The Bengal, Indian Restaurant in Loughton. — Restaurant in Epping Forest

This was our 1st time ordering from cafe bengal and as we all know trying a new Indian is a risky business as if its not good its £40 down the drain and very disappointing. I already have 2 Indians that I order from that are decent which I found from trying Many in and around the area but thought cafe bengal looked nice outside and had plenty of good reviews so we gave it a try and I'm glad we did,

Well I can truly say our meal was top notch and knocked spots off our usual Indian restaurant,

We had chicken tikka starter which was Cooked to perfection,

Bombay aloo was just right with enough sauce and we'll cooked potatoes,

Chicken jalfrezi which I have to say was one of if not the best I've ever had (and I've had many😁) just spicy enough without being too hot to enjoy with lots of flavour,

Mushroom pilau was beautifully cooked, not too dry and not wet, just right.

The masala sauce was lovely, thick rich sauce without being overpoweringly strong,

The meal came with a complimentary salad which was nice and fresh,

The naan bread was delicious and cooked just right, not too crsipy and not soggy,

I cant comment on the poppadoms/mango chutney and mint dip yet as I'm about to tuck into them now so will wrap up this review by saying that cafe bengal will now be our new regular Indian and I can reccomend anyone looking for a local Indian to give it a try, you won't be dissapointed 5...

Avoid Thursdays… I was passing by on a Thursday evening (20:15) and spotted the 40% off sign. Looked clean and the decor was nice, so why not? A friendly chap sat us down and brought poppadoms swiftly. We then sat for almost half an hour with menus, trying to catch the waiters’ eyes to order. By chance, we overheard another table asking why their food hadn’t arrived after an hour and a half. As we hadn’t even had our drinks order taken after 30 minutes, we had no intention of committing to a nightmarish wait for food to arrive. We tried again to get the waiters’ attention to let them know we wanted to pay for the poppadoms and call it a night - when they dismissed our approach, we had no option to leave some cash on the table and walk.

Pros: poppadoms were genuinely excellent.

Cons: Don’t run a 40% off offer if you can’t handle the demand. Every negative review here is linked to Thursdays. If you are busy, it would help to let newcomers know what the likely waiting time is. Having read other reviews, there was no mention of a £60 minimum spend to qualify for the offer. I would have been less than happy to wait that long for food and then be stung at the last moment by some mystery criteria we had omitted to meet. Pull the deal. Just run...

Last time I came on a Thurs, it was 40% off. But the sign outside never said if you spend over £60! So can they not work out the equivalent for 1 person dining alone!?

I wasnt happy & the council nformed them, that they must put this clearly on the signage outside. And they didn't put the sign out. But it's back, exactly the same! They must think we have very short memories!!

I should've stuck to my guns & said I'd been misled! Alas its a Wednesday, but I may try a small meal. Watch this space!!

EDIT

So I see you haven't understood that you DO NOT state this in the outside board. IF YOU SPEND OVER £60! IS NOT ON YOUR SIGN or round the back, NO!

You stopped putting the sign out. Now the same misleading sign is out again... Do I ring Efdc again?? Do you think I would've had a meal if you had told me this, before I ordered!!!??? You get peple through the door & then let them know. Not in my case tho thanx I spent about £15 & wasnt told I wouldn't get 40% off, now was I? Be honest.

Iv run my own business & good treatment brings peple in. I went elsewhere with a party of 20. So easy to take 40% off my meal, don't you think? Especially as i WASNT informed. Rather unfriendly & uncaring. KARMA...