Masala Lounge — Restaurant in London

Masala Lounge, Enfield: A Disappointing Disaster

My initial foray into Masala Lounge was a delightful one. The food was flavorful, the atmosphere was vibrant, and the service was prompt and friendly. So, it was with high hopes that I returned, eager to relive that first delicious experience. Unfortunately, what followed was a culinary and customer service catastrophe that has permanently extinguished my flame of enthusiasm for this establishment.

The first red flag was the agonisingly slow and argumentative exchange over a technical glitch rendering them unable to process my card payment. Apparently, wrestling with basic refund procedures took a staggering 72 hours, leaving me feeling like a hostage in a financial standoff. To top it all off, they had overcharged me on the initial order, adding insult to injury to the technological snafu.

The second red flag, was the time it had taken for the food to be delivered. This being over 1.5 hours. The naan, wasn’t hit and fresh, as the original time. Some of the mains were luke-warm too.

But the true nadir of the evening was the tandoori chicken, a dish I specifically ordered based on its stellar performance during my first visit. Imagine my dismay when what arrived was a pale, anaemic imposter bearing no resemblance to its predecessor. The vibrant tandoori red had morphed into a sickly orange, the succulent texture replaced by a dry, rubbery disappointment. It was as if someone had presented me with a poorly disguised chicken nugget and dared to call it tandoori.

To claim this was false advertising would be an understatement. It was a culinary bait-and-switch, leaving me heartbroken and questioning the very essence of tandoori chicken as I knew it. My pleas for rectification were met with dismissive shrugs and a complete lack of empathy. The staff, who were once so charming, now resembled automatons programmed for robotic indifference.

Regrettably, Masala Lounge has squandered its initial promise with its unprofessional, discourteous, and non-existent customer service. The technical incompetence, the overcharging, and the culinary travesty that they’d insistently claiming that was the tandoori chicken used in the Chicken Muli dishes have all conspired to ensure that I will never darken their doorstep again. I urge anyone seeking a pleasant dining experience with even a modicum of customer care to steer clear of Masala Lounge.

If an owner is always quoting “I’ll tell the chef not to do this on your dishes”. Then surely it’s a grave concern of no consistency in their kitchen and perhaps a high turn over of chefs for their restaurant.

When it comes to Indian cuisine, I consider myself a seasoned traveler, not just a tourist. I've navigated the spice-strewn alleys of Kerala's markets, relished the creamy decadence of Mughlai courts, and danced with the fiery rhythms of Andhra curries. But there's one dish that holds a special place in my heart – tandoori chicken. Having devoured it countless times, I've developed a sixth sense for its perfection.

Picture this: the crimson glow of charred chicken bathed in the tandoor's kiss, a canvas painted with the vibrant hues of paprika, turmeric, and ginger. Each bite unlocks a treasure chest of flavors – the earthy warmth of cumin, the citrusy zing of coriander, and the tantalizing dance of chili heat. The texture is a symphony itself – moist flesh giving way to a satisfyingly smoky char, punctuated by the crunch of roasted spices. It's more than just food, it's an experience – a journey through India's vibrant culinary landscape on a single plate.

So, when I come across a tandoori chicken that falls short, it's like a discordant note in a familiar melody. I can spot the pallid imposter from a mile away, its wan hue and anemic flavor a pale shadow of the fiery masterpiece it should be.

Trust me, my palate has been seasoned by countless tandoori experiences, making me a true connoisseur of this Indian gem.

There are far too many worthy restaurants in Enfield to waste your time and money on this...

Have been ordering from this establishment for a while now but today will be the last time. Placed an order and asked if it could be delivered as I live a minute away from the restaurant. There was only one family in the restaurant and it wasn't busy. The guy took my address and said that's fine. When I asked how long he said 30 minutes. After 30 minutes I decided to go back there. 3 of the members of staff were just sitting there twiddling their thumbs. One then got up and got my food which was sitting in a bag on the counter. I didn't want to kick up a fuss as the family dining there were my neighbours and that would not have been pleasant for them. The food was the worst I've tasted. It tasted bland and was extremely dry. The Peshwari Naan was really doughy with the slight hint of coconut. Needless to say most of it ended up in the bin. Would have honestly been better with ordering...

Where can I start with this delicious restaurant? I came from New York City on holiday for a couple of weeks in hopes of finding some good restaurants to enjoy myself at and when I was at Masala Lounge, I was not disappointed. I had ordered a variety of foods since we were a large crowd so we could all try some different things. The chicken tikka was so succulent and flavorful. But I'll be honest here, the dal was most favored amongst us. When we got to the restaurant, we were warmly greeted by a waiter, and the food arrived very quick. The table service was fantastic. From the exceptional food to the attentive service, Masala Lounge exceeded beyond my expectations. I will definitely consider recommending this spot to friends and would absolutely love to...