Maharajah Indian Restaurant in Cornwall, Isles of Scilly

They’ve got a ridiculous policy that each person at the table has to order a side and a main, which is not mentioned anywhere on their menu. They point to a small fine print which says “Minimum spend of £12 per person”, which apparently does not include drinks and starters so you’re forced to order more than you need. We left after having had just a drink and they couldn’t care less, which sums up the service really.

Been here many times in the past when working in Newquay. This visit was different, not sure if the staff in the kitchen have changed but the food was not the same. The dishes didnt have much flavour compared to the previous 10 or so visits over last few years. Hopefully it was an off night as generally it's always been great.

We were disappointed to hear about their food policy n we left without eating..This policy was told to us after the drink n paapads were served..

It breaks my heart to write this review. We have been coming every year here when on holiday and regarded this one of our favorite restaurants. Unfortunately, something has changed since last year. Food became extremely bland, all 3 curries tasted the same, meat was very dry and service was demotivated. It is not what it used to be unfortunately. Not sure what happened to this place.

This is my favourite Indian place, the food tastes fantastic, the staff there were funny and really nice. They gave my little sister a birthday surprise with ice cream for free and gave us lollipops. The decoration there was really cool. If you are trying to find an Indian restaurant, then go to this place. I MEAN IT, MARK MY WORDS! anyway this comment is getting really long so I’m just going to say NEVER SHUT THIS PLACE DOWN!👍😁😁

We , family of 3, visited this restaurant on last Sunday 25th May. We ordered many vegetarian items and we enjoyed it immensely. Every item was delicious and we had a nice time. Vibe and ambience was perfect with amazing beach view. Staffs were super friendly and helpful. Must visit place if anyone fancy authentic delicious Indian food. Keep it up team, thanks ☺️

Having been to the restaurant a couple of times and enjoyed the food we ordered a takeaway for delivery. What a disappointment! Lamb kishkabab dry and inedible. Onion bajis hard and inedible. Naan bread overcooked!. Main courses of chicken tikka balti and chicken madras in really dark thick sauce. Will not be using them again.

Best carry takeaway in the world.

Awesome food, loved it ! Amazing viewing and nice service.

We visited this place hoping for good Indian food but were quite disappointed by the restaurant’s rigid and unwelcoming policies. Firstly, we weren’t allowed to order a light lunch or just a few small bites—each table was required to order a minimum number of dishes, which felt unnecessary and restrictive. Secondly, bringing your own water was not permitted, and we were forced to purchase theirs. We tried two different appetizers, but unfortunately, they tasted nearly identical. Overall, there are far better places in town with more flexible service, better flavors, and better value for money. Would not recommend.

They have this weird policy of requiring a compulsory side with every main dish, so if you're looking for a light lunch, dinner, or just tea or coffee, this place isn't for you. They won’t take your order unless you choose a main and a side. Moreover, the starters we ordered were all made with the same sauce, so everything ended up tasting the same. I’d recommend avoiding this place and try Indian summer instead which is just 7-8 min walk

We visited this restaurant today and had a wonderful experience. The food was absolutely delicious, and the staff was very attentive throughout our visit. A special mention to Akbar, who was serving our table—he was excellent! He took the time to explain the dishes to us and made sure we were well taken care of. Highly recommend this place for both the food and the service!

I had two chicken biriyani. The biriyani was very spicy and has too much masala in it. I got an odd taste as it was fully masala rather than rice and chicken.. Bad experience. Need improvements.

Food is full of oil and taste was also not good. Will not recommend this if you are looking for authentic Indian food.

Food was simply not well made, very tasteless and just not done right and I am of indian origin. Service was horrendous, staff was v rude, they would need us to order all the food at the same time for a sit down meal. It was a v chaotic place in general, I give them that they were busy on Easter Sunday. Not really recommended.

