Derwish Restaurant in Watford

We have been here before, and had a lovely meal, food was good quality and the service was excellent. Unfortunately, it was not this time the food was mediocre at best. We ordered 2 lamb shish and 1 mixed shish. I asked to swap the rice with chips as I do not eat rice or grains, to be told that they won't do that as they were throwing away far too much rice, and they could change it to bulger so I looked at the menu again to change my choice, but there was nothing else I wanted so I decided I wouldn't order anything. That went down well with my wife....not. It was only when my wife said she would not order and my son wouldn't either. Only then did the waitress go and speak to the manager to ask if we could change the rice to chips, so the manager came over and said for me, this time he could do that. The food came out, the lamb was overcooked and chewy, and one small piece of tortilla wrap, a warm tomato and a small salad bowl for 3 of us, and for the money I was disappointed to say the least, on the quality and service. To be honest, I would rather spend my money else where. Last time was really good, as I said, I feel they have shrunk portion sizes and the quality of their food but are still charging the same prices. It's a shame.

The food is great. If you are looking for Turkish taste, this is the place you will choose. Thank you very much for your service and interest. Thank you 🥰

Visitors Derwish regularly over the years, always enjoyed the food and thought the price was reasonable for quality. Well unfortunately the prices have gone up recently (almost 20% without being made aware whilst ordering) whilst the quality and portions have dwindled somewhat. Salad sizes are very poor, and protein has also taken a hit despite being more expensive. I understand having to cover overheads but if you’re reading this and are looking for a takeaway option I’d suggest Mangal over the road or Greek Time. Can’t justify getting takeaway here with price increases and poor portion sizes now. Shame really

We went this weekend and we had Derwish 2 plater it was delicious I recommend

Ordered a deliveroo as I have done a few times before. This time there was literally mouthfuls of salad barely enough for 1 person let alone 2, tomatoes cucumber , so disappointed. Not sure what has happened there but doubt I will use again if they are going to scrimp on sizes

We've become regular customers. People are super friendly and food is just from another planet. I love them and recommend them to anyone.

We visited for lunch, but sadly, the lamb kebab had a foul taste, so I couldn’t eat anything from my plate. When I raised the issue with the waiter, he just stared at me blankly without saying a word. He walked away, only to return with the card payment reader to charge us the full amount—no apology or acknowledgment whatsoever. The service was incredibly rude, and I wouldn’t recommend dining here. To the management: your waiters could benefit from some basic etiquette training, and rather than focusing on large portions, attention should be paid to the freshness of the meat.

Excellent food & service! Would recommend and visit again! Potion sizes are very good and filling! The staff were lovely and accommodating! Shoutout to Tugce! For her amazing service!

I had the vegetarian moussaka, which was delicious and came with a side salad and a rice side dish. The place was not busy while we were there, and service was friendly.

This was my first visit, and I was truly impressed by the staff's humility. They were incredibly kind and welcoming. When the food arrived, I was pleasantly surprised by the generous portions, and the meat was cooked to perfection. I would highly recommend coming here, not just for the delicious food but also for the great atmosphere, convenient location, and the fact that it’s Halal.

Very good Turkish restaurant. Not easy to find a non-chain quality restaurant in central Watford.Amezing services and food definitely recommended.

Walked in at 9.20pm and was told kitchen is closed can’t be served.

Food was very tasty and was high quality and staff were amazing 5 stars overall. They offered us tea on the house and made home made kunafa which was amazing. Would definitely come back.

The food is very good, the staff are very friendly. 5 stars

They increased the prices. Quantity became less. Quality of food not like before.

Food was very bland, rice was hard, chips tasted stale and salad was drenched in olive oil. Wouldn’t recommend for authentic Turkish dining.

Great value for money and service. The staff is always friendly with great food and atmosphere. Sadly one star off as you have to find street parking as no parking available

Hi we went there for dinner, the food was good, the place is clean and there is a nice feel to it. The service this time was a little sketchy but only because there was only one person providing the service. As usual all good.

Amazing food, great service. Portions were generous, everything tasted very fresh and felt it was great value.

The best Turkish food place in Watford. . very tasty and sizzling food arrived on time

Excellent mixed grill platter. Everything was so fresh!

