Desi Dara in Derby

Tried this place a few times, most recently in Dec 2024. This place is great value for money as the portions are large. Mango lassi was nice. Starters and mains are ok. Parking is an issue, but this is a good size restaurant suitable for families. Fish curry was nice.

Quality mix grill and splending decor! Highly recommend.

Amazing service and high quality food. A must try with friends and family when in normanton.

Food was served quickly Food was very tasty

10/10 food,service and wonderful atmosphere. Lovely service from the Afghan brother himself walid who kept us all comfortable and good. Would highly recommend to come down with family and friends!

I been here since I was young the service is good the food is so good but it can take time for the food and I like the wall and led light but there are some rubbish and the toilet are little bit dirty and sir Sadat is really kind

luv this place- we alwayssss used to go there with friends and family when we lived near derby and would often crave it. the karahi and kebabs are on top!

Really nice food specially the lamb and chicken karahi. Fantastic taste and good quality of food 👌

went for bite to eat with business client - we ordered Mix Grill, Lamb Biryani, fries with cheese and 2 green teas for about £30 for two. Great mix grill which is more then enough for 2 people. lamp biryani was okay - bit to spicy for me even though i'm Pakistani myself. great atmosphere, very down to earth friendly staff. as working class folk i prefer these types of restaurants than high end fine dining which i find very snobbish. affordable, friendly and great location. you know a place is good when it's full of locals.

I come with my fly at 2 PM, showing that reastruent is open, come all the way from Leicester, bu reastruent waz closed. Neither no one was talking the call ,very disappointed

Enjoyed so much with my family loved the food delicious fast service

Loved the food good pricing the manager really generous no wait needed food ready in time

Lovely large family restaurant in Normanton Road which serves traditional Pakistani curries and dishes. Its was quite late around 10pm most restaurants were closed but this place was busy which only meant one thing good food!! There is large seating area to accommodate more than 100+ people. Staff were very friendly when requesting a different seating position they were happy to accommodate us all. Seating was very comfortable and table was spacious for 6 people. We went for traditional mix grill with additional kebabs and chops, with chicken and meat karahi dishes, cod masala fish and pilau and plain rice and to relax it all a jug of Mango Lassi. Starters didn’t take too long and arrived hot, sizzing and full of flavour. Positions were generous and enough for the six of us as we ordered extra items. We had to remind staff about the drinks and mango lassi guess they were super busy but we got the drinks in the end. The 1kg meat came in a large wok pan which was too much for us and the 1/2 kg of chicken was in a smaller wok. I feel when you don’t know the sizes staff should shown the dish sizes or have some illustrations. We had so much food left over hence had to do takeaway afterwards. The karahi dishes were lovely, hot, sizzling, full of flavour and spice just the way us Bengali’s like it. We enjoyed our meal and didn’t feel rushed and staff again very kind and helpful. Lovely food, lovely place and lovely staff

Great food. Best Curry in Derby.

Masha Allah out class food service everything

Delicious Food And Awesome Service, Lovely Staff, Thank You So Much

Food was nice didn’t like lamb chops too dry Handi was tasty we had chiken karahi and lamb karahi and Mix grill😎

If food is your priority and not Instagram, this is the place to go, lovely food! ❤️

Came to this restaurant to eat with family, amazing food an excellent service… would recommend this place as the perfect place for family’s to visit. Food was amazing and reasonable prices too!! Will defo be coming back again all the way from Birmingham!

Overpriced and service was not good. Food wasn't tasty.

I ordered platter it was delicious I really enjoyed it but service was not very excellent but staff is good price is reasonable portion sizes are very good as well. If you like Desi food perfect place 👌

We ordered chicken Tikka balti take away, took 25- 30 minutes ...after long wait eventually what we received was chicken breast tossed in tomato mince. I myself being a chef very well understand and know that what I had ordered and what should have been the taste and appearance. It was no where close to Tikka. Highly disappointed. Absolute waste of money and time

The food was ok OK not that much good that we expected.

i really appreciate the service and being nice with my family very lovely atmosphere and lovely stuff inshallah i will visit again and again and the food is soooo delicious 🤤 wow like unbelievable food and i love the taste of karahi and the most special thing is mix grill wow amazing thanks for the love, respect and delicious food

The food here is very very nice. The workers are very polite I went with all my family and they were very very good. Would highly reccomend

Today we went to the restaurant as a family they gave us cold food. We travelled from Stoke-On-Trent expecting good service and food, however they did not meet our expectations! The lamb karahi and chicken karahi were both awfully cold - terrible food and very slow service. Will definitely not be coming back or recommending to family!

