Sarakh - The Roadside Indian in St Albans

Food was delicious, served pretty quick, busy little restaurant, lovely atmosphere, great value for money and Ash was particularly helpful . I’ll be going back again , Garry 😊 from Harpenden

We really do love this restaurant - one of the best and we have ate in and ordered lots of takeaways BUT there is no longer a collection discount and the prices have increased and so unfortunately it’s out priced itself and the last time we ordered from here the takeaway was over £50 and we didn’t order any extra expensive dishes. We feel that although the food is amazing that this is very expensive compared to over restaurants and can’t now justify the price. Such a shame as it’s one of our favourites.

We had such a delicious meal tonight at Sarakh. The lamb biryani is divine, the okra was incredible. Our waiter, Ash, was helpful, attentive and friendly. We will definitely be back.

If you’re looking for good authentic Indian food this is the best place to go delicious curry’s staff on point very polite and there good service clean environment thanks Ash for looking after us definitely returning

Fabulous food, really enjoyed it . A lovely setting and nice atmosphere and great service! Would definitely recommend

Busy, Fab restaurant with great staff. Our server Ash was particularly memorable! He was great and gave great recommendations. Defo recommend this place to everyone!

Just moved here and decided to try the local. Was not disappointed. Ash greeted us and was our waiter for the evening. Suggested dishes from the menu and the food was devine. An absolute must to visit

Excellent food, good choice on the menu and good portions. Varied menu, with some items that were a bit different from your usual menu. Tasted fresh and not oily. Good atmosphere and service too.

The food was amazing. Everything was delicious and we were very impressed. I’m vegan and there was lots of choice for me. The staff were knowledgeable and helpful. My family are meat eaters and they all enjoyed their dishes too. The staff are friendly and lovely, they made our visit even more of a great experience. I would absolutely recommend this restaurant to anyone and we will be back. Have already recommended a visit to other friends and family members

Wow, what a lovely surprise. My first visit to this small but mighty curry house! Lovely food, great Indian street food themed decor and super friendly staff. Very good selection of food, onion bhaji was wonderful. The chicken dosa spicy and well flavoured. The butter chicken was creamy and delicious. Watch out for the jalfrezi though - very hot!! It was clear that many of the diners there were regulars with lots of chat with the staff. Ash was lovely… delivering chocolates to the ladies to keep us sweet!! My first visit but definitely not the last… thanks for a lovely evening…

We had a great birthday meal here. Food as always was excellent, I had the slow cooked lamb - melt in the mouth and no fat. Topu, Ash and the team looked after us throughout our meal and we enjoyed the friendly banter. Fantastic food and service, we will be back

We came here 13th February, after great reviews from work. The decor is quirky, the food is amazing, the portion sizes are perfect and reasonably priced. The staff are very friendly and welcoming. We had Gym mad Ash, he just made our night, with great service and made us laugh none stop. A credit to your team. Will definitely be returning. Thank you. 😊

Been told how good this place was but wanted to see for myself and I have to say I was not disappointed. The atmosphere, food and service was second to none. We ate as a family of four, and enjoyed every dish, we were guided through the menu and all recommendations were spot on. The staff were friendly and attentive and made the whole experience fantastic. This is now certainly my restaurant of choice for Indian food..

Sarakh is the tastiest Indian around with such a varied menu. Ash checks in on us the right amount, making us feel looked after. All the staff are brilliant with the kids. This is now our go to restaurant and we always take family and friends there-it never disappoints.

Excellent food. Really attentive service. Ash made the Valentine evening special- thank you. If you want a perfect Indian meal go to Sarakh.

What a gem of a restaurant! Had a wonderful first visit to Sarakh. Lovely decor, clean and bright, great atmosphere. Great varied menu, not the run of the mill options. Food was on a different level, fresh and very tasty. Poppadoms and accompaniments, delish. Paneer dosa, soft shell crab, scrummy. Sri Lankian lamb, yum. The star of the show was the lamb chops, melt in the mouth. Ash was the host with the most, very helpful with great wine and menu suggestions. Fantastic team, the place runs like a well-oiled machine. Many thanks for a great evening, we will be back!