Visited this restaurant after a trip to Harry Potter studios . Have to say everything was spot on from the service and the food. We were a group of 9 and ordered a variety of dishes including starters, mixed kebab, pide, lamb shank. It was all hot, fresh and tasty. There was also complimentary bread and a harissa type sauce and olives. The only downside was that there was no parking as the restaurant is on a main dual carriageway and we struggled to find parking. In tge end after 10 mins of driving around i managed to find a spot outside some shops about a 5-10 min walk away but even that was 1 hour limit before 6pm but as we went around 8pm it wasn't an issue. would definitely recommend if you are in the area.

We have been here for a few times. The food is nice, I love the mixed hot platter (but always forgot to take pictures😆) The dishes we tried were all pretty good with reasonable price. The staff are friendly👍🏻

Cucina buona e genuina, proprietari gentilissimi, da consigliare. Piatti abbondanti e preparati con cura.menù ricco.

Very warm welcome in the restaurant in Watford in England. I recommend

Food was too salty but staff were polite and helpful and the atmosphere was welcoming and comfortable.

Always good food , very friendly atmosphere we always get first class service here 👌

Absolutely wonderful me and my friend enjoyed this restaurant food was fresh to.death well seasoned and staff were very kind and and cocktails were generous amount I reccomend the blue hawaiian. it was wonderful. food was a large serving. only thing is they forgot the.tap water but they gave it in the end so no worries there! 🙏🏼

Excellent restaurant for dinner. Good quality Turkish food.

Very good Turkish restaurant. Not easy to find a non-chain quality restaurant in central Watford, but this was perfect. Helpful staff, excellent food and very convenient location.

Had a lovely experience here, amazing service from friendly staff and the food was stunning. Would definitely recommend to anyone that’s looking for delicious food, pop in for a great time

Easily one of the best turkish I have been to Couldnt improve the Pide and lahmacun, its delicious. Chicken samra beyti, kebabs, salads and even the dips are all very tasty. No great suprises, just great tasting food. I would travel past many others, to eat here instead

Love coming here food and staff amazing helpful and very polite and friendly

Absolutely fabulous food! Arrives hot and just delicious! We had mixed kebabs it was amazing, highly recommend. Love the salad. Generous portions too lovely staff and service we cant wait to go back again.

Had a delicious meal and a Efes beer. Very tasty.

The lamb is so juicy I love it 😍

Tried Derwish for the first time and ordered lamb and chicken shish. Paid £31 in total and recieved the food below. Small pieces of meat - very overpriced

Really good place and the food was excellent.

First time visiting this restaurant, staff were really lovely when speaking to us, service overall was ok. Good hygiene, they were helpful with parking. However staff weren’t quite attentive to us and left us for ages - asked for the bill, again waited ages after this. They said ok however had to get their attention again by raising our voices as we wanted to head home as some of us had an early start for work the next day. They didn’t ask beforehand if we wanted a dessert menu etc. I can maybe get passed this issue, what concerned me is the portion sizes. The taste of the food was fine & I did enjoy parts of my meal. Normally when I pay these sort of prices at a Turkish restaurant, we get at least 6 pieces on a skewer, we only got four. We had to pay £16.50ish on a mixed shish, 4 chicken pieces and 4 lamb. I’m really sorry, but I think you could improve on this part. I write this review for improvement as opposed to some that maybe review negatively out of malicious intentions… thank you

Trovato per caso su una delle vie principali di Watford (Alban Road). Ho preso una sirlion steak con contorno di patatine fritte e verdure. Piatto molto buono, carne non eccezionale ma gustosa e saporita. Birra molto buona (Efes draft). Consigliato per pranzo e cena. Servizio cordiale e velocissimo. Prezzi nella media (circa 33 sterline a testa).

Very good food, fart a dish that came with 8 pieces of meat, rice, salad and the bread was delicious, I tried a good red wine!!

Fantastic restaurant . Brilliant staff and the food was amazing. Thank you for a lovely evening.

Tasty food , well presented,definitely will return, attentive staff to our family

Food was really nice, came out quickly. Everything had really nice flavour. Staff were really nice and it was a nice atmosphere busy but not too crowded. Really nice place, sauces nice, salad fresh,meat well cooked and lots of flavour.

What a brilliant experience food fantastic and staff great

Friendly staff, quick service. The food was amazing, the only thing it was a bit steamy and hot inside. We’ll definitely be coming back.

