Spice Merchants in Portsmouth

Maybe a Friday night is not the best of times, but I was so disappointed. We'd booked early (1845) so beat the rush that shortly ensued, but a quality restaurant should be able to maintain its standards at all times. The SERVICE was EXCELLENT and GRACIOUS, but the food was ABYSMAL - no nose, no taste, no fire at all - I ordered a Royal Venison starter and an Ayre (Catfish) Jalfrazi main - both totally insipid. There were just eight small pieces of fish completely swamped by onions and nondescript goo with no detectable spices as descibed. I would call this this place THE CON MERCHANTS - and I certainly don't recognise it from the website descriptions or some of the many rave revues. Please tell me you should have have done better - 07730 982 809 - ask for TONY

Green masala is amazing. Can’t wait to come back and try the rest of the menu.

What a find! Wonderful welcome and service, the food was excellent, one of the best ever curries I have had. Would definitely recommend and will return whenever I am in Southsea again.

Visited because of the positive reviews and was not disappointed highly recommend

Total rubbish, onion bhaji small over cooked, chicken goan taste less sagaloo boiled potato with a little spinach no tastes, never again £60+ for two !!!

Everything from the service to the quality of the food makes us a great restaurant, it’s been established for many years with many regulars, including myself going back time and time again. Serving your traditionally British Bangladesh food like onion bahaji and chicken tikka masala, but they also do some unexpected meals, I had the monkfish tikka tonight. It was really good. The portions on the largest side, and the prices are reasonable, they have a full wine list, and although it is a large restaurant with lots of covers, I would recommend booking on a Saturday night.

This is my first time at a Indian restaurant in the UK, with English roots. The atmosphere and ambience was really nice. The food was decent - not really authentic Indian food for some from India.

Visited with a group of colleagues on an evening. There appeared to be not enough menus to go round our group so we had to wait for others to order and finish with theirs before perusing and then ordering our meal. Chicken tikka starter wasabi poor and dry. I had chicken korma which to be honest wasn’t the best. In a plus table service was available for drinks from the bar ( you couldn’t stand at the bar as you would be in the way of customers entering and exiting the property.

Great Indian cuisine and awesome service. The fish curry is a must try!

Very good but the dishes are on the very mild side. I normally like a madras strength but needed to order vindaloo strength which wasn’t quite as hot a a normal madras! Food tasty and good quality

Shockingly poor! Overcooked lamb and vegetable curry, tasteless naan bread and unseasoned biryani. Huge disappointment, on every single count. Sadly "Spice merchants" let themselves down and have put Indian cuisine to shame. I absolutely do not recommend. Curry houses on Albert road do a much better job.

In my opinion the best curry in Portsmouth. Staples and some unusual dishes.

Just finished a family meal and credit where credit is due. 8 people and a toddler. All the food was spot on. Friendly and attentive service. My mother, who is queen of complaining, even said was one of the best curry's she's ever had.

A half an hour walk from our hotel didn't disappoint us. The food service and price was excellent.

I attended this venue as a group of 5. Let’s get the good stuff out of the way. The restaurant was clean and the staff were friendly and attentive. I had a lamb dish which was tough and gristly. Others made the same comment as well, including the chicken dishes. We had no starters and 1 drink each. The bill was somehow £26 a head. Will not be going back in a hurry.

It is one of the most popular Indian restaurants in Portsmouth. It has a large selection of traditional Indian dishes including fish, lamb, paneer, prawn and vegetarian dishes. We ordered Kacchi biriyani and lamb jalfrezi with rice. Taste was excellent and authentic. Chef agreed to make the lamb a bit spicy as my friend requested which I appreciate . The restaurant was bustling with life and fully packed when we visited. Not a suitable place for bringing kids, quiet dining or people with migraine I'll say! A quiet zone would've solved the problem, however It's a very popular place as it is and unlikely the owner will think about changing anything. A bit overpriced for the quantity of the portion served 😬

Food was amazing, service excellent! This is without a doubt the best Indian restaurant I’ve been to and I go to at least 2 or 3 per year around the UK, food was hot, tasty, generous size portions, the Cobra beer was too expensive at £6.25 a pint, this was the only thing that put me off after the meal… but I’m sure I will be back 😁

Best Indian restaurant in town by far !!!!

First time been there and was a really nice and tasty food, would definitely go again as it was busy when I went.