Best curry restaurant in Harpenden...by some way. Food never disapoints, especially the seafood platter and sri-lankan slow-cooked lamb. Ash and his team are always about to make sure you have what you need, but never oppressive. Very lucky to have such a spot in Harpenden.

Great food, excellent ambience and amazing service from Ash! A mix of nice traditional dishes and a modern twist on street food. Well worth a visit and the cobra flows ….

We visited on Thursday night this week without booking. The staff managed to fit us in, after a very short wait by the bar. I honestly could not fault anything about the meal we had. Poppadoms and chutneys were great, and nice to have a...

Superb food and service from Ash and the team, fitted us in at short notice. Try the Desi Biyar lager - fantastic with a curry !

Fantastic amazing food. And Fantastic service. Well done Topu and team. Will be back to celebrate 🍾 my husbands birthday in 2 weeks. Thank you all so much.!!!

The food here is excellent. It has the best of what you would find in a traditional Indian restaurant and lots more exciting tastes and some different dishes. I loved the beef fried with chilli. The service is friendly and helpful.

The food was absolutely spectacular, and the staff are all so kind and accommodating, Ash was absolutely wonderful! I have been coming here for years, and have always been more than happy with the experience, I can't recommend this restaurant highly enough!

Excellent restaurant , flavours of food are amazing , so many different dishes on menu, all beautifully presented Service is very good , topu waiter was very attentive, highly recommend

Been eating at this restaurant since it opened and as always food and staff are excellent. A big thank you to Sabbirc and Topu. Another great evening. The birthday cake for our son was a lovely touch.

The food was cooked to perfection. The atmosphere was very relaxed and the service was friendly and professional. I would like to say that Ash was extremely helpful and friendly and was quite entertaining. Sam was very interested and helpful with our menu choices. I...

I've been here on a few occasions, and I've enjoyed every time! The menu is varied without being overwhelming, and the dishes are all worth trying.

Very welcoming greeting. Waiters couldn't do enough. Delicious food prompt service .Great value for money. .Topu,and coleaques see you soon .

We went here without booking, staff are very friendly and just lovely. Food was delicious with very generous servings. Can definitely recommend going here.

I was recommended this place by a work collegue and I wasn't dissapointed. The food was fabulous, some of the best Indian food I've had. The service was exceptional, the waitors really cared that you were enjoying your evening. 100% recomend.

Great curry, and some new dishes for us too. Really friendly. Great service from everyone! We really enjoyed the meal Topu!!!! Will be back soon.

Sarakh is different from other curry restaurants. The food is delicious, and the menu much more interesting including less usual dishes not available at other restaurants. Ash was very welcoming as ever.

Great food...Great service...Great price. Ash makes the experience good fun too. Highly recommended 👌

An amazing restaurant… Friendly staff, especially Topu! The warmest of greetings by all… Fabulous food Very reasonably priced The visit definitely helped to make my Birthday very special! I don’t live in Harpenden But will definitely make every effort to return again very soon! Thank...

We collected a Take Away for my son's birthday. On ordering the food, a request to ensure that all the dishes were nut Free was made. Unfortunately, it turned out that one of the dishes, Sag Paneer, had been made with ground almonds, causing an...

Visiting from Australia and rate this some of the best Indian food I’ve tasted. Very attentive service from Ash and team.

Christmas Eve 2023. Days of roasts, cold cuts and grim English food to come. So, what better way to prepare than a visit to the best of the best Indian restaurants, anywhere, let alone in Harpenden. Ash in ‘Grinch’ mode rounded off a great evening...

I was staying n Harpenden for a couple of nights and was recommended this restaurant by a friend. I was so glad I visited as food, service and atmosphere superb. The menu options were some of the best I have seen in an Indian restaurant...

First time here, the vibes and food were incredible! Ash took great care of us. Looking forward to the next visit. 10/10 recommend

Definitely up there as one of the best Indian restaurants in Harpenden and we often go. Superb food and top notch service from Ash. Has some interesting options that are a little different.

Better than ever! Our favourite restaurant in Harpenden. Excellent atmosphere and service, with delicious food.

