260712 Wed Dec 19 08:51:32 -0800 2001 3 26 International 0 1377684 Disaster -- New Tayyab (Fieldgate St.) has had a makeover during Ramadan and now has a polished wooden floor, recessed lighting and crap art on the walls. At least the toilets are still Arctic. But that down-at-heel cafe look is gone for ever (unless we can persuade them to have a "makeunder"). Aesthetics aside, they seem to have removed the ventilation system (blocked up the window?) and it's now uncomfortably smoky (i.e. fag smoke - I don't mind food smells). Also, the hard surfaces have, surprise surprise, increased the noise level substantially. The good news is that the food seems entirely unchanged. Wed Dec 19 08:51:32 -0800 2001 0 Winot 1 1377685 I went there last night and agree with every word you say.Speaking to Wasim,the head chef(although he disdains that title)the ventilation and smoke extraction system is still being sorted out.The cooks now wear toques,which is a 'new policy'(let's see how long that one lasts). Wed Dec 19 10:25:50 -0800 2001 1377684 0 Tony Finch 2 1377686 I was there last night too (from about 8.30-10pm). Did you notice the strange gender divide? On one side of the room there was a table of about 15 women with a single guy; on the other side a table of about 20 men (no women). Odd. I guess the office party season affects even the New Tayyab. Wed Dec 19 10:34:08 -0800 2001 1377685 0 Winot 3 1377697 I was there earlier than you,at about 6.45,but it was already completely mobbed.It now seems that everyone has cottoned on to the fact that it knocks all the considerable competition around the area(and beyond) into a corner. Its always been highly popular with office parties because of its brilliant price/quality ratio and because it's BYO,which,contrary to some reports,they don't mind at all.I just hope now that it doesn't become a victim of its own success. Wed Dec 19 13:56:40 -0800 2001 1377686 0 Tony Finch