Over hyped place !! Food is never an authentic indian one Long waits Lot of attitude with staff not everyone though They force us to order above 12 pounds for a person which I felt very unfair as if they tell us what to order or else u can leave sort of attitude. Ordered butter chicken ,mixed fried rice, chikkan tikka ,garlic naan Seems like they used frozen chicken Chikkan tikka was horrible Will not recommend

Very rude staff, extremely slow service, food very average, very poor management. We were a party of 4, asked to wait as there were no tables. 2 people cane after us and were given a table of 4 inspite of no reservation. One person taking food orders and we were told very rudely that we will have to wait for a person to take an order

Service was very poor and staff was rude

Good value, tasty curry. Very friendly, humorous staff

Worst experience of my life and first experience too. We waited an hour for a table then we realised it's too busy so let's take away then again we waited an hour just for a take away. Atmosphere was like fish market. Staff was not friendly at all. Not recommend to anyone .

Nice food , amazing staff , value for money, super good portions. Will visit again .

Decent Indian, not the best flavour wise I've definitely had better! Naan breads would have been nicer if they were a bit thicker and fluffier rather than thin and crispy like a pizza. Service was a little slow

Visited on a Wednesday evening without booking. The place appeared busy so gave us a false sense of 'it must be good'. Unfortunately they do not serve authentic Indian food. The dips to accompany poppadoms were hideous. One consisting of a dollop of rich Greek yoghurt and the other (which was confirmed by a member of staff) was tomato Ketchup with chilli in! (Yuck!!) Every dish was chilli heavy, presumably to hide the fact they lacked any actual flavour. A king prawn dish was inedible. A member of our party did complain, and the reply was 'I will let the chef know'. No apology or offer to reduce bill. Soft drinks are also over priced. A diet coke was the same price as a beer. Unfortunately we wouldn't recommend.

We had a fantastic meal at Maharajah in Newquay. The food was full of flavour and beautifully presented. The staff were warm, welcoming, and attentive throughout. Highly recommend if you’re in town and fancy some great Indian cuisine! The new (not so newish now) manager has certainly made a great difference to the food offering.

We went tonight, ordered four different curry and veg biryani, all are made of same gravy no difference. Paneer butter masala was ordered non spicy for children but it was of same spicy as made of same gravy.

Went for our anniversary. Lovely staff, lovely meal

First time visiting this Indian Restaurant. Great customer service, great tasting food, brilliant portions and very reasonably priced. Definitely will be returning.

Meal and service excellent. Menu great for veggie options and meat / fish. Pricing decent as well . Would definitely recommend.

Top curry, friendly service and in a brilliant location. Prices were very reasonable, food was prepared to perfection and we enjoyed everything.

Wonderful food served quickly.Staff very attentive.Food was fresh and very tasty,good value wood recommend.Will visit again.

Excellent in all ways :) delicious food,great service.highly recommended.

It's a well located curry house with a wide selection of dishes on the menu. The food is ok, the service is pretty good and it has a bit of an atmosphere. I met friends here out of tourist season and had a really good catch up over a decent meal so I wouldn’t hesitate to go back - especially as some of the other curry houses in Newquay are pretty poor.

Ordered a takeaway. Lovely food, order correct, pleasant staff. Good variety of dishes for carnivores and vegetarians

I rang to complain about my order ....the manager came to my house ..absolute shocking behaviour been getting food of these for years and probably complained couple of times nother to big but the way I've just been treated at my house ..disgusting behaviour...... Go To Zamans the food there very tasty good service and very friendly

Waited a fair time (60 mins when suggested as 30)...but bar service available while you wait which eases the pain. To be fair we had not booked and they were super busy. Our bad. Once seated service was timely. Food way better than i expected for an indian restaurant in newquay (i am super travelled and have had the pleasure of eating at many fine indian restaurants all around the world, keralan , and bangladeshi....also some terrible ones too !...newquay isnt a town i would expect a decent indian in to be fair ) .The staff worked super hard and are a credit to the restuarant . As mainstream 'english friendly' indian, the food was good. No fake red in rice No absurd over hot chilli. All just tasty. One error on the order ..but for a restuarant that full its forgivable. Very fair pricing too Thanks for a nice meal .

We had a wonderful meal at The Maharajah. The menu was extensive, the food so tasty and portions so generous. The staff were friendly and helpful, and on top of all of that, a fantastic view! We will definitely return on every trip we make to Newquay .

