Bombay Bay - Portsmouth

I booked table in advance 8.30pm arriving on time to be told there wasn’t a table for 40 minutes very poor service not even a complementary drink just told I had to wait so we decided to book a table at spice merchants which wasn’t an bother at all

6 of us had an outdoor meal on the terrace of the Bombay Bay on a breezy early evening. our waiter was very helpful and pleasant .Our pre dinner gin and tonics came quickly with lots of fresh lemon with crispy popadoms and chutney. The food was delicious ,lots of chicken ,good portions and the vegetable side dishes we had were really delicious ,best daal I've had for ages. It was lovely sitting outside in a lucky window of sunshine over looking the mariner. I'm looking forward to going again and being able to sit inside and not be dependent on the weather, although having the terrace is a real bonus when its warmer.

We ordered four different biryanis when we sat down to eat them the sauce had been made from frozen veg which was mostly potato Brussels sprouts WHO puts Brussels sprouts in a curry TERRIBLE

I have been eating at the restaurant for the last 14 years eaten in takeaways etc. I have probably eaten in over 100 Indian restaurants over the last 30 years. Including the Michelin starred Benare's in Mayfair The Michelin starred song of India in Singapore thrust me this place is right up there with the very best for a fraction of the price around 10 years ago I read read an article in Sunday times that listed the Bombay as as one of the top 10 best Indian restaurants in the UK I could not agree more. Those people that give poor reviews because they probably took a long time to get home with a take away is not really fair. If you dont think the food is good here they don't bother going out to eat out just buy a curry in Iceland and heat it up in the microwave I have owned 4 restaurants with my brother over the last 30 years and know exceptional quality and this place has it in abundance.

We had the misfortune of ordering a takeaway from here and had prawn puri, lamb tikka masala and Keema nan and pilau rice. What an expensive disappointment. I’ve never seen white pilau rice before and brown tikka masala! The lamb was like keebab meat truly awful food. Probably the worst Indian I have ever had.