Sam’s Master Grill — Restaurant in Bristol

I ordered with my partner tzatziki, a side naan, medium kofta kebab, chop lambs and drinks. I asked if we could have tzatziki and naan at the same time because we have been pretty hungry.

Tzatziki with drinks came in 2 minutes which was a good sight but then the naan didn't arrive. We didn't receive any additional dish (or naan as we asked) for the next 20 minutes. When our main dishes arrived, I heard from the waitress we would receive our naan in one minute. We received it after an additional 10 minutes when we were finishing our dishes.

My main dish (kofta kebab) was disappointing. 2 long kofta kebabs looked nice but when I cut a bit, I saw a lot of flowing out water. The taste of kebab was also bad: very mild, not much of preparation/additional flavour, probably not the best quality of meat as well and pretty fat. The "salad" was just a small bunch of cut vegetables without mixing or sauce. Most kebab shops can prepare better salads than that. My partner's dish was 75% rice, a bit of "salad" (same as in my dish) and 5 small lamb chops full of fat. She tried her best but she couldn't eat a lot of meat from them because there was absolutely nothing. Less than half of the lamb chop was meat - the rest was bone and fat. The lamb chop also had no additional flavour. Both our dishes felt super bland, without any additional preparation, cheap Persian dishes.

In the end, I tried my favourite dip with naan: tzatziki. After the first bite, I realised it wasn't tzatziki but it was more mast-o-khiar. Our "tzatziki" had just yoghurt, dill and cucumber. It was extremely bland, so we needed to "fix" it by adding some salt and pepper. I can't believe that cost us £4.5 because it was something which I could make at home without problems in less than 5 minutes and it could taste better. In Tesco, you can get better tzatziki.

The staff wasn't friendly at all. A person who picked up the phone and took the booking was cold. The manager (tall male) welcomed us very cold and pushed us to come further inside part of the restaurant (it was the first time I looked at my partner and we both agreed we could feel unfriendly atmosphere). 3 waitresses were also cold. They didn't check if our food was alright or didn't even say "goodnight" or "thank you" when we were leaving. The vibe which we felt was they were forced to work in that restaurant. There wasn't service charge and not a single point when we could leave a tip, so that could demotivate staff.

Don't know where this restaurant is getting such good reviews on Google Maps. I visited many other Persian restaurants in the UK and generally in Europe but I never had a situation when I had a problem with every single dish which I ordered. The price is high for the portions, service and quality of the meat. I felt like it was a bit more extended local fish & chips/kebab shop than a proper Persian restaurant. Don't waste your time and money in this restaurant. Please support other local Persian restaurants which can deliver better service with better quality.

EDIT: I''ve done a typo in original review - there was NO service charge....

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Sam’s Master Grill, and I am delighted to leave a five-star review. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted by incredibly friendly and attentive waiters and waitresses. The customer service here is top-notch, making us feel welcomed and valued throughout our visit.

The decor of Sam’s Master Grill is pristine and elegant. The restaurant is impeccably clean, and the atmosphere is enhanced by a beautiful water fountain that adds a peaceful and serene touch to the environment.

Our meal began with a selection of appetizers that set the bar high for the rest of our dining experience. We started with the Kashk o Bademjan, a delightful dish featuring aubergine, caramelized onions, mint, walnuts, garlic, and dried yogurt, served with fresh naan. The combination of flavors was both creamy and savory, and the naan bread was exceptional—thin, soft, and perfect for dipping. We also tried the chicken wings and the Grilled Halloumi Cheese. The chicken wings were cooked to perfection, with a subtle hint of lime that elevated their flavor. The Grilled Halloumi Cheese was equally impressive, bursting with rich, smoky flavors.

For the main course, I opted for the Lamb Kofteh Kebab accompanied by rice. This was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the meal. The rice, mixed with butter, was the best I’ve ever tasted—fragrant, fluffy, and incredibly flavorful. The Lamb Kofteh Kebab was tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned. To complement my meal, I enjoyed a Homemade Ayran, which was freshly made and wonderfully tangy. The drink added a refreshing balance to the rich flavors of the kebab and rice.

To conclude our meal, I indulged in the Persian Tea with saffron crystals and Persian Dates. The tea was beautifully presented, infused with delicate flowers that added a unique and delightful twist. The saffron crystals sweetened the tea just right, and the Persian Dates provided a lovely, sweet finish.

Overall, I highly recommend Sam’s Master Grill. It is an excellent choice, especially for Muslim diners, as the establishment is halal. The staff is friendly and attentive, the ambiance is peaceful and inviting, and the food is simply outstanding. Sam’s Master Grill is a true gem, and I look forward to my...

We came here on a Saturday night just to get some dinner. The waitress had to check if there are tables as they were quite busy and she said she had one available for us but asked kindly if we can book next time which is perfectly understandable. She took us to our table and while we were walking, there was a very disturbing smell which smelt like feces but we gave them the benefit of the doubt which could have been the baby nearby.

We sat down and before the owner/manager [Tall Male] asked us what drinks we would like, he told us to book next time. We get it, the waitress told us when we came in, being told once was enough. Then he came back and took our food order and told us to book next time AGAIN because he rearranged the tables and gave us the table his friend was supposed to be seated at. At this point we were thinking "Does he think we're stupid?" because why does he have to tell us 3 times? And he said it like hes doing us a favour, if we knew we were going to get hounded like this, we wouldve chose another restaurant. They were the first restaurant we went to for the night, we wouldve been fine if they turned us away because they are busy - we really arent fussed! And to tell us he gave us the table that was supposed to go for his friend, just made us uncomfortable like we arent wanted.

Our food came, starters were lovely but the chicken was so wet, didnt have enough charring to it and just felt like it was undercooked and not seasoned enough. When we went to go pay, the owner comes up to us and guess what?!?! He told us to make sure we book the next time we come back. There is not going to be a...