Ordering a takeaway from here was unpleasant. The guy who served me was unfriendly to the point of being rude! The Sheek kebab was so dry to the point of inedible! The samosas were dry, the two curries we ordered were different, but were pretty much the same! Apart from one being more red than the other! We binned most of it, waste of £45! Avoid at all costs!

Went here for a Wednesday night meal. V.friendly staff. Lovely food and I'm sure a lovely view in the light

Stupid service, worst restaurant ever People please avoid this place, staff, food and services no good at all

Absolutely one of the best chicken tikka masala I've had food was so tasty and hot and staff are so friendly definitely not to be missed if you in Newquay

Came here while stopping away with work and had a biryani with meats and king prawns and was the most flavorful biryani I have had as a lot of biryanis are sad and dry but this was delightful and packed a flavour punch. I also happened to visit on my birthday and my colleagues tipped the staff off and they delivered a sundae to my table and played the happy birthday music which made me smile and want to hide in equal measure.

A group of us from Shropshire on Fri 8th November, had to wait about 10 minutes to get a table as it was busy (which we didn't mind as didn't book). Found the staff very friendly and funny, food was absolutely bang on couldn't complain about any of it. Would highly recommend it to anyone, and if down again will definitely stop there again

Very friendly service, amazing food and views. Fantastic atmosphere.. Best poppadoms, very tasty curry..can't recommend.mend enough..We go here regularly.

Five star service with a great menu choice. Wonderful views. Food excellent quality and taste. Would recommend to all.

Went in without booking on a Monday evening. It was really busy making a nice lively atmosphere, but we were seated quickly having waited for a few minutes in reception looking at the menu. Staff were all friendly and helpful. Service was quick. Food was really good. We had poppadums and pickles, followed by a biryiani and a tandoori mixed grill. Both were tasty and big helpings. You could probably share a dish with a naan each and it would be fine. Would recommend.

Had to completely different curries but they tasted and looked the same.food was ok but very disappointed.

Not the best food had butter chicken which was very bland and chicken dopaiz wasn't much better would not recommend this place

Not the best food had butter chicken which was very bland and chicken dopaiz wasn't much better would not recommend this place

VERY Good food at reasonable prices, very good service would HIGHLY recommend.

Had a take away delivered and I can honestly say it was the best Indian food I've ever tasted!

Fantastic restaurant in a great central location. We did not have a reservation but we were able to have a beer while we waited for a table. Food was really lovely and service was great. Highly recommend.

It is undeniably popular, often bustling with diners, which can make it challenging to secure a reservation as calls frequently go unanswered. Many customers share this concern, and it seems the limited staff struggle to keep up during peak times. While the food is flavorful and tailored to appeal to non-Asian palates, it lacks authenticity in its Indian cuisine. Unfortunately, the beer served was stale, which detracted from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the reasonable prices offer good value for money, and given its location and target audience, I'm glad this restaurant exists and believe it has the potential to improve.

Tasteful, absolutely delicious. Can't say much more than that. Really good, lovely attentive staff, queue when leaving the premises

Food was hot and delicious. The staff were amazing, so friendly and helpful. Highly recommend this place. We would definitely go again when visiting Newquay

Polite attentive and friendly staff, very accommodating of veganism. Well priced tasty food

What a lovely place to eat, the restaurant is on a cliff looking over the sea. The staff were very attentive, quick service, food was absolutely delicious. Highly recommend

Food was very nice, staff were helpful & friendly.

Fantastic place overlooking the bay right on the cliff. Food was delicious, service efficient. Tasted so good we plan to return again tonight

I had paneer butter masala, paneer matar, aubergine bharta, chana masala, all taste the same :p They are using the same curry paste base for all dishes and it doesn’t even taste good. I am an Indian so I know that these curries are not good and more oily. It’s not a place where you will find good food. And on the top of it the waiters here are not very friendly and the vibes are not good here.