Very nice meal nice atmosphere lovely service but a bit expensive

A Flavorful Journey through Indian Cuisine I recently had the pleasure of dining at Spice Merchant, and I must say, it was an unforgettable experience. From the moment I stepped in, I was greeted with warm hospitality and an inviting ambiance that set the tone for an exceptional culinary adventure. The menu at Spice Merchant offers a tantalizing array of authentic Indian dishes, each bursting with vibrant flavors and aromatic spices. From traditional favorites like butter chicken and lamb rogan josh to venison and lobster curries, there's something to delight every palate. One dish that particularly stood out to me was the royal venison. The tender chunks of venison were perfectly cooked and smothered in a rich sauce that left me craving more with every bite. The garlic naan was also a highlight, perfectly fluffy and baked to perfection. The presentation of each dish was impeccable, showcasing the chef's attention to detail and commitment to quality. The flavors were well-balanced, with just the right amount of heat and spice to tantalize the taste buds without overwhelming them. In addition to the mouthwatering food, the service at Spice Merchant was top-notch. The staff was attentive and knowledgeable, providing excellent recommendations and ensuring that every aspect of my dining experience was nothing short of exceptional. Overall, dining here was a true culinary delight. Whether you're a seasoned fan of Indian cuisine or trying it for the first time, I highly recommend paying a visit to for an unforgettable dining experience that will leave you craving more.

What can I say, we've lived abroad for the last 8 years and went back to our favorite resturant for a date night. Ali and his staff recognised us immediately made us feel like royalty. Although the resturant was full, the guys all made time to come to chat with us. Food was impeccable, service was amazing. See you all next visit.

The Good Location, atmosphere, service, The bad Quality of chicken was very poor, tasted hard and pre frozen. Wine was not great, not many Indian restaurants have a clue IMO. Expectation v reality

Starts with excellent. Private booking for a lunchtime service for my fathers 80th birthday. The service from the staff was welcoming and never too much trouble. The food was lovely. Really well presented and the taste amazing. They fed 30 people and we still couldn't eat everything. Highly recommended

Great staff,amazing food.Highly recommend.

Nice meal but hubby's prawns in Dansak a bit chewy.

Amazing restaurant. Service was awesome. Staff are super friendly. My phone was dying and server offered his phone charger without me even asking. I would recommend the butter chicken. Absolutely brilliant.

The food here is just lovely!! Takeaway tonight but went to the Restaurant last Saturday!! The service is brilliant as well. Good job guys x

We were on a week break in Portsmouth and we came across spice merchants online so we thought we’d check it out. We were not disappointed. Great selection on the menu, the staff were fantastic and the food was amazing, the best we have had. We didn’t have a long wait for food and were asked when we were ready for the next course instead of them forcing it upon you. We will definitely be back

This is a very well long standing restaurant in Portsmouth, the quality of the food is always outstanding, my chicken tonight was the most tasty and succulent I have had in a long time.

Best Indian in Portsmouth and Southsea

Ordinary curries, old onion chutney and expensive. Wish we'd never bothered and they forgot the bottle of wine we ordered.

We made a reservation here and the person who spoke to me said they had parking. However, they did not disclose that they are asking us to park on the street and we can be fined. On the top of that, the person was extremely rude and misbehaved on confronting him.

A number of us ordered a monk fish biryani. Not much fish in it. Would have preferred that I had been told it was sold out and directed to something else.

The food was very nice, cooked well piping hot. But the service was poor, it was rushed, you were basically being hurried out. We still had drinks to finish basically being ushered by asking if we paying cash or card 3 times in space of 15 minutes. The waiter even opened the bill to put in the card machine before we looked. Poor service won’t return after that when spending nearly £250. If you are on time limit should be mentioned when booking. Won’t be returning.

Delicious Indian food I found in Southsea.

Had a meal there last night. It was excellent.

Arla fish Jalfraizy was fantastic

40 pound odd for 2 Currys and chutney tray asked for slightly milder dhansak got a korma meet was tough as boots awful

Very nice restaurant in Southsea that offers a huge selection of fish, meat dishes, birjani dishes and chefs specials. Good ambiance, friendly and polite staff. The quality was outstanding, the flavours fabulous. We very much enjoyed dinner here.

The food was a complete disaster no taste we ordered lamb chops really tiny pieces of bones very low quality meat.prawn paneer was 2 pieces of prawns and paneer , just wasted my time and money. Never going back will not recommend at all .

Great Indian restaurant, our table of 14 all had good food and will return.

The decor gives it away. This passes for an average curry house. It is rather nondescript and mediocre by any standard. The service is adequate and the toilet was clean with provision of soap and water. But the food was neither exceptional in any way nor authentic. A good yardstick is the lamb biriyani which certainly lacked a certain oomph. It was a big let down after having sampled the real thing by way of the Mughalai/ Hyderabadi biriyani because the taste comes nowhere near it.

