Not sure why TripAdvisor removed my last review which was legitimate but was claimed not to be? We booked a table for last Sunday for Balaka on their website. When we arrived the restaurant was closed. We had 2 notifications in the days prior to the booking reminding us to turn up for our booking. We were a group of 5 and 3 of the group travelled 30 minutes to get there. When I rang the restaurant on Monday they said "sorry we were closed". Yeah thanks we got that... no decent apology at all.
Alan S
Sadly, I can only conclude that both the management and chefs have changed here. For years, since they opened, we have always been more than happy with the high quality of their food and service. But this time, a take-away was appalling. My wife's ordered chicken dish had become beef! And the meat for both hers and my lamb was tough and tasteless to such a degree that we could not finish it. Because of our long and happy relationship I did not "go public" but sent a private email which said much as this one. Not even any answer, let alone any reasoning or apology. So here it is!
Colin
Lavern gave awesome service. Food was awesome. Sat at the back in the booths and enyojed the quiet personal touch. Highly recommend the Lamb Naga if you can handle the heat.
Omar Medani
Enjoyed the food. The service was fine but lacked a degree of professionalism, but it was very polite. Would go again surely.
Conor Bakhuizen
Lovely food made quickly with great service ????
Caroline Pope
Thank you Balaka for delivering our delicious food.We had 2 xThali set menus between 3 of us.Chicken korma, chicken & lamb bhunas, lamb pathia.All good, one if the best ever vegetable curry saved for tomorrow.Will be back.
Charlotte Kingham
We’ve just moved to the area and wanted to try the local Indian restaurant. One of the coldest days so our mood wasn’t the best. The food was delicious and tasted homemade. We will be coming back.Kid-friendliness: We had a very friendly waiter who was very kind and chatty to our children.Parking: Parking directly outside
Game BHOY
Exquisite food and food delivery always on time. Amazing delivery driver too
Jonathan Rhodes-Smith
Sadly my former favourite Indian restaurant and takeaway has gone so far downhill I won’t return/order until I hear it’s improved. Just ordered a take away - I only live 90 seconds round the corner but the food was at best tepid, no chilli heat in the Dhansak and just 4 pieces of Ponir in the Ponir Tikka starter. Very disappointing.
Really nice place and nice people but open and closed randomly in complete contradiction with their website. Avoid if you want to avoid frustration, because when you catch them they’re pretty good.
Z Z
Ok curries, didn’t feel they were very authentic. Good garlic naan, service a little slow even though we were only 2 at the time of ordering in the restaurant.Curries very flat in taste
A Z
Ok curries, didn’t feel they were very authentic. Good garlic naan, service a little slow even though we were only 2 at the time of ordering in the restaurant.Curries very flat in taste
Simon M Warner
An absolute superb, will cooked simple meal the other evening.
adrian ross
The best curry I have eaten in the south of England.
It’s shut!?
Not sure why TripAdvisor removed my last review which was legitimate but was claimed not to be? We booked a table for last Sunday for Balaka on their website. When we arrived the restaurant was closed. We had 2 notifications in the days prior to the booking reminding us to turn up for our booking. We were a group of 5 and 3 of the group travelled 30 minutes to get there. When I rang the restaurant on Monday they said "sorry we were closed". Yeah thanks we got that... no decent apology at all.
Sadly, I can only conclude that both the management and chefs have changed here. For years, since they opened, we have always been more than happy with the high quality of their food and service. But this time, a take-away was appalling. My wife's ordered chicken dish had become beef! And the meat for both hers and my lamb was tough and tasteless to such a degree that we could not finish it. Because of our long and happy relationship I did not "go public" but sent a private email which said much as this one. Not even any answer, let alone any reasoning or apology. So here it is!
Lavern gave awesome service. Food was awesome. Sat at the back in the booths and enyojed the quiet personal touch. Highly recommend the Lamb Naga if you can handle the heat.
Enjoyed the food. The service was fine but lacked a degree of professionalism, but it was very polite. Would go again surely.
Lovely food made quickly with great service ????
Thank you Balaka for delivering our delicious food.We had 2 xThali set menus between 3 of us.Chicken korma, chicken & lamb bhunas, lamb pathia.All good, one if the best ever vegetable curry saved for tomorrow.Will be back.
We’ve just moved to the area and wanted to try the local Indian restaurant. One of the coldest days so our mood wasn’t the best. The food was delicious and tasted homemade. We will be coming back.Kid-friendliness: We had a very friendly waiter who was very kind and chatty to our children.Parking: Parking directly outside
Exquisite food and food delivery always on time. Amazing delivery driver too
Sadly my former favourite Indian restaurant and takeaway has gone so far downhill I won’t return/order until I hear it’s improved. Just ordered a take away - I only live 90 seconds round the corner but the food was at best tepid, no chilli heat in the Dhansak and just 4 pieces of Ponir in the Ponir Tikka starter. Very disappointing.
Restaurantji Recommends
Really nice place and nice people but open and closed randomly in complete contradiction with their website. Avoid if you want to avoid frustration, because when you catch them they’re pretty good.
Ok curries, didn’t feel they were very authentic. Good garlic naan, service a little slow even though we were only 2 at the time of ordering in the restaurant.Curries very flat in taste
Ok curries, didn’t feel they were very authentic. Good garlic naan, service a little slow even though we were only 2 at the time of ordering in the restaurant.Curries very flat in taste
An absolute superb, will cooked simple meal the other evening.
The best curry I have eaten in the south of England.