0 hygiene food rating on Google! Explains why i got severe food poisoning from this establishment where i had to be hospitalised! Pan chauds

Food was amazing, great service by Shazid Wasir Sir 😊

Great fresh food and prices. Also amazing customer service.

As a muslim family we love to go there just hit the spot desi things all

Great food at reasonable prices.

It was amazing food but the atmosphere was loud

Awesome food. Highly recommend 🥇😊

Food was great. Customer service was pathetic.

Great place for food, Very good and friendly service. The food is beautiful. Definitely will recommend the lamb karai

Food was really fresh & tasty. Unfortunately fries were placed on table about 10 minutes before rest of the food was served so ended up getting eaten without rest of food and got cold. The main dishes were really really tasty especially the lamb balti but the chicken balti was on the dry side with less sauce (but tasted amazing). Roti was really fresh. Service was slow to start with as order was taken late but then on service was great as food was served. Staff were very helpful and polite. The food was very reasonably priced - Will definitely go again so thanks for a great experience.

Food was really delicious along with the hospitality services. We are six people from Corby took verify of food. They are nice & smiling.

Very bad service brother we was waiting for food from last 30-35 minutes

Title: A Flavorful Escape to Authentic Pakistani Cuisine: Desi Dera ReviewNestled in the vibrant city of Derby, Desi Dera stands out as a beacon of authentic Pakistani cuisine, offering a culinary journey that tantalizes the taste buds and transports diners to the streets of Lahore or Karachi. With its warm ambiance and mouthwatering dishes, Desi Dera is a must-visit destination for food enthusiasts seeking a taste of Pakistan in the heart of Derby.From the moment you step inside, you're greeted with the tantalizing aroma of spices and grilled meats, setting the stage for an unforgettable dining experience. The ambiance is inviting, with traditional Pakistani décor creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a bustling bazaar.The menu at Desi Dera is a treasure trove of Pakistani culinary delights, featuring a wide array of dishes that cater to every palate. Start your culinary journey with an assortment of appetizers such as Seekh Kebabs, crispy Samosas, and tangy Chaat, each bursting with flavor and authenticity.For the main course, the options are equally impressive. From aromatic Biryani infused with fragrant spices to succulent Tandoori Chicken cooked to perfection in a traditional clay oven, each dish showcases the rich and diverse culinary heritage of Pakistan. Vegetarian options abound as well, with dishes like Daal Tarka and Palak Paneer offering a delightful alternative for non-meat eaters.No Pakistani meal is complete without indulging in some freshly baked Naan bread, and Desi Dera doesn't disappoint. Their Naan is soft and pillowy, the perfect accompaniment to soak up the flavorful gravies and sauces.Service at Desi Dera is top-notch, with attentive staff who are knowledgeable about the menu and eager to ensure a memorable dining experience for every guest. Whether you're dining in with friends and family or opting for takeout, expect prompt and courteous service that enhances the overall dining experience.In conclusion, Desi Dera is a culinary gem in Derby, offering a tantalizing escape to the vibrant flavors of Pakistan. With its inviting ambiance, authentic dishes, and impeccable service, it's a dining destination that's sure to leave a lasting impression on food lovers near and far.

Very nice and good quality and excellent service 👏

I have visited this place several times,once in a month and the food was always brilliant. Price is very reasonable. I would definitely recommend to try out this place. Try charai lamb kadhai & Mix grill, charai tikka.

Driving up north and stopped in Derby passing through. The locals could probably correct me but this has to be the best karahi and grill house in all of Derby. Very reasonable prices. good portions. I went for the mix grill, grill masala fish, chicken karahi and kerala Balti. Everything was lovely and all the family enjoyed it, round it off with a cup of green qava tea. The manager is very hands on and attentive to all tables. There is a waiter with the bald head acting quiet strange. Please have a word with him boss because he's tarnishing your rep with his poor service. I will look forward to visiting again when in Derby

Fantastic food and service and very reasonably priced

Best food and customer service. Toilets needs cleaning. Lots of work on chairs needed.

Nice staff, nice food and flavour and not just a load of chilli. I would recommend.

