A long-established Peterborough Indian restaurant with broadly praised food, generous set menus and family appeal, but service can become seriously unreliable when busy and one recent report raises a troubling concern about feeling singled out.
The Bombay Brasserie delivers solid food quality with rich flavours and tender preparations that earn consistent praise across dine-in, buffet, and delivery formats. Service attentiveness and menu knowledge are generally strong, though operational speed becomes inconsistent during peak periods, preventing a higher grade. Its convenient Broadway location and loyal following support reliable neighbourhood dining rather than destination appeal.
The Bombay Brasserie is a long-established, city-centre Indian restaurant with a relaxed family-room feel, a bar, comfortable spacing and enough capacity for genuinely large gatherings. On a quiet Sunday, one diner found the music and allergy-aware waiter especially reassuring; at peak times, however, the room can turn from welcoming to operationally stretched. The cooking is classic Indian rather than experimental: richly spiced curries, tender lamb, tandoori dishes, naan and dependable vegetarian choices. Butter chicken, chicken tikka masala, lamb jhalfrezi and paneer dishes attract the warmest attention, while set menus and buffet formats make the restaurant particularly easy to approach for groups. The important caveat is service consistency: many diners praise the team, but others report long waits, overbooking and difficult management interactions. Families are well catered for by the £6.50 children’s buffet, with under-fives eating free, plus familiar choices such as chicken dishes, naan, rice and mild curry styles. Reviews include a very positive family-of-five visit, although one diner felt the evening suited adults better. Book ahead for busy periods, and choose a quieter sitting if dining with young children or anyone needing a relaxed pace.
Area vibe: Busy provincial city centre with retail, offices, and civic buildings.
Safety: Generally safe in daytime; quieter evenings with normal city-centre petty-crime precautions after dark.
What's nearby: Close to Peterborough Cathedral, Queensgate shopping centre, Peterborough Railway Station and city council offices.
The safest orders lean toward richly spiced classics, especially butter chicken, lamb jhalfrezi, and tandoori dishes.
It is family-friendly and flexible for groups, but busy periods can mean delays and inconsistent service.
The clearest value comes from the set menus and buffet, while busy-service problems and drink costs can change the calculation.