Anyone from Portsmouth knows that Southsea is a pretty little stretch down by the south coast with its famous promenade and Victorian pier. Many of the area’s best restaurants are found down in this enclave, and a lot of the locals nearby count Desi amongst their favourite spots.
It’s a trendy restaurant, which calls itself an old Indian style cafe, with smart interiors and a pleasing menu of bright sharing food. The kitchen is led by Consultant Chef Abdul Yaseen whose experience includes bring part of the founding team at London’s The Cinnamon Collection’s range of restaurants, winning SquareMeal awards for his wonderful canapes, and appearing on Celebrity MasterChef.
Abdul’s menu takes many classics and gives them a twist. Take the kathi wraps, for instance, which are wonderful, toasted wraps filled with your choice of chicken tikka, lamb kebab or grilled paneer and pineapple, plus salad and zingy chutney. Elsewhere, small plates include sharing dishes like vadu pau (a spiced potato ball in a brioche bun with chutney) or the Punjabi pyramid which is the restaurant’s own take on a samosa.
Curries include Railway Lamb which is a fragrant with a whole host of dry roasted spices; Keralan fish which combines coconut milk, tamarind, and curry leaves for a mellow but delicious dish; and a twist on chicken tikka masala for a real crowd-pleaser. Sides include 'slaw, dhals, fries, papads and raita for a menu that you’d be hard pressed to find fault with.
Come dessert and there’s a sweet selection of treats to end your meal with. Think mango and coconut souffle, sticky toffee pudding with ice cream, or chocolate fudge cake.
If you fancy yourself as a bit of a photographer, you’ve also got the chance to win a complimentary meal for two on any given night. Simply snap a picture of yourself in the restaurant or your meal, follow the Desi accounts, and share on Instagram or Facebook using the restaurant’s hashtag to be in the running.