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Cafe Le Raj
Review
About
Located in the heart of Chipping Norton, Cafe Le Raj is a popular Indian Restaurant in Oxfordshire.
Features
CUISINES
Indian, Asian, Bangladeshi
Meal types
Dinner
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
FEATURES
Accepts Credit Cards
American Express
BYOB
Delivery
Highchairs Available
Mastercard
Reservations
Seating
Table Service
Takeout
Visa
Wheelchair Accessible
Does this place accept credit cards?
Save this restaurant
Hours
Closed now
• Opens at 5:30 PM
Sunday
17:30 - 23:00
Monday
17:30 - 23:00
Tuesday
17:30 - 23:00
Wednesday
17:30 - 23:00
Thursday
17:30 - 23:00
Friday
17:30 - 23:00
Saturday
17:30 - 23:00
Contribute
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4.4
(352)
Excellent
244
Good
58
Average
9
Poor
14
Terrible
27
Superhooooper
Biggleswade688 contributions
Oct 2024 • couples
We stumbled upon this restaurant only because other local restaurants were fully booked.
We were greeted at the door and were soon ready to make our order and were told that they did not supply alcohol but we could purchase it at a petrol station 1 minute up the road and they would supply glasses etc.
The food came and it was exceptional the meat was so tender and covered in a delicious source.
The bill was quite reasonable as well, but it should be noted that you are charged £3.75 for a bottle of water that is on the table when you arrive.
The staff were very attentive and we consider our visit to be a very luck discovery.
Would definitely be a regular if we lived locally.
Written 14 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Murphy B
2 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
After over a decade in the area, this has become our 'go-to' local Indian restaurant. We have eaten here many times and have always experienced friendly attentive service and great food at a very reasonable price. Nice cosy atmosphere too!
Written 3 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarra-Kate H
Chipping Norton2 contributions
Dec 2019 • none
I am so pleased to have found a curry house close by that serves great curry. I do know my curries having lived close to Southall in London.
I have tried a few other restaurants around and they just don't compare to the taste of the curry that Cafe Las Raj produce.
We thought we would try somewhere else close by last week but it was bland and tasteless. If we have friends up then we always go here. Cafe La Raj all the way!
One word of warning though is book an early dinner as possible, as the busier they get the longer it takes to get your food and you can be waiting for a long time on a busy Saturday night. We booked for sit down at 6pm last time and that worked well.
Written 11 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CathyG
Chipping Norton16 contributions
Jan 2025 • couples
We haven't tried this restaurant before and won't be trying it again. We ordered a delivery and we live a 5-minute walk away. The food took over an hour to arrive. When it did it was cold. The Chicken was overcooked, the sauces were bland, the poppadoms were soft and cold and the chips were poorly cooked, cold oven chips and they forgot the Mango chutney we ordered. I complained and they offered to bring another order but there seemed no point. Granted the food would possibly have been warmer but the taste would still have been poor. No offer of a refund. We will not be eating their food again.
Written 11 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stacey M
Whitstable1 contribution
Aug 2023 • couples
If you don't live local to Chipping Norton, avoid like the plague.
My partner and I booked to stay in Chipping Norton for 2 nights mini break. This is the first break we have had in 4 years due, to myself caring for my disabled Son and Dad.
I booked a table in advance and was so looking forward to a relaxing meal and a few drinks.
All was going well until we walked through the door. The owner was very abrupt the second we walked in. After being seated we waited and waited and waited a bit more. None of the staff acknowledged us. After two more parties come in (clearly regulars and greeted like royalty) they we're served before us. Still we sat, no drink and clutching menus. (I was actually fanning myself with mine, as I'd already looked at it for 20 minutes and it was very hot in there) eventually I managed to catch one of the staff and asked if we could have some drinks. Again, I felt like we we're an inconvenience. When the drinks did turn up, I asked if we could order some poppadoms. I was grunted at. They arrived, we ate them (they we're tasty but by then I'd of eaten anything) and then back to the waiting while the other customers we're spoken to, joked with, asked if they needed anything extra and tucked into their food while we still hadn't had our orders taken. By now I was get hangry and was turning out to be an absolute joke. It wasn't like my partner and i we're having a lovely relaxing time over a drink, our glasses sat empty for 40 minutes, so I placed them on the edge of the table, hoping that some miracle we would get refills. I had to ask twice for another drink. My partner got his, they didn't give me mine. A member of staff took out order (thank the lord) but an hour and a half later it finally was plonked on the table. By then I was past it. I'm diabetic (I did tell a staff member this) so 2 diet cokes and a poppadom, I was starting to feel unwell. We both had enough, we ate half of the food and asked for the bill. Funnily enough that's the only thing that came to the table in lighting speed. To top of the insult to injury, I had a mint chocolate thrusted at me, even though I had told the same staff member, I have diabetes. £62 bill of disappointment. If I'm even in the area again, I'll be trying the other Indian restaurant, but I won't be gracing Cafe Le Raj with my presence again. I'm sure they will be pleased.
Written 17 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
crwb1948
5 contributions
Nov 2023 • couples
I booked dinner for 6.15 pm before the cinema at 7.30 pm.
Traditionally, in Indian restaurants you receive a warm welcome. We were met by the manager without a smile and told rather hurriedly to sit where we liked. By 6.55 our dinner had not arrived and then we realised why. Many large take away dishes and boxes, obviously for a big party were taken out of the restaurant and had clearly delayed our dinner. When our dinner eventually arrived after 7.00 pm it was quite good but we had to eat fast and there was little time to enjoy it. Our waiter was polite throughout.
