St. Albans Tandoori in St Albans

Arrived and was instantly shoved into a seat with no words just gestures, ordered poppadoms and then began to order food, one of my friends asked for a chicken tikka to which the waiter laughed at him and said “That doesn’t exist how can you order, if you want the Tikka Masala then you have to tell me properly or I’ll bring you nothing” my other friend said he would have the same to which point the waiter got angry and told him tell me what you want I don’t know what that is, if you’re not going to say it properly then I’m not going bring you any food, all of this said in an aggressive tone, I then told him not to bother taking any further orders as we would be leaving to go somewhere else, was told he was only joking and ordered to sit back down, he then put his hands on my friend and he tried to stand up, as we were leaving agreed to pay for Poppadoms and one beer as only one of us had actually drunk anything, charged £14 for a sip of beer and poppadoms and was asked to take a sip of J20 so that he wouldn’t loose money and could charge me for it, this is the only review I have ever left in my entire life, absolutely terrible service and attitude from the staff, not surprised we were the only ones in there if this is how they behave and treat paying customers.

Best Indian Tandoori Restaurant in Town. Delicious Fresh Indian Tandoori Cuisine. Fantastic Hygiene. Immaculate Customer Service. On the Main High Street of Town. Scrumptious. The Food is Perfect Every Single Time.

Very delicious curry and excellent service. I had chicken balti ..It was really delicious. Good place for dine in.

Probably the worst Indian I’ve had. Only 2 of us in there, waited forever, no service with a smile, regarding food, I’ve had spicier Sunday lunches. Wouldn’t go back again.

Really nice place 1st time I'd been there was fairly busy when we got there food excellent.

Really enjoyed food best peshwari naan I’ve ever tasted

I asked for the hottest curry possible but still wanted flavour. I usually ask this when going for a curry. There are places that try to serve hot curries (usually not hot enough for my taste), and 9 times out of ten it’s a disappointment but …. THIS place was different! 11 out of 10. The combination of heat and flavour was mind blowing. I don’t say this easily. This was the best combination of heat and flavour I’ve ever experienced. I will so come back and make sure everyone I know knows how awesome this place is!

I have been to most places in St Albans for curry and they have been pretty average until I came here and WOW this is honestly THE best curry I have had in years not only in St Alba ns but in the UK

Very bland food. Not unpleasant, just bland. I'm not sure how you make the onions in the pickle tray taste of nothing at all but they managed!

We had the misfortune to book a table here for dinner one Wednesday evening On arrival, the restaurant looked very nice (if a little empty) with most tables laid beautifully. Unfortunately, we were ignored for a while before a staff member came up to us but sadly couldn't manage a 'Good evening' or even a 'Welcome'. Instead we got a 'Just two, yeah?' and he then gestured to a table for four which had only a tablecloth and a pepper pot. When we asked if this was where he'd like us to sit, we were met with nothing more than a grunt. We sat down and were handed menus. We then had a knife and fork practically thrown at us, followed by a half folded napkin each. Getting the feeling that we weren't wanted, we promptly upped and left. We ended up having a delicious meal and a wonderful evening at The Peahen down the road, where the staff could not have been more helpful or friendly. Avoid St. Albans Tandoori at all costs - if we had read these reviews before our booking, we might have too.

I didn't enjoy my food at this restaurant it was very bland and waterery. Service was great but unfortunately the food was not very nice sorry

Very quiet considering we went on a Friday night. We six were the only customers. Everything was ok but not brilliant. Some delay in the delivery of some of the elements of our meals. The staff a bit deflated maybe due to the lack of custom. All a little sad.

Absolutely delicious food, so much flavour packed in. The service was sharp and on point. A really pleasant atmosphere, I look forward to going back.