Been twice service and food has been amazing both times

Wonderful staff tasty food I went there recently and it was bang on👍🏼 keep it up lads

New Desi Dera in Derby is a true gem for Pakistani cuisine! I recently had my second visit, and once again, it was outstanding. The lamb and chicken Karahi were exceptional – flavorful and cooked to perfection. The Seekh kebab starters were a highlight, and the waiter's helpfulness added to the overall positive experience. I highly recommend this restaurant to all food enthusiasts!

Thankyou so much for such a lovely experience..the food was absolutely fantastic!!...thankyou to the chef's!!! we will definitely be returning very soon..A big thankyou to Sajid who went above and beyond for us ..he's such a credit to the restaurant..

As an english family we tend to stick to more non traditional Indian restaurants however after a suggestion from our good friend tanni we chose to broaden our horizons and so happy we did as everything was cooked to perfection flavours were amazing and the staff couldn't do enough for us. A big thank you to sajid for making us feel so welcome. Will definitely be returning for more 😊

Delicious food and service can be improved 😋

They recently increased their prices but still offering old menu card with old prices i guess they should invest little bit on their new menu with the new prices so consumers don’t get big shock at the end not going again thank you.

Hype ting, not feelin it brah, fish was good 10/10, lamb karahi was 2/10, biryani 2/10...

Essen sehr lecker, service auch gut . Sehr enge Sitz Plätze, schwer mit Parkplatz.

One of the worst lamb curry’s I have ever had taste was like lamb in blood. The service was so slow even a hedgehog would serve quicker.

Lovely food. A good variety of delights. Tried some platters and a few karahis. Achari chicken was amazing as was the lamb karahi. The chicken karahi was awful however. Nobody ate more than one bite. The accompanying sauces and chutneys were lovely and on point. All in all the service WAS great till the waiter started asking for a tip in a horrible and awkward manner. For a moment we thought we were in pAkistan where you would expect this type of behaviour. Other than that no complaints. Worth a visit with the family

Lamb karahi was so fresh and tasty (half a kilo enough for 2/3 people). The mixed grill looks delicious and I will try it next time. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Definitely recommend it

Food was fresh , mix grill was delicious, good spacious place

Good food ,professional, friendly staff and atmosphere was nice for family dinner outs, service was good but need to improve little bit.

Been to this place before and have quite enjoyed it. The food was decent even though they told me it was fresh mixed veg but it was actually frozen veg and tinned potato’s but I’m not complaining about that… The bill came to us and we paid the bill and told the waiter to keep the rest as a tip. As we was leaving a waiter that had been serving us came up to us and started complaining saying I served you the most and you didn’t tip me… It got to a point where he was literally begging us for a tip and felt bad so I had to get some more money out and give it to him… I think management need to start paying staff a little more or share the tips but that’s the last time I go into this place…

A great place for Desi Food, Karahi, Kabab, Dessert. Food is 10/10 Service is perfect 👍🏻👌🏻

Excellent curry fish, chicken not bad too, a bit of a let down with the mix grill as the lamb tikka and the chicken tikka meant to be in chunks was in very thin slices, so be aware if you order this!! Service was a big let down as well, we ordered a jug of mango lassie with the rest of the meal, but had to ask the server several times for it and he looked quite annoyed. Telling us is coming!! It did eventually come, by then we are halfway through our meal!! Such a shame!!

Honestly for the price the food is excellent, a lot better than more expensive establishments, my friend and I like to travel to different restaurants in the Midlands and Yorkshire, sincerely we have been here on numerous occasions and never been disappointed always getting 1/2 kg lamb Karahi and sides spot on everytime.

Lovely food very tasty , right amount of spice for people who like mild. Definitely visiting again one of best restaurants in derby especially top in normanton .😊

Ordered £80 of samosa and pakora 2 weeks ago for a party, they were delicious. Just called to order again, and I was called a liar and the man refused to take my order. Very rude. Are you under new management desi? I will have to try somewhere else. Really disappointed ☹️

Their charsi lamb is best in derby

The food was delicious but the service is reasonably fine as they have loads of customers.

Very cheap & amazing food, good customer service would highly recommend this place

Desi dera is such a good place the food was absolutely beautiful the place was family friendly and inside was nice and cosy the lamb chops and the chicken wings where on point they weren’t stingy and had good portion size and everything was made fresh overall the service was excellent they kept asking if we needed anything they where nice and respectful and you should try it because its a very good place we will be back soon as we loved everything.