The staff is very rude. They don’t have many Indian cusians and the food is very sweet n excessive oily. I came in to dine in but I was told that dishes I would like to order don’t make up to be seated in and it has to be a main course . It’s surprising that even though they charge for drinks, they don’t count towards the order. The staff is extremely rude and ill mannered makes, racist. Only behave good towards white people but towards Indian customers

Lovely Indian restaurant perched in a prime cliff-top location overlooking the Newquay Bay Area. They were surprisingly busy when we visited on a Wednesday night, but were happy to accommodate us without a reservation. The service was efficient, and the staff couldn’t have possibly worked any harder in very busy circumstances. The pricing structure is very economical compared to other Indian restaurants nowadays; in fact, it was cheaper than our local Indian takeaway! The food was fresh and flavoursome, and portion sizes are large - so much so, we couldn’t finish our entrèes after demolishing very hearty starters! Will definitely recommend and will happily come back again when I visit Newquay on my monthly business trips.

Well this was a total let down, yes the food was nice, took way to long and my experience was the worst, on arrival I get I didn't have a booking. I politely asked if their was any sea view windows and the answer was no we're full for half a hour, but the moment I said ok we'll find somewhere else a table popped up. The worse table possible I received, at the entrance and next to the toilet entrance, had waiters knocking me, dropping knifes and folks next to me. Then to make matter worse a Asian family sat next to us in a better space that was find. But the manager managed to move them to a better table without even giving a thought that I'd asked for a sea few, and the fact they never even asked to be moved just showed they was looking after their own. I'm sorry I'm a reviewer and I'm just being honest about the situation. In all good food but worse experience and I don't think I'll be going again. The food is what the one star is for alone

I recently dined at the Maharaja and unfortunately, it was a disappointing experience from start to finish. The waitstaff were rude. The food was equally disappointing. The butter chicken was overly sweet, lacking the balance of flavors. The kebabs we ordered were clearly frozen and reheated, with a rubbery texture and lack of flavor. Overall, I would not recommend dining at this restaurant based on my experience. The poor service and subpar food left a lot to be desired. Save your money and dine elsewhere for a better dining experience.

Our party of 9 enjoyed our dinner at The Maharajah. I'm not sure why negative people are saying it's not authentic...how much more authentic do you want it? It was perfect, fresh, and served fairly fast as it was crowed. I suggest booking a table. The prices were fair, and portions were plentiful. It was super clean, and the wait staff were phenomenal. The waiter that took our mains was a joker...gave us good laughs. The view is great! If you're in a party paying separately, it's all on one bill, which isn't a problem and cuts down on confusion. The only complaint from the 9 of us was that it was very hot in there. It felt like the heat was on. We did joke that we were getting the full Indian experience. But as someone who gets heat sick, I had to keep stepping outside for fresh air. We visited 27/8/2024. We plan on making this our go to Indian Restaurant as we live 15 minutes away. And we have family dining out a few times a year. I hope it's not always hot in there, but the food was worth it.

They serve delicious food and specially the customer service is amazing. Special thanks to Monu who managed our table and gave us an amazing experience.

An Indian restaurant not for Indian The staff is rude the manager is rude . They took 20 mins to take our order and then even after placing the order the food took another 40 mins. Even for water we had to ask four times The food is below average . When we said there is no salt the manager got defensive and said it’s the way they prepare the food If you are a desi don’t waste your time going to the restaurant you would only face racism

Service is worst, food is worst, management is extremely rude, old guy is extremely chutya

Was on holiday in Cornwall so thought try this out for an evening meal. It was pretty busy for a Tuesday night so the atmosphere was great! We ordered a King Prawn dish a Mixed Grill and a Dansak, these are some of their expensive and house specialties so would expect them to be great. On the contrary, most bland, uninspiring food we ever tasted. The prawn they used were standard tiger prawns not “king” prawn that we thought we ordered (£17). Sources were made up from pure paste, did not smell of any spices at all! These dishes are not authentic, purely made for the western pallets! If you want authentic Indian food go elsewhere!!

