Sunam Tandoori — Restaurant in England

Wow! I came here in c. 2015 and was not disappointed. I went again last night and was even more impressed!

Three friends and I were warmly recieved by the service staff. We booked in advance and for a Monday night there were a surprisingly large number of groups/families already dining.

We were seated in a good booth, and tables were available for larger groups too. Within a few moments of sitting, a friendly and polite waiter came over and took our drinks order. There was the staple Cobra & Kingfisher on draught, and also a selection of bottled beer and ciders. Shortly after receiving our drinks, our food order was taken. We chose the 4-person meal deal, which was actually cheaper than what we would have ordered from the menu and included poppadoms and a chutney tray, mixed starters all round, 4x main courses (curries) 2x vegetable sides, 2x large portions of rice and 2x naan breads (for sharing).

The poppadoms were freshly cooked, still hot, and the chutneys were delicately prepared. The chilli sauce in particular was medium-hot, sweet and had the perfect consistency. The raita was cool and refreshing. The chopped onions and mango were similarly delicious.

Soon after we finished the appetizers the table was cleared, and the waiter offered to replace the raita and chilli sauce for use with the mixed starters, which arrived shortly after. Generous portions of pakora (chicken and vegetable), onion bhaji, samosas and tandoori chicken were carefully presented on the plate with the shredded lettuce and lemon. The new chilli sauce and raita was definitely a welcome addition here and really opened up the flavour of the starters.

The waiters were attentive (without intruding) and no sooner had we finished the starters they cleared the table to prepare for the main course, which arrived after a few minutes. During this time we replaced our drinks.

The main course came and the table was filled with food. The garlic fried rice was especially aromatic, our already-satisfied mouths were watering once more. The waiter skillfully managed to put the entire main course out on the table and it was arranged in such a way that permitted easy access for sharing. We each had different curries, and the flavours were bold and distinctive in each. I decided on the Sri Lankan chicken which was fairly spicy but cooked with coconut, giving a delicately sweet and spicy flavour. Paired with the chilli fried rice and garlic fried rice gave different exciting flavours. The Bombay potatoes were enough to accompany all four main courses, as was the saag paneer. I tried the Lamb Handi Bhuna which, second only after my own, was my favourite curry and was a mouth watering and intense flavour. I also sampled the chicken Karhai which was simply delicious, with particular flavours of tomato and onion. The portion sizes were generous and (partly because we filled up on the mixed starter and poppadoms!) we struggled to finish them. The Peshwari and keema naans were perfect for dipping into the curry sauces which didn't fully make it to our plates.

Completely satisfied and full, the waiters cleared the table once more and brought hot towels to clean up with, and a chocolate to finish. We sat and relaxed for a further 10-15 whilst finishing our drinks and chatting. Finally, we asked for the bill and were given complimentary drinks (Bailey's) on ice. A very reasonable price for a delicious feast.

Once a month my friends and I go to a different Indian and Bangladeshi restaurant - I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Sunam, it was amazing from start to finish. I'm looking forward to...

Such a rubbish restaurant, and staff are very terrible. I went with my family members with kids, we don't drink alcohol, so decided to order soft drinks but not with start and will order soft drinks once we get food, as if kids start sinking they will not eat. Staff member came more then four times for drink order and we had explained the situation that we will order drink once we get food, otherwise kids will not eat anything. One of my kid started crying for glass of water which we requested member of staff because kids is crying for water. And they say you must order one drink per person otherwise we will not give you water.

So my wife went to counter to speak to manager, and two of staff member were extremely rude and told with my wife that she can't speak to manager and he won't give his name as we don't need to know and refused to give water as said we not ordering drink. Therefore I went to counter and said what this rubbish service is, I told you we will order soft drink once we get food, as if kids get drink they will not eat food. And both staff members stared arguing with me one of them came to hit me, as I wasn't ordering drink.

Then we had argument over just a glass of water and they punch me on my face and pushed me towards door. Meanwhile my family member came to me to protect me and their other staff members came over to me to hit all of us. From there all staff members started punching me, my wife, my mum and even kids. My wife felt on the floor and they started kicking her on her face, head, hands and all over her body. Meanwhile I managed to get out of the restaurant and had to call police. And they locked my all family members inside the restaurant and were asking to pay bill, and saying if you don't pay bill, we will not let you out.

Police arrived and arrested two members of staff with other customers witness statement.

Such a terrible experience with restaurant, and staffs are extrely unprofessional. I am really socked in hospitality industry I never saw such a experience.

Also by law if you need a tap water or want to use toilet and if you are not customer they any deny, they can charge for it, but can not say no. Here were customer and ordered food too still they deny to serve us water, and ended up with fighting.

Oh sorry I forgot to mention when police arrived they were telling we didn't pay bill that's why it ended up fighting and were not letting us leave restaurant, but in fact we had food served on table which we didn't even touch, as, soon as food served on out table they started hitting me. But thank god there were other clients who had gave statements to police that that are wrong and we were asking glass of water for kid and they were denying and started hitting this guy (My Self).

I suggest you keep away from this restaurant. I wish I could bit then too, but it's not my nature, and karma always work, they hit me and my family on top not have given glass of water to my kids, they got arrested. Google doesn't allow me to give less than 1 star otherwise I wouldn't give single star to this...

Food rating at the bottom. What bothered me most was that while we were alone in the restaurant three guys came in and asked if they can get a discount by giving a 5 star rating on trip advisor. It didn’t seem a weird or new request as The waiter didn’t hesitate showed them to a table and a few minutes later appeared with a guy which I can only assume to be the owner or manager as he had not been out while we were there and was the only one not dressed in a “waiter” suit but jeans and jumper and even asked another waiter who set a table and had them re-set it to a better standard. which is why I think he was the owner. During the rest of our stay he continued to stay beside those three guys and explained to them how to logon to trip adviser even took on of their phones to show. I am aware that people do anything for good reviews these days and local businesses are trying to survive but what bothered me is while we were sitting there right next to them (literally the next table) as fully paying customers the owner made it so obvious what was going on, walking up and down (due to the close proximity even in front of our table). I mean if you do something like that at least be discrete. It spoilt my evening as the food was really not to a good standard and then seeing the owner investing time in corruption instead of approving the food... not to mention how annoying it was to not being able to eat our food in peace and quiet.

The food was not good at all, lamb was cheap and chewy chicken in the curry was the same as the starter and so over cooked that it almost couldn’t chew it. 2 out of 3 chutneys were nice, mango chutney tasted too sweet and store bought. Keema naan had 2 strips of chicken Donner instead of mince. 2 different starters for two people was served...