Dabbawal in Newcastle upon Tyne

An excellent Chefs special was had by all on our table. All the food was really good. Usual selection of beers as you’d expect including alcohol free. Attentive service. It was very busy on the Tuesday early evening which is always a good sign though that also meant it was quite difficult to have a whole table conversation due to background noise where we were sat. There are cubicle areas that are probably better for sound. The poppadoms to start were rather small but the mains were overly generous so more than made up for it!

Went with my mates for some dinner and this place was amazing. We had a takeaway and the staff were very friendly and the service was quick. The biryani and the other curries were tasty and delicious.

Brilliant service and food. I did struggle with noise levels when the service was in full swing so if you have noise sensitivity definitely ask for a table out of the way as we were sat closer to the kitchen. The broccoli small plate was unexpected, I had imagined tendersteam but a head of broccoli came out! Went on a Thursday evening

Worst meal experience ever. We were continually rushed by staff in order to free our table for another booking. They rushed us from the start. They rushed us to place our order and rushed us while we were eating. They even started cleaning our table before we left. We didn’t get round to ordering a pudding because of the constant pressure.

Went for a family take away for 4 people. Was attracted by the large number of gluten free meals. No delivery service but meal was delivered piping hot exactly on time. Went for the Chefs special where they choose the specific meals. Delightful food, fresh and tasty. A welcome deviation from the usual fare. Will return!

Extremely expensive takeaway, got home within 10 minutes and it was cold! The Rogan Josh curry was bland but the lamb was nice enough. Won’t return

Food is reasonable and tailored to the western palate. Great atmosphere and service.

Absolutely delicious! The veg thalis have been amazing everytime I've visited! It is so nice to get to try a variety of delicious dishes that are freshly made. The service is excellent, the staff are wonderful, and the atmosphere makes you feel at ease. Definitely recommend!

Very delicious food and a nice atmosphere - Sadly let down by the very expensive price for a bottle of beer.

Sree Rag served us today, he was super polite and friendly. He made sure we were satisfied with our meal and he constantly checked if we needed anything else. The food was phenomenal and the whole staff was so kind I will definitely recommend friends and family to visit this amazing restaurant

I am Rachael Ravi My first time visit to this Dabawala jesmond with 6 of us . The ambient amazing all the staff very polite and humble . The food is delicious especially the starter platter hmmmm yummy . Price very reasonable everyone enjoyed the day . Thank you everyone ❤️🙏

Brilliant restaurant, definitely recommend for a celebration or a more casual meet up! Also some brilliant vegan options

Visited Dabbawal Jesmond with a group of 22 people for lunch. The manager and staff were very accommodating and the food was delicious!

Very nice food , friendly staff

Lovely evening for family birthday. Had the private dining room. Staff were friendly and accommodating. Food was superb

We went for family occasion meal and we were pleasantly surprised. We all had a mix of the menu and all really nice, not too spicey all perfectly cooked. You get quite a lot interms of portion sizes. You dont need to order loads when sharing either. The puddings though small and light are full of flavour. For a Monday it was surprisinly busy and had a real vibe about the place. Couple of negatives Slow Service Not a lot of choice for vegan or gluten Parking is tight though you do get given a pass from dabbawal

We went for family occasion meal and we were pleasantly surprised. We all had a mix of the menu and all really nice, not too spicey all perfectly cooked. You get quite a lot interms of portion sizes. You dont need to order loads when sharing either. The puddings though small and light are full of flavour. For a Monday it was surprisinly busy and had a real vibe about the place. Couple of negatives Slow Service Not a lot of choice for vegan or gluten Parking is tight though you do get given a pass from dabbawal

Amazing Indian restaurant. They were very obliging when we asked to transfer our booking for 14 people from their High Bridge to Jesmond restaurant

Excellent food and standard drinks only. Needs better selection of Indian beers.

Food was lovely, however the waiter boxed up mine and my friends food and labeled two box pl rice, one had rice in and the other had the curry. So one of us has two rices and one has two curry’s. Surely it isn’t that hard to box food up and label it correctly? Especially after paying so much for it.

Went there last Sunday for a big lunch, we had the chefs surprise which included loads of incredible off menu starters and mains. The service was also incredibly hospitable and generally lovely in answering any questions about the food! Will definitely be coming back.

Amazing friendly staff and the food is delicious, great for value!

