The Clove Indian Restaurant
Quick info
About The Clove Indian Restaurant
The Clove Indian Restaurant serves Indian food on Luckwell Rd in Bristol, in a room hung with wall mirrors and recently refurbished. Regulars who come back for the same dish order the Clove special, a curry named for the house, while tikka masala turns up in both lamb and chicken versions. Pilau rice arrives with whole cloves and cardamom in it, and breads run from plain naan to Peshwaari. Vegetable dishes such as saag sit alongside the meat curries, and a thali has appeared on a newer version of the menu. Starters include samosa, and small pots of mint yoghurt and mango chutney come as sides. The kitchen opens daily in the evenings, with table service inside and collection orders taken for those eating at home.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree of charge street parking
- DietaryServes vegetarian dishes
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention tikka masala, pilau rice with cardamom, peshwari naan and homemade onion bhajis.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention tikka masala, pilau rice with cardamom, peshwari naan and homemade onion bhajis.
Customer Review Summary
The pilau rice draws the most consistent praise, described as fragrant and fresh, one diner noting the whole cloves and cardamom running through it. Close behind sit the breads and starters: the peshwaari naan called perfect, the naan cooked well, and onion bhajis that one couple felt were clearly homemade and full of flavour. Individual dishes named with enthusiasm include a Shashlik Bhuna, a chicken Dhansak, a veg korai with sides, and the Thali from a new menu. Several mention friendly, helpful staff and quick service, and one describes the place as nicely refurbished after a long absence. The dissent is substantial, though, and centres on inconsistency between dine-in and takeaway. Two describe lamb that was extremely tough, one saying the fatty lamb chops went straight in the bin. Others report a watery tikka masala sauce with grease around the edges, tasteless mint yoghurt with a missing mango chutney, and a Clove special, ordered many times before, that arrived bland enough that one considered starting again from scratch.
Customer Review Summary
The pilau rice draws the most consistent praise, described as fragrant and fresh, one diner noting the whole cloves and cardamom running through it. Close behind sit the breads and starters: the peshwaari naan called perfect, the naan cooked well, and onion bhajis that one couple felt were clearly homemade and full of flavour. Individual dishes named with enthusiasm include a Shashlik Bhuna, a chicken Dhansak, a veg korai with sides, and the Thali from a new menu. Several mention friendly, helpful staff and quick service, and one describes the place as nicely refurbished after a long absence. The dissent is substantial, though, and centres on inconsistency between dine-in and takeaway. Two describe lamb that was extremely tough, one saying the fatty lamb chops went straight in the bin. Others report a watery tikka masala sauce with grease around the edges, tasteless mint yoghurt with a missing mango chutney, and a Clove special, ordered many times before, that arrived bland enough that one considered starting again from scratch.
Featured reviews
- Steffan Davies
“We hadn't been here for 15 years and it was great to be back in our old neighbourhood and an old haunt! Nicely refurbished and a lovely meal.”
- Josh Orchard
“I really rated this place and have had the Clove special loads of times and it’s been great, but picked one up tonight as a takeaway and it was SHOCKING. I’ve honestly been thinking what to add to it for flavour, and the conclusion was starting again would be easier. Honestly never had a more bland curry.”
- Fliss Radomska
“Ordered a veg korai and some sides between 2 of us, all were fantastic. I'd previously ordered takeaway from here and wasn't that impressed, but I'm pleased I came back and gave The Clove another go. Staff helpful, quick service. Lovely stuff!”
- Jack Beasmore
“Have been coming to the clove since it first opened. This used to be my favourite Indian takeaway and would recommend to everyone, …”
- Elliot C
“This is the best Indian food I have had since moving from Birmingham to the South West 10 years ago. If you know anything about the importance of Indian cuisine in Brum then you’ll know this is a strong statement I’ve just made. The pilau was fragrant and fresh and the Shashlik Bhuna I ordered was delicious. Staff were friendly and the prices were completely fair. I ordered takeaway after an impromptu walk around North St so I didn’t see the restaurant, but I will be back to dine in. After mostly avoiding Indian restaurants in Bristol for almost a decade I am overjoyed to have found The Clove. Thank you!”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
“Cosy neighbourhood restaurant with wall mirrors, for lamb tikka and keema mator, plus veg choices.”
- Popular for popular for lunch
- Popular for popular for dinner
- Popular for good for solo dining
Amenities
- Free of charge street parking
- Accepts reservations
- Offers delivery
- Offers takeaway
- Serves dine-in
- Serves vegetarian dishes
Show more amenities
- Has bar on site
- Casual
- Serves beer
- Serves coffee
- Serves late-night food
- Serves spirits
- Dining options· 4
- Serves lunch
- Serves dinner
- Serves dessert
- Has table service
- Popular for· 3
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for dinner
- Good for solo dining
- Crowd· 1
- Good for groups
- Offerings· 2
- Serves alcohol
- Serves wine
- Facilities· 1
- Has toilet
- Planning· 1
- Dinner reservations recommended
Location
Indian restaurants near The Clove Indian Restaurant
- Brunel Raj3.92821.1 mi
butter chicken, naan bread, saag gosht lamb
- Curry House4.65392.1 mi£20–30
poppadoms with dips, chicken korma, onion bhajis
- Eastern Taste4.71912.8 mi
naga chilli dishes, customised spice levels, BYOB policy
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Clove Indian Restaurant | 4.3368 | — | £20–30 | tikka masala, pilau rice with cardamom, peshwari naan |
| Brunel Raj | 3.9282 | 1.1 mi | — | butter chicken, naan bread, saag gosht lamb |
| Curry House | 4.6539 | 2.1 mi | £20–30 | poppadoms with dips, chicken korma, onion bhajis |
| Eastern Taste | 4.7191 | 2.8 mi | — | naga chilli dishes, customised spice levels, BYOB policy |
The 3 nearest indian restaurants by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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