Mowgli Street Food Newcastle — Restaurant in Newcastle upon Tyne

Mediocre Mowgli. I suppose if you wait a month for a booking and you expect that the hype was justified you migth anticipate a disappointing experience. Previous reviews contain all the observations I am going on to make but I suppose a summary serves some use, even if there is repetition. First of all I think the five-star reviews are peculiarly biased. Oddly, so.

We got the set £50 for 2 Set menus. I suggested to one of the waiters that attended us, that this gives the opportunity for the chef to show us his best. "He serves what he's got most of", was the reply. I suggested "you mean the dishes she is most proud of?" (embarrased smile)

You're limited to 90 min - we made sure we were early as we knew the pressure would be on. I had to remind them about the ice cream that is on the set menu. At 87 min, we were about to abandon when we were told our table wouldn't be needed. Although we were really ready to leave at that point. We lost 7 min at the beginning, even though we were punctual. We thought the order had been taken but it wasn't. So you are on an uncomfortable timetable to start with. Be warned. The waiters were running round frantically but service was fine, waiting staff were pleasant. I was surprised at the inelegance of the uniform, just a mediocre T-shirt and jeans. Opportunity missed.

I note the comments on the swinging chairs. I think there are two in the window but the rest of the chairs are normal with a rope effect so do not swing. So don't expect that novel gimmick to apply to you. It's small and cramped. So the noise increases. A lot. If busy, you will find yourself shouting to be heard. I found that atmosphere uncomfortable.

I was aware of the warnings of hunger but did not leave hungry as a lot of bread, boiled rice, and fried potatoes are served up. So if you are willing to fill yourself up on on staple carbohydrates, you'll be okay. The reviewer who said the meal was chicken, chicken, chicken was exactly right. If you're serving three dishes, perhaps, chicken, fish, beef might be an option? Shouldn't need saying really. It is not a way to display a restaurant. It's not a way to show off your recipes. It's not something anybody would do if any thought were given to the set menu. It looks cheap. Drinks are fine, maximally priced of course. The starter was a yoghurt bomb which I tried but actively disliked. Filling your stomach with a cupful of plain yoghurt before a meal when you're sipping a glass of wine or beer is a pretty nauseating combination. My companion, who makes a good Bengali curry herself, found the food flavours bland, and it's hard to disagree. One of the dishes had a nice flavour and, honestly, it was all OK just not a high standard. It was all serviceable, not bad. I enjoyed the steel tiffin dishes - actually bought myself a set for £20 - just arrived from Amazon. I had to request the automatic service charge be removed - permission had never been given nor requested. I got the idea from another reviewer who had a disappointing experience. But I also spotted a charity "donation" included in the bill which I've never seen on a restaurant menu. I think my definition of "donation" must differ from Mowgli's.

But if the owner, wants to donate to charity, she should feel free to do so. However, I prefer to donate to charity in the ways that I choose, rather than she. As a rule of thumb... donate your own money (perhaps from the £70 received in exchange for this meal), not somebody else's. We have plenty of our own charities to support in Newcastle. I have just seen there are 25 Mowglis around the UK. That's a major expansion. Got me thinking. How is that even funded! Private equity investment firms according to perplexityAI. No wonder quality drops. Reviewer Advice - focus on flavour and showcase your skills when customers give you a chance to impress them as second chances likely won't come around. Expand carefully and steadliy only when this is done. But I am not thinking like a business man! If it's other people's money you are spending,...

Mowgli Newcastle delivers on flavour, but not without a few bumps in service. Tucked inside a charming, bustling venue with a playful street-market vibe, the food takes centre stage—and mostly earns it.

We kicked off with the Watermelon Starter, a vibrant dish that surprises. The sweetness of the watermelon pairs beautifully with the kick of masala and tangy tamarind sauce. It’s refreshing, punchy, and doesn’t feel gimmicky—a clever twist that works. It’s rare to find a fruit-based starter that doesn’t feel like filler, but this earns its place.

The Crispy Chicken, on the other hand, is a proper showstopper. Juicy inside, spiced just right, and with a golden, crunchy coating that holds its own against any street food contender. The sweet chilli dip complements it without overpowering, and the garnish of chillies on top is more than just for show—it adds a real zing.

However, Mowgli’s “dishes come when they’re ready” system is a double-edged sword. It sounds quirky, but in reality, it meant our table was quickly overwhelmed with food—no pacing, no flow. Starters, mains, and sides collided in a chaotic (albeit tasty) pile. And while that might work in theory, in practice it meant some of our food lost heat before we could properly enjoy it.

Service-wise, staff were friendly enough but not particularly attentive. We waited far too long to place drink orders, and despite empty glasses on the table, no one checked in for refills—a missed upsell if nothing else.

One lovely touch was the complimentary birthday dessert—a generous gesture. We were also allowed to swap out ice cream flavours with no fuss, which was appreciated. The brownie? Rich, gooey, indulgent—no complaints there.

Verdict: • ⭐ Food: 8.5/10 – creative, bold, mostly well-executed • ⭐ Service: 6/10 – polite but not proactive • ⭐ Atmosphere: 8/10 – cosy, fun, good for groups

Mowgli is worth a visit for flavour alone—but be prepared for a free-for-all dining format and flag-your-own-server kind of service. Still, for a birthday celebration with bold street food and a dash of flair, it...

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I came here with high hopes but unfortunately left feeling disappointed.

Let’s start with the positives: The staff were fantastic. I called ahead to make a booking, and the person on the phone was friendly and helpful—securing us a great table. Once we arrived, the service remained excellent. We were seated quickly, and the lady who took our order was brilliant—friendly and attentive. The restaurant itself is nicely designed, with some thoughtful touches. I also really enjoyed the mocktails, especially the Twister—refreshing and reasonably priced.

Now for the downside: the food. The starters were a bit hit and miss. We ordered around four curries and initially requested naan bread, but they had run out. We were offered roti as an alternative, which sadly turned out to be dry and quite hard. We were first served two rotis and later asked for two more portions, but only received two more rotis—so it seems there was a miscommunication. With three people and just four small rotis, it felt like we were expected to eat curry on its own. Not ideal.

To make matters worse, no one came to check in on us after the food was served, and it was hard to get anyone’s attention when we needed something. It also seemed like the staff weren’t confident in offering recommendations, which made the experience feel a bit disjointed.

When the curries arrived, they were brought out in a tiffin box by a staff member whose hands, frankly, didn’t look very clean—which put me off, especially as he was handling the tiffin directly.

Lastly, while I understand the use of an old ghee tin for the spoons is likely meant to be quirky or aesthetic, it just came across as cheap. For the level of restaurant this is aiming to be, we expected better attention to detail.

The total bill was just over £100, which felt steep for the overall experience. Sadly, not somewhere I’d...