Genuinely my favourite Indian restaurant in the world. Currently live in the States and this is a must on every visit home. The Kolhapuri Garlic Chilli Chicken is to die for. Topu was really helpful and gave us excellent service, so thanks to him. Love...

What a wonderful place to have a great curry in vibrant and friendly atmosphere. Food amazing and service exceptional.Topu, Ash, and AK looked after us all night. I took Topu’s recommendation from the menu (was going just do Chicken Tikka Masala) - and so glad...

We were a large group and had a great night. The restaurant is comfortable and attractively designed. Food was fantastic - always the case at Sarakh - and we were very well looked after by Ash and his colleagues. Thank you!

Unusual decor, wonderfully creative menu, attentive staff and rather scrumptious food. The dosa was amazing and every dish was perfectly spiced and delicious.

Great little place. Very good menu, excellent service and parking right outside. Curry was excellent, would recommend. Looking forward to going back

No frills restaurant which is reasonably priced.The food was lovely and very authentic. Ash made us feel really welcome and would definitely go back again. You can actually taste the flavours and was not just overpowering with chilli.I was recommended to go there and was...

This is our second visit to Sarakh. Just as great as the first. Both midweek visits and there is a great atmosphere, and it's busy which is always a great sign. It's superb value for money, great service and every dish we ordered was faultless!

What a fabulous restaurant, great atmosphere and the food was absolutely delicious. We sampled some of the regional specialities, they were so tasty and flavoursome. We had a fantastic evening and were extremely well looked after by Ash and his team. We will definitely be returning. Thank you for a wonderful evening.

Thought we would try a takeaway to celebrate my daughters birthday and we werent disappointed! This was the first time we have eaten food from Sarakh but it wont be the last. Delicious and hits the spot when you want to push the boat out but NOT break the bank

I went here recently with my wife and from start to finish it was the best Indian meal we had had in years. The food was 10/10 the staff were fast and the choice of beers went far beyond the usual found in a curry house. Also, their website, decor and menu are designed really well - all nice touches that set it apart from most.

Food was very nice except my chicken which was still pink inside.covid measures in place were good, screens between each table disappointing that the menus didn't seem to have been cleaned.The staff were incredibly rude the bill was placed in front of us at 9pm before we asked and we then had the card machine thrust in-front of us and were told "here" I asked if he meant he wanted us to pay which again his reply was "here". We were aware of the new regulations and the restaurant closing times but at 9:40 we were told to leave and then the lights were flashed on and off at 9:45. We were made to feel like an inconvenience finishing our drinks.Such a shame as the ambiance and food was lovely - the staff need some lessons on customer service.

Sarakh was recommended by a friend who said it was the best food they had eaten in a while. So booked a visit with my wife and some friends. The restaurant is well laid out with well-placed tables, perspex screens in between and hand sanitiser as you come in - so they have done all they can to be covid secure. The 4 of us had a good variety of food from what is a simple but extensive menu. Starters included quail scotch eggs with spiced lamb; flame hot chicken wings; and lamb rolls. Everything is freshly prepared, very well flavoured and cooked to perfection. Mains similarly excellent - I had the venison curry that was a generous amount of tender venison in a rich sauce that complemented it perfectly. My wife had a chicken rogan that amazed us - rather than a tomato sauce, it came as gently cooked chicken with tomato sliced and gently cooked in. So you actually taste the range of flavours in the dish. And sides were exceptional too with naan just out of the oven and soft and flaky, aloo gobi which was excellently flavoured but both potato and cauliflower still had bite. Service was good with food delivered quickly - which they need to get right as you can only book a strict 90 minute slot.

Came shortly after re-opening, good Covid measures in place, absolutely amazing food reasonably priced given the exceptional quality.

The food is 5 star! Everything is great, Traditional food very tasty. Service could be better ( they have forgotten dishes every now and then) but who cares when the food is the best!

Definitely the freshest and tastiest curries around. Amazing selection of tapas and naan breads that you don't get anywhere else! The only let down is the service!

