Elai in Basingstoke and Deane

Good south Indian food & great atmosphere

Elai is a must-visit restaurant. From the moment we step in, the warm hospitality and the aroma of coconut, curry leaves, and spices set the tone for a comforting meal. The experience was more of a Tharavadu and not a restaurant. We tried the Kerala Sadhya on a banana leaf on auspicious Vishu, a new beginning of the Malayalam new year — and it was a feast! Every dish, from the tangy Moru curry to the crispy pappadam, was packed with traditional flavors. The Avial was creamy and perfectly seasoned, and the sambar reminded me of home-cooked Onam meals. Paalada payasam was so good and that cant be explained but must taste. Delicious food served with a fragrant, spicy, and generously loaded full of tantalising taste on our taste buds. Very much delighted with customer service, it's simply amazing and Unni Chetan, his family members and staff were simply superb & truly down to earth. I strongly recommend Elai food as a "MUST TRY...."

This place is a hidden gem on my way to Stonehenge. The decor and the location was great. The service were very polite and friendly and helpful. The food was great but could be better. The lime salt soda was perfect, but the thali itself fell a bit short of my expectations in terms of its freshness. It was still good to have south Indian food in the middle of nowhere

Been there a few times and experience varies, but yesterday was a bit disappointing, I ordered a lamb starter and beef + bone marrow briyani. The starter was very nice, well cook lamb and beautifully seasoned. The briyani was disappointing as the overall dish was very dry. I was never a big fan of raita and much prefer some curry sauce with the rice, so I asked if i could have curry sauce instead and was told I have to order separately. I have been to other restaurants where they only server raita but they will always entertain if you prefer the curry sauce instead, and even then, their rice is not dry without the curry sauce. The service was also a bit lacking, as we are a big group, the experience varies, one end of the table have their drinks forgotten when they ordered for more and on the other end they didn't even bother to ask if we wanted more drinks when our glasses are almost running empty. I have to stress they are not impolite but just overall the service could be improved. Overall the experience was ok, but I think there is room for improvement.

It's my first time dining here, and this is one of the best Indian food I've had in the south of England The flavors are bold, rich, and well-balanced, with a clear South Indian and Keralan influence shining through. Every dish is beautifully spiced, fragrant, and cooked to perfection. An absolute gem of a restaurant—if I'm in town, I shall be back. 3 stars for atmosphere as I was there early on Thurs . Big space and not so busy yet. But no fault of the decor and music.

Excellent service and phenomenal food. The lamb chops and beef curry were to die for. I will definitely come back.

The food is delicious and the service impeccable. They cater to most food allergies also, which is great for someone who struggles with finding a place to eat. Would always recommend!

Great place lovely food service was great, very authentic flavour food was cooked fresh as ordered, parking is tricky can find paid parking in front of Redlion hotel and walk 3 mints…. Will definitely be very frequent to try other dishes…

I had by wedding lunch post my ceremony here. they absolutely took care of everything and curated a non veg thali menu for me and our guested with customised dessert of my choice. The whole process was very smooth, the guests loved the experience and ambience, absolutely recommend these guys, service top notch!

Best Indian Food Around! My friend and I went to this restaurant, and it was such a great experience! We ordered different dishes, and everything fresh and packed with flavor. The menu has so many great options, even some unique ones you don’t see often—we’re definitely coming back to try more! The staff were friendly and made sure we had everything we needed. Thanks for an amazing meal!

Delicious authentic South Indian food! A lovely experience

We really enjoyed our meal here. A really friendly welcome and amazing food. Honestly the best curry I've ever had.. everything was absolutely delicious.

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Elai Restaurant in Basingstoke, and it was a fantastic experience from start to finish. The food was absolutely delicious, with the Masala Dosa being a standout—crispy on the outside, filled with a perfectly spiced potato mixture, and served with flavorful chutneys and sambar. Every dish we tried was fresh, well-prepared, and full of authentic South Indian flavors. The ambiance was warm and inviting, with a modern yet cozy feel that made for a pleasant dining experience. The staff was friendly, attentive, and always ready to offer recommendations, which added to the overall positive experience. While the restaurant was quite busy, especially during peak hours, the lively atmosphere only highlighted its popularity. Despite the high quality of food and service, the prices were quite reasonable, making it a great spot for both casual meals and special occasions. If you’re looking for authentic South Indian cuisine in Basingstoke, Elai is definitely worth a visit! I’ll be coming back for sure.

