The Pakora Bar

08.03.2025

First visit, but definitely not the last. Very clean, great decor, food was amazing and the staff very friendly. Thank you.

03.03.2025

i love ur son hamish

03.03.2025

Sometimes you enter a place and immediately sense that everything here is in balance. No grand gestures, no loud spectacle - just a silence that comes from the certainty of doing the right thing. Three brothers run the Pakora Bar, but it is actually their mother who speaks here. In the recipes, the spices, the slow, deliberate movements in the kitchen. The food has a familiarity about it, as if it knows exactly where it belongs. The Mixed Pakora - Chef's Choice are crispy, full of flavours, but never overloaded. The Chicken Curryand Lamb Curry taste as if they have been given the time they need. Deep, warm, grounded. The mango lassi tells the same story. Not too sweet, not too heavy. It accompanies instead of imposing. A silent nod, no loud applause. But then, with the first bite, something happens. The flavours unfold, come together, swirl around like a well-rehearsed dance. Spices, spiciness, sweetness - a flash of colour, of heat, of depth. The balance holds, but it doesn't go quiet. It breaks out, draws you in. The city rages outside, but another fire burns inside. One that grows more intense with every fork. And as the evening fades, all that remains is the feeling of having caught one of those rare moments - a meal that not only tastes good, but lingers. This visit was unannounced.

02.03.2025

From eating in 100's of punjabi restaurants across UK. We finally found one which will give you Bhatura when you order Bhatura, every other place would give puri instead of Bhatura. Amazing food, tried pakoras, chai and Bhatura. If only owner would have some sort of sleeping arrangements 😂😂 Brought back memories of food taste as I had from Punjab. Must visit and must try.

02.03.2025

Amazing experience. All staff incredibly welcoming and nice. Good service and even better food. Best bhatura in loooong time

27.02.2025

Amazing food with incredible service from Brian. Really nice, polite, and chill guy. Would fully recommend trying this place - it's 100% worth the trip.

24.02.2025

The Absolute Worst Dining Experience of My Life and I wouldn’t wish this restaurant on my worst enemy. If you’re considering eating here, let me save you the time, money, and stomach trauma—DON’T.

24.02.2025

DO NOT FALL FOR 2000+ FAKE REVIEWS! My recent experience at Pakora Bar was nothing short of a culinary disaster, and as an Indian, I feel compelled to share this cautionary tale. After sifting through over 2,000 reviews, I had high hopes for this place. Sadly, it turned out to be a colossal waste of time, money, and appetite. Let me break it down for you: We booked a table, arrived on time, and were seated promptly. The menu seemed promising, so we ordered pakoras (naturally, given the restaurant’s name), Chole Bhature, Punjabi Chicken, Butter Paneer, and a mix of rotis and naans. What followed was a series of disappointments that left us questioning how this place has any positive reviews at all. The **pakoras** were an insult to Indian cuisine. The veggies and paneer inside were undercooked, and the excessive chat masala sprinkled on top was a poor attempt to mask the lack of effort. This was not a pakora—it was a disgrace. The **Chole Bhature** was the only saving grace, cooked well and flavorful. But that’s where the positives ended. The **Punjabi Chicken** and **Butter Paneer** were nothing more than chili-laden sauces with no discernible flavor of the main ingredients. The heat was overwhelming, leaving no room to appreciate the dish. These were, without a doubt, the worst curries I’ve ever had in Scotland. The **rotis** were literally heated tortillas—the kind you can buy for 89p at any grocery store. Yet, we were charged £2.95 for two pieces. The **naans** were equally disappointing—premade, toasted, and tasteless, identical to the ones you’d find at Lidl for 69p. We wasted £18 on bread alone, which is outrageous. To add insult to injury, the **Kingfisher beer** they served was not Kingfisher at all. It was some random beer poured into a Kingfisher glass. This level of dishonesty is unacceptable. In total, we spent **£85 (approximately 8,500 INR)** on this meal, and I can confidently say it was the worst £85 I’ve ever spent. The food was lazy, the service was deceptive, and the entire experience was a slap in the face to Indian cuisine. Indian food is about love, care, and authenticity—none of which were present here. If you’re looking for genuine Indian food, avoid Pakora Bar at all costs. This place is a beautifully disguised trap that serves subpar, overpriced, and dishonest food. Save your money and your taste buds—this is not the Indian dining experience you deserve. Edit: I have replied to your response using my other account, appreciate the way you handle criticism by calling my reviews fake and attacking me personally.

