HALDI — Restaurant in Portsmouth

We've been to Haldi every August for the past three years when visiting Portsmouth on our way back from the Isle of Wight. Usually we sit-in but this year we bought a takeaway to eat at the end of our seventy minute journey back home from Portsmouth.

Over forty years, I've bought Indian/Bangladeshi food in all parts of the UK and abroad. Haldi is simply and by far the best in the UK and, probably, the best I've eaten anywhere.

Remarkably the takeaway food is just as good as the restaurant served food. We were a bit wary of buying a takeaway because we didn't want to be disappointed. There was no need to worry because exactly the same high quality and outstanding presentation was waiting when we opened the takeaway boxes.

This is without a doubt excellent British Indian restaurant food - tender meat, beautifully cooked vegetables including the onion in the tikka starter, and a wonderfully and complex spiced base sauce that has a depth and flavour that is in a league of its own compared to other British Indian restaurants.

Even the takeaway starter was prepared and presented with care - the beautifully tasting sweet and citrus sauce is amazing.

The chef here not only knows how to prepare outstanding food but clearly has huge respect for the food he prepares and for his customers.

I would strongly recommend the Shyleti Gosht. It's British Indian style but actually fairly close in terms of taste and texture to authentic Bangladeshi food I have had the privilege to eat. It is a genuine attempt to go beyond the usual British Indian restaurant food.

My only regret is that there's nothing closer to me that is in the same league as...

So in this instance 2.5 stars for my delivered takeaway. I'm my humble opinion you can often accurately assess the quality of a takeaway by the quality of the sides and unfortunately for Haldi and me they were not good tonight. Its Friday so I can understand waiting a bit longer for my delivery, but this place started with some justifiably great reviews so why have the sides nosedived, I'm surprised that the chef even sent them out. The onion bhajis were dry and reheated, samosas looked like they came from Iceland and the chicken pakora had some overcooked outer batter with undercooked inside and a small piece of chicken tikka hidden within.. Filling the containers they came in with some salad did not make up for this "sides disaster" frankly not good enough and you will rapidly start to lose that hard won reputation if you keep this up.. If its not good enough, don't send it.. A simple effective rule that maintains quality and consistency... Forget this and you can forget repeat business.. If you don't care then give up and pass the business to someone who still has a passion for good food done well.. Maybe I got the dud but I doubt it, I'm surprised to be writing this but felt I have to in the hope you can stop the evident...

2025 Update Returned for my birthday as a treat from the family. I had the Chicken Sylheti Gosht. Delicious spices, just the right amount of heat, and super tender chicken. The most delicious curry I've had (and I have had many, as it is my favourite). Great service, delicious food, and friendly, comfortable surroundings made for another lovely visit. Upgraded to 5 stars. My family took me here to celebrate Father's Day early. We had a great night! The staff were friendly and helpful, and ready to advise us on the curries based on our tastes. I normally have the same sort of dish, but I decided to try something new and went for the Juicy Sylheti Gosht (hot lamb dish), which was spicy and delicious! The starters were good, but it was the main dishes that really shone. I'd recommend for a night out or casual drop in. Great food, great service, and great people. Thanks Haldi, we'll definitely come to you again (we'll try something else from the menu for our...