot and on time by Leonardo himself! We will definitely be ordering again soon!

Garlic Naan was the highlight of the food. The place is beautiful inside. The service was great.

Lovely food and wonderful staff who helped make mine and my friends’ evening special :)

Great service from friendly staff. Good Indian food and more interesting than most. Recommend for family and friends.

First time going today. Amazing food. Relaxing atmosphere. Great service. Highly recommend. Will defo go again.

First time going today with my wife. Amazing food. Relaxing atmosphere. Great service. Highly recommend. Will absolutely go again.

It's amazing experience. Delicious food 😋

A wonderful restaurant with a great ambience, amazing food, and warm, friendly, attentive service. I went for my birthday which the staff picked up on immediately, they went above and beyond to make sure my friends and I had a great time. The food was well portioned and every dish tasted amazing. It was tough to pick from the menu, because everything looked and sounded fantastic! Thanks to Baba in particular who looked after us, and made our visit extra special. Will definitely be going back soon, and recommending to others!

We had dinner at Dabbawal with friends and had a great time there. Both the food and drinks were excellent. We started off with Indian inspired cocktails which were delicious. We decided to have the Chef’s Surprise menu and it was definitely a good choice. We received appetisers, grilled lamb, salmon and chicken starters and a variety of curries with chicken, lamb and seafood, sides of plain and saffron pilau rice and plain and peshwari naan, the latter of which fantastic. Everything was excellent and I would definitely recommend a visit for Indian food lovers

What can I say, superb food, definitely worth a visit.👍😋😋

An excellent meal at Dabbawal last night. We were a table of 22 celebrating a 21st birthday. The attention to detail, staff, food, ambiance was outstanding. An extra big thank you to Nitin and Rahul whose service was exceptional. You must pay a visit!