Maharani Restaurant in Colchester

⭐ 1 Star Extremely disappointed with my recent experience at Maharani. I placed a takeaway order (as I regularly do) and waited over an hour and a half before calling to check on it. I was told they attempted delivery but got no answer—this is completely untrue, as I was sitting in the living room by the door the entire time with the TV off. No one came. They then tried to claim I had entered the wrong phone number, which I know was correct. When I called to clarify, the woman on the phone was incredibly rude, hostile, and hung up on me. After calling back, I was promised a refund, but it was never issued. I’ve now had to dispute the payment through my bank. Avoid this place unless you want to risk being scammed. Terrible customer service and zero accountability.

Treated by my partner and daughter to a birthday meal here one week ago. The food is amazing, the service excellent! Such lovely staff, made us feel so welcome! The portions are so large we each had enough food to take home for another meal. I cannot recommend this restaurant enough! Will be going back here many times, have managed to get a table for Valentines 💘 night in this very popular restaurant!

Lovely food and great service....well priced....Good location....clean and well presented

Such lovely food and great staff, they go above and beyond.

Customer service was lovely, checked on us to see if everything was great, Food was great fast service 10/10

Excellent service and excellent meal

Amazing service and the waiters and waitresses were incredible throughout. The food was also 10/10 and the portion sizes were large and perfect! Excited to come again!

Staff were so accommodating and food is delicious. Definitely recommend!

Great food, great service. The complimentary tea was delicious.

Great food and great service at a good price 👍

Absolutely fabulous food, fast and efficient service, wiould definitely recommend, thank you Maharani 👍

I had an amazing experience, and I want to thank the Maharani team. I will definitely revisit again soon!

“Disappointing Experience” We visited this restaurant based on its positive reviews, but unfortunately, the food was extremely disappointing. None of the dishes we ordered tasted remotely like authentic Indian cuisine. Everything seemed frozen, lacked flavor, and felt far from fresh. To make matters worse, I ended up with an upset stomach afterward. Had even one dish been above average, I might have considered leaving a better review. I’m genuinely puzzled by the glowing feedback this place has received. Either we visited on an exceptionally bad day, or the reviews are misleading. This restaurant does not do justice to Indian food in any way.

Really tasty and good value. Thanks Maharani.

I ordered food for New Year's and both the curries were too sweet. The naan was too burnt and the food was inedible. The food is not a representation of Indian culture.

Excellent food and great service, thank you! We’ve been a few times and we’re always happy to come back here, one of the best in town

The food was awfully sweet. The curries were inedible. The garlic naan was burnt. The curries did not represent Indian food in any way.

I was taken aback at how good this place is!! The food was fantastic and I must admit Olga is one of the most attentive and charming hostess’ I’ve come across for a very long time. I’m based near London and this is as good as or if not better than places there!

Superb food, great service and warm friendly atmosphere. First time here to eat in and all 4 of us have had a superb tasty meal. It tasted freshly cooked. Lovely staff and a delicious masala chai at the end of the meal. I would recommend Maharani. Thank you

Excellent food and service. Will be back soon. Been here a few times now and it’s always been great. Staff are fantastic.

Perfect location, excellent staff, delicious food and added extras which were a bonus! Thank you very much - we will be back.

Simply put this is one of the best Restaurants in Essex. Yes I can say that as they do a whole chicken curry on the bone that is to die for unique in colchester; This in addition to the wonderful service and strangely a great red and white wine list as well as bubble to complement a special event.. it’s a lovly place but for Friday and Saturday night you’ll need to book in advance .

Food was exceptional and so was the service!

Amazing food and service would go back in a heart beat booked for 2025 thank you so much it was great! Such a great selection

First time here, really nice place. Will be coming again

Lipika was fantastic! Loved our experience, always a 10/10 time here Great food!

Lipika and olga were fantastic. Food was amazing

Came here with 12 friends. Best time ever! Food was superb, staff (Lipika in particular) was superb! Would definitely come again!

Excellent food and service very friendly. Would highly recommend.

The food is excellent the atmosphere is ok the restaurant was literally empty when we went but the staff serving our table was constantly interrupting our conversation in attempt to tell us if you finished leave. We are a group who likes to eat slowly but unfortunately we had to finally leave as she said the table is reserved. I’m not sure if this is the norm in UK Resturant that waiters keep bugging customers until they leave. If this is the case then they should reconsider their strategies with tourist as this is interrupted as very disrespectful behavior which was the case. I gave the review mainly because of the attitude not the food.

Excellent food, lovely service our favourite curry place in Essex. Highly recommend.

Wow this restaurant is amazing.... The food is the best I've had in a long time. Beautifully presented and tasted even better. Really nice restaurant with very good service. First time here and won't be my last.

Amazing food. Best in Colchester

Amazing best curry I've had in a long time

I had a great Birthday spent at Maharani. I’ve always loved Indian food and this place does it well. So accommodating and the free Baileys went down a treat!

Lovely food, lovely people - great night.

We had our Xmas meal here. Amazing service, staff so friendly and helpful. Food delicious, and catered for my nut allergy. Highly recommend!

