About DESI - Old India Cafe - Southsea
DESI is an old India cafe that harks back to the cafes of old India, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, the way they did back home. From India, with love. We pay homage to the cafes of old – reigniting the hustle & bustle of their faded elegance. True love, Rediscovered. DESI.30% off entire menu
For orders over £25. T&Cs apply. New customers only
Popular with other people
Railway Lamb
£15.95Degchi Chicken Biryani
£17.95New Delhi Butter Chicken
£14.95House Chaat (V)
£9.45Hydrabadi Lamb Biryani
£18.95Nawabi Murgh Korma
£14.95Konkani Chicken
£14.95Grilled Malai Chicken Tikka
£10.45Karachi Karahi
£15.95Paneer & Pineapple Tikka (V)
£9.45
*NEW* - The Grill
Our meat and fish are always fresh, marinatedfor over 24 hours, then grilled to perfection.Flame kissed, healthy and full of flavour. Served as a feast for one. Appetite mayhem awaits. With corn on cob, salad and side of your choice
The Desi Mixed Grill (For 1)
Our showpiece. A generous selection of lamb chop cutlets, grilled chicken tikka, lamb escalopes and wings, each marinated overnight in their own signature spices and grilled to perfection. Smoky, succulent & best in show. A feast worth showing up hungry for - With corn on cob, salad and side of your choice£24.95Lamb Chop Cutlets
Lamb chop cutlets, yoghurt & spice marinade, charred to perfection. Tender, smoky, finger licking good. Fingers only, thank you - With corn on cob, salad and side of your choice£23.95Grilled Malai Chicken Tikka
Our hero. Marinated overnight, smoked on the grill. The OG, done properly and oh so tasty - With corn on cob, salad and side of your choice£18.95Sea Bass
Fillet of sea bass, marinated in our house spice blend, charred over flame until smoky and tender. Light, flaky & full of flavour - With corn on cob, salad and side of your choice£23.95Wings
Flat wings marinated overnight in our signature spices & grilled to perfection. Crispy on the outside, succulent inside. Sticky, smoky & finger licking - With corn on cob, salad and side of your choice£17.95Lamb Escalopes
A nod to the smoky grills of the North-West frontier. Tender cubes of lamb, marinated in yoghurt, garlic, ginger & freshly ground spices. Grilled until charred at the edges & blushing within. Bold & full of flavour - With corn on cob, salad and side of your choice£19.95
(Not So) Small Plates
Snacking before, during and after meals is the national pastime in the subcontinent, if not their national sport. Tempted... so do join in...
Onion Bhajia (V)
The onion bhajia’s served at our cafe are the real McCoy – crispy, light & savoury. Served with salad.£7.45PopularHouse Chaat (V)
Divinely scrumptious – moreish crispy vegetable samosa, on a bed of spiced chana, split into a cool sweet yoghurt. Dressed with tamarind & mint and coriander chutney. Topped off with pomegranate & spicy potato sprinkles.£9.45Grilled Malai Chicken Tikka
Comfortingly alluring - tantalising tender pieces of chicken, marinated overnight in light creamy home ground spices. Served with Bombay bread & salad.£10.45Punjabi Pyramids (V)
The Punjabi Samosa - most famous of all the samosas. Lovingly filled with potatoes, peas & wonderful array of spices. Served with salad.£7.45Paneer & Pineapple Tikka (V)
An amazing playful fayre of paneer & pineapple, marinated overnight in a lightly herbed creamy sauce, grilled in the tandoor.£9.45Vada Pau (V)
Endearingly exquisite - a spiced potato ball enrobed in a toasted brioche bun & a racy chutney. Inspired by Chowpatty...taken to another level at DESI! (in our opinion).£8.45Chargrilled Corn on Cob
Corn on cob, chargrilled, brushed with butter, sprinkled with DESI dust & served with potato straws.£7.45
Kathi Wrap
Toasted wrap...rolled up & ready to have like the Kolkatan’s did but with our DESI twist... filled with salad, cheese & contrasting chutney.