The staff reused different pint glasses for different tables and charged us £25 for popadoms when we didn’t even order them

Tastiest Indian in town, their naan bread and tandoori dishes are excellent

Good food. Finishing our drinks. Asked to go home at 2330. Not used to being asked to leave, only two of us finishing drinks. We’d spent £200 plus £20 service. Will go elsewhere next time!

Went there to have a nice meal and waiters were completely unwelcoming and after a long wait eventually came over to ask us if we wanted drinks with no smiles etc - I asked for a glass of white wine and the waiter said did you want a bottle and so my partner said yes we would actually like a bottle….. When they came back over ten minutes later they brought a glass of wine and a bottle! We said no sorry and thanks we wanted a bottle of wine only - I was thinking surely this was obvious as why would we order a glass and a bottle of same wine!!? A minute later a different waiter/manager? Brought same glass over again insisting we had ordered this and the wine which was really aggressive and unnecessary as we hadn’t even started drinking anything/our meal - so I said sorry we are not going to sit here and be treated like that so we left….. Probably why every time I walk past it it is empty - appalling customer service and so many better places to eat in same town with lovely service

Worst Indian restaurant as the waiter asked us to read the menu before getting seated, like he only allows rich. Worst I assure you beware!!!!!

I booked a table at Alban's tandoori which is a lovely restaurant located in st Alban's. However, this is not Alban's. Google maps took me to St Alban's Tandoori and I'm not local so didn't realise. On arrival I advised of our reservation and the waiter informed me I was in the right place and he had my booking on file. This was a lie. There was only one table in use. So I took a window table on the other side of the restaurant to not disturb the table eating as I had a toddler and baby in tow. I was advised this was unacceptable as my pram would inhibit other guests coming to the restaurant later this evening. I found this strange as I did mention the pram on my booking. I still hadn't realised the fraud occuring. Funnily enough and unsurprising given my impending dining experience, this was not an issue as no one else in the area was stupid enough to dine here. We were rerouted to the table immediately adjacent to a couple (the only other diners that evening.) In order to facilitate this the waiter dragged the table from underneath the other diners as they were eating without warning. I felt awkward and sorry for them as the rug was quite literally pulled from beneath their feet whilst eating. However, despite this there still wasn't enough space so they told me to leave my infant son(8 weeks old) by the door which was open and closed all evening due to takeaway orders. Throughout the meal my toddler was frequently told off by the waiters for interrupting other diners and making a mess. This was not a shock.considering we were in arms reach of the table next door despite the rest of the restaurant being empty. Hilariously, and I suppose, luckily for us- there were no other diners. When the linen napkins got dirty they did not replace it with a fresh one between courses. It wasnt as if they didn't notice- they refused it. Also, I dropped my napkin on the floor accidentally and the waiter gestured to me that I had to pick it up like I was a child. What a horror show. The only credit to the restaurant was the food was fine: Just average Indian, naan a bit small, butter chicken fine but had curdled slightly, Bhajis were good. However, it took a long time to come out even though there were only 2 tables dining. This was also surprising as we - and our kids- were obviously an inconvenience so I'm surprised they didn't want us out ASAP. We were told we weren't to get in the way of any other table as it was a Friday night. Impossible- the tables had about 30cm between them. Also, they obviously had high expectations of themselves compared to their reputation in the local area. Maybe they were planning on stealing more of Alban's customers? We paid the bill which was expensive given the experience and left with a sigh of relief. However, just as we made for the door our son needed a napkin for his chin. When we asked for an additional napkin the waiter laughed at my request and said no. How embarrassing. I had apparently already used my ration of napkins for the evening. So to reiterate this is NOT ALBANS. Alban's if you're listening they're stealing your custom.

After a long day working in St Albans. Me and my mate fancied a curry before heading to bed. We stumbled across this one as it was over the road from where we were staying. We were greeted with disinterested staff and unclean tables. The food we ordered had clearly been microwaved along with the side salad which was brown and evidently far from fresh 😡 The main courses all looked through same due to being burnt We both left and instantly felt ill and spent half the night two and forth from the toilet Place needs shut down

OK food, good service (staff were lovely and attentive) . While we were there the electricity cut out twice, they obviously had an electrical fault! It was OK, but I won't be rushing back.

