Shinwari - (Near Redbridge, South East)

4 /5 Abdur Rahman: A couple of weeks ago, we visited Shinwari Restaurant in Ilford. The overall atmosphere was calm and quiet, which made for a relaxed dining experience. However, we did notice some dust around the place, which slightly affected the cleanliness impression. When it came to food, the experience was a bit mixed. The rice was not up to the mark, lacking flavor and texture, but the chips and other side dishes were quite good. The curry was served in a large portion, which is great for sharing, but it was too oily — not ideal from a health perspective. The service was generally good, though one thing that felt uncomfortable was that the staff started walking around our seating place before we had finished eating, which was a bit embarrassing and made us feel slightly rushed. The portion sizes were generous — what we ordered for two people could easily serve three to four, so it’s definitely good value in that sense. Pricing was reasonable for the quantity and variety offered. Overall, Shinwari Restaurant offers a decent dining experience with good service and fair prices, but there’s room for improvement in food quality, cleanliness, and customer comfort. ⭐ Rating: 4 out of 5

5 /5 Mohammed: Shinwari Hotel is an absolute gem! The food here is delicious, especially the Kabuli Pulao a must-try for anyone visiting. The amenities are excellent, making the whole dining experience comfortable and enjoyable. Customer service is top notch. A lady and a gentleman served us with such warmth and professionalism, making us feel truly welcomed. Their attention to detail and friendly attitude made our visit even more special. Highly recommended for anyone looking for great food, a comfortable atmosphere, and exceptional service

3 /5 Raees Paracha: Ordered Shinwari Chicken Karahi, but it was not authentic. The dish appeared pre-cooked and heavily spiced, not freshly prepared. The rider picked up within 10–15 minutes of placing the order, whereas a proper Shinwari karahi normally takes at least 25 minutes to cook. I even called to confirm it would be freshly cooked. Photos attached. Very disappointing.

1 /5 UNKNOWN: Where do i start? Our recent visit to Shinwari in Ilford was an unmitigated disaster, characterized by extremely poor service, dangerous food standards, and completely unprofessional management. The service started poorly; the waitress tried to take our large order without a notepad, leading to initial mistakes. While a human error, this set the tone for the entire evening. The main and critical issue was the food safety failure. We ordered the mixed platter (priced at an outrageous £49, which is a rip-off given the quality and quantity). Multiple pieces of meat were dangerously uncooked: • We immediately alerted staff to the undercooked, pure red/pink chicken and lamb kebab, which were replaced. However, we were so put off by then that we couldnt eat the replacements. • Then we noticed another large piece of lamb on the platter that was entirely pink inside, as visible in the accompanying picture. The food was inedible. This was the final straw, and we asked to speak to the manager. The managers response was shocking and unprofessional. He seemed completely confused and had no clue how to handle a serious complaint about uncooked meat. We explained the severity of serving pink/raw chicken and lamb, but he seemed totally ignorant of basic food safety. Despite the platter being mostly untouched due to health concerns, the manager offered to take off only £9. What followed was an exhausting, unprofessional argument. He tried to "negotiate" and "bargain" with us as if we were at an auction, demanding we pay for uncooked food, which we rightly refused. From £9,£15,£10, £20,£40 and eventually£49 (full amount for platter) We were clear we would only pay for the other items we had consumed. Unable to handle the situation, the manager brought over a colleague who displayed a disrespectful and sassy attitude. We had to ask the manager to remove his colleague so we could speak to him directly, but he continued to go back-and-forth, looking for solutions from others. After a long, unnecessary argument, he finally, reluctantly, removed the platter from the bill. To summarize: This restaurant served dangerously undercooked meat, and when confronted with a serious health and hygiene concern, the management displayed a staggering lack of professionalism and basic customer service skills. We were hungry, put off our food, and forced into a ridiculous debate over paying for food we could not safely eat. Do not waste your money or risk your health here. If i could give no stars i would!!! This restaurant needs to go back to the basics.

5 /5 Ayesha Akter: Taste and portion size both is good, we took this platter for 4 person, was enough for us. Delicious.