Probably the best Indian food I have ever eaten will definitely be back when I’m next in new

We called before going to the restaurant asking if they take reservations, they said its first come first serve and when we went there they said they won't be able to accommodate us since we were big group. Right after that group of 8 people walked in and they said they were able to accommodate them. We don't appreciate the way they responded. Finally we decided to get our food delivered so we ordered our food right away since we were at the restaurant, they told us they won't be able to deliver until after they close the restaurant and we got our food at 10:30pm. Food was not worth the wait, and customer service was not good at all!!

Unfortunately this restaurant doesn't take phone bookings. Told just turn up and you will be accommodated as soon as possible. 1 hour 10 mins .service was average food was ok .staff were very apologetic.

I ordered 2 x biriani, 1 x sheesh kebab, 1 x peshawar nan. Disappointed does not cover it. It was disgusting. Peshawar nan had no almonds, no currents, just an excess of sugar, horrible. The biriani was a few little pieces of chicken hidden in an excess of dry rice. The "vegetable curry" that accompanied it consisted of a few lumps of potato and a lot of onion and tasted burnt. I have indulged in many a biriani. This did not in any way resemble that dish. I highly recommend that you walk by this restaurant. The owners should be ashamed.

The food was okay, nothing to complain about there. However, the manager was extremely rude, constantly trying to dominate the conversation and unwilling to listen. Personally, I can overlook mediocre food if the people are kind, but I will never tolerate bad behavior, especially from those in charge. Honestly, I’ve seen many comments about racism, but I never truly believed it until I experienced it firsthand from the restaurant manager.

Amazing food and service. Family of 5, one of the best curries we’ve ever had. Tasty, good value, highly recommend this lovey place.

Tastiest Indian food I have had in a long long time!

This was our 4th trip the Food was stunning as usual however our waiter (young, slim with a moustache) was very rude and would only speak to my husband (not me female) All other staff where lovely and friendly as they normally are

Friendly efficient service, good food.Lovely views and atmosphere, child friendly, would recommend and certainly visit there again!

If you appear to be an Indian or Asian by skin, expect to be ridiculed and insulted right from the moment you enter this place. And it was not just one person, the staff in general was racist. Unfortunately , it was very late and we had no other Indian restaurant to go to, The food was average as well.

I Visited the Maharajah with colleagues. Service very good and food delicious. Particular praise for the Tandoori Mixed Grill and Saag Paneer. Will be returning again

If you appear to be an Indian or Asian by skin, expect to be ridiculed and insulted right from the moment you enter this place. And it was not just one person, the staff in general was racist. Unfortunately , it was very late and we had no other Indian restaurant to go to, The food was average as well.

Friendly staff, great food and view.. 5 stars for sure ....

The food was amazing and the service was great. Six happy people. The vegetable Bhuna and Peshwari naan were delicious. Would definitely return when in Newquay again.

Superb restaurant with superb views. I had the chicken jalfrezi, which was fiercely hot but super tasty. My wife had the lamb madras which she said was delicious. Excellent restaurant, couldn’t rate higher. Thank you.

Worst food ever. We are pure vegetarian and they served us chicken and our food took 1:45 hours to come.

What a wonderful staff. Avery asian tourist must take visit for food. Tasty,spicy, and good ambiance.

Considering the options in New Quay for Indian food, the Maharajah is descent. The mix grill was below average and the meat had an excessive amount of artificial coloring. I will recommend giving the Chicken Kodapuri a try, as it was decent. The Chicken Biryani again was less than average. Since the options for Indian food are limited in New Quay, if you are really craving Indian cuisine, then you should try it out. The view from the restaurant is spectacular, get a table next to the windows.

Called in for a takeaway. Staff were all very polite. Ordered Main chicken tikka and lamb tikka and nan to take back to our hotel . It was lovely. Full of flavour and plenty of meat. Will come again next time we are In Newquay

Spent 3 nights in Newquay and 3 nights in the Maharajah! Best Indian we have had in a long time.. since our trip to India in February. So recommended. Take your time and enjoy being looked after.