Nice food real malabar taster must try!

This is my best place for Indian food since my first review , since everything new is happening there is a list of new food items for you to try , this increases the number of menu items including the Palm liquor also called as the Toddy 😊😊😊.. love the food here.. specially try the Pal konju ( prawns in coconut milk) you just have to tell them what's your spice level and how u want your food to be .. your wish will be fulfilled, nothing can beat the taste of the food here it's simply awesome . 😊👍👍👍

Decent food but service on our visit was very slow. There was also no sound insulation which made it rather loud inside. Competitive prices though

Always the best food, so tasty and fresh. we will be back again and again!

We had a dinner in Elai and the service was excellent and stuff very friendly. Food was really nice. We definitely come and eat there again. Highly recommended.

Lovely meal, great selection of authentic dishes. Spacious restaurant, attentive staff with great customer service.

Beautiful meal, delicious and balanced coconut, mango, tender meat. Attentive service. Will be returning as soon as we can. Great pre-theatre meal with generous discount

We attended the Eali for a business lunch, the place was beautiful, staff very friends and helpful, and food was delicious. We will definitely be back.

Excellent food, excellent service. Staff are very friendly. Been here a few times and the food is brilliant. Highly recommended

We had a great dinner at Elai. Food are delicious. Love the Puri, green curry and pasweri naan. There are lots of interesting dishes on the menu, we will be back again.

Food delivery was cancelled abruptly after waiting for hours. Blaming the delivery service without taking no responsibility or accountability or even checking with the customer. Staff has zero customer service skills and doesn’t even know when or how to apologise and take the responsibility. Amateurs at best. Avoid ordering with these guys unless you fancy an unplanned trip to McDonald’s in the middle of the night because Elai amateurs think they’re just a kitchen throwing food out of the door and expecting customers to be happy.

Good authentic South Indian food. Parotta was fresh and flaky complimented well with beef Biryani very flavourful and rice well cooked. Staff warm and friendly Very impressive interior, lots of space to sit and unique decorations..

The ambiance of Elai is beautiful and comfortable, making it a perfect spot for a casual meal or a special occasion. I would highly recommend as the food is absolutely delicious, with every dish bursting with flavour and amazing presentation. The variety on the menu make sure there is something for everyone. The staff is friendly, attentive, and eager to ensure you have a great dining experience. Thanks team Elai!

Nice ambiance and friendly staff. The food came quick and was very tasty. The menu has a lot to choose from. Will definitely come back.

Amazing dosa and biriyani. Great family dinner. Deserts were great too. Black coconut ice cream and gulab jambu. Staff friendly and helpful. Will definitely come again. Thank you.

We came here for a goodbye meal for a friend at work and had heard great reviews. Locally it seems a lot of people are planning to eat here. The restaurant itself is beautiful, marble floors, lovely decor and paintings. Staff were very friendly and attentive. The menu choices were vast and there were lots of usual options with a twist, Meals you just wouldn’t find in other restaurants. So whether you fancy a biryani with a twist or trying something completely different this is the place for you. And if spice isn’t your thing they are more than happy to adjust to your taste. We had a wonderful evening. Prices were great, even with a lot of drinks, and we left a tip as service wasn’t on the bill. This restaurant is at the end of the high street but not a long walk and you should absolutely visit. The garlic naan was the best I’ve ever had and I’ve tried a lot.

Fantastic food! Fantastic service. Ajin looked after us like we were a part of his family. Will definitely be back soon!

Night out with the team. Some different currys that are new to me. Spicy poppadom is excellent as a starter. Had a new curry to me and it was exceptional, sorry, can't remember the name. Busy on a weeknight and good service, I'll be back!

Sensational food. Nothing more to add :)

I had a fantastic dining experience at this restaurant. The food was outstanding – delicious, well-presented, and made with fresh ingredients. The service was equally excellent, with friendly and knowledgeable staff Hari and his mate who were attentive without being overbearing. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, making for a thoroughly enjoyable meal. I highly recommend this restaurant and will definitely be returning 🤙🏼

Food was rubbish. I mentioned that the food should be spicy, but the food was really sweet. Too much onions and also the fish is a defrozened one. By the time food reached my hand it already become cold. Very pathetic food.Not gonna order again and not gonna suggest to anyone.