Lovely clean comfortable restaurant.with a street food theme. Food is excellent as is the service. Would highly recomend

We visited this hidden gem for the first time on the 2nd of August, 2024. The food was superb, as was the service. We had starters and main course no dessert. The portion sizes were perfect, and we left very satisfied. We enjoyed it so much we went back a few days later. Can't rate it high enough. We will be back.

Beautiful food, attentive service, lovely surroundings. (30/07/24) All helped by glorious weather. Top notch as usual.

### Review of Dabbawal in Jasmond Dabbawal in Jasmond offers authentic Indian street food in a modern setting. The dishes are not only a delight in terms of taste, but also visually. The attentive service and the excellent quality of the food are convincing. The offer is fair in terms of price. An absolute must for lovers of Indian cuisine.

Great food and service, place always has a nice hubbub ...

We had a great meal. Made a change from the usual traditional Indian restaurants. We had the chef’s surprise set menu and it didn’t disappoint. Lamb cutlets were delicious.

We love Dabbawal! We often get takeaway but we also love coming to dine in (usually for a birthday treat or if friends come to visit!). The food is incredible & all of the staff are so lovely & attentive. We’ve been coming for years and it’s always top-notch! Highly recommend!

Another expensive food establishment with mediocre food to add to the growing list. The Dhansak says sweet & spicy & it's neither so why put it on the menu as that

Wouldn’t go anywhere else for an Indian! My 7 year old daughter’s favourite place!

We had a really lovely meal, as we always do at Dabbawal, the service was excellent and atmosphere beautiful. All the food was wonderful, except that the lamb meat was quite dry, which was a real shame. The other downside was leaving. We had to walk through the crowd of smokers who are allowed to smoke right in the main entrance. This negatively affects the perception of the place.

We had such a wonderful time! The food was absolutely delicious, and Leah and Samy were incredibly welcoming. The prices were reasonable, and we highly recommend this place!

Excellent. Food was amazing, service was prompt and informally friendly. Drinks were great too…and they took care of our kids. The vada pav was the standout dish on a table full of excellence!

The service was great; polite and attentive. Food was a lil on the spicier side but otherwise just perfect.

Lovely food, good selection, 3small plates and sides option is brilliant as that means you can try different dishes and my options were really tasty!

Beautiful food fantastic service

Great vibe, food amazing and service wonderful. Going back next week!

As an avid explorer of South Asian cuisine, I recently visited Jesmond Dabbawal with high hopes and hungry anticipation. Nestled in a quaint corner of the city, the restaurant exuded an inviting aura from the moment I stepped in. The ambiance was undoubtedly its strongest suit, with vibrant decor and cozy lighting that promised a memorable dining experience. Upon being seated, I was promptly greeted by attentive staff who guided me through the menu with enthusiasm. However, as I eagerly awaited the arrival of my chosen dishes, it became apparent that the culinary journey I had envisioned was about to hit a bump in the road. The food, unfortunately, failed to live up to its enticing descriptions and the flavors fell disappointingly flat. Despite being labeled as authentic and aromatic, the dishes lacked the depth and complexity that I've come to expect from Indian and South Asian cuisine. The spices seemed muted, the sauces lacked richness, and overall, each bite left me longing for the vibrant burst of flavours I had anticipated. Moreover, what added insult to injury was the glaring disparity between the menu's promises and the reality of what was served. The cola drink that was served was very sweet and was not the typical flavour and taste of a cola. Despite these culinary missteps, I must commend the restaurant for its impeccable service and inviting ambiance. The staff was gracious and accommodating throughout my meal, and the ambiance provided a warm and welcoming backdrop for what could have been a delightful dining experience. In conclusion, while Dabbawal may excel in creating a visually appealing and hospitable atmosphere, its culinary offerings leave much to be desired. For those seeking an authentic and flavourful taste of Indian cuisine, I would recommend looking elsewhere for a more satisfying gastronomic adventure.

Visited 15th April for granddaughters 21st, Great food with plenty of variety, excellent service from staff can definitely recommend this restaurant

Probably the best restaurant of my all life

Awesome food, friendly staff, will deffo go back ..... chefs surprise was delicious

This restaurant has amazing food! It is well worth a visit and I intend to return. The service is excellent and friendly. Very up-market food. We had a selection of special plates so we could try more of the things on the menu.

