DESI - Old India Cafe

DESI - Old India Cafe We pay homage to the timeless charm of vintage cafes, rekindling the lively spirit of their bygone elegance...🇮🇳
From India, with love! ❤️

In February 2021, we opened DESI to a room nobody could sit in.Lockdown rules kept our doors shut to diners. So the marb...
07/10/2026

In February 2021, we opened DESI to a room nobody could sit in.

Lockdown rules kept our doors shut to diners. So the marble tables, the leather seats, the booths and the old staircase waited, while the first orders went out as takeaway. A café built for sharing, with no one to share it yet in person.

Five years later, that same room is full. 💯 Our guests have given us 4.8 stars across 553 reviews on TripAdvisor, which ranks DESI as the number one Indian restaurant in Portsmouth, and we were honoured with a Travellers' Choice award for 2026. 🏆

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐One guest described the room as "airy, beautifully decorated and comfortable," and another, after her first bite of our sev puri, wrote that it "just explodes in your mouth." Reading those words is the best part of our week.

If you have never been in, we would love to introduce you to the place. 🙏🏼❤️ DESI harks back to the cafés of old India, with marble tables, leather seats, comfortable booths and hanging plants, and handis of food set down in the middle of the table for everyone to share. It is food made with love.

Come and take a seat with us.
We are open every day from 4pm to 10pm at 173 Elm Grove, Southsea.

And if you would rather stay home, we will happily bring it to you, with 30% off on Uber Eats until 25 October on baskets over £20.🛍️🏷️

Curry gets its own week. We think that's only right. 🍛National Curry Week runs from 5th to 11th October, and at DESI it'...
05/10/2026

Curry gets its own week. We think that's only right. 🍛

National Curry Week runs from 5th to 11th October, and at DESI it's the best excuse we know to talk about how we cook.

In the cafés of Old India, food was never hurried. Each pot was cooked slowly, in its own juices and spices, until it tasted like something made at home. That's the spirit we cook with, so every bite brings comfort and joy.

If you'd rather celebrate from the sofa, we're on Uber Eats with 30% off orders over £20 until 25th October. Link in bio.

So tell us in the comments: what's your order this week?

02/10/2026

Rated Portsmouth's number one Indian restaurant, and the second-best restaurant in the whole city, on TripAdvisor.

TripAdvisor reviewers have called us 'no ordinary curry house' — rich, aromatic dishes, proper regional spicing, made with the same care you'd find in a family kitchen.

Have a read of what our customers have said — and if that's enough to convince you, give us a call. We'll have a table waiting for you."

There is something about food cooked over a real flame that no other method can replicate. The char at the edges. The de...
30/09/2026

There is something about food cooked over a real flame that no other method can replicate. The char at the edges. The depth of flavour that only heat and time can build together. The moment it arrives at the table and you already know — before you've even picked up a fork — that this is going to be something worth remembering.

This is our grill section. And it deserves your full attention.

Every piece of chicken that leaves our kitchen has been marinated overnight in Chef Yaseen's own spice blend — recipes that travelled from the kitchens of Old India all the way to Elm Grove. The grill does the rest. High heat, honest cooking, nothing hidden and nothing rushed.

Come in and try it. The table is yours, the grill is on, and we promise you won't leave disappointed.

📍 173 Elm Grove, Southsea, Portsmouth
🌐 desicafe.co
📞 02392 865 795

Meet the Bombay Bread — the bit everyone reaches for first.Torn, not cut. Topped with fresh onion and coriander, charred...
25/09/2026

Meet the Bombay Bread — the bit everyone reaches for first.

Torn, not cut. Topped with fresh onion and coriander, charred just enough at the edges to earn it. It's the perfect companion to our Grilled Malai Chicken Tikka — creamy, home-ground spices, marinated overnight, straight off the grill.

Some things are made for scooping. This is one of them.

📍 173 Elm Grove, Southsea

23/09/2026

We love serving you 💙

Without you stopping by, whether it’s to celebrate an occasion, date night, or a catch up, we’d just be a space. It’s you that makes it so rewarding for us here. Serving you great food, providing enjoyable service that enhances your night, and basking in the atmosphere you bring to DESI is what make it all worth it.

Be part of the DESI way and stop by

📍 173 Elm Grove, Portsmouth
📞 023 92 865 795

Marinated overnight in a lightly herbed creamy sauce, then grilled in the tandoor until the edges catch and the inside s...
18/09/2026

Marinated overnight in a lightly herbed creamy sauce, then grilled in the tandoor until the edges catch and the inside stays soft. The Paneer & Pineapple Tikka is playful, bright, and completely its own thing.

The pineapple brings a sharpness that cuts through the richness of the paneer in a way that feels deliberate — because it is. This one was designed carefully, and it shows.
Vegetarian never looked so good. 🌿

📍 173 Elm Grove, Southsea, Portsmouth
🌐 desicafe.co

16/09/2026

We love our DESI customers 💙

Vintage photographs, lush botanicals, and soft golden light create an atmosphere that whispers stories of old India. Intimate booths and soaring ceilings set the stage for an unforgettable evening of food, laughter, and shared memories.

Come and experience the magic of DESI yourself in Southsea.

📍 173 Elm Grove, Portsmouth
📞 023 92 865 795

14/09/2026

Upgrade your meal with a (not so) small plate 😋

️One for the veggies and paneer lovers. DESI Paneer and Pineapple TIkka. A spicy tropical blend, marinated in a creamy herb sauce before being grilled perfectly. 🔥

Find your table at our Elm Grove restaurant in Southsea

📍 173 Elm Grove, Portsmouth

Address

173 Elm Grove, Southsea
Portsmouth
PO51LU

Opening Hours

Monday 4pm - 10pm
Tuesday 4pm - 10pm
Wednesday 4pm - 10pm
Thursday 4pm - 10pm
Friday 4pm - 10pm
Saturday 4pm - 10pm
Sunday 4pm - 10pm

Telephone

+442392865795

Website

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