Amazon food, well worth the trip from Nottingham

Good traditional style cooking with attentive service. Highly recommend. If your unsure what to order speak to aftab the manager for his recommendation 10/10

Only giving 4* to atmosphere cuz of the way the seating is. Apart from that no complaints

I cannot comment about the food because we are still waiting since they overbooked. Disappointing!!

Honestly id gv this a minus food was ok! Very spicy currys even tho we said mild for children couldnt eat it. Customer service is horrible the guy came & gave us cups & plates & told us to pass it on to eachother. i had to go ask for my currys because after eating my staters i had to wait over 35 mins for my main course. The toilets smells really bad i only went to wash my hands ended up feeling sick!! Never coming here again

Generally, the food is excellent. I have dined in and normally take away. On a couple of occasions I have had the wrong item/missing items, it’s the only reason I have not given a 5 star rating.

Avoid on weekends 💯 or weekdays if you don’t want to get embarrassed!!!! I visited this place for dinner, the food was nice but the service is a big no no. I took a bunch of 8 people at first we were denied for starter we order and the excuse was it’s busy which is understandable but the tone of the guy with glasses is not acceptable at all. No one will come and ask if we need anything we had to wait for people to come around and then ask them which is still okey it’s busy. When we asked for tea at the end of the meal the reply was” not serving you tea it’s so busy and it’s Sunday” is this the way to answer someone is it? Or did I miss the part of customer service in my life. Got embarrassed infront of family and the next is we only accept cash….. there is no sign on the door or website. When I told them that I have only online banking or I can transfer I was told to ask the other members I took for dinner. I have seen them using card machine like 10 minutes before me. I had to collect cash from the people I took for dinner. It was so embarrassing seriously please avoid if you can:)

Staff is rude, especially the guy on the reception has no manors how to speak to customers or staff.

Both the Lamb and Chicken Karahi were delicious! Fresh, mouth watering and flavorsome ❤ Also had their Chicken Kebabs and they were extremely juicy and so yummy!! Staff was really helpful and professional.

Had seekh kawab chicken..the one of the best I had for a long time, I remember. Lamb karhai was amazing . Chatnis were so delicious, especially the one made from ripe mango ..highly recommended

Very nice service and quality food.

Good food tonight and good service as always

Great restaurant, friendly staff, food was hot and tasty, Sajid you looked after our family and catered to all our needs! Thank you again and we will definitely be telling our friends to visit!

Great Food at a great establishment. We were served and looked after Sajid, great guy looked after us all evening. :)

Very nice service from Sajid, very kind and fun. Delicious food, would definitely recommend for families.

A big THANK YOU to Sajjid Bashir he always gives us exceptional service. A very hard working staff member I hope he is appreciated.

Best place for a karahi and lamb chops! Fresh rotis and table service not bad!

Always very good experience every time I've visited the food taste and quality is fabulous and absolutely amazing service 👌

Amazing food. Just the right amount of spice and heat and everything nice. Loved it. 10 out of 10.

Always amazing. 10/10 toilets need attention though

Nice food good service although very busy.

I would definitely recommend desi dera amazing Very nice food. Nice service will be back again with a friend

Order to curry more kee then anything attitude no respect how can you run business it must be colour of skin

Just always love going jere with family to have some lovely mouth watering food. It is amazing ❤.

Beautiful food very spacious, realy good customer service manager greated us with a great big friendly smile and assisting with all our needs , waiters also smiling always on standby, was a great enjoyable place, definitely would recommend, also great for familys( atmosphere).

The food was very good, the starters were excellent especially the seekh kebabs and the marinade on the lamb Chops was 😋. The chicken tikka masala curry was the best I gave ever had. Wasn't too keen on the butter chicken and the palak gosht was mediocre. They were busy initially went we went in at 6 but by the time we left it had quietened down. They have lost a star for service as we asked them for desi tea as it was on the menu but they said they were busy. Overall excellent food at a very reasonable price.

What a lovely food every thing tasty and affordable...if you go make sure order Charsi Karai and charsi atikka...

Was disappointed the time taken for food to be served

Amazing place and yes very tasty food I love the service.

Food was not cooked well and services awful they don't know how to serve and expensive

Absolutely amazing place travel from Nottingham to derby food is 10-10