Chennai Spice Restaurant & Party Hall — Restaurant in London

MUST READ! I am a regular at Chennai restaurant and I often attend their party hall. It is a nice place for the family to meet as it is Elderly friendly and the food is standard And the price is decent. My family and I had nothing to do for New Year’s Eve so we decided to book for Chennai this cost £50 per person and there was seven of us so it was £350. On the 25th of December we had a death in the family so I called up and made them aware on the 26th. They told me to call back on the 27th as the manager was not here. I called back on the 27th and I mentioned there was a death in the family as well as two people with Covid who are Supposed to attend. I spoke to one of the front of House staff. It was a lady who was extremely rude and limited in English and an Indian gentleman who was also limited in English. They were extremely rude. Spoke on top of you and did not listen. I had previously met this lady when attending the Chennai and her attitude is the same towards everyone. After speaking to her on the 27th That two people also had Covid and that they were not able to attend she said it’s okay there is still 10 days until New Year’s. I am not sure what kind of people they hire that they do not know that there is less than 10 days before New Year’s. Spoke to Indian gentleman who was also very limited in English and was very hard to understand. He mentioned he spoke to the manager and told him about the Covid and the manager said we are lying as we said a death Before and now we are saying Covid. It is not my fault that That his staff cannot understand English and it is wrong to accuse a loyal customer to lying. I am not sure why they would assume I am lying as I am a regular That and I have booked this much in advance. I spoke to the lady and said it is wrong for me to attend and affected the other guest and she said it is fine fine for me to Attend. So I am now forced to attend To attend so I do not lose £350 and after the Christmas period it is hard to be able to get the money back. I also asked them can I have the 350 To order food in their restaurant. Which they also refused. I do not understand how money hungry a restaurant can be that they are happy for other guests to catch Covid and asked...

I attended a wake at the Chennai Spice after the funeral of a good friend Vinod Katyar. Vinod was a regular visitor to the Chennai Spice and always praised the food he enjoyed there. Being a proficient cook of Indian food, he taught myself and others how to cook using Indian cooking techniques and spices. It was very fitting that his wake should be held there. We filled the entire restaurant and enjoyed a wonderful buffet banquet of various Indian dishes. After a starter of onion bhajia, spiced kebab, tandoori chicken, samosa and salad, I chose the mutton curry, chicken tikka masala, pilau rice, Bombay potatoes and nann bread, a delicious lime pickle and raita as accompaniments. I couldn't find fault with any of the dishes and now know why Vinod was such a regular customer. The mutton curry was the star dish for me. The meat was tender and the curry gravy was flavoursome, spicy and unctuous. Perfect. To finish the meal we had Gulab Jamons with ice cream. We found the staff to be friendly and efficient. The restaurant was not cramped and there was plenty of space between the tables. I take my hat off to the Chennai Spice Restaurant for making what would normally be a sombre occasion, one which everyone enjoyed and will talk about for ages. I'm certain that Vinod would have been delighted to know that you made his wake so memorable. Thank you....

Wasn't wowed by the food. We got chicken biryani, chicken tikka biryani, mushroom biryani, chicken korma, butterfly chicken curry, poppadoms and peshwari naan. The coriander was chopped too coarsely in the biryani dishes and it was like biting into bones. They were oddly hard. The portions are generous with meat but the biryani didn't taste like the usual biryani you buy in Indian restaurants. There definitely was a twist, which personally I didn't really like. We ordered a jug of pineapple juice which cost £6 and saw the guy pour juice from a KA bottle into the jug. I was expecting a more fresh tasting pineapple juice to cut through the richness of the food, was disappointed they served KA, very unoriginal of the restaurant and just so artificial tasting... The ambiance needs work here. I went for my anniversary and it wasn't the right choice of place. This restaurant is more like your local Indian that you buy when you can't be bothered to cook. Not somewhere you fine dine at. There was no music, the phone at reception was nonstop, the lighting was too bright; usually in Indian restaurants the lighting is more dim and intimate. Overall, very basic, very average place. Wouldn't go here again, though it wasn't the worst place to go to if you'd like to...