I recently had the pleasure of dining at **Maharajah**, and it was an unforgettable culinary journey. From the moment I walked in, the rich aromas of spices and herbs transported me straight to the heart of India. **Ambiance:** The restaurant's ambiance is warm and inviting, with traditional Indian décor that creates a cozy and exotic atmosphere. **Service:** The staff was exceptionally attentive and knowledgeable. They were more than happy to explain the menu and offer recommendations based on our preferences. The service was prompt, and we never felt rushed. **Appetizers:** We started with the **Mixed Platter**, which included samosas, pakoras, and chicken tikka. Each item was perfectly spiced and cooked to perfection. The samosas were crispy with a flavorful filling, the pakoras were light and crunchy, and the chicken tikka was tender and juicy with a smoky char from the tandoor. **Main Course:** For the main course, we ordered the **Butter Chicken**, **Lamb Rogan Josh**, and **Vegetable Biryani**. The Butter Chicken was divine, with tender pieces of chicken simmered in a creamy tomato-based sauce that had just the right balance of sweetness and spice. The Lamb Rogan Josh was equally impressive, with succulent lamb cooked in a rich, aromatic gravy. The Vegetable Biryani was a delightful medley of fragrant basmati rice and fresh vegetables, perfectly seasoned and garnished with fried onions and raisins. **Bread:** The garlic naan we ordered was the perfect accompaniment to our meal. They were freshly baked, soft, and had the perfect amount of char from the tandoor. **Overall:** Maharajah offers an exceptional dining experience with authentic flavors, impeccable service, and a warm ambiance. Whether you are a fan of Indian food or a first-timer, this restaurant is sure to leave a lasting impression. I highly recommend it for anyone looking to enjoy a remarkable Indian meal.

Fantastic food and fast service. I’d definitely go back, I’m quite a fussy person when it comes to a good curry but I would recommend this to anyone wanting a good Indian. Prices are extremely reasonable too. 10/10 from me

Went early and staff couldn't do enough for us. Had option of waiting between courses. Jad starters, mains and drinks for under £70. Reasonable prices and lovely view. Would use again.

I was pretty disappointed with this indian to be honest, 1st things first, outside there is a bell for help if you have a disability ring and they will send help, great I mean its only 6/7steps so it shouldn't be too much of a problem, well until you get inside i guess they are expecting you to not want to use the bathroom the whole time as the toilets are downstairs again but almost double what you came up and also much steeper. Then there is the problem of well I am eating alone do you have a set menu for 1 please? No can you split the set menu for 2 please? No so in order me to enjoy my meal I ended up spending £36 just for me!! I am not impressed its like being punished for eating alone😢😢 or having a disability 😢😢 not all disabilities are visible. Not at all impressed, there was no drinks menu and the staff weren't exactly forthcoming, they read off what drinks there were but by this time you are pretty unimpressed anyway, does somone really have to go to so much trouble to explain all these things if in actual fact you all are in it for the customer anyway because if you were surely these things would not be an issue as such. Very, very disappointing. £36 for a meal for one frankly left a bad taste after all the issue. Would it really be that much of a problem to do a set menu for one????

Great meal, great service and realy nice views.

Quick and always easy to order for delivery. Foods alway tasty and at a good price . Be sad to see you go to development.. Thank you all for your tasty yummines. Remember kids. Always tip your driver. Peace and love. Up ya England 😁xx

We drive an hour to get here. The service, the location, the staff and particularly the food are exceptional.

Love going here, every time come to Cornwall I have to go. Food is lovely and staff have always been great and nothing too much trouble.

Stunning views, great food and the staff are so welcoming, friendly and funny. It was a pleasure. Highly recommend, all of our friends thoroughly enjoyed themselves also. See you again, keep up the outstanding work

Some of the best Indian food I’ve ever had - i had dinner here three days in a row. Splendid view if you can reserve a table at the patio. I can see why people complain about the wait and slow services but all the staff here are amazing people with great personality. Food here is very reasonably priced.

Ordered delivery. Promised in one hour. Two and a quarter hours later it turned up. Our guests had to leave without eating as they had young children. Will never use again and food not great either. Ruined our Father’s Day treat. Avoid.

From the outside, it does not look much but has a great view of thr coast line, reasonable priced food. Prompt service