Gufaa Indian Restaurant

We had takeout from here a couple of times. The takeout price was 20% off and we thought it was a nice deal. The food was flavorful and the staff was very pleasant. I really enjoyed the chili naan.
We went back a bit over a week later and the experience was different. They were no longer doing the discount. The manager offered us a 10% discount since he remembered us and explained that he was no longer permitted to do a take away discount. They are apparently going to offer reward cards… I’ll be back in the states so not too concerned but thought the 20% was a deal. The naan was a bit chewy this time. I’m not going to do 3stars but if I were to go back and have a repeat of my second experience I would do 3 stars.

Gufaa is a canny little place to have a curry. The fact that it is away from the rest of the east’s curry houses in Brick Land works in it’s favour. It’s always pretty busy which is a good sign and there’s never any complaints about food and service.

A nice look to this Indian restaurant. A snap decision to eat here, at Gufaa, as time was tight and we were hungry. After a warm-​ish welcome from one waiter, a different waiter was a little slow on the uptake with our orders but we got there in the end. Everything then seemed to be moving along smoothly, and indeed there were no real delays from here on. Just a wish that we had gone someplace else instead.
My lamb meal wasn’t too bad really, flavour-​wise. Not particularly nice but not too bad but my ladyfriend was quite disappointed with hers. Although she was looking forward to a paneer korma, the result was described as «horrible», «tasteless» and «bland». I had some too, and it was all of these things.
All in all, it’s not just a case of the food being inadequate, the portion sizes are also a little on the small side. When one also considers that the price of these meals are a fraction higher than that of most other Indian restaurants leaving very little reason to venture back to Gufaa any time soon.
TFN,
Ian

On my first night in London, I wanted to have Indian food. By the time I arrived in Islington (where I was staying while visiting a friend), it was already 10PM but my friend said she knew a good place that would still be open. She took me to Gufaa which was just right across the street from the Angel tube stop.
I chose the prix fixed menu. I can’t remember what the appetizer was called but it consisted of cauliflowers and peas cooked in a spicy, red sauce. My main course was chicken saag. I was disappointed in everything. The food was too spicy and it overpowered all the other flavors. The chicken in the saag was overcooked and dry, The only silver lining was the delicious mango kulfi.

We had the most HORRENDOUS service in this place. It was late but still officially open. The uncharismatic, un-​educated, nasty manager gave us (reluctantly) the green light to sit down and eat; indicating we had half hour, but not in any manner which was slightly comforting.
20 minutes later, after eating uncomfortably, surrounded by him and his waiters, standing feet away from us like a pack of Hyenas, they began clearing whatever they could, … My companion, a lady in every right, had to at some point say to them, ‘can you please stop staring at us’? … It was indeed iINTRUSIVE. OFFENSIVE. INTIMIDATING.
Just before the half hour was up… the above mentioned ‘Manager’ began motioning at me, with his arms„ like a referee stopping a game, from behind the bar. I could not believe it. They added a service charge on (the cheeky monkeys), which we later realised; and after being able to take no more, i confronted the manager, asking him for details of the owner… He scribbled the name down on a business card, and threw it on the bar, for me to pick up.
I then found out these restaurants belong to a family — same people who run The Bengal Lancer, The bengal Clipper, and the Bengal Trader. I approached one of the other owners, to report the matter, and was told ‘Gufaa’ was run by some nephew and was not related to these other ventures, business-​wise. He passed on the message onto the Owner of the place, but he never got back to me. I THEN CONTACTED TRADING STANDARDS.
There is a recession going on. These people don’t deserve to be in business. I WILL NEVER EVER GO BACK. THIS WASN’T OUR FIRST CHOICE. BUT IT WAS JUST THERE. OUR FIRST CHOICE WAS RASA, IN STOKE NEWINGTON. A PLACE TRULY DESERVING OF MY MONEY.
i have since found several negative reviews about this place, its service, and it’s food.