Previously dined here 2 years ago while on Holiday. Back to Southsea on a short family break, after harping on for 2 years about the food, I persuaded the family to visit last night. The food and atmosphere was just as I remembered. Amazing, with the family quoting it was the best Indian they had in years. I highly recommend the chefs special Biryani “pictured” Thx

Great little place to visit. Food was tasty and good value for money !

Food was dry with little flavour. Not there best night. Took my daughter for a meal and it was almost embarrassing as I told her how lovely it was. I’ll never go back

Very tasty sukka King prawn curry, but only 3 King prawns... all dishes very fresh. Lots of different sizes of copper pots. Works visit again too try more dishes.

Excellent for dining in or takeaway. Friendly staff and decent pricing.

The food was fine, nothing exceptional. For a Saturday night we felt they were very under-staffed. The waiters were doing their best but unfortunately they could not cope with the sheer volume of orders coming in. The Phone would not stop ringing. The restaurant was packed to the rafters and there was not much space between the tables at all. We may visit again but definitely not on a Saturday evening!

Fantastic restaurant, I have probably tried the best chicken biryani I ever ate in uk. My husbands lamb tikka masala was also delicious. The ambience was really nice and the staff very friendly. You must try it! Thanks everyone for the great expirience

Delicious food at a friendly restaurant. Interesting menu with unfamiliar dishes. Everything was tasty and good value. We would have gone again had we been staying longer

Staff are very welcoming and pleasant. Food and service was very good. Food was authentic and very tasty.

The food was excellent the staff were very nice and interaction with customers excellent 👍

I absolutely loved it! Great service and food. I’m booking again right now 😬❤️

Really enjoy the restaurant service, menu and atmosphere at Spice Merchants with some different chef's specials to try. But I could not give the take away food service 4 or 5 stars. We have ordered twice and the food is hot and on time but it is definitely not the same standard as in the restaurant. Two different curries had chicken which was tough, dry and stringy and the sauce very watery and lacking flavour. So we have learned and won't order a take away again. A real shame because we enjoy the fresh food in the restaurant and don't understand the difference in quality.

An excellent curry house, my favourite to visit within Portsmouth. This is a busy curry house so I would suggest booking ahead especially for meals at the weekend. The curry selection, especially seafood, is very extensive and of great quality. Every meal I've had tastes very good, I enjoy trying something new each time I visit. Service from the staff is always top notch; so friendly and helpful.

Found this place a few weeks ago so we thought we would give it a try. Not disappointed at all. The menu looks wonderful, with so many different starters to choose from and some unusual ones at that. Never seen Venison on an Indian menu before and there beef wreng dang was amazing.

I have always overlooked this place as I did not like the name and the outside looked a bit drab. In the words of Captain Bertorelli ('allo 'allo) "What a mistake ta maka!". The place is lovely inside, and the food and service were great. The menu is extensive and there are lots of unusual fish dishes. Fish curries are the business! The waiters were all very smart and friendly. Gabrielle, my wife, Sebastion and Barbarella, his wife, and I all thoroughly enjoyed our food and the dining experience. We will all return.

Great food and customer service Will always go back when I want an amazing curry

Great service but very average cuisine (expecting more taste from Indian restaurant). To much of sugar And at the end quite expensive

Have used this establishment every week for the last 5 years cannot be equalled

Amazing staff with a smile and briyani was lovely

Super fast service. Very obliging. And most importantly: super tasty

Definitely one of the best curry houses I've been to, not only in the Portsmouth area but also further afield. The menu has the usual staples but also offers the opportunity to try authentic dishes and chef's specialities. Service is always friendly and attentive and I would not ever hesitate to recommend trying them out.

Always love a meal here but had a very disappointing delivery. Food very oily and full of onion. Won’t bother ordering a delivery again.

When we went there first it was so good even food was delicious and staff are friendly. We decided to go there every time when our friends birthday will come in our group.

Great restaurant, brilliant food, very friendly personnel with good advise.

First visit to this excellent curry house and we were very impressed. The food and the helpful friendly service deserve top marks but the menu is also very unusual with lots of interesting fish dishes, even though I still went for my favourite Balti, which was superb. Will definitely be visiting again...soon!

Wish this was our local Indian. We have been twice in the last two months and both times the food and service have been great.

Owner Ali is lovely. Food 10/10 service 10/10. Great place for a nice meal 👍🏼

Great meal! Will definitely be visiting again! I couldn't eat all my meal, they gladly packed it up for me to take home!

The kebab had no flavour and not fresh,mains was under cook. I don't recommend.

The food is tastes really good. The quantity is also right for one person.

