Ambassadors Clubhouse — Restaurant in London

The food is underwhelming in terms of taste and portion size. Probably the second worst Indian food I’ve had in my life and I’ve been to ALOT of Indian restaurants, from average to high end.

I firstly didn’t like that the server pressured us to order more food stating the portions are small. To my utter shock the main portions sizes were starter size. I worry what the starter sizes are! The paneer tikka portion was the worst with 2 small squares for £18!

Before I finalised the order I asked the server whether any of the food I’d ordered was spicy (I cannot tolerate spicy food) to which he said they’re not but the lamb Biriyani will be slightly. In most Indian restaurants they offer to make it mild but this server did not so I asked for it be made mild (in my opinion this should be offered, I shouldn’t have to ask especially in a supposed high end establishment). Not that it mattered anyway as every dish was so spicy that I couldn’t eat it, including the biryani! I don’t think it had been made mild at all! I informed the server who didn’t do anything about it and told me to just eat the top level of the biryani which was essentially just plain rice with nuts. Why would I spend £33 on a lamb Biriyani just to eat plain rice with nuts?? Most places offer to redo the food but not here so I spent £70+ on food that I couldn’t eat. At one point I had given up trying to eat and the floor manager kindly gave me a tiny but complimentary yoghurt bowl. A shame as if it had been made mildly to begin with I wouldn’t have had this issue!

Every dish was unpleasant to eat and not just because of the spice but the flavour in general. The mango lassi and ice cream both had an unpleasant taste so I couldn’t even enjoy that.

Another server slyly took our half filled water bottle and gave us another which we hardly touched so I got charged for a second bottle that I didn’t want/need! Also these bottles are reusable types (with the push lid) so how do I know I’m being given fresh still water and not tap water? It definitely tasted like tap water to us! If you’re going to charge for still water I expect it to be in a proper sealed bottle.

By the end of the night I was utterly dissatisfied so I removed the service charge (I get better service in standard Indian restaurants) and the demeanour of the server switched to anger up until I left the restaurant. At one point I even saw him angrily speaking to the floor manager about me which made it very uncomfortable and embarrassing. I won’t be returning.

This might look like a punjabi restaurant from the decor (which is beautiful) but if you’re looking for authentic punjabi food or flavours this isn’t it. You’re better off going to Southall where you won’t get ripped off & will have better food and more accommodating servers for sure!

Also read another persons review about a Khanda (a highly respected Sikh religious symbol) picture being present above the men’s urinals! As a woman I could not confirm this for myself but if this is true that’s disgraceful and beyond disrespectful! The women’s toilets had topless European women - not sure how this ties in with the punjabi deco of the rest of the restaurant but I’m...

The Ambassador Clubhouse was a pleasant experience. We booked an 8pm reservation, on a Friday evening, since the downstairs becomes a “lounge” with live DJ. We later learned that the booking process is different for that experience, which wasn’t well described in their site. So although we didn’t stay for the live DJ, we still enjoyed the food and ambiance. The restaurant is a lot larger than one would think. The decore definitely gives off a gentleman’s club sort of vibe (almost like a cigar lounge with low ceilngs). They offer complementary coat check, on each floor, which is nice since it keeps “coat clutter” at the tables to a minimum, and gives the restaurant a clean look. We debated between ordering their tasting menu or a la carte. They offer a tasting for vegetarian and non vegetarian. We opted to do a la carte since we wanted to try different things on the menu than what was offered on the tasting menu. We ate vegetarian and ordered:

Sandalwood Old fashioned: was good, not strong and a bit on the sweeter side. Bandar Bansi: was a light drink. The masala garnish definitely enhanced the flavors of the drink. This was not a sweet cocktail, which my wife enjoyed. Chilli cheese pakode: when served they look like small Aranchinis. There were a pop of flavor. The tomato sauce/chutney offered a little bit of sweetness and tang to balance the kick from the chillis and spices on the pakode. Mooli Dhai Bun Kebab: very flavorful dish. This is presented as a small slider, garnished with a fresh fries green chilli on top. We didn’t know what to expect, but we enjoyed the dish. Dunghar Paneer Tikka: this is served as 2 square cubes of paneer in a makhani gravy/sauce, although it’s listed as a tandoor dish. The flavors come through very nicely. We ordered as one of our entrees. Amritsari Chole: the chana was cooked well. The dish was a little spicy, but paired well with naan. Note, there's no ability go request the chole to be milder as the gravy is pre-made. Bhindi Dahi Kadi, Makai Pakore: lots going on in this dish. They may remind some Gujarati people of a dish called “bhinda kadi.” This was a hearty dish and a decent portion. The pakode melted in ir mouth and the crispy bhindi on top added a nice texture change. The dahi was thick and tempered. Butter Naan: typical naan Gulaab Jamun: one massive jamun served on a nutty milk (vs your typical simple syrup)…absolutely delicious! Jalebi: one large jalebi topped with a whipped pistachio rabri. Basically a rabri flavored cool whip. The jalebi was nice and crispy, we didnt think it needed the whipped topping.

Staff was very nice and helpful.

We did notice that majority of the tables (at least downstairs) were table of men. If we saw women, it was a couple. As we walked out, the upstairs definitely had a more fun/happening vibe…interesting to be both in the same place.

After 1030, there is a live DJ, but you have to purchase tickets for this. There seemed to be a dining experience available also, but with a different menu.

Restaurant charges a 'water fee' on top of service charge which was...

We recently visited Ambassador’s Club, a Michelin-guided restaurant, to celebrate our anniversary. We made a reservation nearly two weeks in advance and even received a call a week prior to confirm special requests and dietary preferences. We informed them about our egg allergy, and they assured us of a special table and a complimentary dessert for the occasion.

Upon arrival on January 30th, we were given limited table options — a corner table upstairs with no view or a downstairs option in an empty space. We reluctantly chose the corner table upstairs. The experience went downhill from there.

The waitress offered to explain the menu but ended up steering us toward ordering the Palak Patta Chaat, which was essentially overpriced, dry Bhel Puri for £16. It was disappointing and lacked flavor. While taking photos to capture our special day, we politely asked her to take a few pictures. We overheard her manager rudely asking why she was “wasting time” taking photos for us — a comment that was unprofessional and disheartening.

Our reservation was from 5:45 PM to 7:45 PM, and we requested that the main course be served at 7 PM. Surprisingly, this simple request seemed to cause confusion. The waitress kept saying she had to check with the manager, which made no sense given we had sufficient time for our meal.

The service continued to disappoint. Despite the previous assurance of a complimentary anniversary dessert, there was no mention of it until we reminded the waitress. Even then, she seemed unaware of our prior communication. She finally brought a dessert to the table but did not confirm whether it contained egg. When I asked, she admitted she was unsure and thought it might have egg, despite being aware of our allergy. This lack of basic attention to dietary requirements is unacceptable, especially at a Michelin-guided restaurant.

She took the dessert back to check, and the manager returned, assuring us it was egg-free. However, the entire experience left us feeling uneasy and disappointed. The lack of professionalism, poor service, and disregard for dietary needs are unacceptable for a restaurant claiming to have high standards.

Ambassador’s Club completely ruined what should have been a special and memorable evening. Given the high prices and Michelin association, we expected exceptional service and thoughtful care, but it fell far short. I would not recommend this place and genuinely question its...