Had to shout to get a member of staff to come to take our order, he preferred to be on his phone, rather than serve customers. Only 2 tables in use due to not being busy. Poppadums' arrived first , were quite nice. Curries looked the same colour , even though they were different orders . The worst I've tasted to be honest , not bad ,but lacking flavour. Kingfisher lager was the highlight of the night.

New to this area, I was on a hunt to find an Indian restaurant to treat my loved ones I came across a restaurant that was recommended from a local.I went to this restaurant having high hopes. As soon as I entered the restaurant I was warmly welcomed by the waiters who escorted me to an avaliable table. The service was impressive, From the start to the end, the food was top notch and the restaurant itself looked aesthetically pleasing. To anyone who is a big fan of Indian food I'd recommend you and your family to dine in at the St.Albans Tandoori.

Rude staff……………worst experience .it’s better if they had the staff with good behaviour.and then comes the food

On a Friday night it's near deafening, no character or ambiance at all. It's simply too cramped, too many people, not relaxing, you're not able to enjoy a meal and a talk. Great for loud groups though. Food was OK, not high on flavour. Staff OK, got my order wrong, they were a bit surly but then so would I be if I worked in that 'atmosphere'. Just a bit disappointing.

We visit once a month or so. Again, this time was as good as usual. Great, fresh tasty food. Nice ambience. Spotless. Staff friendly, efficient and professional. The best Indian restaurant in St Albans! Well done.

As soon as I sat down I don’t like this place, The food is worst and service is bad. Yuck!

Don’t even think about this place worst food and service is worst, I feel very disappointed they are ruin my special day “very bad”

Service was tooo bad they are so rudeee and worst behaviour

Ok food, shocking service. Cutlery thrust at us instead of placed. Constant attempts to upsell during ordering. Asking for the bill took 15 minutes. General rudeness and lack of smiling - standoffish. Plates cleaned just before they are handed to us. I cannot believe any waiters here have had service training. Went on a Saturday night and was able to get a table for 7 without a reservation - this should have been the warning sign! Would not go back.

As above ! Food was nice ! Prices were fine ! Staff weren't very friendly Don't like paying overpriced for a soft drink though especially when you ask for a cola and you get a pint of rolla cola for about £4

Staff was rude and brought bill and payment machine before we ordered coffee. We felt pushed out the door as others were waiting for our table. Food was not great and the lamb was very tough Will not return.

Just coming from there I ordered chicken qorma,chicken biryani,and 4 nans. Chicken biryani it's not look like a biryani as Indian resturants have second thing the qorma came with adding sugar when I asked them they said its with cream that's why sweet...I said there is no where written sweet...they have cancelled that one.even that they charge 2.25 pound for each man.if you compare other places its 1 pound man maximum...waste of money

Went in last night on a busy Saturday night without booking and after a short wait we got a table. Food was fantastic and Cobra cold. What more could you want ?

Worst experience ever! Unsatisfactory food and the staffs were quite in a hurry and extremely rude! Ewww!

Ordered at 6pm 3 currys 3 rice and 1Bombay potatoe which I was really looking forward to. Curry was really watery and chicken dry vegetable rice was ok but not much flavour. Really disappointed as it was expensive and I was really hungry but wasnt worth the money