My experience with Elai Restaurant is one of the best Restaurant in Basingstoke where it served authentic cuisine from South of India where flavours stick to their own original authentic flavours that food is cooked from scratch. What more one could ask for....only the best 👌 highly recommended for an evening out, family gathering, birthdays and parties get together.

Good atmosphere and great customer service

The restaurent closes at 9pm and not 10pm. If you are planning for a late visit please be mindfull about it. The management needs to change the timings in the google so that the customer can plan accordingly.

We didn’t get the order and it’s showing delivered. Food was order at 7:41pm and now the time is 10:10pm . What should we do. Where is the delivered food

Google listed the closing time as 10 PM, so we traveled all the way from Reading to grab a meal – only to find it closed by 9:15 PM. If they’re closing early, it should really be noted on their website. We put in our time, money, and effort to get here, and it’s disappointing to end up like this.

Packing was not good . Curry was spilled out. Ordered for 3 . Unfortunately only one can eat.

Delicious food, friendly staff served by Aji (visited on 02/11/24)

Lovely food as always. And the staff are really nice too. Thank you.

Ajin and Hari who tended to our table provided excellent service and they always had a smile on their face, which made the experience even more pleasant . The food was flavourful. The Idli's were soft, the biriyani and the Paal Konju are a must try.

Amazing food on a rainy Monday evening in Basingstoke

Amazing food and ambiance. Elai had numerous choices in their dinner items for appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Also, their drink selection was complete with good choice of wine and cocktails. I was thoroughly satisfied. Need to visit them during lunch and try their tiffin box.

What a gem! So friendly and the best south Indian food outside London.

The food is delicious and the service very attentive , we had the sea bass, the chicken biryani’, the prawn and mango curry - try it!

We had a lovely meal, the food was full of flavour and was reasonably priced. The staff were very friendly and attentive.

I had a lovely vegan Green vegetable curry. The service was superb.

It was a really lovely dinner and staff were so nice! Incredibly tasty food. Would recommend to anyone who fancies a n authentic Indian.

Excellent food and really good service. Definitely want to go back as there were loads of things on the menu that we wanted to try!

This is one of the best Kerala restaurants in and around Basingstoke. The food is really yummy and offer great service. The ambience is so lovely and not to mention the music.

Fantastic restaurant, and a nice change from your regular curry house. Masala dosa was great (really enjoyed the sauces that came with it), and the non-veg thali was also fantastic. Service was very attentive, will be back!

The decoration is splendid. They served biriyani in brass utensils .That is classical.The resturant holds some Indian culture . Quantity and taste was good .

Its one of the best places to have authentic Kerala food in the UK. Just love the place, food, ambience and music🥰

Basingstoke yet again provides on the food front and Elai is absolutely great Indian Cuisine. We had the Chicken Lollipops and Chicken Pattas to start very very nice followed by the Lamb Shank and Lamb on the bone curries ..again the same. I'm going back when I can. Don't think twice about booking a meal here. 5/5

Thank you for another amazing lunch and lovely conversation. Its always a pleasure to come here, eat the amazing food and have chats with the lovely staff! We are looking forward to seeing you at the next event! Kind regards, Shane & Mandi. x

One of my favourite restaurants in Basingstoke! Truly authentic Indian food, the food is incredible and so flavoursome. The team are super friendly and attentive, always so kind and helpful. The atmosphere inside the restaurant is lovely, with beautiful decor and music. chicken biryani and chicken fried rice is delicious A real gem, highly recommend

A very nice and authentic Kerala restaurant in Basingstoke, Hampshire. The chef they have flew from Kerela to Basingstoke to serve the customers with the authentic South Indian dishes. A must visit if you’re in Basingstoke. It’s right next to red line hotel.

Very friendly and professional staff, great service, yummy food. We all loved it. Thank you!

Quantity should have been a little extra.

Very nice and authentic Indian style restaurant with some charming staffs who ensures great hospitality.

Thank you so much for the delicious delicate food, the kindness and love we can feel in your lovely restaurant and on the plates. Unfortunately, I live far from you in France ... I would be so happy to come back and taste more meals with my friend.

Great expirience. Lovle food and very high standard of professional service.

Awesome experience with Elai, would like to visit again and again. Nice environment and sumptuous meal and smooth touch of hospitality.

