Piya Bar & Kitchen — Restaurant in Epping Forest

June 2023 update Google suggested I update this again based on the number of times we have visited. Went for the lunch deal (£14 for a starter and main) and still included the puff bread with three dips.

Service as ever is excellent. Staff very friendly and efficient. It is fascinating to watch (and I did). They walk around in a circuit observing but unobtrusive. There are waiters and then other staff members who help with cleaning or service duties. Two managers are present and visible. Tables wiped after every course. Toilets were clean. Music not too loud and added great atmosphere.

On to the food, garlic and cheese mushrooms were fantastic, Spinach and ricotta pastries excellent, cujuk perhaps a little on the small side but tasty. Then two mixed shish and one chicken shish perfect as ever. With a glass of wine and tip £55 for three people. Excellent value.

An update (probably early 2022) Went back for a second meal. This time had the hummus starter and Spinach and ricotta Pastries.

Both were enjoyable but the Pastries really stood out. Excellent dish.

For main course, we ordered the lamb ribs and the mixed Shish. The ribs were cooked perfectly as I asked for and were very, very tasty. Give 5 stars there

However, the mixed Shish (lamb and chicken breast) was on another level. They were both exceptionally soft and taste was superb. Highly recommended.

Both came with a choice of rice or couscous and a salad both of which were very well executed.

The staff were fantastic. They were very friendly and responsive. Members were always walking around and present without hovering and looking out for tables even though perhaps not "theirs". The music was again great and background without being intrusive.

Overall, I can highly recommend this restaurant. Great food, great staff, great ambience.

Final note, I enquired about gluten free options. The manager returned to let us know that if they are informed, they can cook certain dishes by removing ingredients and taking Special care with the cooking process so kudos there.

Update (June 2022) Returned on another occasion for a family meal including a coeliac.

True to their word, they sorted everything out. The food was upto the usual exceptionally high standard. The service though had upped a level. The tables were very clean when we arrived. And now, they were wiped down between every course. The staff were very efficient and friendly.

This place just keeps on getting better.

Original. Had a lovely Sunday lunch here. We were seated quickly and service was efficient. Our waitress was friendly.

Atmosphere was lively with a birthday party going on and there was a good vibe with some softly playing Turkish music in the background. Toilets were clean and fresh.

After ordering our Lamb Kleftiko, a complementary beautifully baked very thin pita (called puff bread) was brought to the table along with three dips which were all amazing. We were really impressed with this dish.

My Kleftiko was good but not great. I found it overcooked (medium to well) for my taste (rare to medium rare) but was certainly well spiced and of a good size. The Esme salad was very good.

I am looking forward to returning and try other items on the menu too as it looked very appealing and I can expand my Turkish food knowledge.Will go again soon.

Well done...

I was absolutely shocked with an astonishment how two elderly people were treated with carelessness and disrespect in this place. I was there for a lunch and an elderly gentleman for a reason got stuck in the toilet longer than he would normally take, staff was ignoring the elderly person in the toilet; in fact the management closed the gents toilet completely and male customers were sent to the ladies restroom. The management and the staff approach to this matter was absolutely revolting at -all -time that l’ve seen. With their shocking carelessness and selfishness to this matter and trying to protect their reputation l was left gobsmacked! The customer of yours especially two elderly people coming to your place to eat and enjoy a meal which is all paid for, was ignored almost two hours, they refused to help nor they called the ambulance. In the end an elderly lady run out to get help from a neighbourhood shop! Eventually elderly gentleman was got out of the toilet and was assist out of the restaurant, management and the owners have been careless and selfish by ignoring the whole matter for their own reputation. Hence anything could be happening to any of us any time and l would not want to come across with an ignorance as such. I would not want to eat, dine, and leave my money in a place like this and most importantly with cruel people whom only thinking of their own benefit. This elderly man who lost some of his abilities while running daily routine and all happens under your roof. Anything could happen to anyone under this roof and the management would just get panicked for their reputation to be spoiled and keep quiet rather than providing with help or assistance.

I had to give 1 star l would give 0 if l could! Shame seeing this things happening and disrespect towards an elderly and vulnerable people under your roof only for a reputation of your restaurant.

This restaurant needs to be banned for welcoming and serving certain age group - this was an absolute discrimination nothing else and made me sick...

Honestly it was a pretty disappointing experience. The food was nice but when you pay £23 for a mixed shish, you expect more than three pieces of chicken and three of lamb. Compensating with a kilo of salad doesn’t really do it for me.

The same applied for everyone in our group - the food was acceptably nice, but you know when you order something that’s £26 (as I did) for a mixed grill thinking ‘oh, it’s quite expensive but I’m sure it’s because you get a decent amount of food/or it’ll be really nice’ that really wasn’t the case here.

Ultimately the service was fine and the place had a nice atmosphere but at this level, at these prices, you’ve got to do better.

I say with no animosity but I won’t be coming back, I hadn’t eaten all day except a small lunch knowing I was going out for dinner tonight. I’ve just come home from Epping and stopped at the M11 McDonald’s to get two double cheeseburgers because the portions at Piya were embarrassing small.

P.S I see that Piya have a fairly generic response to all the negative reviews which includes the standard lines about taking customer concerns seriously but none of it matter if you can’t satisfy your customers with your food.

For anyone reading this who lives in Harlow, the Garden Grill in Harlow do a mixed grill sharing platter for 2 for £29, it’s great quality and you get a really decent amount with Turkish breads/rice/side...