Namaste Lounge — Restaurant in London

Namaste Lounge : Address: 66 Joel Street, London, HA6 1LL

Having heard glowing recommendations from a friend about Namaste Lounge's delectable cuisine and vibrant ambiance, I decided to experience it firsthand. Accompanied by a friend visiting from Bangkok who craved authentic Indian fare and lively music, we eagerly ventured to Namaste Lounge.

Despite the lively atmosphere, we were promptly ushered to our table, where the vibrant ambiance and pulsating beats set the stage for an enchanting dining experience. With an extensive menu before us, we sought guidance from Abu, one of Namaste Lounge's valued managers. His expert recommendations led us to savor the tantalizing Namaste mixed grill for starters, followed by the aromatic coconut coriander chicken curry and Sri Lankan fish curry, accompanied by rumali roti and garlic naan. Each dish, crafted with precision and finesse, delighted our palates with an explosion of flavors. Despite our contentment, the allure of dessert eluded us, prompting us to request a takeaway to relish at home. While our stomach was full, we could not eat desert so me and my friend decided rather than trying anything else for the next day return back to Namaste Lounge for our Saturday night dinner.

Encouraged by our fantastic initial visit, we eagerly returned to Namaste Lounge the following evening, greeted warmly by Abu upon our arrival. Drawing inspiration from our previous delightful experience, we delighted in a variety of Indian street food delicacies, including the mouthwatering pani puri. The innovative presentation of this dish garnered admiration from nearby diners, further enhancing the restaurant's vibrant ambiance. For our main course, we savoured the timeless classic, chicken tikka masala, which exceeded all expectations. The evening reached its peak with an impromptu dance session, fuelled by the infectious beats curated by the DJ. Seeking recommendations, we consulted Pranav, who, as one of the owners or managers, I say that because he extended a warm welcome to all patrons. He suggested Namaste signature drinks, particularly the Cuban chilly, were a personal favourite, perfectly complementing the lively music. Saturday nights at Namaste Lounge are undoubtedly a must-visit for exceptional food, music, drinks and sheesha.

Determined to explore the full spectrum of Namaste Lounge's offerings, we returned on Sunday, accompanied by family members. Welcomed by Brendon, another professional manager, we were seated at a table affording us a view of the open kitchen, where skilled chefs meticulously prepared naan in the tandoor. This immersive dining experience added a layer of excitement to our meal. Guided by Brendon's expert recommendations, we embarked on a culinary journey, sampling dishes such as Goan prawns curry and Bhuna Gosht. Each dish showcased the culinary mastery of Namaste Lounge's chefs, leaving an indelible mark on our taste buds. The crowning moment of the evening was indulging in a decadent array of desserts, including Rose Dulce De Leche, Warm Chocolate Brownie, Saffron Pistachio Cheese Cake and Authentic Gelato a fitting conclusion to our culinary adventure.

Overall Impression: I want to emphasize that this review is entirely genuine and unpaid. The food at Namaste Lounge is truly delightful, the staff members are genuinely warm and welcoming, and the music played by the DJ is exceptional, featuring a selection of great tunes. Moreover, the lounge boasts a spacious layout and includes an open garden area with a marquee, ideal for hosting private events such as weddings or birthday parties. Additionally, they have a sheesha lounge with a variety of flavors available. I am looking forward to returning to try out the sheesha and to potentially hire the lounge to host some private event. The exceptional customer service and the knowledgeable staff, who always inquire about our our preferences and make recommendations, accordingly, further contribute to the positive experience at...

ANYBODY WITH AN ALLERGY - PLEASE READ (This could potentially save A LIFE)

We came here in October last year for lunch. It was a party of 8 with children and one my guys observes a fully Vegan diet.

He asks the waitress what Vegan starters there are and number are reeled off...

He orders chilli garlic mushrooms which arrived and a few minutes later he notices there is a chunk of paneer in the dish. We call over the waitress to be told she'll get the manager as she knows it's a big problem. My friend is vexed at this point as there is blatant contamination! He politely speaks to the short Indian Manager with a moustache and puts his concerns to him to only be told there is NO CONTAMINATION!!!

He explains for a 2nd time thinking he's misunderstood that he is a Vegan and he doesn't eat animal products to be told the same thing again. Another member of our group explained for a 3rd time to which he said again there is NO CONTAMINATION!

All the manager said was that he'd take it off the bill & he had no concern whatsoever for future contaminants or taking this any further with the chefs. It was an absolute disgrace dealing with these guys!!!! This could have been easily put right with empathy and sorrow but we were just dismissed like water off a ducks back as if nothing wrong had happened. Clearly this fella didn't know the difference between Vegetarian and Veganism.

Please see the picture attached.

This is exactly what happens when the mangement team do not understand dietary requirements and/or the kitchen staff with lack of English and training haven't been educated in dietary requirements & in cross contamination. It looks like there is minimal food hygiene training & that the chef who prepared this meal had done his/her level 2 or 3 Food safety... Thinking it's absolutely fine to use the same utensils in dairy products and Vegan dishes.

IF YOU HAVE ANY DIETARY REQUIREMENTS AVOID THIS PLACE LIKE THE PLAGUE, HAND ON HEART WITH POOR EDUCATION OF CONTAMINATION THEY WILL END UP MAKING SOMEBODY VERY ILL OR EVEN WORSE!

There is Natasha's law for prepacked food (PPDS) but not for restaurants who prepare meals in-house. We will definitely be reporting these guys to food standards agency due to their lack of basic knowledge and terrible cooking practices.

Absolutely disgusting establishment & the gaffer was lucky there were children...

I’m sharing this following myself and friends joined Namaste this evening for dinner and drinks. We were met at first in a rushed capacity, even though it did not appear busy (6pm).

We had 5 at our table, we ordered a number of different drinks and a large varied amount of food. The drinks were the highlight of negativity for our trip, we asked the waitress pretty basic questions about the ambiguous wording used on their cocktail menu.

Even as simple as ordering a coke was a difficulty for us, and it did not arrive, nor did our tap water which needed to be requested and reminded of numerous times. Even though when our drinks order arrived, we had been reassured it would come - it did not until we had to flag down a member of staff later. The cocktails ordered, one was forgotten about by the bar, and the other two were made incorrectly and we requested to swap these - the initial response to this was not the most welcoming and we were left with a drink we couldn’t even identify what they were based on the menu descriptions, this was thankfully rectified and replaced however this negative experience meant we did not order more cocktails.

The service generally was a bit hit or Miss, we were made to feel a bit or a nuisance in the corner and we needed to ask for our food order to be taken - this was teased with chutneys etc placed on the table but no return for us to add the likes of poppadoms etc, we flagged staff down and made what I would say was a large amount of varied dishes for the size of our party.

Thankfully, the food was exceptional - it was a tad spicier than I can usually take but I can appreciate the quality and taste and flavourful dishes pretty much all executed beautifully - this really turned around our experience.

The wait staff ended up having two people on our table but uncoordinated so one would ask the same thing only a minute after we had last spoken to the other member of their team.

I’d eat here again, but perhaps on a less busy evening as they were hosting a party/ event and I’d maybe go in a smaller group due to the intimacy and ambience being slightly affected...