New Punjab Restaurant Hamdan — Restaurant in Abu Dhabi

I visited New Punjab Restaurant for lunch with my son. Upon entering, we noticed a fish tank embedded in the floor near the entrance which appears to be non-functional and quite uninviting, suggesting a need for maintenance or perhaps covering it temporarily with a carpet. That said, the restaurant was clean, and the staff were notably attentive and pleasant, providing good service throughout our meal .

We ordered a variety of dishes: sweet and mango Lassi, butter chicken, mutton biryani, sheikh kebabs, tandoori roti, pistachio kulfi, and Thumbs Up soft drinks. While the overall value for money was reasonable, the food quality was a mixed bag. The sheikh kebabs were exceptional, easily the best I've ever had, soft, creamy, and full of flavor, which my son also enjoyed. The tandoori roti met expectations and paired well with the other dishes, and the accompanying hummus and garlic sauce was a nice addition.

However, several items were disappointing. Both Lassi drinks were below standard, with an unpalatable taste and a powdery texture rather than smooth. The butter chicken was decent, but it contained a large, unappetizing chunk of butter that seemed excessive rather than decorative. The mutton biryani lacked flavor overall, failing to meet expectations. The pistachio kulfi suffered from an overpowering rose flavor and, like the Lassi, had a powdery instead of creamy consistency.

On a positive note, the beverage Thumbs Up was enjoyed, and the cleanliness of the toilets and sink areas was good and up...

I'm currently writing this review while seated in the restaurant, and I feel compelled to share my experience.

Unfortunately, the service here has been one of the worst I've encountered. It seems the staff is more focused on processing payments than on caring for the guests who come to enjoy their meals.

When we arrived at 10:00 PM, the air conditioning was off. Despite the chilly weather outside, the restaurant felt uncomfortably warm.

Mohsin was at the billing counter, and I’d prefer not to mention the name of the waiter to protect his job. This isn’t about calling out individuals; it’s about highlighting the overall service quality.

After deciding to cancel our dessert, we were shocked by how long it took for the bill to arrive. This unnecessary delay left me feeling frustrated.

I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone who values good service alongside their meal. If you're looking for affordable food, you might consider coming here, but don’t expect to find a peaceful dining experience.

Having to get up from the table to summon the waiter felt demeaning, like waiting for handouts on the street instead of...

I was craving something tasty and came across New Punjab. I didn’t feel like going too desi so I decided to try the Chicken Chilli Dry with rice. The waiter told me it doesn’t come with rice so I asked for egg fried rice on the side. He looked at me and said give me a moment. He came back and said it’s been done. I was expecting they would charge me extra for the rice but they didn’t.

The food was amazing. The portion was so big I had to ask them to pack the rest. The hospitality felt just like back home in Pakistan. The price is very reasonable for the size of the portions and the quality. Honestly this is the best Pakistani food in town. Not just Pakistani either, every single dish has flavor and taste MaShaAllah. There is real barakah in their food.

I end up ordering from them at least twice every week. As a Muslim I feel it is my duty to thank the people and the management for bringing this culture and flavor to us expats who miss our country and its food.

I recommend this place fully. Whatever you order InShaAllah you will love it....