Had a great experience here. Team were friendly and very hardworking in a busy environment with some pretty messy customers! Would recommend for sure

Really delicious dishes and nice atmosphere. Specially the chicken shish, and turkey tea. I’ve really enjoyed and will recommended if you like Turkish cuisine.

We order takeaway from here all the time but something has changed with our family favourites. The Falafel recipe seems to be different and smaller. The taboule salad seemed overly spicy and fresh herbs didn't tast as fresh (i really look forward to this, was disappointed). All in all the staff are nice and the restaurant itself is lovely.

Coldest Effes bear in Watford massive. Delicious food, and great atmosphere. Great place for a dinner with family or friends👍

I love their 🥘 food .their service is amazing too! Thank you derwish! Your fantastic tugce

Portions are not big. Presentation not great. Quality food is on average. Service is okay. Prices affordable.

I saw this place randomly whilst driving by in watford and thought i’m slightly hungry i’ll grab a cheeky turkish. But wow the way this place suprised me i’m still in shock. The food was amazing!! Absolutely a 10/10 i wish i could explain how flavourful and tender the meat was. They even gave complimentary bread, salad and signature sauces. This is my new go to turkish place! A lot better than all of the other turkish food places i’ve tried.

Had a lovely meal with friends here. Good quality food presentation on point. I have met the owners years ago lovely family which made me a regular customer. Shop local support local guys :)

Amazing food very friendly staff awesome service

After being out for the day we went here ,everything was lovely the service and cute designs for Valentine’s Day

Good food, great service , lovely waitress, 10/10 would come back again

Having had the pleasure of dining at this restaurant on multiple occasions, I can confidently vouch for the consistently outstanding experience it provides. The culinary offerings are nothing short of superb, with each dish meticulously prepared to perfection and bursting with delightful flavors. From the appetizers to the main course and desserts, every bite is a culinary delight that leaves a lasting impression. Equally impressive is the impeccable service that accompanies the exceptional cuisine. The staff members are unfailingly attentive, ensuring that every guest feels welcomed and well-cared for throughout their dining experience.

Essen super lecker, Bedienung 1A, Preis-Leistung sehr gut!

Very friendly staff good costumer service especially Tugce keep up the good work well done

Consistently great food with consistently great service

The food here tastes like it is made with care. They are fairly affordable and the mixed platter is what I usually order for two people. The service is great!

In Watford for the weekend to celebrate my 70th birthday, visiting Harry Potter studios. We chose Derwish Restaurant as we both enjoy Turkish food. It was excellent in every way, the food and wine, the service, the hospitality of the staff and I was treated to not only cake, baklava and turkish delight bit they sang Happy Birthday too which made me feel very special indeed. Highly recommended.

Had such a good time at Derwish. We were a group of 20 and the atmosphere was great and lively. The staff were amazing and really attentive. Hope to come back again.

Chris- the food is incredible and the workers treat you like family 10/10

Wonderful dinner at Derwish Fabulous friendly staff Delicious food and wine Highly recommend

Having tried the Turkish restaurant in Greenwich, Exeter and now in St Albans Road in Watford, Derwish restaurant was the best in terms of food quality and hospitality. Tolga, the manager was incredibly friendly and made our experience wonderful with complimentary traditional turkish tea and baklava. Highly recommend the food and the restaurant.

We were visiting friends in Watford and this restaurant was recommend to us by someone in the pub. We went on a Friday night at 8:15/8:30 there wasn't many people in there so not much of an atmosphere. I had the lamb shank and it was absolutely delicious. It fell off the bone and was pink which was perfect for me 😋 The Turkish red wine was also 😋 Think the staff were a bit board and kept popping over which was OK apart from when one of the waitresses cleared away two of the plates leaning over me to do so and I was still eating! 4 starters, 3 mains, 4 wines and 1 pint £92 Which I think was good value especially for such delicious food. Would I eat here again if in Watford, definitely.

If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would. Amazing food!

Worst Turkish I’ve ever had service was good food not so good

Delicious food, the best I’ve had outside Turkey. Friendly staff, great service, highly recommended!

Had been recommended to visit Derwish in Watford & it certainly delivered in every single aspect. Lovely festive decorations & we were given a warm welcome. House Red wine very nice & great value for money, as was everything else on the menu . We found it difficult to decide from all the delicious choices. Service was prompt & everything arrived hot & appetising. What we ordered was outstanding but the added extras extra olives (the staff overhead our enthusiasm with these in the complementary bread & dips), personalised cake for the birthday in our party & yummy Turkish delight with almonds. The whole experience surpassed our expectations & will definitely be back.

