I think the reader below might think that poor service is charming but I found Tayyabs a nightmare experience.
The restaurant has given into greed and money and forgot about the customers that became regulars there after my last experience. I couldn't believe how money grabbing they have become – the staff there lacked any customer service, were rude and difficult when you challenged them about how long we had to wait (over an hour and a half).

I was told by their manager on Friday last week that I would have to wait approx 15 minutes to get a table so I was completely misled. One they don't take bookings on the day apparently and then they told me the queue would be minimal but ended up waiting for an hour and a half. I was with a pregnant friend and felt it was unreasonable that she had to stand that long. When I asked the manager for help, he was so flustered he couldn't take it in and was rude and difficult and upset me.

Food is good and yes much better than Brick Lane but by the time we got to our table I had lost my appetite.

The customer service is beyond bad and from what I could tell, the owner has organised bookings and a queue system which they can't manage or maintain and all you have a sense of is they want to take your money, give you your food and straight back out again. I am not unreasonable and I don't mind waiting for a table and in some places it is all part of the experience but it was chaos in Tayabs and the front of house staff didn't have a clue about who was to serve next or what to do. At one point I thought the front of hourse guy was going to have a meltdown in front of us. Doesn't make for a good evening at all.

I wasn't the only disgruntled customer there and I won't be going back (after being a regular for years).