Royal Nawaab Ilford — Restaurant in London

From the moment you step into Royal Nawab Ilford, you're transported into a world of grandeur, elegance, and unmatched culinary excellence. The lavish décor, with its intricate chandeliers and rich upholstery, sets the perfect stage for what can only be described as a royal dining experience. Every corner of the restaurant exudes class, and the atmosphere is both welcoming and sophisticated—a perfect blend for any occasion, whether you're dining with family, friends, or celebrating a special event.

But what truly sets Royal Nawab apart from other establishments is not just the ambiance or even the incredible variety of food, but the impeccable service that accompanies every visit. And this brings me to one standout individual: Erhsham.

I’ve dined at many top-tier restaurants, but Erhsham’s service was beyond exceptional. His dedication to ensuring every guest feels like royalty was evident in every interaction. From the moment he welcomed us, his warm smile and genuine hospitality made us feel like we were old friends returning for another delightful meal. His knowledge of the menu was impressive—guiding us through the extensive options with great care, offering recommendations that hit the mark every single time. His professionalism was matched by a personal touch that made the evening truly special.

The Food? It’s nothing short of a culinary marvel. The buffet spread is vast and offers something for everyone. The quality of each dish, from the rich and creamy butter chicken to the perfectly spiced lamb biryani, is exceptional. Every bite feels like a journey through the diverse flavors of the Indian subcontinent. The grills, fresh naan, and the wide selection of desserts will leave you spoilt for choice. Erhsham made sure we sampled the best of everything and even had the chef prepare a few off-menu delicacies, which blew us away.

What I also appreciated was Erhsham’s attention to detail—he ensured our glasses were never empty, and he checked in just the right amount of times to ensure everything was perfect without being intrusive. He even made sure we were comfortable with the spice levels and accommodated our requests effortlessly. This level of care is rare and truly adds to the five-star experience.

In summary, Royal Nawab Ilford offers more than just a meal—it’s an experience that tantalizes all the senses, and Erhsham is the crown jewel of that experience. His dedication to customer service is exemplary, making the dining experience feel personal, luxurious, and unforgettable. If you’re looking for the perfect night out with phenomenal food and service that makes you feel like royalty, look no further than Royal Nawab Ilford.

Five stars simply don’t do justice to this place or to the impeccable service...

This was my third visit to Royal Nawab Ilford, and sadly, nothing has changed. The service feels robotic, you’re greeted like a celebrity, but then they seem to forget you exist. To get the staff’s attention, you have to interrupt their personal chats right next to your table.

As for the food, I honestly can’t recommend anything as a 10/10. The taste is below average and raises concerns about its freshness. I tried paya, but one bite told me it wasn’t right. My friend later reported bloating. When visiting a Pakistani restaurant, biryani is something I always look forward to trying. However, the kofta biryani was a huge letdown. Having been born and raised in Pakistan, I don’t expect to see kofta in a biryani. Give me lamb, mutton (goat meat), beef, or even prawn biryani, those work fine. But chicken kofta? That was truly disappointing, even hilariously so.

Requesting tap water adds to the frustration. The restaurant staff provides a 200–250ml glass, which arrives empty. You then have to get up and refill it yourself at the drinks bar, where the bartender is too busy to notice you queuing repeatedly for water. It feels like a humiliating tactic to push you into buying a one-litre bottle of water, which comes at an extra cost on top of the buffet rates:

Adults (Ages 11 & Over): £28.95 (excluding drinks) Children (Ages 4–10): £13.95 (excluding drinks)

Why don't just give a jug instead of a small glass. The prices above are excluding VAT I guess because I remember paying just under 40GBP.

Well it's not all negative. Here are some goods and positives about Royal Nawab Ilford: The seating is spacious, with plenty of room between tables, so no one’s peeking over your conversations. The staff are well-presented, and the restaurant is clean and tidy. There’s an ample number of service staff, and most importantly, a wide variety of dishes. I don’t think anyone could ever conquer their entire menu! There’s also plenty of paid parking available nearby, and it’s not too far from the Elizabeth Line.

This time I tried some snacks like Pani poori and chana chat, tasty and fresh something I enjoyed as well as chapli kebab, Haleem and coconut ice-cream.

I haven’t been to the Perivale branch in quite some time, but I’d prefer it over the Ilford branch. Perhaps it’s just my unfortunate experience, but the Ilford branch needs drastic...

Terrible Experience at Royal Nawab Ilford - Highly Disappointed I’ve been to Royal Nawab Ilford multiple times before, and while I’ve enjoyed the variety and food quality in the past, my recent visit was nothing short of a nightmare. Usually, the restaurant closes at 11 pm, so my family and I arrived around 9:40 pm, expecting to enjoy a leisurely dinner. We started selecting dishes from the buffet, which offers an impressive array of over 100 options. However, things took a nosedive when the manager abruptly approached us after about 10 minutes, informing us that they needed to close the till and finish paperwork, and that we should settle the bill immediately and stated that the buffet will close at 11pm and we can eat until 11:30pm. We paid, thinking the restaurant would still serve until 11 pm, as usual. But just five minutes later, the same manager came back, stating that the dining area would close at 10:30 pm, and that we should bring any food we wanted to eat to our table before that time. This was not only frustrating but also completely unreasonable. How can we finish such a vast buffet, especially with a small child, in less than an hour? Plus, we hadn’t even finished our main courses when we were told to hurry up and grab desserts before 10:30 pm—desserts like ice cream that would melt if taken away too soon. To make matters worse, the staff at the dessert section was rude and dismissive, throwing tongs in frustration when we asked for assistance.

Adding to the discomfort, the staff members started sweeping the floor with a broom right next to us at 10:30 pm while we were still eating. They also began spraying cleaning sprays on glasses and surfaces right beside our table, which was extremely unhygienic and disturbing. Doing all these cleaning activities while customers are still eating is unacceptable and shows a lack of professionalism and concern for hygiene.

To top it all off, the restaurant is quite expensive at £28 per person, and this kind of treatment is simply unacceptable. It felt rushed, unprofessional, and disrespectful to customers who are paying good money to enjoy their meal. I would strongly advise against visiting Royal Nawab Ilford if you value a relaxed dining environment and...