16th June, my 60th birthday. My friend and I had been to a concert at the Roman Theatre on the outskirts of St Albans and coming back to the centre in a taxi. It was getting quite late for a weekday and we asked the driver if any Indian restaurants would still be open for a sit down meal - we were dropped off at this one. it was late and a few people were just finishing their meals and leaving. They said there was absolutely no problem in us coming in and plenty of time for a two or three course dinner. We sat down at a two seat table initially, but they soon moved us to a four seater so we had had plenty of room. We both chose a starter and main and ordered two bottles of wine, a white and a red. Both wines were excellent quality, we drank around half a bottle each and were welcome to take the remainder back to the hotel when we left. The starters came out, mine was an onion bhaji I think my friend had the same. I had the Chicken Tikka Massala and my friend chose a Duck Curry. We had a pilau rice and a plain naan bread. We could not fault the food, drink and service here, the management and staff were friendly and efficient - nothing was too much trouble. We will be coming back when we are next in St Albans and would certainly recommend to others, a most enjoyable experience. As a side note, there is a convenient taxi rank right outside the restaurant, very useful if you want to eat and not have to worry about having wine or beer with your meals.

Very disappointing. I used to get food from here years ago, and it was good then. Tonight's delivery was late (took 1 hour and 20 minutes from ordering), lukewarm (no excuse for that) and, shockingly, was quite awful. Bland, dry, food, poppadoms fried in old oil, and tarka dall that was more like soup. And one dish was incorrect. Will avoid in future.

Terrible service, I usually let bad service experiences slide, but this place? Disgraceful, didn't come to take our order for 20 minutes, we decided to leave and my mate went to pay for his J20, and they charged him £2 for service charge? Utter disgrace, I know how it feels to work in CS, but I had an outburst at the staff, scamming us, I felt like taking it outside, over £2, it's not about the money, it's about how they've scammed my friend like that, I advise to not go here.

Reasonably priced and a large selection of excellent dishes!😊👍❤

Nice restaurant and good food, service leaves something to be desired, food was slow to come out and then you're just abandoned. Got fed up waiting for anyone to come and ask if I had finished so just asked for the bill. Shame could be be good but staff need to wake up and seem like they care. Didn't even get a goodbye as I left as the waiter was too busy smarmying up to one of his regulars...(don't think there are many of them).

Went here on Friday 15 Oct, this is definitely one to avoid. The waiters are very quick to serve you alcohol, but slow at everything else, the food was tasteless and one dish looked the same as all the other. The toilet floors were soaking...

The worse most unhygienic place I've been to, shame considering the location. Waiters having ciggies outside and coming in and not washing their hands toilets next to kitchen with soaking floors. Useless Never again!

Staff were rude. They told us incorrect prices then charged more on the bill. Four popadoms cost over £5 despite claiming only 80p each. Promised a discount on drinks as they were out of the drinks ordered however did not fulfil this promise on the bill. Avoid this restaurant at all costs!!!!

Very friendly and helpful staff. Good food

The food is pretty good. But beware! When I ordered online I was sent endless SMS text messages. I've now updated my account with a fake phone number and the texts have stopped.

Ordered they called me up saying it hadn't printed off so they needed my address. Called again saying it had been cancelled but they could still deliver if I paid cash. Order still shows as in progress online and my bank has been charged. Feel like they were trying to con me won't be ordering again.

Ordered a takeaway on line and had an email saying please pick up at 13.20 on the 14 th March which was correct when I turned up to collect the owner / manager said never received your email we are not open so no food absolutely shocking treatment , Mother’s Day as well awfull service use at your peril

Went out for an Indian tonight with my mates, @ st albans tandoori, i must say the food was the best I had in long time, and the service was gr8 too.i relly recommend this place.

Took 1 hour 15 minutes for are dinner to be served not happy

Well! Very disappointing. Food was stale and tasted out of date. Food sent back was no better on return. The service was on the whole miserable. One of the waiters, whilst clearing the table, just pointed at my knife when I was in mid conversation...

One of the very best restaurants of its sort. Always at least very good but if you order from the specials menu then it goes up a level. Excellent food, really nice people, been eating in and taking away for 20 years. Tried dozens of...

My husband and I have lived in St Albans for just over a year, and have been unsuccessful finding a decent Indian restaurant. We came here on Saturday night and had the most delicious dinner - attentive service and tasty food - and we're absolutely...

