The Imperials Kitchen in Maldon

Highly recommended! This is one of the most authentic Indian restaurants I’ve come across. Amazing food and service. A nice arrangement with the pub next door for drinks and a lovely setting next to the river Blackwater also. Difficult to ask for more.

Great meal and friendly staff. Atmosphere only 4 as 1 other diner in the restrictions decided she wanted everyone to hear her conversation.

Booked to go Saturday night with friends, wasn’t overly busy when we arrived but soon filled up. Venue is lovely and is very clean, staff friendly enough, bathrooms in very good order. So started off not great, chap taking the drink order was having trouble understanding what we wanted (2 pints of larger, coke and Diet Coke) to drink. At least the drinks did arrive correct. Then came the food order and again the chap was having trouble, so much so a younger waiter took over. Food arrived with no mistakes but did have to wait for a couple of dishes as it didn’t all come out together which is not good, especially as one of the dishes was rice so couldn’t really start without it, or should I say we didn’t want to. If Im honest my chicken madras was very bland which is very unusual for here normally it’s full of flavour, maybe it was because the owner wasn’t working there this night or they were just having an off night. Will we go again, yes as I’m hoping this was just a bad night for them.

Chicken Tikka Dansak was too tomatoey and watery with very little flavour. Pashwani Naan was burnt. Onion Bhaji was cold. Chicken Tikka Jalfrezi was dry with no flavour and the sauce was thin as if watered down. Pileau rice was cold. Paneer Shaslick was bland and had absolutely no flavour at all. Bombay Potato was as bland as boiled potatoes in Pasata. The Lime Pickle was just a raw onion salad. The Mango Chutney was goopy jam. To add insult to injury the price was about £8 a head more expensive than other takeaways. When I queried this the man taking our order said it was because they were the best Indian in the Maldon District!!! The irony has not been lost on us. Afterwards, none of us felt like we'd even had an Indian but a bland, lukewarm English dinner. On the plus side, the delivery man was on time and very polite.

I don't normally write reviews but I’ve got to say this, the whole concept work on so many levels. , very authentic and tastes delicious Amazing food, the flavours were the best fresh ingredients are used and you can tell a lot of pride and passion has gone into each dish Pretty impressed I'd recommend THE RAJ at Maldon to anyone to try, you will not be disappointed or hungry!!! One of the curry and all sort of Indian food I’ve ever tasted . My whole family and I love their food and we’ve been a customers for many years as well as most of my mate . Just to mention that all food are cooked freshly by a decent respectful family as they do cook from heart. You feel like you eat at home and what a great amazing customer service if I could give more that five stars trust me I would . Thank you to THE RAJ AT MALDON & everyone at this lovely restaurant specially to the MUM AND DAD for the best food I've had in a long, long time! WE ARE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE AMAZING AND DECENT GENUINE FAMILY WHI COOK CROM THEIR HEART.🙏🙏❤️❤️