Grilled Paneer & Pineapple Wrap (V)
Toasted wrap...rolled up & ready to have like the Kolkatan’s did but with our DESI twist... filled with salad, cheese & contrasting chutney.£9.45Chicken Tikka Wrap
Toasted wrap...rolled up & ready to have like the Kolkatan’s did but with our DESI twist... filled with salad, cheese & contrasting chutney.£9.45Lamb Kebab Wrap
Toasted wrap...rolled up & ready to have like the Kolkatan’s did but with our DESI twist... filled with salad, cheese & contrasting chutney.£9.45
Biryani
Old India and Biryani go hand in hand. Ever so moreish and perhaps what you’re not accustomed to…literally loved by all!
Degchi Chicken Biryani
Fresh succulent boneless chicken thighs - delicately cooked within its own juices & spices and layered with rice. Pakistani influenced. Served with salad.£17.95Hydrabadi Lamb Biryani
Fresh British lamb, slow cooked in it's own stock & flavours, layered with fluffy rice. Inspired by the famous biryani’s of Hydrabad. Served with salad£18.95
Homestyle Curry
As eaten in the Cafes of Old India, our curries are home style - individually cooked - in its own juices and spices, to recreate flavours one would associate with home cooked food.
Railway Lamb
Highly rated· You’ll need to try this gem of the rail side. Lovely & hot with an abundant of dry roasted spices, needless to say it’s full of flavour (slight heat)£15.95New Delhi Butter Chicken
Our signature masterpiece, born in the kitchens of Old Delhi. Grilled chicken folded through a luxuriously silky tomato and butter gravy, finished with cream and a whisper of crushed fenugreek. Rich, mellow & deeply comforting. (Mild but have it like the Desi’s a bit hotter)£14.95Chicken Tikka Masala
Originally Murgh Makhni - The nation’s favourite, and we don’t say that lightly. Char grilled chicken tikka simmered in a rich, spiced tomato masala, gently creamed and coaxed to that unmistakable colour. Bold, smoky, & a little tangy. (slight heat)£14.95Karachi Karahi
Highly rated· Pakistan’s national favourite - tender meat complimented by the robust flavours of fresh ground spices of garam masalas (slight heat).£15.95Nawabi Murgh Korma
A delicacy from the kitchens of the Royal Nawabs of Lucknow. Renowned for itssubtlety & aroma. Perfectly cooked chicken with gentle notes of mace flower & cardamom (mild)£14.95Kerala Chicken Curry
Inland from the backwaters of Kerala. Chicken slow cooked with coconut cream, curry leaves, black pepper and green chilli (slight heat)£14.45Konkani Chicken
Delightfully capturing the essence of the scenic coast of Konkan. Impeccably packed with fragrant ground spices, tantalise your tastebuds (slight heat).£14.95Prawn Karahi
Succulent tiger prawns, cooked in a fresh tomato and pepper karahi sauce, finished with cracked black pepper & coriander (slight heat)£16.95Garlic Chilli Chicken
Tender chicken, simmered in a fiery caramelised onion & tomato base with a bold garlic and green chilli tempering. Fragrant, punchy & unapologetic. Turn up the heat & dig in (hot)£14.45Chingri Tawa
Blissfulness of Bangladesh epitomised - tossed & turned in a caramelised onion gravy, stir-fried prawns in a medley of spices & merrily mingled with lime leaf (slight heat)£16.95Kerala Fish
In the twisting & enchanting backwaters of Kerala, local fishermen adored this succulently spiced fish dish. A mild melody of coconut milk, tamarind & curry leaves (slight heat)£16.95Chicken Dhansak
Hustle & bustle of slow-cooked chicken in a hot, sweet & sour lentil gravy. (contains dairy)£14.45Mutton Dhansak
Hustle & bustle of slow-cooked meat in a hot, sweet & sour lentil gravy. (contains dairy)£14.45Chicken Tikka Karahi
Marinated chicken, cooked in a fresh tomato sauce with cracked pepper and coriander (slight heat).£14.95
Must Haves
A must try!