You can always rely on a good Indian Meal in this restaurant, service is always attentive and the cost is never disappointing. The menu has not changed much over the years, only point would be that it could do with a more modern approach -...

Great food, great service and great atmosphere. There was 3 generation in our party which makes it tricky to find a restaurant that suits everyone but we managed it here. The 'Family special starters' were great sharing dishes to start our evening and every dish that followed was lovely especially the tandoori fish !

Probably the worst curry I've ever had. Three of us in and all our food was near inedible. Dryest tandoori biryani with burnt lamb and hard rice. Prawns in a dhansak so chewy as to render the curry a travesty - even upon being replaced. Absolutely no care as to presentation either, being served a £13 curry in a small plain white bowl. The paneer aloo was so sweet it should've been on the dessert menu. Practically everything tasted as though it had a handful of sugar dumped in it in fact - with the exception of dishes where the amount of salt overpowered it. Poor and disinterested service all round although staff were quick to at least take a few of the items off of our bill. Still £40 for an hour and a half wasted and barely anything eaten. We went to another Indian nearby afterwards as my friends were still hungry, and the difference was immeasurable.

Food has gone downhill massively, used to be pretty decent about a year ago but now its bad. Had a fun experience this evening. Had to ask staff twice for toilet paper as none in toilets, had to ask for cutlery as they brought all the food out after waiting forever and no cutlery, had to ask twice for napkins. Ended up giving up asking for more drinks as we asked 3 times over the space of half hour to be given miserable looks from the waiters. When they brought the food out they handed the plates to us and they were hot ! They just tossed the food down at lightening speed and whizzed off with the trolley before we could question why we had different naan breads to what we ordered! Sorry won’t be returning.

We ate here on a Friday evening as a walk in at 8.30 not having visited for quite a few years. It was very busy but a table had just been vacated. The city centre location close to pubs means that this restaurant seems popular...

Visited here as it was close to the hotel and it was getting too late to find somewhere else to eat. We got seated and ordered drinks while you looked at the menu. Drinks took ages to arrive and seemed to be started down to...

I’ve stayed in St Albans twice on business in the last few months and after visiting here before decided to eat here again. I had the lamb Karahi and can honestly say that it was excellent. The service was very friendly and attentive. I would...

Last time I visit with my friends for the party. Staff was very friendly and food was mouth watering exactly what I expected. I will visit again and recommend others.

Good food but cramped and sooo noisy won’t visit again not relaxing at all. Service slow and not listening to specific requests

Me and a friend ended up in this place last night after a long time i have to say they do the best chicken madras in the whole of england very nice service and the food is also very nice as well

Poor, Will not be going back ever

Not really nice food. Service very uncoordinated.

Rude owner and rude to his customers.. He acted really bad and told us not to come again only because we didn't like menu and didn't have food.. Absolutely a no go...

Visited this restaurant and wouldn’t go back again the service was very poor and waited over an hour for our mains being told they were freshly cooked but when it came they were very salty. Poppadoms were stale too Rather dissatisfied

I usually only have a curry in Brick Lane or Bradford, I'll be sticking to that! A very disappointing, not very tasty meal, including the smallest kebabs I've ever seen! Poor service, even though it was a Tuesday night and the restaurant wasn't busy!

A great friendly service, managing to serve 22 diners at the same time with excellent quality and a wide range of food

March 2019. Very enjoyable food/meal & it around the corner from the excellent Mermaid Public House.

Nipped in lateish on Saturday night and got the last table. Greeted warmly and served quickly. Neither of us was too impressed with our meals but maybe this was just poor choices. I had black pepper chicken which was very rich and partner had lamb rogan Josh which he said was a bit over spiced . My tandoori chicken starter was lovely and partners prawn puri was also well received. Nice busy atmosphere and friendly staff. Would go back and choose differently.

