Harden's survey result
Summary
“A Covent Garden institution, this much-loved and invariably busy Indian restaurant has been a landmark in the area since 1951”. A pioneer curry house that started out five years earlier in Aldgate, it is now run by the great-grandson of the founder and “prides itself on its original old-school” North Indian cooking (“I took a Punjabi friend for dinner, he reckoned it was almost as good as his grandmother’s”).
Summary
“It ain’t Bibi or Tamarind, but it’s less than half the price and it’s jolly good” – this “ever-reliable” Covent Garden institution has earned devotion from generations of fans for its “authentic” Punjabi curries and “great staff” (“I’ve been coming here for excellent meals for over 40 years”). Founded in 1946 – the year before Indian independence – it claims to have been the UK’s first north Indian restaurant and is now run by the fourth generation of the founding family. It’s run with a conscience too – “during lockdown they served over 45,000 meals to the needy and homeless”.
Summary
This veteran curry house to the north of Covent Garden has survived for 76 years by providing “fine-value and well-above-average cooking”. Founded in 1946 and claiming to be the first north Indian restaurant in London, it is now owned and operated by the fourth generation of the same family and still sticks close to its gastronomic roots (“ate with a friend whose family come from the Punjab and he said the food was thoroughly authentic”). In recent years, “real effort has gone into the wine list, but the best wine to drink with curry remains…beer”.
Summary
This Covent Garden institution lays claim to being the oldest north Indian restaurant in London, est. 1946, and is now run by the great-grandson of the founder. It owes its staying power to the “great Punjabi regional dishes” on the menu – “a friend was so impressed, he said it was nearly as good as his grandmother’s cooking” – and these days there are also “interesting vegan and vegetarian options”.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Punjab?
80 Neal St, London, WC2H 9PA
Restaurant details
Punjab Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Old style Indian which we found impeccable on all fronts. Very good quality/price ratio. Above all it claims to be (and feels) authentic and this an added plus. Most enjoyable. "
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £24.95 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.10 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £3.65 |
| Service | 10.00% |
80 Neal St, London, WC2H 9PA
Opening hours
| Monday | 12 pm‑11:15 pm |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑11:15 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑11:15 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑11:15 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑11:15 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑11:15 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑10:15 pm |
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