Disappointed, lack of flavour and texture to curry.

Sublime restaurant and service amazing glasses??! Chillies were perfect not too hot, Peshawari naan incredible coconut, was perfectly cooked not burnt like other places 🙂

We ordered three dishes last night from here as our usual Indian takeaway was closed. We ordered what we’d usually eat, Chicken Bhuna, Chicken Sag, a Tikka Biryani and Bombay aloo. I have to say we were wholly disappointed. The chicken in both dishes was dry and stringy, making it hard to chew and there was just no flavour to any of the dishes. The Bombay aloo was particularly disappointing as it was just a tub of potatoes with no flavour at all. Some of the popadoms weren’t crunchy, they were chewy and the chutneys followed suite and had no flavour either. A complete disappointment particularly as they were voted top ten of Indian takeaways in Portsmouth! Wasn’t cheap so won’t be using them again.

Very nice food, enjoyed it plenty. The staff were friendly and pleasant. I would recommend this restaurant a lot.

Superb selection on the menu with a good variety of dishes you do not see that often! Also, look out for the Yorkshire puddings on the starter menu, we had those with chicking filling, absolutely stunning.

Really busy so service was a bit slow but we expected that when we walked in Food very good, staff very polite and attentive

Best curry restaurant in this area. Menu choice is very varied and extremely good. Staff are superb, restaurant well maintained, lovely atmosphere. It's our go to restaurant for an Indian restaurant

Found this gem by chance, went in for a curry and ended up having the grilled Sea Bass. Possibly the best fish meal I have eaten in years and well worth the exceptionally reasonable price. Staff are all excellent and attentive. I will definitely make an effort to visit again next time I am in Southsea. I can heartily recommend this to anyone who likes sea food.

Lovely restaurant with great atmosphere, delicious food and very good service. Will definitely return when we're in the area.

Very good tasty food, full of flavour, reasonably priced, staff friendly

Nihari lamb is incredible. Great service, yummy food. Best curry in southsea

Very nice tasting food, staff friendly and reasonably priced

Busy on a Saturday, didn't book but they accommodated 4 early doors at 6. But it got busy quickly, no surprise as not many curry houses in Osborne Road anymore, most are in Albert Road 15 mins away. Two things food was good, wasn't keen on the contemporary decor and music, it has lost its colonial feel of Raj and used to be quite plush when first opened bit sparse now and drafty with door open and closing all the time. That's a personal taste for me, service was hit or miss some waiters friendly others functional. Starters, drinks and main for 4 people £118. I prefer the Purple Mango or Indian Cottage in Albert Road.

I like the rice options in the menu. They were very tasty

Highly recommend. Best Indian restaurant I have been to in Southsea, extensive menu, lots of fish to choose from as well as the usuals. Plus a load more, including a cracking duck dish. Great staff, very friendly. Overall, recommended. Enjoy.

Always fantastic food and service!

Really great food. Damask is superb.

Typical curry house, wide verity on the menu, monkfish starter was excellent..

Excellent service and great food

Ordered a delivery from The Spice Merchants and it was such a great experience. I phoned on a Friday night, to ask for a delivery the next night and the guy was so nice on the phone. Suggested I could email the order for 8...

Went to this brilliant restaurant on Saturday evening. Great service.great surroundings, one of the nicest curries I have ever had!! The fried pila rice was amazing.highly recommended place to eat.

Superb meals, Lamb tikka Hara masala, mushroom rice, onion bajees,and Chef special Biryani.... Thankyou., was so lovely. Recommend here very much.. Friendly kind & helpful staff too. Will be back. Deca hobe.. JANE.

One of the worst takeaway I have had in a long time £35 meal for two and the best part was the tarka dall chicken Hariali was just about palatable the Shan Bhuna chicken was most probably leftover from previous days as the chicken was well over cooked ie tough sat in this restaurant before and all was ok but to order a takeaway never again, Mister Mick.

Went to this restaurant with friends last night and glad we had booked as it was very busy. The menu had so many lovely options it was hard to decide what to have. We all thoroughly enjoyed what we chose, it tasted delicious and was very nicely presented. The service was great too, very friendly and welcoming. Thank you for a great evening. We will definitely be back !

Lovely meal, very well cooked and nice size portions, staff friendly and attentive, would highly recommend

Everything about this restaurant was good.Service was excellent and we tried some of the house specials including a venison curry and a green chicken massala.Both were very different and absolutely delicious.The place was very busy and it's obvious why.Sheer class. Wish it was near us...

Excellent choice of Indian cuisine, great friendly service and prices are very fair for good quality, tasty food.