This was my first time at this restaurant and I have to say that it was brilliant. However, it’s not just the excellent food that makes this restaurant great, it’s the service too. From start to finish the staff were great - this place knows how to get things right. Complimentary drinks and a lolly for our son at the end of the meal topped it for me - few restaurants offer nice touches like that anymore. Keep doing what you’re doing and thanks to all staff at the Maharani!

Superb meal here last night. Service was exceptional and currys really tasty. Food is on the spicier side but this was excellent for my taste. Will be back!!!

Host was amazing, food was amazing. Stuffed right now. Every time I've been here foods been perfect.

Great food and service. We will be back

We visited here for our works Christmas meal and it was impeccable. The food and staff were amazing and attentive. Highly recommend this restaurant.

My first time in İndian restaurant I really liked it 🤍

Best Indian in Colchester. Food is always great and service is great!

Amazing food very flavour full. Muskaan was amazing host!

The service was top-notch, with attentive and knowledgeable staff who guided us through the menu. The food was fresh, bursting with flavor, and beautifully presented. To finish, we enjoyed a delightful chai tea that was the perfect end to the meal. Highly recommend this place for anyone seeking great food paired with brilliant service.

Excellent food, excellent service. Highly recommend and we will be back soon. Thank you!

Delicious food, friendly helpful staff, sensible prices, and good attention to the kind of details that make a difference. Eating here is a really nice experience

A Hidden Gem for Indian Cuisine! I recently had the pleasure of dining at [Restaurant Name], and I have to say, it was an unforgettable experience. From the moment I walked in, the ambiance was warm and inviting, with a perfect blend of traditional and modern touches. The staff were friendly and attentive, making us feel right at home. The food was nothing short of spectacular, and packed with flavorful filling. For the main course, I highly recommend the butter chicken—it was rich, creamy, and absolutely delicious. The flavors were well-balanced, and the spices were just right, not overwhelming but still packing a punch. The naan was perfectly soft and freshly baked, complementing the dishes beautifully. What stood out to me the most, however, was the attention to detail in each dish. Everything was fresh, and the ingredients tasted high-quality. It’s clear that the chefs at [Restaurant Name] are passionate about their craft. Overall, [Restaurant Name] offers an exceptional dining experience with authentic flavors and top-notch service. Whether you're a long-time fan of Indian cuisine or new to the flavors, this place is a must-try. I'll definitely be back!

Service was great, they treated us very well and even gave us chocolates for one of our birthdays. Olga was very attentive and welcoming. Food was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone and we would come back in a heartbeat.

Mind blowing foods also service is the best, highly recommended coming more.

Excellent meal, fast service, and really nice atmosphere in the restaurant! Nice and close to high street

Been here lots of times now for sit in. With the countless different Indian restaurants tried throughout the years, across various countries, I can say it’s the best sit in curry I have ever had. Flavours and quality the best there is. Staff are always welcoming and smiling.

Great experience and lovely food.

Amazing service amazing food and at a reasonable price pukka

Food full of gristle, told to wait an hour for the wrong dish to be sent. Staff are rude and clearly to busy for a just eat customer

I had a very tasty meal and the service was very good, olga was very friendly and helpful

I recently visited here hoping for a memorable Indian dining experience, but sadly, the food was far from satisfactory. Despite the restaurant’s impressive ambiance, which creates a warm and inviting atmosphere with beautiful decor and comfortable seating, the quality of the food was a major letdown. As an Indian, I had high expectations for authentic flavors, but the dishes fell short in every way. The spices were either overpowering or bland, the textures felt off, and even staple dishes lacked the richness and depth typical of Indian cuisine. It felt like a poor imitation rather than a celebration of our diverse flavors. The service was fine, and I genuinely appreciated the effort that went into making the place look stunning, but unfortunately, even the best ambiance can’t make up for the subpar food. I left feeling disappointed and wouldn’t recommend it to anyone looking for a true taste of India. If they can work on enhancing the quality of their dishes, they could be a great spot. For now, though, it’s a one-time visit or no visit at all.

Beautiful ambiance but extremely disappointing experience. The food was bland, overpriced, and far from authentic - just a few bites in a £27 platter! Staff refused a table change despite no network, and there's no Wi-Fi. Not recommended.

Lovely food and friendly staff! :)

Booked a table for our daughters birthday, was slightly dismayed to receive a call 10 minutes before we were due to arrive (whilst parking the car) to say that our table may not be ready at our booked time. But we headed on up anyway to find our favourite waitress Olga ( from Our old Indian that's closed down ) waiting to welcome us with a an apology and told the last people had just taken a little longer than expected, ended up at the back of the restraunt chatting to the folk just leaving and them wishing our daughter a happy birthday too !!! A drink on the house whilst waiting as an apology for the 5 minute wait. Food was absolutely fantastic, service was impeccable and well priced for what we had. We will definetly be using this as our regular local Indian .Restraunt isn't very spacious so i would advise pre booking, and as a nice touch a box of chocolates and card for the birthday girl !