Lovely food and generous staff who made a donation to our chosen charity, Bloodwise. Thanks guys. We will be back.

Splendid night at the St Albans Tandoori. Great food, great company and a generous donation by the staff to our charity of the month. Thanks guys

Attentive family run business and delicious food

The food was tasty, the service was excellent. We might have made the wrong menu choice, but we felt that there was not much meat. It was busy and seemed popular with locals.

Top notch curry house with the friendliest waiters around. Lamb house curry is the best I’ve ever had and to wash it down with a crisp cobra. Can not fault.

Great food and wonderfully friendly staff!

Lovely find. Food was extremely tasty. Not too spicy but enough to give it taste. Good size portions.

Very tasty curry, friendly and attentive service. Dishes on the menu are different but retaining flavour and authenticity.

We ate here as a group of 5, it was the week before xmas and we couldn’t get in anywhere else. Wish we hadn’t bothered, popadoms were stale, curry’s were bland and strange consistency, were taken upstairs to wait in a strange little room which I am glad we didn’t eat in, the staircase was very grimy, the toilets were disgusting and looked like they hadn’t been cleaned properly all year, there is much better Indian in St Albans, try veer dhara or Devdas instead.

Food is standard Indian cuisine, done very well.

Honestly this place is amazing, we came for the first time a few weeks ago and were so impressed we just had to come back even though just eat was doing 15% off we’d rather pay full price. I have 0 faults and visiting even made us switch up from our regular orders and find a new favourite curry after 10 years. Recommend to anyone and will always come back.

3.5 stars really.. Food pretty good, bit pricey, a certain waiter was a little grumpy, but the senior individual we encountered was very helpful and friendly. On a previous attempted visit a gentleman suffered a heart attack or seizure, nothing to do with the restaurant / food at all, but we hope very much that he survived / recovered

I had the misfortune to eat here last night. NEVER AGAIN. The waiters lost interest once our order had been taken. The poppadoms tasted like they were cooked in rancid oil (when I mentioned this at the time of reluctantly paying) the waiter said ' not crispy'? - He knew...

Positives: Friendly team. Nice decor. Great location. Negatives: Food not on par with London haunts. Slightly bland. No hand drying facilities in Gents.

The food was good but when you go out to eat you want more than food. We sat upstairs as a large party and felt as if we were forgotten about for key elements of the meal. That being said we simply went to the bar to order drinks and were served promptly.

Waited over an hour for the wrong order and poor service... what a shame! Paid for drinks and left. Would give 0 stars today... made to feel unwelcome and children were in tears.

Having been to many Indian restaurants in St Albans this is by far our favourite! I recommend the Fish Garlic Chilli Masala.

Well recommended by a friend and we weren’t disappointed. Food very good and service equally so. Will definitely return if in area again.

Went here with some friends. Restaurant is a little dated and the service probably match. However we all said that the food was of a very high standard and up there with some of the best i have had.

Sheet driver he doesn’t know were it’s Roman Theatre I wait 1.30 and doesn’t bring my food stupid driver

Amazing place! Super friendly staff! Always welcoming! One of my favourite places to eat!

Had a fantastic evening , food was lovely , service was great . Clean and tidy. Would highly recommend.

Always a great place for a late night curry

I arrived very late after a very long working day . The restaurant is in the heart of St.Albans .

Always come here when we get chance. Food is lovely, staff are friendly. Great little Indian restaurant

Good food but really bad service on every level. Even when we paid we got no thanks. Had to express my feelings but the manager wasn't working so they got away with it. Don't eat here unless you don't mindnbad service

The food that we actually received was pretty tasty, however the service was truly atrocious.

Food was decent but staff was in very hurry to get the table vacant... Not a great experience!!

We ate here as part of a large group and had pre-booked our table. The service and food were good and there were various vegetarian options. It's a good option in the centre of the city close to the pubs, bus stops and to the Premier Inn.