Yakhni Pulao Rice (V)
King of all Pulao Rice, full of flavour.£6.95PopularBombay Flat Bread (V)
Soft, freshly baked Indian flatbread£4.95Garlic Flat Bread (V)
Freshly baked Indian flatbread, infused with fragrant garlic and herbs£5.95PopularLoaded Flat Bread
Cheese, onion & coriander. Add chilli for some extra heat, it takes it to another level.£6.95Steamed Rice (VGN)
Fragrant, perfectly fluffy steamed rice.£5.45Papadom (VGN)
Crisp, thin Indian cracker, perfect for dipping£1.30DESI Dust Fries (VGN)
Crunchy fries kissed with rosemary, sea salt & chaat seasoning.£4.95Tzatziki Raita (V)
Cooling yoghurt seasoned with cucumber and aromatic herbs£4.95Dip - Mint & Coriander Chutney (VGN)
Little kick!£2.50Dip - Pineapple Chutney (VGN)
£2.95Dip - Bombay Ketchup (VGN)
£2.25Dip - Tzatziki Raita (V)
£2.95
Vegetables
The staple Indian diet emphasises a high intake of plant-based foods like vegetables and lentils. Full of delicate flavours. Eat it on its own or accompanied with meat/seafood.
House Dhaal (VGN)
Immensely indulging – an Old India home comfort food, brimming with a luscious parade of the most vaunted lentils.£6.95PopularVegetable Masala (V)
Smooth and velvety, where the spices are veiled by a rich blend of tomatoes (mild)£12.95Vegetable Karahi (Vgn)
Cooked in a fresh tomato sauce with cracked pepper and coriander (spicy)£12.95Vegetable Korma (V)
A delicacy from the kitchens of the Royal Nawabs of Lucknow, gentle notes of mace flower and cardamom (mild)£12.95Vegetable Dhansak (Vgn)
The hustle and bustle of a hot, sweet and sour lentil gravy (slight hot)£12.95Saag Aloo (V)
Baby potatoes stir fried with spinach£6.95Paneer Aur Aloo Tikki Masala (V) (Main)
Highly rated· Beloved in India – introduced to & adored by all. Smooth paneer & aloo tikki cutlets in a rich sauce, satisfying your cravings (slight heat).£12.95Dhaal Makhni (V)
Raja of all dhaal dishes – dark, rich, deeply flavoured black lentil and red kidney beans. For super symphony - finished off with cream cheese and fenugreek.£7.95Saag Paneer (V)
Indian cheese cooked in tempered spinach.£7.95Gunpowder Potatoes (V)
A rapturous explosion of the tastebuds – a foremost companion on any table spread. Roasted baby potatoes sprinkled with DESI spice mix & spring onions.£6.95
DESI Shakes
Traditional yoghurt-based drink, originating from India. One of the most popular drinks of the subcontinent.
Coconut & Mango Lassi
Summery blend of the subcontinent.£6.45Rose Lassi
Subtle aroma of rose and taste of cardamom.£6.45
Masala Chai
Originated in the Indian subcontinent – Masala Chai is a flavoured tea beverage made by brewing black tea with a mixture of aromatic Indian herbs & spices.
Karak Chai
A perfect blend of spices brewed with Assam tea leaves and milk - slightly sweet.£4.45
Mocktail Shorbots
DESI House Lemonade
A must try! Fresh lemon and mint shorbot. So so refreshing.£4.95
Soft Drinks
Coke Can 330ml
The iconic, crisp and refreshing classic cola£2.95Coke Zero Can 330ml
Classic, refreshing Coca-Cola taste with zero sugar£2.951.5Ltr Bottle Coke
Large sharing bottle of classic Coca-Cola£3.951.5Ltr Bottle Diet Coke
Large sharing bottle of refreshing Diet Coke, zero sugar£3.95Sprite Can 330ml
Crisp, clean and refreshing lemon-lime sparkling drink£2.95Bottled Drinks
Rose Lemonade - Raspberry Lemonade - Traditional Lemonade – Cloudy Apple Juice.£4.25Bottled Water
Mineral Water Still or Sparkling£3.20Ayran / Laban 250ml
Traditional chilled yoghurt drink, subtly salted and deeply refreshing£3.75Cloudy Apple Juice 250ml
Crisp, naturally apple juice£3.50San Pellegrino Aranciata Can 330ml
Sparkling orange beverage made with real Italian fruit juice£3.75
Desserts
Chocolate Fudge Cake
*Ice Cream NOT Served With The Dessert*£7.95Mango Coco Delight
£7.95Sticky Toffee Pudding
*Ice Cream NOT Served With The Dessert*£7.95Lemon Cheesecake (VGN)
*Whipped Cream NOT Served With The Dessert*£7.95
