Prem Indian Restaurant — Restaurant in London

They offer no vegan options at all. I asked 3 times what vegan options were available and was told I'd be helped when we ordered. Then when we ordered they said the only option was chickpea curry, so I ordered this. Then all my friends food arrived and my plain rice only. A waiter came over and started asking if I could eat spices, could I eat mustard oil, cayenne pepper etc, absolutely ridiculous questions and I explained over and over that I just couldn't have diary! All their food is cooked using ghee. I said they just needed to use veg oil. Eventually, my chickpea curry arrived. It was awful, wasn't a curry at all, just a pile of dry chickpeas with virtually no flavour, no sauce or anything. I complained and they said, so you want sauce, I said yes. They took it away and brought it back, exactly the same. They tried to tell me that was the dish they offered for vegans. They bluntly lied as they clearly had no idea what they were doing, having asked me the ridiculous questions earlier. All my friends ate and I had to go and get food elsewhere. They were argumentative with me and offered no apology. Their website states various dishes contain diary and to speak to them. This is incorrect as ALL of their dishes contain diary and then CANNOT accommodate any changes! Indian food is at the top of my list for eating out due to lots of vegetable dishes and cooking with vegetable oil. I have never experienced an issue like this ever before. They are clearly behind with the times and ruined my meal out...

We usually get a takeaway from here but decided to go into the restaurant for a change… from the moment we walked in the service and the atmosphere was awful. They took ages to seat us, we called and booked days before for a table of 6 and they weren’t prepared at all, the staff were ridiculously rude, it was extremely busy so I can appreciate it must be stressful for them but that’s no excuse to treat customers the way we were treated.

We sat down at 18:15 and didn’t get our food for almost over an hour later around 19:20 and even then they bought out the wrong order and we had to wait even longer for the correct one to be made.

When giving us our food and bill, they would throw it down on the table and when we looked at our bill they charged us a totally different price to what was on the menu so we had to point this out for them to change it and even then they were being difficult about it and said “are you really going to complain”. I’m so shocked at the way we were treated and the customer service. We honestly couldn’t wait to get out it was an awful experience, ontop of all that it was so packed almost like being in a club, there were people standing all around our table whilst we were eating, waiting to be seated. It was very uncomfortable.

Safe to say we most definitely will not be coming here again. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone unless you’re going at lunch when it’s a bit quieter and maybe they’re a lot less...

I'm ashamed to say, we went to Prem the first weekend it opened, over 15 years ago, and I'm only now leaving them a review. Well overdue. Being originally from Newcastle, I'm used to good Indian restaurants and takeaways, and even when in a foreign city, always happy to try the competition. But there is no competition, Prem IS the best Indian food I've ever had. Each to their own, I know, but, if you've yet to use Prem, I can't recommend them highly enough. Reliable, friendly and fantastic food at reasonable prices.

Some years later: And I keep going back, for good reason. As mentioned, being from Newcastle, I'm used to high class Indian food, but this really is on a different level. Every time I order, it's like the first time, all over again! The other local restaurants/ takeaways (and I've tried many) just can't cut it, thin, measly, bland sauces with just enough meat to qualify. I am NOT on commission but if you haven't yet, and you're looking for a tasty Indian meal, nothing to lose, give them a try and I doubt you'll be disappointed. I'm now writing this, full to my gills, yet I just want to keep eating!! It is...