Stopped for a takeaway collection meal this evening. Amazing menu and food with great service and all for a very good price. They even gave us complementary drinks! We ate for two for less than £25 with sides too! Loved the flavours in the food and was well cooked. The restaurant also has a nice look with very friendly staff! Will be coming back again!

ExcellentOrdered a collection for a family of three. Food was well-cooked and tasted absolutely amazing. Thoroughly recommend the Venison Curry (it’s spicy but packed with flavour).As we turned up a bit early, the guy at the till gave us a free Cobra beer! Great touch guys.Will be coming back.

This is a superb friendly restaurant. I have booked for small groups and bigger groups and they always deliver. The food is delicious and full of flavour and the staff are more than happy to help you pick if you have queries about flavours/spices.The gin is always pretty to look at when served and the food is consistently 5* . I cannot find a fault at this restaurant and I hope it stays that way. Take away service during lockdown has also been consistently good.

Delicious Indian food. Had a delivery last night which arrived on time and food was fab especially the Okra fries! Excellent all round

We had a delicious takeaway from here - two chicken dishes that we had never heard of before. The food was delicious and more importantly didn’t leave us with a heavy feeling afterwards. The menu is an amazing range of dishes straight out of the heart of India and we look forward to our next takeaway or even better going there as soon as we can!

Have eaten at Sarakh before and thoroughly enjoyed the food and service , so was pleased to hear they had re-opened for takeaway during the lockdown once again great service and fantastic food 👍

This is definitely our favourite Indian restaurant. It’s very unique & the food is always fresh with lots of different options to choose from.We come regularly as a couple but came last night with friends & everything was fantastic. The food, the service , the atmosphere & the friendly waiters. Especially Ash who always bends over backwards to make our evening great. Everything was spot on!

I had gone out with a few friends for a meal and the king prawns were mouth watering leaving a beautiful after taste. The service provided was excellent, the waiter i was served by was very kind and fast making sure that we were happy with our food. The waiter himself had given us a free curry and made sure that all food was given to us on time without the curries being too hot. The minute i had come in i was given a corner seat with fast service provided where they gave us all menus to look at and after a few minutes they had come to serve. The waiter that was serving me and my friends kept coming to the table now and then to make sure the food is okay and would give us fresh water on the side. I am local from the area and do come here often for a meal with my friends and family as they go out of their ways to keep us as customers happy hence why I am a regular customer here. I see a comment down below and totally disagree as i love the king prawn curry and the waiters are always generous enough to give us all a free drink thats on the house! I would highly recommend this place to the people in the local who like a bit of asian food that has a twist to it.

Seated us really quickly and their service was really good, very attentive and very friendly highly recommended and the food was nice!!

Visited this amazing restaurant yesterday I was sitting opposite those customers who have written a bad review down below. I have been coming to this restaurant ever since it has opened the food and service is excellent. The food is always served hot and the waiter is very friendly and always providing me and family with everything we need . However the waiter was not rude to the customers he was saying what he had to say he offered them free drinks and free dishes he was being kind but he was getting abusive language when he replied back with good customer service. I have witnessed it all and the waiter was not at fault in this situation. The waiter tried his absolute best to sort the situation out and I felt bad for him as he is an amazing waiter who always serves me and my family when we come to eat. The waiter offered then everything including free drinks and dishes and this is why sarakh is a good restaurant. I would highly recommend to visit this amazing place.

My wife and I recently moved from central Harpenden to Southdown so we thought we’d give this a go. The poppadoms and drinks were served swiftly and the waiter was friendly so all seemed to be going well..The starter and main course were however served almost cold and my wife’s king prawns were raw. The food looked ‘sad’ like it had been sitting for ages although it was served quickly so maybe pre-cooked?.The waiter offered no apology and said that the food is not served hot in case it burns the customer’s mouthsTo be honest this restaurant is not even on the same planet as Cafe Jeera, The Cinnamon, The Cherry Tree, Markyate Spice. There’s not really any competition or choice in Southdown and it’s a long walk to the town so maybe why it’s always busy..We certainly won’t be going back and walking straight past!