Written 23 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
paulwP6196ZV
Oxford5 contributions
Mar 2024 • couples
Having been eating at, and enjoyed, Cafe le Raj for over 20 years we went last night (Friday) to find the restaurant empty. This is extremely strange. We sat down and ordered our normal beers but were told that they no longer serve alcohol. We enquired as to whether this was something to do with approaching Ramadan. The response was that it was but that they would not be resuming the sale of alcohol after Ramadan. We left and politely advised them that we would not be returning.
Written 8 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
3boysandi
11 contributions
Nov 2024 • friends
Nice food. Can't fault it. Service was also great BUT........makesure you check the bill afterwards. We got charged nearly £4 for a bottle of water put on our table. It was already unscrewed so I 100% believe it was tap water. Also since being home, we've added it up and we've been charged £10 more than it should have cost. Wish we had double checked it first!!!!!! Won't be returning due to this
Written 12 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheFoodCritic92
Oxfordshire31 contributions
Mar 2024 • family
I was very surprised when I see this place had stopped serving alcohol, and a meal out here showed exactly why. We walked in at a premium time and the restaurant was like a ghost town. The owner was away and his clueless staff brought his once great place down to its knees. Food was bland and cold, portion size nowhere near what it was before. Waited ages between dishes for food to be brought and plates to be taken away. I was then horrified to find out when I got home that the place had been given a 1 star trip advisor rating! Funnily enough, the owner never posted any of this to his social media page. A quick walk past and this place is now deserted, and a quick walk to the other down the road by the town hall and its rammed, this tells you everything you need to know! I did give them another chance when their socials had said they got a 5, but the service was still terrible, rude and clueless staff. Food nothing special again. It really appears that the owner no longer wants to be here and just does not care.
Written 7 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Umtawaddo
2 contributions
Mar 2025 • solo
I ordered a simple prawn curry - medium hot -to take out. It was the most disgusting food I have ever been served. I am very well versed in BIR (British Indian Restaurant) techniques. This, however, consisted of a portion of base gravy with a load of chilli powder and some sugar. There were no spices like cumin, coriander, fennel, turmeric or garam masala let alone a garnish of green coriander. Nothing, zilch, nada. Almost flavourless base gravy The addition of a load of chopped raw onion made the whole thing inedible. A few small prawns completed the fiasco. Together with a naan this set me back £13.00.
This was practically identical to a dish I recently bought from Spice of India masquerading as Prawn Balti. Never again will I use either of these establishments. Disgraceful!!!
Jay Denson (Chipping Norton)
Written 24 March 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Miss Leeds
Island of Malta26 contributions
Feb 2022 • solo
I arrived on a Weds evening, the restaurant wasn't busy in the slightest, but despite there being several free tables in the main section of the restaurant, I was ushered to a table in a separate section at the back next to the bar which wasn't even set up for dining (no cutlery, plates, napkins,etc). Not sure if I was placed there because I was a solo diner, but ultimately I didn't want to sit in an area by myself (there weren't any other tables set up in this area), so I asked if I could move to the main dining area. I was moved to the table next to the front door, which was draughty every time a delivery driver arrived to collect an order.
The waiter asked what I wanted before he'd given me a menu to look at, and once I'd been issued with a menu, he returned to take my order within a couple of minutes, before I'd had chance to even read the first page. I asked him to give me a couple of minutes, and eventually he came to take my order about ten minutes later. I ordered a starter and main course. He didn't have a pen and pad, and when he repeated my order back to me he got it wrong. He also asked if I wanted everything together, and I had to specify that I wanted my starter first, and then my main course afterwards. I've never had to specify this, I'm not sure why he would think I would want everything to arrive at the same time.
The starter (chicken tikka) arrived with two minutes, so clearly hadn't been cooked fresh. It was tasty nonetheless, if slightly cold. The main course (Naga Lamb) arrived about 30 seconds after my starter plate had been taken away. It was nice enough, although not as spicy as I expected.
It's a shame that the customer service at Cafe Le Raj wasn't very good, as the food was quite nice. But as a solo female traveller, I wouldn't recommend it.
Written 2 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jan V
Staines39 contributions
Nov 2021 • none
Over the past month the quality of food is getting worse and worse, deliveries now 30 to 60 minutes late. Ordered 4 different main courses, when they arrived they were cold. Looking at the meals they seem to be using the same sauce for everything but just add different meat. Onion Bajees greasy, nan bread undercooked and tasteless. What a shame as they were quite good not Ive had enough. Im afraid its a M&S Indian takeaway in the future.
Written 1 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Simon P
1 contribution
Oct 2021 • couples
Ordered a take out at 17:43 tonight. No sign of the delivery driver at 19:10 so I called up the restaurant to be told the delivery driver had just left.
At 19:30 I was told by the guy on the phone that he would phone the driver and call me back. No phone call. So at 19:45 2 hours after placing the order the guy on the phone told me to cancel the order if he hadn’t turned up in 5 minutes. Only problem I’d ordered online and didn’t want to tell me how to get my nearly £50 back.
Absolute shocking customer service.
Written 23 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Zailey smith
1 contribution
Feb 2020 • family
This is usually our favourite Indian restaurant as a family, we are shocked and disappointed by the service of takeaway today they said they would be 50 minutes but were 1 hour and a half. These things happen but, the food was stone cold we had to microwave it, some of the chicken was raw. For the price we paid we expected more quality food. Won’t be going back.
Written 7 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Journey60185828609
4 contributions
Jul 2023 • couples
Had 2 previous deliveries - very nice. Ordered tonight waited nearly 2 hours for delivery. Food lukewarm, incorrect order delivered and overcharged. The lid on the biryani was not on properly and spilled in the bag. Called asking to speak to the manager. He doesn't work Monday.
Written 17 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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