Prana Indian Restaurant Cambridge — Restaurant in Cambridge

We went with a group of 9 for dinner on a Saturday evening. We had booked well in advance however we were made to wait 15 minutes beyond our original booking time in order for them to make up a table. The table that was also eventually made up was a bit of a hodge podge of tables with differing heights which caused a couple of drinks spills. The chairs also we of different sorts making it hard to sit down and get up for some people owing to the bulky arm rests. The placement of our table was also a bit too close to the stressed drinks serving area where the manager and a couple of waiters were clearly a bit under pressure. Service was a bit slow but not unreasonably so (I would not say abnormal for a busy weekend). The waiter we got, an older gentleman, gave us a very poor service and was borderline rude at times. This is a real shame because I had a brief interaction with a couple of the other waiters who seemed much much more accommodating and friendlier.

As for the food... I was very excited to go to an award winning restaurant; I love good curry and I have been to India on a couple of occasions for work where I have taken great pleasure in eating local food. The food was distinctly 6/10 above average but not overly so. The portion sizes were also small. The vegetable sides were the worst aspect of the meal earning a below average score on taste. The sag ponir was a huge let down (I adore a good sag/palak ponir.

Over all the culinary experience was a let down, perhaps more so than it might have been were we all not excited by the" award winning" aclaim advertised by the restaurant. The menu comprised the usual curry suspects (jalfrazi, korma etc) with a couple of more unique additions which is what i expect from a 'standard curry house' and not a top quality authentic Indian restaurant awarded as best in the region no less!

The there are a couple Indian takeaways in Cambridge which provide nearly double the portion size and some of the dishes are also double the quality (especially the vegetable sides). I would rate the Maharani as better in every way of you want the traditional English curry house' food experience although it is a takeaway only I am afraid.

As for higher end culinary experiences with authentic regional cooking, the Rice Boat in the Newnham area of the city is a gem, worlds apart from Prana.

In conclusion I regretfully cannot recommend Prana because for the quality and portion sizes there are better takeaways. For better quality food, there are better indian restaurants...

"Awards" advertised in this manner should be treated...

I had such a wonderful experience at this restaurant that I honestly feel like words won’t do it justice, but I’ll try! From the moment we walked in, Kabir, the owner, made us feel right at home. He was so patient and attentive, really taking the time to listen to what we wanted. What stood out to me most was that he didn’t just treat us like customers, but like valued guests. I asked if I could switch the plain naan for a paratha, and instead of hesitating, he was more than happy to accommodate my request. That little gesture of allowing me to personalise my order made the experience feel extra special and personal.

The food itself was absolutely delicious. Every dish was carefully prepared and full of authentic flavour. I ordered the lamb rogan josh 🍛, and honestly, I was blown away. It was mild, creamy, and perfectly spiced without being overpowering. The lamb was cooked so beautifully—soft, tender, and practically melting in my mouth with every bite. It genuinely reminded me of the comforting curries my auntie makes at home, which made the whole meal feel very nostalgic and heartwarming. Without a doubt, it’s the best rogan josh I have ever tried, and I will be dreaming about it until I come back!

On top of that, the hospitality was just incredible. Kabir and his team went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and happy. Jisan, our server, was also incredibly kind, attentive, and friendly. Little details matter a lot when you’re dining out, and I noticed them here. For example, the restaurant temperature was just perfect—around 23 degrees—which made the inside feel cozy and refreshing compared to the insane downpour of rain happening outside. It honestly felt like we’d stepped into a warm, welcoming haven.

Another thoughtful touch was when they surprised us with complimentary popadoms! It may sound small, but it really showed their generosity and how much they value their customers. All these details combined made the experience feel far more than just a regular meal—it was like a full, heartfelt experience of food, comfort, and hospitality.

I can confidently say the service here is a 10/10, the food is a 10/10, and the atmosphere is a 10/10. I wholeheartedly recommend everyone in Cambridge to come and try it out. Whether you’re local or just visiting, this restaurant deserves to be on your must-visit list. You’ll leave not just full but also genuinely happy. Thank you so much to Kabir, Jisan, and the whole team—you made our evening one to remember. I can’t wait to come back again...

Misrepresentation of pricing,the only Indian restaurant I’ve ever been to that charged separately for the chutney when you ordered popodoms , the karai lamb was marinated for 1minute and padded out with vegetables had the cheek to ask for £10 pounds service charge the exterior paint was shabby ,tried justifying £2:95 charge for chutney by telling me how expensive it is to run a restaurant , thinks his silly reviews in vogue are justification for misleading customers,NEVER AGAIN£:3:50 for a lime and soda per glass they tried charging £90 for average , fare.very ordinary very up themselves not worth a second visit,MAKE SURE YOU SEE THE FULL PRICE LIST BEFORE YOU ORDER ANYTHING ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;in response to your reply: you asked us when we first came in if we wanted popodoms we replied yes , then you brought the menu where on your menu does state clearly that popodoms and chutney are two separate dishes? You’re trying to be clever when really you’re acting like Leonard rossiter in an episode of rising damp from the raffles hotel to the shangrila, Delhi to chutney Mary’s in Mayfair you the only person pulling that STUNT. You mis sold mid represented and then mid managed the whole situation, ask yourself when you buy a Sunday roast do you pay extra for the gravy? Popodoms alone are not the dish.at £1:10 per popodom which for what it is is quite heady ,no one just wants just a popodom and the the amount of chutney wasn’t enough for four popodoms another cunning plan on your part I’ve no doubt , you need get out more,rather then trying to tell me about other Indian restaurants ,, well I’m from Hounslow I worked in southall market and you can’t tell me zilch about Indian restaurants and cuisine and what you are trying to do is despicable and the act of a desperate business,YOU SHOULD HAVE STATED THAT POPODOMS AND CHUTNEY ARE TWO SEPARATE DISHES,you’re a complete hoax , definitely going to speak to Cambridge councils trading standards team, you don’t listen to your customers and try to defend their poor experience with self righteous drivel the manager is...