Great experience, exceptional staff, very friendly and phenomenal food. This restaurant has great atmosphere and would definitely return next time

Came here a group of 7 Wanted to try a new venue Had some good recommendations for starters from the wait staff, just to bad it all came cold. Send some back and where hoping fir better experience for the main course.Food seemed rewarded and not freshly cooked. Share our experience with the wait staff but they did not wanted to know. Real shame as we had high hopes.we are not fussy but will not be back. Service a bid clumsy but with great food you could look past it. Potential great but delivery leaves lots to be desired. Food pre cooked and rewarmed. Better luck next time But not us

This is the first time that I have just been basically told that I am a liar by the waiter when I provided my feedback on the quality of the food. The waiter raised his voice at us and at one point he told us to “leave it” because he was not interested, so I interpreted that as pay the bill and leave because I don’t care if you don’t come back. The prawn curry was under cooked and the food was cold. It is impossible to have half the curry piping hot and the other half cold unless it’s been in a microwave. So if you’re interested in an overpriced ready meal then this is the restaurant for you otherwise go to restaurant where the food is freshly prepared.

Came here on Saturday service and food very good fresh good atmosphere waiters all very good service excellent very good chef top stars

Out for a lovely dinner party of two couples had a meal It was mostly cold and felt like yesterday’s support We did not wanted to say anything as we already heard thx waiter argue with another table The wait staff was rather rude and arrogant not what you expect from professionals I would avoid this place There are much better places in Harpenden

It’s a good job we booked. The place was heaving by 830. The service was friendly and efficient, we only had mains but it came very quickly, and there is a good choice of drinks including Indian gins. It’s a good combination to pair Indian food with gin! But the large bottles of Cobra were excellent value and well chilled..There were three of us. I had the chicken Jalfrezi which was very good - not oily or greasy and with plenty of peppers and onions . One of us had the slow cooked lamb which was delicious, and one had another chicken dish which was also delicious. We had a Side dish called aubergine mush which was very rich and tasty and quite hot, and some Okra which was also quite spicy but very soft and tender. My paratha was also soft and flakyThe bill was £64 although it doesn’t include serviceI thought the whole evening for food, service , ambience , and value was excellent.

Exceptionally good quality food, with a special atmosphere and terrific service. The Sarakh is a local favourite in Southdown and always very busy. There’s a good reason why .. it’s excellent. The menu is uncomplicated, with some outstanding specials. Book early ... or get a take away.

Consistently the top Indian restaurant in the area. Some of my favourite takes on popular fishes as well as great unique ones of their own. Brilliant decor and the staff all have good personalities. Plus their own special ‘Desi’ beer.

I couldn’t get a table as it was fully booked so got a take away for the family. What a really great meal with amazing flavours and good sized portions! It’s not the cheapest takeaway but you really get what you pay for! So so good! Will be going there again many times. Would love to try the sit down!

The Sarakh is our go-to for top Indian food. It has a great ambience, the food is excellent, and the service is top notch. It is a real family favourite. We have takeaways from here probably 3 times a month, and have eaten in, although less frequently.

Our family has eaten at Sarakh three times recently and every time it has been fantastic. The menu is mouth watering and well-priced. Service has been excellent. It's beautifully presented too. We've enjoyed every dish.

I live really near to this restaurant & finally got round to paying a visit for my birthday celebrations with my family. How lucky we are to have this little place on our doorstep...Friendly service, delicious food, gorgeous interiors. We will be back to try out more of the extensive menu! Thank you!

What a gem this place is !!,from the starters we chose halloumi pakoras and battered calamari as well as the usual samosas but all where very good and then chicken and vegetable Tawa tak and a mix of the medium and aromatic curry's (all outstanding) and the decor is very attractive as well

Visited for first time recently. Splendid meal. Service very friendly. Chicken jalfzi is excellent. Quality indian style. Would recommend to anyone looking for this type of meal.