We had organised a birthday party here. The booking process was super easy, and the staff were very helpful and accommodating. For parties they have a chef's tasting menu. On the day the place was spacious, the food was plentiful and very tasty. The staff were so nice and the service was fantastic despite our guests crowding the aisles! Johnny the manager and his team were always smiling and prompt with all the requests. The vegetarian and non-vegetarian options were great and they catered for a guest with dietary intolerance really well. Really cannot praise the enough. Highly recommended!

Went for a meal with the family. we all had the chef special, which was absolutely fantastic When I asked the waiter how the food was cooked, he knew exactly what the chef was doing and explained everything perfectly The service was also very good and I have to say when I'm next up in Newcastle, I will definitely go there again

Excellent Indian restaurant serving fresh expertly cooked dishes of the highest quality. This is not a ghee soaked pile it high place - the decor and atmosphere are fantastic, relaxed but professional all at once. Service was fantastic and the overall ambience wonderful. Utterly recommend.

I've just spent almost £70 on a take away that came without rice. I stupidly presumed that the dishes would come with rice and when ordering wasn't prompted, partly my fault for not realising but really if you are ordering that many curries surely someone would think to ask if we needed rice if it was not included. Called to explain and had to and speak to 3 different people explaining the storey fully each time, including the extremely rude manager who practically shouted at me and told me it was my fault but that they could make me some rice, I advised we are a 1 hour round trip so not an option unless they can remake the whole meal to which they refused. We very rarely have takeaway and this was for a special occasion. Total disaster. Will never be ordering or eating at Dabbawal again. I'm wondering if it has been taken over as the food has massively gone down hill but the reason we won't be returning is due to the extremely rude behaviour of the 'manager'.

Amazing food, service and cocktails. We got a selection of food to share and we were not let down. The chicken in the curry was fantastic, it had no fat or tough bits. All the meat really was melt in your mouth! The service and drinks were also fabulous, nothing was too much trouble. They squeezed us in as we hadn't booked, but we still had the same care and attention paid to us as the other parties that had booked. They had some big parties in and they were very full, but everyone seemed happy and the food kept coming!

Don't know if it's been taken over. Been lots over the years but it seems to have changed. Poppadoms a massive disappointment, like bags of crisps. Onion bajhi cold, no mint sauce, samosa doggy. Pilau rise bland. Can't say I would rush to return again The decor has changed too so something is different.

Easily our favourite Indian restaurant, huge benefit is they have a kids menu which our daughter loves. Food is always phenomenal.

This has gone so downhill. Wondering if it's been taken over. Been loads in the past. But new menu, poppadoms a massive let down. Just like bags of puffed crisps. mint Ratia seemed like out a jar. Onion bajhi deffo frozen as were still cold. Main of lamb passanda had 8 bits of meat and pilau rice was bland.y other group members had similar feelings. Better with a curry from Waitrose.

Place looks nice inside but the food was far too sweet and was basically inedible. The managers were also very hostile and rude and were awful to the staff. Our waitress was lovely.

Managers and host were very hostile, to their staff too. Our curries were far too sweet - we raised this yet no response. The decor and vibes are 10/10 yet below average food for above average prices. We’d recommend My Delhi or Chakh Dhoom over this.

Fabulous food, small menu which had enough to please all tastes but easy to make a choice. Quick and friendly service, good advice, will definitely go again. A modern restaurant with really interesting choices and style, the samosa was out of this world!

We went to Dabbawal for my Mums birthday and we were really impressed, such a fantastic infusion of delicious flavours, we ordered the popadoms to share to start and then for mains we shared, Citrus King Prawns, Seekh lamb Kebab, Chicken Tikka, Okra Fries, Creamy Black Lentils, Pulao Rice and a Garlic Naan. This was definitely enough to share and there was so much flavour in everything. We really liked the vibe of the whole place and it was a fab vibe. Would definitely recommend a visit here!

Utterly delicious and so accommodating when we turned up half an hour early. Excellent service and the food is just sublime. Busy and full of life just as a restaurant should be!

Nice venue, a bit pricey for average food. Staff were friendly.

Very impressive restaurant hidden away down a back street. The food was delicious, probably the Best Madras I have ever tasted. The staff were all lovely and helpful. We were seated early and didn't have to wait long for food despite it being a busy Friday night. Would highly recommend a visit!

