SANGAM MANCHESTER — Restaurant in Manchester

A Truly Terrible Experience. Deeply Disappointing.

Visiting from Hong Kong to see my daughter, who studies at Manchester University, I was excited to experience the UK’s renowned Indian cuisine. Hong Kong has many exceptional Indian restaurants, and the UK — particularly Manchester — is famous for its vibrant curry scene. So, when my daughter suggested Sangam Manchester, given its central location and impressive-sounding website, I expected something special. We couldn’t have been more wrong.

The staff looked disinterested — borderline resentful. Our food arrived in a rush, as though it had been slapped down by people who didn't care.

The meal itself was frankly awful. We ordered a lamb rogan josh, among other dishes. What arrived was more like a lamb stew in a weak tomato sauce— no depth, no flavour, no authenticity. The sauce was weak and tinny, the lamb dry and stringy. The naan was burnt and brittle. The rice was the kind of sticky, clumpy mass you get from an overused rice cooker. Every dish lacked freshness, aroma, and spice.

But what shocked me even more — and what I find frankly offensive — was the false advertising around halal food. This establishment proudly claims to be halal. It is not. It serves alcohol openly and liberally, and there is clearly no separation between drink service and food service. Staff handle both. Cross-contamination is not only likely, it’s inevitable. Alcohol is spilled around food, glasses are reused, and nothing I saw gave me confidence that basic halal principles were being upheld. I was dining with another family and their student daughter also from Hong Kong, who are Muslim, who were quite upset at this misleading use of the word halal.

I am not Muslim. But I do believe in religious freedom, truth in advertising, and respect for people’s beliefs. Labeling this restaurant as halal while serving alcohol and handling food and drinks interchangeably is misleading at best and dishonest at worst. It shows a profound disregard for the rights of Muslim customers who trust that halal means what it says.

This isn't about religion. It’s about integrity. About doing the right thing even when no one’s watching. Sadly, the owners of this restaurant seem more interested in profit than principles. They know exactly what they’re doing — misleading Muslim diners into thinking the food is safe for them while selling alcohol that likely comes into direct contact with food service areas. That isn’t halal. It’s hypocrisy.

They may well make sure they eat and drink halal in their own homes, but in their businesses, they prioritise cash over conscience, and over other diners. That’s a choice — and people who make such choices at the expense of others will eventually see the karmic consequences of them.

We spent a month in the UK and had some genuinely wonderful Indian food — in London, Birmingham, and even other places in Manchester. We met fabulous people. The UK is a diverse, vibrant, and culturally rich country. Sangam trades on location, and polishes their websites with flowery language.

This was the most underwhelming meal of our entire stay — not just in terms of taste, but in terms of principle. It left a sour taste in the mouth, an empty feeling in the stomach and a substantial dent in the wallet. You’re not paying for quality here — you’re paying for the postcode.

Needless to say, I won’t be returning. I won’t be recommending it to others. And I hope that those who care about food integrity, customer experience, and religious transparency think twice before stepping through the doors of this establishment.

Peace, love, and transparency above all.

(NB: I don’t require a response from the owners. I’ve read their canned replies to other poor reviews — “email us to discuss” — and I’m not interested in any exchange).

(This is edited for length, but, in regards to transparency, I have also left a longer form of this review on...

Sangam - Delicious Indian food that brings people together

Thank you for the hospitality that I received when visiting your City Centre restaurant last Thursday for a pre-theatre meal.

Food and menu

The menu is simple and is easy to read. It is great that the name of each dish is in bold and underneath there is a good description and the number of chillies to determine how spicy each dish is. It caters for different diners whether they are Meat lovers, Chicken, Sea Food or are Vegetarian.

There is a great variety of Starters on offer. There are great sharing platters to share. There is a Veggie one that includes Veggie Samosas, Onion Bhajis, Potato Cakes and Paneer Cheese. There is also a Sea Food Platter which includes Calamari, Prawn Tikka and Scallops to name a few. There is also a Meat one too.

There are also small plates that you can purchase separately from Kebab, Chicken Tikka and Chicken Pakoras to name a few.

In the Mains section there is a great selection of Curries from Korma, Tikka Masala and Jalfrezi to name a few. There are Fish Curries, Seafood and Vegetarian ones on offer too. There is Biryani with a choice of Lamb, Chicken and Prawn. There is also a Grill section featuring Mixed Grill and other Meat options.

Each meal can be accompanied by Rice and or Naan bread. There are different types of Rice available. In addition there is Garlic Naan and other flavours on offer too.

