Reasons to love New Tayyabs (4th May 09)

It's been a good Bank Holiday weekend in terms of food...

Lunch today was at a very regular haunt for me and the ex-Durham gang: New Tayyabs in Whitechapel, East London.

Tayyabs is a curiously comforting place for us - everyone needs to have somewhere they know they will get large amounts of consistently tasty and authentic food, for very low prices. You can even bring your own booze, although this is often a hangover-curing (hence why it is comforting), late-lunch venue for us. It's always busy here, but we're such regulars that we've learnt to either get a big group together and book in advance. or eat at slightly odd times to avoid the queues. I wouldn't recommend eating here from about 7pm in the evening - the queues snake the whole way around the restaurant, which doesn't make for a relaxed eating experience. Afternoons however are pretty busy, but not rushed.

Today, I went in ahead after finding that our favourite Whitechapel pub The Good Samaritan didn't open on Bank Holidays. I didn't have to wait more than two minutes for a table for 5 people, and although the others didn't arrive straightaway, I was able to sip a sweet lassi and read my Jasper Fforde novel until they did. The waiter was able to memorise our slightly complicated order, and we soon had plate fulls of sheekh kababs (90p each), and garlic naans piled high, as well as an assortment of curries. My keema was perhaps not as spicy as it could have been, but the kebabs were juicy and flavoured to perfection. A really big plus point for me, is that the food is authentic enough not to use any pre-mixed curry powder, as I'm very allergic to fenugreek which is a major ingredient in curry powder, and has stopped me being able to eat in a large number of Indian restaurants (although this is Pakistani rather than Indian).

Tayyabs may not be great if you arrive at a busy time and need to queue, or if you like very spicy or innovative food, but in terms of a cheap and cheerful place to have a lazy lunch, it can't really be beaten.

Atmosphere: There were plenty of people here even though it was after the lunch rush, but the atmosphere is relaxed and it's light and airy inside the restaurant.

Service: Very efficient order-taking, although food doesn't always arrive at the same time. Waiters are friendly.

Value for money: Excellent. You can eat a lot for about £10 a head, and you can bring your own booze with no corkage charge.

Marks out of 10: 8/10 - We keep coming back here so it must be good. Not the most sophisticated food but consistently pleasing and we always leave satisfied.