Urban Tandoor — Restaurant in Bristol

I’ve never been a big fan of cliché. But, as fate would have it, on a sodden Friday night in Bristol, I found myself stumbling around the city centre with three other men of a certain vintage doing exactly that. Four middle-aged blokes looking for a curry house after one too many pints. It was like a scene from a mid-90s ITV sitcom nobody asked for.

We’d actually booked another curry house—one of those joints with a name like “Royal Old India Garden of Saffron Fusion” or something equally ludicrous. But upon arrival, we found it shuttered. Permanently, as it turned out. Possibly dodging a bullet there, though the bullet had already been loaded by the third pint.

And so, disorientated and feeling more than a little Alan Partridge, we staggered around the corner and—there it was—the bright, gaudy, frankly irresistible neon of Urban Tandoor. The name rang a faint, social media-shaped bell in the booze-addled recesses of my brain, mostly thanks to those brilliantly silly viral videos they pump out online. Proof, if ever you needed it, that a TikTok video and a catchy song is all it takes to drag four grown men into your restaurant.

Inside, it was heaving. Utter carnage. But the staff, slick and smiling, found us a table with the efficiency of a NATO airlift. Four pints of lager appeared almost as quickly as we sat down—because of course. And when they asked us, a few gulps in, if we wouldn’t mind shifting to another table to make space for a larger group, well, I almost admired the chutzpah. We moved without protest. This is the modern world. Agile dining.

Now, I’ll admit the details start to blur after this point (there’s a reason food critics usually eat sober), but I do remember that the menu was refreshingly un-clapped-out. None of your chicken tikka masala and fluorescent korma clichés. Instead, I lazily asked our waiter—who had the reassuring air of a man who knows exactly what’s good and exactly what’s not—to decide for me. He brought me lamb. Something wonderfully spiced and gorgeously unctuous. It was superb. That much I remember. Probably the only thing I remember.

The night, inevitably, rolled on to yet another bar round the corner where, after another nightcap or three, I realised I’d left my sunglasses back at Urban Tandoor. I staggered back, full of curry and self-loathing, only to find the staff standing there, smiling, sunglasses in hand. Like they knew. Like they always know.

Urban Tandoor is not your dad’s curry house. It’s not your dad’s dad’s curry house. It’s a living, breathing example of how Indian food in Britain has thrown off its old-school curry house shackles and become something brighter, spicier, cleverer and—yes—better. Great food, impeccable service, and a sense of humour about it all.

And the next morning, even with the dull throb of lager, I knew: it wasn’t just the hype. It’s...

A Wonderful Dining Experience

Food: An exceptional culinary experience. Living in Paris, we rarely come across truly authentic Indian cuisine, so we were genuinely impressed by the rich, genuine flavours offered here. The dishes tasted wonderfully traditional, with a level of spice that was bold yet balanced – just enough to be flavourful without overwhelming the palate. As a Mexican, I particularly appreciated the warmth and depth of the spices – not overly fiery, but beautifully aromatic and satisfying.

We ordered the Safroni Nighari Ghost Lamb and the Chicken Tikka Masala – both were excellent. The lamb was tender and deeply infused with flavour, while the Tikka Masala was creamy, comforting, and perfectly seasoned. We also added two naans – one garlic and one cheese – both freshly baked, soft, and ideal for soaking up the rich sauces.

To accompany the meal, we tried the mango cocktail, which was absolutely delightful – refreshing, vibrant, and bursting with tropical flavour.

Service: The service was impeccable. The staff, particularly the waitresses, were exceptionally kind and welcoming. The overall atmosphere is elegant yet relaxed. Orders were taken promptly, drinks arrived within seconds, and our starters followed shortly after. The cleanliness of the dining area, including the tables and floors, was noteworthy and added to the overall positive impression.

Price: Surprisingly affordable. I genuinely wonder how they manage to offer such quality at these prices. For under £20, the lamb dish was outstanding – something that would cost well over €40 in France, if you could find it at all, and it would likely be marketed as a sharing dish for two.

Final Thoughts: A fantastic team offering genuine hospitality and wonderful food. We’ll certainly return the next time we’re in Bristol – hopefully tomorrow, before heading home, if...

Odd little place that seemed to have many different entrances that were blocked off...its like playing guess the door.

Anyways; when you walk in, you feel like you've grown a few feet due to how low the ceilings are. It does then open up, but into a really dark, dimly lit restaurant. It took my eyes a second...or 5...to adjust.

So we had poppadoms and their chutney trays to start. I've never seen poppadoms an oval shape before, but they tasted the same. Chutney tray selection was of four and consisted of; mango and beetroot chutney (this was really nice and the beetroot gave it an amazing colour), mint sauce (not as sweet as normal Indian mint sauce but edible), spicy pickle (ok) and some veg chutney (again, just ok).

I ordered a chicken dansak and a peshwari nan.

Let's start with the curry...definitely not what I ordered. The chicken was just boiled flavourless chicken that seemed to have been added as something extra to the sauce. The sauce was lacking flavour. Lentils had just been thrown in, really. This isn't what a dansak is and definitely not as described on their menu.

Peshwari nan was pleasant, but again, seemed to lack coconut flavour. The spread wasn't too bad inside.

Overall, the food was OK, but nothing to really rave about. What I ordered is quite a common dish in Indian restaurants so disappointed they couldn't get that right. My colleagues, however, they did enjoy their meals a little more.

Personally, I wouldn't go back. But, the service and atmosphere isn't bad, and for social events could be a nice place to catch up.

Halal: ✔️ Accept card payment:...