Tattva Indian Restaurant Farnborough — Restaurant in Rushmoor

Dear Tattva Team,

I'm writing to share my experience with my first takeaway order from your restaurant this past Saturday. As someone who has been dining at restaurants across the country for over 20 years, I believe constructive feedback can help improve the dining experience for future customers. My Order:

Cut Mirchi Bhaji Apollo Fish Natu Kodi Pulusu Chettinadu Meen Kuzhambu Roti

Food Quality Concerns: Cut Mirchi Bhaji: The dish was extremely spicy to the point where I had to remove all the stuffed chilies to make it edible (Attached picture). Additionally, it lacked proper seasoning - there was insufficient salt and masala, leaving the dish quite bland. I had to add chat masala to enhance the flavor.

Apollo Fish: The preparation lacked the expected bold flavors and was overly sweet, which didn't align with the traditional Apollo fish taste profile.

Natu Kodi Pulusu: This was particularly disappointing as the serving consisted mainly of bones with only one piece containing substantial meat. The gravy was watery and lacked the rich, authentic flavor expected from this traditional dish.

Chettinadu Meen Kuzhambu: While this was the most acceptable dish, the fish appeared to be frozen rather than fresh, and it didn't capture the authentic Chettinadu kuzhambu flavor profile.

VAT Billing Clarity: I found the billing process confusing (photo attached). Unlike most restaurants where VAT is included in the listed menu prices, you've added a 20% VAT charge on top of the total bill. This wasn't clearly indicated on your menu or website, creating confusion about the final amount. I'd suggest either including VAT in individual item prices upfront or clearly stating on the menu that prices are exclusive of VAT to avoid any misunderstanding.

Recommendation: I encourage your team to focus on flavor development and seasoning consistency. The dishes seemed to lack the authentic taste profiles that make South Indian cuisine exceptional. I hope you'll consider this feedback constructively as it comes from a place of wanting to see your restaurant succeed.

Best...

Today me and my friend visited Tattava after work so we were so hungry and excited to try this restaurant as we both love Indian food…I don’t know where to start first we ordered drinks, two starter and main…The drink came after 30 minutes then another 30 minutes later one of the starter came and then we told the waiter we ordered two starter so she said she will go grab it and she came back after 20 minutes with second starter. In between this we saw a set of family come in they waited half and hour and then they got fed up waiting and walked out…Another set of customer come in and asked the waiter if they can sit in the bigger table because they needed more space because he was using crutches the waiter said no so they sat down for 10 minutes and walked out…..They also had a group of family friends come after us and they was served drinks, starters, mains and desserts while we are still waiting for the starters 🤦🏻‍♀️. If we haven’t ordered food already I would have got up and walked out….I wanted to order desserts but I didn’t know how long that will take because we were already in there for over 2 hours therefore I didn’t order desserts and they didn’t even have all the food and desserts available 🤦🏻‍♀️The prices are over priced on everything and the portion my God even a 3 year old won’t be full after eating that….I ordered a takeaway biryani for my husband only had 3 pieces of lamb and they charged me £13 for it. The portion was so small…I’ve never seen such slow customer service and such small portion….They really need to look into there customer service, prices and...

Tucked modestly within the unassuming bounds of Farnborough lies Tattva – a restaurant that does not merely serve Indian cuisine, but rather conducts it, as one might a symphony: with reverence, flair, and the unmistakable sense that one has stumbled upon something sacred.

From the moment I crossed the threshold, I was enveloped by aromas so transporting, I briefly believed I had astrally projected to a spice market in Jaipur. The menu is a deft balance of the traditional and the innovative – each dish curated with the precision of a jeweler and the soul of a grandmother. The Naan was a cloud that had accidentally been grilled by a demigod. The Chicken Tandoori? A revelation. It whispered secrets to my palate that I’m not legally allowed to share.

But the true marvel of Tattva is not found in the tandoor alone.

Her name is Likitha.

To call her a waitress would be akin to calling the Mona Lisa a sketch. She is part maître d’, part mystic, part benevolent sorceress of hospitality. She glides but she does not walk l, from table to table, dispensing warmth and Cobra with a smile. Her knowledge of the menu is so encyclopedic, I suspect she may have authored it under a pseudonym. When she recommended the Knockout Mocktail, I did not hear words – I felt it in my heart. It was less a drink, more an epiphany in a glass.

In summary: go to Tattva. Go hungry, go curious, go prepared to have your expectations restructured. And if you are lucky enough to be served by Likitha, do remember: you are not being waited on – you are...