24.02.2025

To anyone reading this: Pakora Bar is a fancy-looking trap that serves bad, overpriced, and fake food. It’s a shame to Indian food DON'T TRUST 2000+ FAKE REVIEWS! To the so-called "Team Pakora" (or should I say, the sensitive, childish person behind this reply), Your response to my honest review shows exactly how not to run a business. Instead of listening to a paying customer’s concerns, you threw a tantrum like a kid, proving once again that your restaurant is not just a food disaster but also a place full of unprofessional behaviour and sheer incompetence. Well done! Let me make this very clear: I am not a coward or a liar. I am a customer who paid £85 for a meal that was a total insult to Indian food. Your weak attempt to ignore my feedback by throwing personal insults only shows that you can’t handle criticism—a basic skill needed in any business, especially in hospitality. But then again, expecting good manners from you seems as pointless as expecting good food at your place. You say I was late for my booking. Yes, I was 20 minutes late—great job keeping track of time! But let’s not forget that your restaurant was almost empty at 3:20 PM on a Saturday. If timing was such a big deal, you could have politely told me that my table wasn’t available anymore. Instead, you sat me down, took my money, and served me a food nightmare. Trust me, I would have happily left and saved myself the £85 I wasted at your so-called "restaurant." Now, let’s break down your funny attempt to defend your "food" (and I use that word very loosely): - Veggie Pakora (6 pcs): Undercooked veggies wrapped in dough that fell apart as soon as I touched them. This isn’t a pakora; it’s an insult to Indian food. - Paneer Pakora (6 pcs): A little better, but still ruined by the mountain of chat masala you dumped on top to hide the lack of effort. Here’s a tip: sprinkling masala on bad food doesn’t make it good. - Chole Bhature: The only okay dish, as I said in my first review. Even a broken clock is right twice a day. - Punjabi Chicken Curry: A chili-filled mess that tasted nothing like Punjabi food. You should be ashamed to call this "Punjabi Chicken." Jail would be too nice for this food crime. - Butter Paneer Curry: Another chili-heavy disaster with no real flavor of paneer or butter. Did you even taste it before serving? Or do you just like making your customers suffer? - 6 Rotis & 2 Naans: Overpriced, store-bought tortillas and ready-made naans charged at £2+. Do you think your customers are blind, or just dumb? - 2 Kingfisher Beers: Random beer poured into Kingfisher glasses. This level of lying is shocking. Do you also serve tap water as Evian? Your claim that I “finished every single item” doesn’t matter and is just silly. If I pay for my food, it’s my choice whether I eat it, take it home, or throw it away. The fact that you’re watching customers on CCTV and using it to defend your bad service is not just creepy—it’s almost crazy. Threatening to use CCTV footage against customers is a serious issue, and I won’t hesitate to report this to the police and authorities. Let’s see how your sensitive ego handles court. Your regret about not throwing me out is funny. I regret not calling your so-called "chef" out for the joke of Indian food you serve. You serve overpriced, lazy, and fake food to customers who don’t know better, especially non-Indians. Shame on you for tricking them! I’ve added screenshots of your replies to other Indian customers who dared to criticize your food. Your habit of attacking critics and ignoring feedback is terrible. It’s clear that you have no respect for your customers or the food you claim to represent. You’re not just a bad restaurant owner—you’re an embarrassment to Indian hospitality. Based on the reviews I’ve seen, it’s clear that your food has made people sick, and I’m glad I didn’t suffer the same. Maybe it’s time for a surprise visit from the health inspector—I’m sure they’d have a lot to say. Learn hospitality and business. Stop being motivational for free, life is too short for you too! 💖

22.02.2025

Friendly service, really filling portions, and most importantly, very tasty indeed. Would recommend and I'll be going back. Their namesake IPA beer is absolutely delicious (i brought some home i liked them so much).

19.02.2025

On for some food this evenings with a friend, and have to say, everything form getting greeted on arrival, to the service and the food, wee 1st class, atmosphere of place is excellent, staff all very friendly and create a relaxed atmosphere, for you to be able to enjoy your food while here,

19.02.2025

What a FANTASTIC place, definitely a hidden gem. The waiter knew the menu and gave guidance on what to order but didn't try to over sell. Food was fresh and delicious. Pakora's were outstanding in texture and flavour (even the cauliflower one!) with a batter that was so light - each with different a herb and you just have to try the haggis pakora - stroke of genius! They had ran out of the Punjab curry that we wanted but the chef was quite happy to spice up the pannier curry for us and it was delightfully exquisite- spot on. Lovely bottle of red wine and all for a reasonable price. If your in the area, definitely needs to be on your visit list.

16.02.2025

Great food and great hospitality. Tonight was Chloe's first night and she knocked it out of the park!

15.02.2025

A lovely restaurant, the food was amazing and the service was great.

22.09.2024

The food is just about average. We popped in because my partner wanted to try his hands on some Indian food. The paratha was rubbery . Didn't taste good. The dal and rice was pretty decent but nothing to rave about. Didn't want to try anything else on the menu after that. Save ur money and cook ur own indian food!

02.02.2025

We had an amazing experience here. Brian, our server was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. The food could not have been better as well. This is a very special place!

01.02.2025

This is the 3rd time we visited the Pakora Bar, from the second you enter the building you feel welcome, everything is very relaxed and the staff are brilliant. I had the mixed meat Pakora with a Punjabi curry and nan bread, my wife had chicken Pakora with a curry and rice, really good portion size, I'm a big eater and wow, the food was very tasty loads of different flavours and spices. In-between courses the staff chatted away with us, it was really relaxing, I wish I could give more stars. Thanks guys and we'll see you soon.

01.02.2025

I visited the Pakora Bar with a friend tonight.. Not only did I enjoy the very delicious food but also talking to the owner and hearing his recommendations. The place has a very welcoming vibe and is perfect to enjoy a lovely evening with loved ones. I would highly recommend it :) Thank you for the tasty food and the lovely chat!

31.01.2025

Everything here is fantastic—the curry, the pudding, and the PARATHA, which is an absolute must-try! The staff are kind, and Rick, in particular, is warm-hearted. Highly recommend!

31.01.2025

had a wonderful experience at this establishment. The service was truly exceptional, with the staff being incredibly kind and attentive. The food was absolutely delicious — every dish exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a delightful dining experience. I’ll definitely be back!

27.01.2025

Food is always really tasty and fresh. I had veggie pakoras which were perfectly crispy and I loved the variety. Paired with a mango lassi, it was perfect. Staff are incredibly friendly and welcoming too. Definitely would recommend.