The service has been very friendly and helpful with explaining some of the dishes. The food was lovely! I'd recommend the Kerala beef curry and chicken lollipops. They both had a nice warmth to the spice without being overpowering. We didn't order desert but the staff were kind enough to bring out a brownie with a candle to celebrate my mum's birthday, we didn't ask them too so it was a lovely surprise at the end of our meal

We had a great evening celebrating my mums birthday. The food was amazing and the service excellent. Will definately be coming again.

Top meal out with friends. Food was excellent, much better than the company I keep ;) Lots of dishes that I’ve not previously tried. Can thoroughly recommend.

First time here, excellent service and food. Will definitely be back. A must for others to pop in and sample to menu. Great atmosphere.

First time to Elai Lovely environment Great service Delicious food Helpful with recommendations and ever so polite We will be back

Very polite and professional lovely food

Wonderful Indian dinner with lots of great options and great recommendations from our friendly waiter

Awesome food and very good staff behaviour specially Nivin and Ajin . A must for Indian food. Excellent!

Great meal, five star service, excellent food!

Restaurant was quiet but the service and food was excellent. Would definitely come back if I am in the area.

Ajin is such a friendly person. Loved the service

We had an amazing experience here at lunch time. Good food, great service.

Our first visit and fantastic service and delicious food. Tried new dishes and would highly recommend the chili paneer!

"Delicious Kerala cuisine in a cozy and vibrant setting! This place exceeded my expectations with its flavorful dishes, attentive service, and warm ambiance. The Kerala Porotta was absolutely delicious! Flaky, crispy, and cooked to perfection. A must-visit for anyone craving authentic Kerala food!"

Very pleasent atmosphere and yummy food

Very nice serving very recommend best Indian restaurant

Wonderful restaurant, food, service and staff.

Such a gorgeous, authentic restaurant. I’ve been here a few times now and it never fails to disappoint. This time, I went for a curry recommended by our waiter and it was delicious. The service provided here is exceptional, all staff are attentive, from taking your coats to asking if everything is ok with your meal, nothing ever feels like too much trouble. Can’t wait to return!

: Good services, food are all delicious and lots of choices. The venue is spacious and clean. Its my second time visit and will keep coming back for more. :)

Very delicious and unusual food, with very friendly staff, I recommend you come prepared because everything is very spicy 🥵

Excellent taste of authentic South Indian cuisine with beautiful ambience.

Food is very tasty and good atmosphere

The thaali was very flavourful, a lot of varieties and they were kind enough to offer refill of the curries. Very interactive and friendly staff

Hi all We had vegetarian thaali which had a selection of poriyal, chetney, daal, saambar, rasam and sweets with papas and curd It was fulfilling and delicious

The food was amazing and the atmosphere is very calm and chill .

Brilliant food. Super Authentic kerala dishes. Great service. Overall Awesome experience. Lovely Hospitality. Recommended Chicken Pattas, Erachi Meen polish adhu and Kerala layer parotta

We enjoyed spending time with friends. The food was delicious and very authentic. Very friendly staff.

Excellent food and service. I will most definitely be back

This is a best place for who’s foodie , all food and drink awesome.. Especially South Indian dishes too good .. I will definitely come again…

Went there to day for lunch with my son his wife and my granddaughter thank you from the moment we got there until we left fantastic service food and restaurants well dune

An amazing meal at Elai, food was excellent and service was also top notch - Ajin was the perfect host. Will be returning very soon!

We hosted a function in Elai for 40 people and it all went exceptionally well. The food and service was first class and we were looked after really well by the whole team. Highly recommended.

Had food from their stall at the World party at Eastrope park recently. The food was stone cold and they didn’t give any raita or sallan with the cold biryani and pulao. Taste was good but disappointed that they served food with this kind of disregard.

A hidden gem in Basingstoke serving such authentic and lipsmacking kerala/tamil nadu food is an absolute must try!.. With a great team of chefs and servers, Unni and Rajni along with their biz partner work their magic on your palette!. the food here is consistently awesome, and you will feel you are having an authentic meal in South India. Their Aapam stew/Puttu Kadala curry/Biriyanis/chatti choru are simply melt worthy and their parottas are to die for. Quality of food, the service they provide leaves one with so much postive vibes and makes you come again! We also had our anniversary party at this venue with a specially curated menu and boy every one of the guests loved it to bits. Elai is a Must-see Must eat for anyone wanting to savour the authentic cuisine of Kerala/Tamil nadu in the UK! Go for it!

Food leaked into bag, empty containers