If you have a sweet tooth then there are some Asian Desserts on offer. If that is not to your taste then there is the indulgent Chocolate Fudge Cake with Ice Cream on the menu too.

For the Starters the Veggie Platter was beautifully presented. The Onion Bhajis were tasty on the inside that was full of Onion flavour however they were a bit too crispy on the outside. The Vegetarian Samosas were scrumptious with crispy buttery pastry on the outside and lovely soft filling with Potato and Peas. It was a delight to eat. The Paneer Cheese had a lovely crispy coating but was cheesy on the inside. The Potato Cake was fluffy and it had lovely Potato inside. The Chicken Pakora had a tasty bread coating with a soft and tender Chicken filling. Also, the Calamari was a bit too crispy on the top but it was yummy inside.

For the Mains the Prawn Korma packed a punch with its creamy sauce that was fragrant. There was plenty of Prawns and they were juicy, soft and tender to eat.

The Rice was soft and it was a great side dish to the meal. In addition, the Garlic Naan was comforting, soft and had a lovely Garlic flavour.

For Desserts the Chocolate Fudge Cake was sweet, gooey and indulgent. The sponge was soft with delicious Cocoa. The Vanilla Ice Cream cut through the richness of the Chocolate adding texture to this heavenly treat.

Service

The service was good. The waiter was friendly, attentive and welcoming. He gave us time to choose our dishes. It was great that all the dishes that we ordered was cooked fresh and it was presented to the desired standard.

Lighting and Access

The lighting at the restaurant was decent however we sat in the corner next to the window which also gave natural light. This allowed us to enjoy our meal. The furniture was lovely and simple giving a relaxed ambience.

Parking

Parking is available at NCP Oxford Street which is a short walk from the restaurant. Alternatively if you have a Blue Badge then you can park somewhere else that is free or in a pay and display car park.

Pricing

Most of the dishes are reasonably priced. Some are a bit pricey such as the Seafood dishes. On the whole it is decent.

If you love Indian food that is delicious, tasty and is presented to a good standard then...

A Water Bottle Woe at Sangam Manchester It was supposed to be a nice lunch at Sangam in Manchester’s City Centre last Sunday, just me joining my girlfriend for a catch-up over some good Indian food. She’d gotten there before me, ordered her meal, and the table was set for a cozy afternoon. I walked in, a little late but excited, my trusty water bottle in my bag—a habit I’ve got, keeping my own filtered water handy. I figured it’s no big deal, just a sip to tide me over until the food arrived. But oh, how that one water bottle turned my day upside down. I settled into my chair. My girlfriend’s order was almost ready, and I reached for my bottle to take a quick drink. Before I could even pop the cap, a staff member approached, his voice calm but firm. “You can’t have your water,” he said, pointing at my bottle. Just like that—no explanation, no smile, just a flat statement that left me blinking in surprise. I wasn’t expecting a lecture, but a little context would’ve been nice. “Uh, it’s just water,” I said, thinking maybe he misunderstood. I mean, it’s not like I was sneaking in a soda or something fancy. But he held his ground, repeating, “You can’t have it here.” When I asked him to check with his manager, hoping for some clarity, he looked me square in the eye and said, “I am the manager.” Oof. That hit like a cold splash. No attempt to explain why my bottle was a problem, no offer to work around it—just a wall of “no.” Now, he wasn’t shouting or rude in a loud way, but the way he shut me down felt dismissive, like my comfort didn’t matter. He pointed me toward tap water instead, as if that solved everything. Tap water’s fine, but come on—did he think I was carrying my own bottle for fun? Maybe I prefer it, maybe it’s a health thing, but a little consideration could’ve gone a long way. A simple, “Hey, we’ve got a policy, but how about we get you a glass of our filtered water?” would’ve felt human. Instead, it was like my choice was silly, and tap water was my only option. The kicker? They still expected me to stay and eat, like nothing happened. They even mentioned my food was “almost ready” and they were about to serve. But by then, the vibe was off. I looked at my girlfriend, her plate arriving, steaming and fragrant, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of being brushed off. It wasn’t about the water anymore—it was about feeling like a guest who didn’t matter. “I’m not feeling this place,” I told her, and I got up, my water bottle still in hand, and walked out after informing so called manager we’re leaving. No lunch, no curry, just a lingering sense of disappointment. Sangam’s food might be great—my girlfriend’s dish looked amazing—but a meal’s only as good as the experience. A little warmth, a quick explanation, or even a friendly alternative could’ve saved the day. Instead, one water bottle became the reason I left hungry. I don’t know if I’ll be back, but I hope they rethink how they handle moments like this. A customer’s not just a wallet-they’re a person,...