Had done a little research and then was recommended to visit Dabbawal while in the area. It did not disappoint...we were early but a table was found with no fuss. Food absolutely excellent and the staff and service very good too.

A friend of mine suggest that we meet for lunch rather than the usual dog walk (it was very wet!) and we met up for lunch. Arrived early so was almost empty but it filled up fairly rapidly. We ate from the lunch menu which gave a good selection of starters and mains. The service was prompt and very welcoming and the food arrived quickly and well presented. The waitresses were attentive but in no way over powering and food was excellent. I believe this is a favoured venue for students at night bu there were mainly older parties in at lunch (we fitted this demographic!) I had been to this restaurant many years ago when it was under different management and had another name (probably nearly 40 years ago!) and it is now much better. Highly recommended both for food and service. Thank you to all the staff and my friend for suggesting it!

Superb Indian cuisine, although I only ttied the Veg options. Excellent hospitality, good ambience, decently busy, parking available . Food presentation was top notch as you can make out from the pics. Taste was authentic. Will certainly come back with friends and family.

Fabulous evening, food was delicious and service was first class. Possibly the best indian meal I have ever eaten. Will Definitely be visiting again when next in Newcastle.

A beautiful tucked away Indian. Gorgeous interior and nice atmosphere. The waiters are helpful and nice. The paneer and spinach side is to die for!

The food is really good but the portions are smaller for the price and the staffs are amazing

Our night was spoiled by being told after 1 hour of dining our table was needed. We felt we were rushed and on raising the issue with the manager there was no apology. They couldn't wait to clear our table hanging around. There was a huge queue on leaving clearly overbooked!!

Excellent service and tasty food. Arrived 30 minutes before booking and staff worked had to get us a table. Only slight negative was price of the drinks but it didn’t spoil the overall experience.

Another gorgeous meal last night at Dabbawal Jesmond it never fails to serve amazing food. Lovely surroundings great staff just the best!

Summer visit, late review. I ordered from the early evening menu. All the food was absolutely delicious, probably some of the best Indian food in Newcastle. The staff are lovely as well and are helpful with dietary requirements. Highly recommend the mango lassi as well

Brilliant, can't wait to go back.

Food was really nice. Had the chef's surprise, £26.5 for papadum, pre starter, starter, 3 main, rice and nan.

Don't really eat much Indian food but I enjoyed what I had here when we came here for a works night out a while back.

Regular customers, the food is first class,the staff are very helpful and friendly. Another good night at the Dabbawal

Arrived unannounced and promptly expertly served. Food was extremely tasty.

asked for food order 3 times before drinks arrived, waitor spoke over food plates , food different to menu description, waitor broke glass over 2 guests, not even offered a drink. madras curries very mild, very disappointing and overpriced

Food is great, cooked with fresh ingredients and a traditional recipe, lamb chops are to die for as are the prawns, service is great and friendly. Great Vibe, wide variety of drinks. And if it’s good enough for Alan Shearer it’s good enough for me 😀 Recently refurbished

Food is really good. My wife loves the curry soup which is a bit special and l love the chicken madras. Gets a bit noisy without fail and so we always book early. Beware , l ended up with a £100 parking fine for using their carpark. This was annoying because l had parked in the same spot on a lot of previous occasions. Took nearly a month to resolve. Could never get the duty manager to speak to me and they couldnt get their email address right.

I always look forward to visiting Dabbawall. It used to be my favourite restaurants until my last visit. The menu has changed and not for the better. Even the simplest item, poppadom has been replaced by what I can only call packet poppadam crisps. The signature salad seemed to have changed from a delicious shedded mango and peanut salad to chopped mango with a drizzle of sweet chilli sauce. The most amazing chicken makhani which had depth of flavour and warmth is no longer on the menu. All in all it seems as though ingredients and dishes have been reduced in quality. The place was packed at 5.30 in the evening and the kitchen was busy but sadly my favourite restaurant is no more.

Great restaurant well worth a visit.

Had a wonderful meal here. The service was good and the food was excellent. It would have been 5 stars but the restaurant was very noisy.

Amazing Indian food cooked to order. I had the railway curry. Tender large bits of juicy lamb with baby potatoes in a spicy savoury sauce. I'm still dreaming about it. It was divine. Peshwary naan was sweet and crispy at the edges. Not too doughy. Superb lentil soup gently spiced with coconut milk.. I think I'll go back tonight!

