The Super Long and Snaky Queue at New Tayyabs, London

I went to New Tayyabs, a Pakistani restaurant that has great reviews, last night. I called to make a booking a few hours in advance but was told to come as it was on a first come first serve basis. When I reached the restaurant (around seven thirty) I was in shock to see the long queue but I thought it was not going to be very long to get a table. All of us, who were queueing, were standing in between the tables and chairs around (with people having dinner at the tables). The queue was too long that it went to a U turn at the end of the queue and that's in between the tables and chairs. Another U turn was in the hallway towards the ladies. The queue was barely moving and I stood for a long time in the ladies' hallway. It was stuffy and felt like forever. After two hours waiting, I gave up. Looking at the queue, it looked like I would be there for another hour (or maybe an hour and a half) and I was already so hungry. The food that came out from the kitchen smelled so nice and I could only stand in the queue and look at others eating it. It was a torture.

I have been to this restaurant once before. It was last summer at lunch time. The restaurant was empty and I got a table very easily. I have been warned by my friend about the queue but I had never expected it to be this long. The guy in the cake counter told me to make a booking two days in advance the next time because they don't take same day booking. Booking definitely is a must.

I'm still upset with the whole thing. I will wait until I can forget about last night and probably come back again.