Ifraaz — Restaurant in Braintree

I have been dining at Ifraaz on and off for a couple of years now, so a review is so very long overdue.

Every single time I have been, quiet nights or busy ones, as a couple or as a group of friends, the food and service have been outstanding. I have asked compliments to be sent to the chef on a number of occasions, many more times wishing I had after leaving the restaurant after the others in my group have all been talking about how lovely their meal was. I don't remember me wanting to do that in other restaurants... which were probably good, but nothing more. When I am planning a group dinner with friends that live in places such as Colchester or Bradwell on Sea for example, they all ask if we can get a table at Ifraaz. I'm lucky as it's local to me but my friends are always prepared to drive 40+ minutes rather than pick somewhere more local to them. Doesn't that speak volumes?

It's lovely when you are recognised and treated like a VIP. I absolutely love this place and would dine here more often if the waistline was more forgiving! lol.

Max and his team clearly work very hard at making a visit to the restaurant a great experience, every time. They...

Food was nice, but some waiting staff seem a little inexperienced to be front of house for a restaurant that obviously prides itself on good Tripadvisor reviews. Buffet was quite expensive, and the restaurant honestly seem a bit nervous about losing money, hence the rules surrounding the buffet: Leftover food can't be taken home (fair enough) excess leftover food may be charged for, everyone on the table must east the buffet, (so one person can not eat from the normal menu if others in the party are eating from the buffet). Staff wanted to know how many pieces of each starter we wanted, e.g Lamb Tikki. How many pieces? Two? Three? What would you give to someone ordering a starter off the normal menu? I'll take that many please...

Staff did not know the difference between the beers, saying 'it's just a beer' when asked the difference between two of the drafts.

Small bottle of coke was £3.50.

However, food was very nice which is the name of the game. Atmosphere was OK. Bill was quite expensive... I'd go again...

This restaurant says it's high end... But it is certainly not! High end is not plug in IKEA lamps clipped onto pictures to illuminate murky corners. Not is is bright glaring lights that make stark spaces feel cold... especially when there is already a draft. It's not wobbly tables either or seeing piles of cleaning equipment stacked up as you go to the toilet or tired looking signs on doors that are stuck up with sellotape, torn and curling. This is just the restaurant. Now the food. We chose this place as in line the menu looked like it might offer something interesting. Sadly that wasn't the case. If the 7 meals I saw being served around me they were all the same colour. As a cook I know and understand the value of a base sauce ... But for 7 different dishes to all fine out the same colour and lack true distinctive flavour. On the plush side the staff were attentive and friendly. But I won't be going back again... Not even for an Elvis theme...