Very delicious food: the chicken was soft, had a perfect flavor combination.

Well done Derwish. Food is amazing again!

Great authentic Turkish mezze (looked and tasted homemade) and a good selection of Turkish wine. There was a big 80th birthday party while we were there but the staff remained attentive despite being really busy. Would recommend.

Excellent customer service just gets better with each visit,food is great

Very spacious Staff very pleasant and kind nothing is to much for them Food is out of this world Disappointed that they didn't have vegetarian moussaka for my sister But on the whole it was gorgeous would definitely go back again and again as long as it remains open

Always a nice experience to dine in at Derwish, great food, reasonable price, and good service

great restaurant amazing service

Wonderful staff, delicious food and very quick service - loved it thank you🩷

Lovely experience. Food was delicious and staff were friendly and super attentive 💜

Super leckeres Essen und authentische türkische Küche. Der Service ist freundlich und aufmerksam.

Very rude staff. I have an inflammatory bowel disease and needed the toilet immediately. There were no staff around to ask at the time and I didn’t have time to wait. I have an official “I can’t wait card”. I proceeded to rush to the female toilet when 2 men came in banging viscously on the door and shouting aggressively at me to get out. I opened the door a jar to throw out my “I can’t wait card” and the man pushed the door open whilst I was sat on the toilet. Yelling at me. It was a very frightening and threatening experience and they showed zero compassion for someone with an inflammatory bowel disease. Lots of shouting and swearing making me even more anxious. My mother called the restaurant to explain and they showed zero empathy or remorse for their actions.

DO NOT USE THIS RESTAURANT!!! MY NEICE, WITH A HIDDEN DISABILITY WAS TREATED ABSOLUTELY APPALLING BY THE STAFF HERe TODAY. TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE! THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED! DISGUSTING BEHAVIOUR BY STAFF AND NO APOLOGY FROM THE MANAGEMENT. AVOID AT ALL COSTS.

Everything was really amazing and awesome.

Awesome food, very reasonably priced

Great evening and delicious food. Would highly recommend.

Me and family go there quite often and the food and service is always spot on! They’re so friendly and welcoming. Food is amazing and taste so amazing :)

Lovely food shame they don't do there lunch special menu on Friday

These people are so amazing. I had my 60th birthday. The host organized everything, the decorations seating. Food as always amazing, people commenting how nice it was service excellent, nothing too much trouble. Highly recommend this place, will continue to eat here. Thank you Derwish so much!❣️❣️❣️

Was in Watford for the day and was curious about this beautiful gem of a restaurant. Fantastic food - the Lahmucan delicious, the bread was beautifully toasted with olive oil with the mains also spot on. Great service by down to earth work colleagues. Highly recommended if you’re ever in Watford, you won’t be disappointed.

Very nice food - good service, portions could be a little bigger so for that reason I would say it's a little pricey - I think that would help it improve - but overall good food

My favorite restaurant. Great service and food of the best quality!

Great food, highly reccomended the mix platter. The steak was fantastic but unfortunately the sauces with it left a lot to be desired

Really nice. Complimentary bread and dips to start. Food was good. Reasonably priced. Service was friendly and welcoming. We had quiet a big table of 12 and everything arrived together warm and to a good standard

Ristorante turco incontrato per caso. Siamo entrati in questo ristorante attirati dall'ottimo odore di bbq che si percepiva dall'esterno. All'interno, siamo stati accolti da un ragazzo molto cordiale che ci ha coccolati tutta la sera invitandoci a provare i piatti turchi e combinandoli con le nostre preferenze o difficoltà. È stata una cena piacevolissima chiusa con un ottimo the turco.

Food and service was really good. Not too busy which made it more enjoyable.

Very nice food, nice service❤️🙏

Wowzers what an amazing find - we found by chance and as soon as we entered the restaurant nothing was too much. They made suggestions from the menu and it did not disappoint - beautifully tender, flavoursome and colourful. Amazing service and food - definitely recommend if you are in the area.

The restaurant I always return to with love, every weekend, I come here every time with my whole family and friends for the good food and the staff is also very friendly!