I have visited a couple of times recently and on both occasions I have really enjoyed my meal, which tasted fresh and not heavy as some Indian food can be served.The staff are attentive and friendly. The food is very reasonably priced.Will be returning very soon and would highly recommend

We have been introduced to a wonderful Indian experience with a great mixtures if flavours and spices. A delight to our palate! Kamal was courteous and friendly. Really great family outing

I visited this restaurant last night for a meal with my friend and cannot wait to return! We booked a table before going, which I would advise, and we were greeted by the team when we arrived and showed to our table. The decor in the restaurant is very modern and yes the tables may be small but it does mean they can sit more people in there! The food choice was insane!! There was something for everyone, there was so much choice to which we struggled to pick just one dish each so decided to kind of do an Indian Tapas selection! Even the table wear was beautiful and decedent. When the food came out it was all perfectly cooked, not oily at all and there was so much of it! When I couldn't finish it all they boxed it up so I could have it for lunch the next day! The staff were fantastic, the waiters were friendly and helpful which made the whole experience worthwhile. The price of our meal was a lot less than what we thought, no wonder this is the top rated restaurant in Harpenden with the food quality, the beautiful setting and the price. There was no rush for us to leave when we finished which was so nice!Really looking forward to returning again soon and I'm sure I will be bragging about it for ages to my friends and family! Thanks Kamal & the Sarakh team!

I went with family to this restaurant and found the food to be absolutely outstanding and the service was excellent

My husband and I have eaten lots of Indian food over the years and we finally tried Sarakh and were not disappointed! Everything we had was absolutely delicious! We shouldn’t have left it so long to try.

We dined here as a fairly large group of friends recently and as usual spent ages deciding what to have ! The staff were friendly, knowledgeable and very quick to get us organised and ordering . The food was varied, tasty and the atmosphere was perfect . A good restaurant to try new dishes . The food was fresh and flavoursome. Looking forward to returning.

Fantastic place. So much more classy than your classic Indian. All the usual dishes cooked to your specification- heat/ oiliness etc and so much more. Sumptuous tandoori prawns, aloo chatt, the best sag baagi and a monkfish special just to name a few less common specialties. Friendly service, Prosecco by the glass, amazing fresh Mango lassis and posh gin and tonics. What more can one ask for at reasonable prices in a cosy atmospheric environment? Best Indian/ classy restaurant around.

My family and I went for a meal on Friday evening. The service was so friendly and the food was absolutely amazing! So fresh, light and flavoursome - we will be back!

I went for dinner and the service was excellent and the food is amazingly tasty wow! I would love to go to Sarakh again I recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Indian road or street food style food very nice and tasty. The waiters ash and khalique were so amazingly polite and friendly very informative I love these two guys waiters.

Went yesterday with my family at 5pm straight away been told that have to leave in hour because of booking are full disappointed but still ordered drinks ate papadom ordered main course the food was quite bland lacking in taste was not like the old days spicy currys was like asda and Tesco food quality I don’t know what the hype about this restaurant was to be honest I guess just cause it’s new that’s why everyone trying out it’s tiny restaurant compared to other restaurants I’d rather go to a Turkish restaurant or go for the real deal Indian restaurant the waiters were very friendly but the food and atmosphere let me down I won’t be coming back again thumps down for me

Sarakh is a great Indian restaurant..not set up as another ‘traditional’ curry house both the menu and decor are a bit different/ contemporary.We’ve eaten here several times and is consistently very good quality...they also have given me free beer on last couple of takeaways which always helps!

Fabulous food lovely staff would come back again. Best Indian food I have had in many years. We arrived for our table and were seated very quickly everyone was very impressed with the service and food quality and flavour

Nice food nice waiter nice place very good nice fresh feel to the place in total very good location very good

What a great find this was! Food is amazing and not your standard curry house fare. The flavours are fabulous and the prices very reasonable. If only they delivered to farther afield I am sure they would spread their message! It’s great food at good prices! Enjoy!

really enjoyed the food here, a few different dishes, and really nice atmosphere, service was good and prompt, would go again

Really tasty food, very good service and pleasant atmosphere. However, they could do with stocking the beers they advertise on their list. That was the only disappointment.

The food was good but the service was very slow , too many take aways perhaps ?Bench seats very cramped and uncomfortable

Loved the food, staff very friendly, have visited in many occasions now great for mid week or Saturday evening with friends, not plus just straight forward good Indian food.

Loved the food it was very delicious, good service the waiters were very friendly and very professional will be back 😋😋