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Welcome To The Indian Queen
The Indian Queen, located in Banbury, offers a vibrant dining experience blending traditional Indian flavors with a welcoming atmosphere. Guests rave about the exceptional quality and variety of dishes, from the tender Lamb Rogan Josh to the rich and creamy Chicken Korma. The service is generally prompt and friendly, enhancing the dining experience. Priced reasonably, it attracts both locals and visitors seeking a memorable meal. The restaurant's buzzing ambiance, complemented by delectable poppadoms and flavorful curries, makes it a favorite for regulars and newcomers alike. Despite minor decor critiques, the food's quality and value shine through, promising a delightful return visit.
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About
The Indian Queen
Step into the vibrant world of The Indian Queen, a gem located on Stratford Road in Banbury, where the aroma of richly spiced cuisine envelops you the moment you arrive. This restaurant is not just a place to dine; it's an experience infused with the warmth of traditional Indian hospitality. Guests are welcomed with friendly service, setting the stage for an exceptional meal.
The Indian Queen excels in creating memorable dining experiences through a well-curated menu that boasts a variety of dishes to tantalize your taste buds. Many patrons have raved about the Shah Special—a must-try that comes highly recommended. Each dish is prepared with care, ensuring that flavors burst forth in every forkful. The Chicken Tikka Masala, for instance, has been described as a sauce that sings with sweetness without overwhelming the palate, while the Lamb Rogan Josh offers a tender bite with a delightful kick.
One of the highlights of The Indian Queen is its commitment to quality. Customers applaud the freshly cooked meals served piping hot, from the crispy poppadoms to decadent vegetarian options like Saag Paneer, which stands out for its impressive sauce-to-spinach ratio. Even at bustling times, the restaurant maintains a welcoming atmosphere where guests feel relaxed and unhurried, allowing them to enjoy their meals and companionable conversations over choice selections of rice and naan.
Reviews reflect a consistent theme: value for money. With a price point averaging around £20 per head—drinks included—diners are treated to an abundance of flavorful dishes that won't break the bank. This affordability combined with splendid service creates the perfect backdrop for both casual dinners and special occasions alike.
While the decor may not astound, it offers a clean and cozy space ideal for enjoying a delightful meal. The occasional need for improvement—like window cleaning and better climate control—suggests that the owners are dedicated to enhancing the customer experience even further.
In summary, The Indian Queen is celebrated not only for its enticing cuisine but also for its inviting ambiance and impressive service. Whether it's your first visit or a cherished monthly treat, the flavors and the friendly vibes will leave you looking forward to your next dining adventure at this Banbury hotspot.
People talk
Our Guestbook
“ Arrived late for a table of Four booking (thanks Banbury Railway Station) but no drama, gasping for a pint which arrived quickly with the Poppadoms. Went for platters to share as a starter which was very good value and the mains, although slow to appear, were all excellent - highly rate the Shah Special! With Bar tab all in was 40/head, really enjoyed it (a Monthly treat). Could do with cleaning the windows in the conservatory and fitting some blinds as it can be a furnace even with doors open - local wasp population then pay a visit! Overall it’s a Ten from Len...... ”
“ Myself and my partner went this evening, we booked for 7pm, were 10 minutes early however there was no wait, the waiter sat is straight down. After just a few minutes we were asked if we'd like any drinks and poppadoms, these then arrived more or less instantly which was nice. We wasn't rushed into ordering, I had enough time to look through the menu (I wanted to try something new) but at the same time we wasn't kept waiting. We ordered 2 mains, 2 rice and a selection of sides all of which were absolutely beautiful. Every dish was freshly cooked, piping hot and very flavourful. In total, 3 drinks, 2 mains, 2 rice, 3 sides, naan & poppadoms with chutneys was just over 61 which I think is very reasonable in this day and age. This was our first time going to the Indian Queen and I cannot wait to go back again, gorgeous food! ”
“ Curry is the nations favourite and I wanted to try out what I have heard refered to as the best curry in Banbury. Location Bit of a drive for this one out to Wroxton area, which on a cold rainy Saturday was not the nicest. But once there the car park is fairly large and the restaurant shines brightly in the dark winter eve. Interior For me, nothing special, the tables are clean and well presented but there wasn't a wow factor on decor. Not bad at all, just not great. We even had a little electric fan behind our table so they must get complaints about the draughts. Service Saturday night is a busy night but we found the entire service to be rather slow, taking a while to order, to clear the Poppadom plates, to serve the mains and eventually clear the mains. It wasn't a disaster but 2 hours for Poppadoms and a main is lengthy. Lucky I loved the company I was with . The team are however super friendly, welcoming and well presented so apart from beings super busy with all the customers no issue here. Food/drink We had so much food and honestly every dish was amazing and full of flavour. I won't comment on each but we had: Poppadoms & Chutney tray Chicken Tikka Masala - sauce was next level sweet without being sickly Veg masala Lamb rogan josh - a good kick to this and lamb was so tender Chicken korma - I could drink the coconut based sauce Chicken Towa - but dryer but packed with flavour Veg bhuna Saag Paneer - show stealer for me, more sauce than any other I have every had but the spinach and paneer combo with the sauce was just mindblowing! Plain & peshwari naan Drinks Standard drinks menu, we weren't here for the drinks so a pint of Cobra or Kingfisher works nicely Price At under 20 per head including drinks I am not complaining. It isn't winning awards for being cheap but it is for the value of the food vs the cost. Overall A solid curry had by all, the big question about best in Banbury? There are lots of others I have yet to try. I would say this place is up there currently and I will be back again but I am not convinced it's number one just yet! ”
“ Buzzing Indian restaurant and pub. Delicious food, great service, and fairly priced. We shall return. ”
“ Drove past a couple of times to work and decided to visit it one of the evenings. I was welcomed in by Friendly staff. I chose the tandoori mixed grill and a side of chicken pakora, I couldn’t fault it, good quality food. See you soon thanks again ”
“ Upon entering the restaurant we were greeted with a great atmosphere, we were seen too our table quickly and offered drinks and suggestions of what to eat. Our waiter was on the ball but not to over attentive and made us feel really relaxed and at ease. A really enjoyable evening and the food was just perfect, will definitely recommend to other friends and return again 5* ”
“ What great food. We managed to book a table for that same day. Upon arrival we ordered drinks, wow I noticed they had an IPA on tap called Bombay bicycle, to be fair it was a good pint. Poppadoms were up next, the dips are onions, mango, mint and red hot. The red hot had a smooth warming hot after taste. On to the mains mixed tandoori masala. Tandoori Chicken, lamb and minced lamb in masala sauce, the meat was very tender with a mouth watering flavoursome masala sauce. Pilau rice and peshwari naan weren't massive in portion or size but enough. This is maybe the best curry house in the area. So back to the big question would I go back? And it's got to be the biggest YES going. ”
“ Our first visit to the Indian Queen but definitely not our last. Delicious food and fantastic, friendly service. ”