Colony Restaurant

Great food, great service and nice atmosphere. The pataka prawns and chicken lollipop for starters was very nice. The mains, butter chicken was nice, the lamb bhuna was nice but too spicy. Mango lassi was yum. Overall food was good, the staff were polite and attentive, service was good we didn’t wait too long for food. The atmosphere was nice it wasn’t too busy or loud, the interior was very pretty, would highly recommend. They also have shisha lounge.

I’ve visited Colony several times since it opened, hoping that each visit would be an improvement, but unfortunately my experience has gone in the opposite direction. Food: When paying for a meal, you expect the food to be at least enjoyable, but most dishes fell well below that standard. The one exception was the chaat, which I thought was quite decent and would rate around 7/10. Price : Considering the quality and portion sizes, I found the prices to be on the expensive side. Service: This was the most disappointing aspect. The service was extremely slow and inattentive. We visited on a Sunday when the venue wasn’t particularly busy, yet it took around 20 minutes to find someone to take our order and another 30 minutes to get the bill. Drinks & shisha: The drinks were actually very good, but the shisha was very poor, lacking flavour and quality. The shisha service was also among the slowest and least welcoming I’ve experienced. Overall, the experience left me wanting to leave as soon as possible, and sadly I don’t see myself returning.

Visited after a very long time and I was really disappointed with the food. The prices have gone up, but the food quality seems to have gone down. The lamb karahi was a very small portion for the price, extremely oily, lacking in flavour and the meat was stringy. The chicken in the butter chicken was tough, and the tarka daal had no flavour — I had to ask for salt and chillies. I suspect the chefs have changed, which is such a shame, as I remember the food being much better here. Spent over £90 and felt like such a waste! The only positives were that the setting has been maintained well and the service was good. However, if you’re looking for good food, there are far better options in Ilford.

I’ve visited this restaurant a few times now, and unfortunately the customer service has been consistently disappointing. The staff seem to judge customers based on what they order. When you order less, you get uncomfortable stares, which makes the whole experience feel unwelcoming. The manager is always watching over customers in a way that feels intrusive instead of attentive, people should be able to enjoy their meal in peace. On one visit, a staff member (I believe she was Indian) was particularly rude. I was polite, but she didn’t say "please" or "thank you" and had a very cold attitude throughout. Another issue is how quickly they try to clear plates even when you’re clearly still eating. It feels rushed and uncomfortable. What’s frustrating is that even when spending over £50, it still doesn’t seem "enough" for them. There’s a clear sense of being judged rather than appreciated as a customer. One of the worst experiences was during my sister’s birthday. We had finished our meal and were waiting to bring out the cake, but the owner kept coming over, clearly trying to rush us out. It almost ruined the surprise. I understand not wanting customers to overstay, but there needs to be some balance and respect. On top of that, the portion sizes are quite small for the price. After multiple visits, this was the last straw for me. I won’t be returning.

First-time visit and it was great 👌 We went on a family outing to celebrate a relative’s first anniversary. It was a Saturday evening, just as the restaurant opened, and we had made an earlier reservation for the group. The service was excellent, from a warm welcome, to accommodating our request for seating that allowed space for a baby in a pram. The waiters were especially friendly with our two young children and even gave them a little treat (boxed brownies) at the end of the meal. We ordered a variety of starters including poppadoms, paneer, prawns, and chaat. The prawns were fantastic, well cooked with just the right amount of spice for a little kick. The only small criticism was that the poppadoms could have been served with larger portions of dips. For the mains, we had steak, a mixed grill, curries, and burgers for the kids. Everything was cooked well, full of flavour, and enjoyed by all. The chops and steak in particular received rave reviews. To finish, we ordered a selection of desserts along with kharak chai. The desserts were excellent, rich in flavour, with the right texture and moisture. The chai was smooth, flavoursome, and perfectly sweetened. Before leaving, it was time for prayers, and once again the staff accommodated us by providing a prayer area and prayer mats. Overall, the experience was outstanding. The combination of great food, excellent service, and a clean, spacious setting makes this restaurant ideal not just for casual meals, but also for celebrating special occasions. We thoroughly enjoyed our evening and will definitely be going back to try more of the dishes we didn’t get to sample this time.