Just received our order from Maharani and I have to say how disappointed we are. Insipid at best. Best thing is the naan bread. Will be avoiding in future!

Outstanding when eating in, have eaten in a few times but tonight was the first time I’ve ordered a delivery and boy what a difference, no where near as nice, the lamb curry had no taste whatsoever, lesson learnt, only eat in house

Bonne nourriture indienne servi dans de très bonnes conditions. Dans de beaux couverts et assiettes. Avec des vrais serviettes en tissus. Les plats sont très bons. Et servis dans de jolies assiettes et casseroles. Le service est professionnel

Wonderful service and food. Very much recommended.

didn't get what we ordered. ordered Prawn madras and got chicken

Food was amazing and staff very friendly

Food here was amazing, highly recommend!

Nice little hidden place, I recommend making a reservation. Service was very warm friendly, asked us about food allergies as well! Food was incredibly good. I've got several stomach conditions, none of which had any issues with this food. Not greasy whatsoever. Fluffy rice, tasty naan bread plus a surprise at the end.

The food was good and adjusted to my palate

Best customer service. Friendly staff.

Amazing service and very polite behaviour by the staff!

The best Indian we've had in a long time! Delicious selection of food with fresh spices and authentic flavours. Great service and welcoming atmosphere for families. Definitely worth a visit.

Honestly the best Indian meal we have ever had! We visited for the first time tonight after reading this restaurant's great reviews. They weren't wrong. Everything was cooked perfectly, the service was outstanding and we will definitely be back. 👍👍

Olga was such a wonderful touch to the most wonderful restaurant! Amazing food and service and so great with the children.. thank you !

Delicious food, lovely waitress, couldn’t recommend highly enough

Amazing place, great food & wonderful staff

Food is amazing, so full of flavour. The decor of the restaurant is classy and comfortable. The staff are all friendly, happy to talk through the menu and make recommendations when wanted. Olga is an amazing hostess. Definitely worth a visit

I had the pathia, it blew my head off which was a pleasant surprise! Would absolutely recommend the staff, the food and the whole experience is 10/10.

Lovely dinner, great service. Looking forward to coming back soon

EDITED THE REVIEW AFTER SO PLEASE READ THE LAST PARAGRAPH **Disappointing Experience** I recently dined here, hoping for authentic food, but was left disappointed. The staff were loudly chit-chatting throughout my visit, and much of it included inappropriate language, which I found very unprofessional. As for the food, it was overly oily and seemed to have a lot of food coloring, which took away from the authenticity I was expecting. Unfortunately, this is not a place I would recommend for a true authentic and enjoyable dining experience. Zero for food, atmosphere and service. Sorry I didn’t clarify, i did try to book a table for 5 on 14th but because you were fully booked i came with my other 2 friends for lunch on the 15th of September. If you want to check your books - chilli chicken, karai paneer, dal tarka, garlic naan and kheema naan we ordered. Better ask your customer if they forgot to mention time instead of calling their genuine review fake. Thanks

This is a great restaurant, but it feels like they are permanently having to cope with being slightly too small. Great food (and good portions!) and excellent service. Definitely book ahead on the busier evenings.

Taste was absolutely fantastic. Excellent service. Great value for money!

This was for our friends 30th and staff were very accommodating and amazing food. Service was great. Everyone enjoyed this and would return

Wonderful service and great atmosphere, Chicken Methi was delicious as was Sag Paneer.

The food was delicious and delivered in giod time. There was some confusion over whether the food was delivered yet, but the restaurant was very helpful.

Second time visiting and a wonderful dining experience again! Fantastic service from our waitress Olga and the food is just perfect :)

Always hot always good quality

I have been to many Indian restaurants in my life, but none of them can compare to the Maharani Indian restaurant in Colchester. The food is simply amazing, the service is friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere is cozy and inviting. I love their chicken tikka masala, which is rich and creamy, with just the right amount of spice. Their naan bread is soft and fluffy, perfect for dipping in their delicious sauces. Their vegetable samosas are crispy and flavorful, filled with potatoes, peas, and spices. And their mango lassi is the best I have ever tasted, smooth and refreshing. The portions are generous, the prices are reasonable, and the quality is consistent. I always leave feeling satisfied and happy. The Maharani Indian restaurant is the best Indian restaurant in Colchester, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves Indian cuisine.

Excellent food and staff - would highly recommend.

First time here, fantastic food, friendly staff. Highly recommended!

The staff were very kind and helpful. The food was absolutely divine I would 100% recommend coming here

Amazing service, great food. Thank you so much

Absolutely amazing service & food. Turned up for our table of 8 only to find that WE had booked the wrong night. No trouble at all & they swiftly managed to get a table for us. The food was delicious. Such amazing flavours. All of us really enjoyed our curry. Well done to you all.

This is our third visit. Really lovely atmosphere and food. Great service too. Would definitely recommend.

Great and authentic food. Friendly service. I would go again :-)

The food was not having enough salt, and Some of the cutlery have some food particles, stick on it.

Great food, fantastic service, a great evening

Such great food and service. Atmosphere was brilliant. Approx £25 for a really nice meal.

Great Food, even better service.