Railway curry a winner every time

A really good, reasonably priced, authentic Indian restaurant. I tried the samosa chaat and the lamb chops. Both were excellent.

farah was absolutely amazing, such good service from her definitely deserves credit! took care of me and my family very well. thank you farah!

It’s basically a secret Indian grotto of delicious food.

Chaotic front of house. Although it was busy, we did get a warm welcome. The most unusual popadoms we’ve ever had served. They were like ‘posh’ (expensive) Doritos! Madness. A lovely lamb biriyani and a decent paneer dish. Breads (naan / roti) were frugal! Couple of Cobra. Nice. An undeniable rice pudding (knocked off the bill). For me, it’s the kind of trendy place that’s suited for customers in their 20s who either don’t mind (or don’t know) it’s style over substance. Not a bad gaff at all, just not for these old foxes.

I've been here many times. Food is good but portions are very small compared to the prices . Make sure to let the waiters know the level of spicy you want as medium spicy in the UK is mild or less.

Plats excellents, terrasse chauffée, pas d'attente. Je recommande vivement. Petit bémol pour les cheeses naans, pas comparables avec ceux des restaurants indien en France.

Fabulous selection of dishes, with the option of a main or a selection of small plates. The team check for allergies before you order and they do cater for different dietary requirements (do speak to the team when ordering). Love coming to Dabbawal in Jesmond!

Staff were excellent!! Food was unbelievable and what a fantastic atmosphere as well! This is somewhere I’ll certainly be coming back to anytime I’m up in Jesmond/Newcastle! Very clean restaurant, staff were very polite & I personally felt like staff truly cared about your thoughts as well when asked how the food was. Highly recommend!

Very nice decor. Polite service. Gets busy. Lots of meal choices. Definitely recommed. Also their take away is superb too!

Great food, not the average Indian restaurant. Staff lovely and a nice atmosphere. Great IPA from nearby Wylam brewery.

Horrible staff the two girls in the till, had to walk out ruined our date. I've had food from there before few years back and it was lovely and I've worked in restaurants also managed few too, i know how to provide good friendly service but last night was one of the worst experience I've had absolutely disgusting behaviour

Had a great meal here with my daughter. We went for small plates and there was lots of choice for both of us. My daughter has to have gluten free food and doesn’t eat meat. Very tasty food and we overindulged on cocktails instead of puddings so a great night out. Will definitely return. Booking advisable on a weekend.

Walked in for a table and the blonde girl raised her voice to tell us we can only be here for a certain time since we didn’t reserve and then the other Asian girl was rude whilst telling us to go outside and put the ticket on our car! She didn’t even give us a chance to sit very Disrespectful and ended up not getting anything and just leaving need new friendly service

Food was ok for the money, however we were so rushed it was unbelievable. In less than an hour, we’d ordered, had starters and had mains. As a couple out for a Friday night meal, this was not what we wanted. We were only just receiving wine as the curry hit the table! As soon as we then asked for time before we considered desserts as we desperately needed a chance to breathe, we were ignored! We also needed to drink our bottle of wine that we’d barely been able to touch. Very frustrating and will only go back as I know what this place can do when it’s at its best.

Best Indian in Newcastle! Been a few times and never disappoints-the Bombay bombs were insane. Maybe a bit overpriced on the drinks but everything else was superb. Restaurant is beautiful as well. Don’t miss it!

I would say this is one of the places that you can have authentic Indian food in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The atmosphere is a bit rustic. Good for couples, groups or families. Better do a prebook with the parking.

The service was excellent. The hospitality was even better. And the food was the best Indian Street food I've ever eaten. If you are in the area, it is definitely worth a visit.

The best Indian restaurant in Newcastle. the venue and the food is out of this world. the staff were jolly and friendly which made the whole experience even better.

We will be back! The food is delicious, I’m vegetarian and there was a good choice of veggie options. The tastes! Wow! Just absolutely gorgeous. Service is great, quick and friendly but not over the top. The restaurant is such a surprise when you walk in from the outside. From the outside it looks like a small restaurant but indoors is beautiful. I’ve visited Khai Khai so I knew it would be great but didn’t expect just how gorgeous it was. I’ll definitely be back as soon as I can.