Bandook - Indian Restaurant, Bath — Restaurant in Bath

In summary Bandook Bath has a very rude and condescending manager. They enforce an unreasonable reservation deposit ‘policy’. Do not eat at this restaurant and certainly do not consider a large booking or paying any form of deposit, as they will rip you off.

We booked for 6 children & adults (3 in highchairs). My partner was 6 months pregnant and we have a 17 month old toddler. They took a £50 deposit and no one made us aware of the reservation deposit policy nor is there anything on Bandook’s website or booking procedure.

The two other couples (4 of the 6 adults) and their children (3 of the 4) had to pull out due to unforeseen and exceptional circumstances. This does happen with young children, and a reasonable business would recognise this.

We called the manager twice several hours before our booking to explain and we requested to cancel the booking. The manager was very rude and unsympathetic. She said that a refund was not possible and they have a 48 hour cancellation policy. This is the first time we were made aware of this and I have not been able to verify this policy anywhere. Due to a refund not being possible, we discussed the option to reduce the number of diners. At no point did the manager make it clear that we would not have the full £50 deposit refunded or taken off our bill. Our assumption was that the £50 deposit would be credited to our bill, and we would pay the difference. If we had been made aware of that the deposit is credited based on £5 per person that shows up, then we would have canceled the booking.

We were shocked to receive the bill and only £10 was deducted. The manager was abrupt, dismissive and patronising. It was explained that the deposit is based on £5 per person, equalling £50 as we had booked for 10 people, and due to only 2 people turning up (which was incorrect as our toddler came and ate) we would only have £10 reduced off the bill. As a customer I have a legitimate expectation that the deposit paid on the reservation would be deducted from the bill. It does not make any sense and I believe it is a breach of consumer rights to hold the deposit from a customer like this, especially as the onerous policy was not made explicit during the booking process and is not documented anywhere.

We explained that 4 of the booking were children, we gave more than 2 hours notice of the amendment to the reservation, and unforeseen circumstances led to the others not turning up. The manager showed no sympathy for this. I was refusing to pay for our meal unless the full £50 was taken off our bill, but we were forced to. I do question whether a £5 charge should be put against a child in any event, especially young children who are less likely to eat.

This reservation deposit policy is not only unclear and unreasonable, the manager is very aggressive and uncompromising. Do not eat...

A "Thumbs Up" from me.

Indian Sodas - Thumbs Up and Limca

Their is only a subtle difference between these drinks and their western counterparts (coke and lemonade).

Thumbs Up is flavoured with sugar instead of high fructose syrup, and consequently their is a caramel note.

Limca as both lemon and lime juice in it's recipe which adds a subtle tartness when compared to Lemon Fanta

I would recommend getting one for novelty - however they are by no means necessary for your experience here.

Squid Koliwada (Small Plate)

It is not everyday that you find fish on the menu at an Indian - much less squid. Intrigued and feeling adventurous I ordered it.

The squid itself was well cooked and crucially it was not too thick nor to thin. Too thick and it is too rubbery - too thin and it feels that you get all batter. The sticky spicy sauce was tasty and added a Thai note to the dish. Ample spring onion and chilli ensured texture and flavour changed throughout the experience.

Nannwich - Chicken Tikka (Large Plate)

I was not in the mood for a curry and decided to try this novel menu item, however this is where Bandook let itself down;

Firstly - the filling of the sandwich was lukewarm. I imagine this is on account of preparing the food of my other 4 colleagues, and neglecting to put the item under a heat lamp, or at least, forgetting to remove the top part of the naan, shielding the filling from the heat.

Secondly - the filling itself left something to be desired. It was incredibly dry. Vegetables and chicken tikka, but no sauce! I was provided a thimble of tomato ketchup, but it was not sufficient to lubericate the contents of the sandwich.

Thirdly - the ketchup itself was an odd paring with naan bread. Perhaps a korma/dopiaza style sauce would lend itself better.

Overall 4/5. Would recommend - but don't have...

I recently had the absolute pleasure of dining at Bandook Indian Kitchen on Milsom Street, Bath, and I can’t recommend it highly enough! My wife, my son, his partner, and I visited on a Sunday night to celebrate my birthday, and it turned out to be an unforgettable evening. From start to finish, everything was exceptional.

The food was nothing short of phenomenal—each dish was bursting with flavor, beautifully presented, and clearly made with the highest quality ingredients. It’s rare to find Indian cuisine that feels both authentic and elevated, but Bandook nails it perfectly. Every bite was a delight, and it’s safe to say we left with full stomachs and happy hearts.

The service was equally impressive. The staff were attentive without being overbearing, promptly taking our orders and delivering our food with flawless timing. They demonstrated an impressive knowledge of the menu, offering thoughtful recommendations that made our meal even better. Above all, they were polite, professional, and genuinely warm—qualities that made us feel so welcome.

What truly set the night apart, though, was the wonderful surprise at the end. The team went above and beyond by singing "Happy Birthday" to me, presenting a personalized birthday plate complete with a delicious slice of cheesecake and a candle. It was such a heartfelt touch that made the celebration extra special.

If you’re looking for an outstanding dining experience in Bath, Bandook Indian Kitchen is the place to go. We’ll definitely be back, and I’d recommend it to anyone in a heartbeat. Five stars...