Shalimar India

Good not great. However, unusual for Indian restaurants this place was really well priced. The garlic naan was not on par and it needed to be crispier. The chicken tandoori was actually quite good, as was the dal makhani and mataar paneer. The mataar paneer was pretty watery compared to normal, but okay. The papad was pretty good. The food overall was just okay nothing great, definitely needed more flavor.

My husband and I had a lovely experience at Shalimar for Valentines Day. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. We did not have a long wait, which was unexpected for a holiday. The atmosphere was warm and cozy. We thoroughly enjoyed our meals and loved the different naan choices. Dessert was an Indian dish, so lovely not too sweet. Our waitress Leigh my name twin was fabulous, so helpful with all of our questions… like the saying goes “services with a smile”. We will definitely be back Thank you Leigh and Bob

Shalimar India in downtown Portsmouth is an outstanding choice for authentic “North Indian Punjabi Cuisine” which, along with the beautiful decor and friendly service, lends to a very nice atmosphere. For my adult beverage, I went with The Yogi. Although not described as such in the menu, The Yogi sports a moderate spicy kick, and wow, it serves the drink very well; delicious and effective. For food, I started with a couple different types of Nan bread. The first was Rogni Nan which is stuffed with crushed nuts and raisins for a delightfully light crunchiness. Next was the Keema Nan, with ground lamb and peas - m’wah! The main dish I had was the Shalimar Special Biryani - ordered spicy hot - which is basically a Basmati rice bowl with various meats, veggies, nuts, raisins, and seasoning. I

When we arrived, there was no wait time, the tables filled up, but not completely, by the time we were leaving. The restaurant is dimly lit with fancy stained-glass lamps. We had several different servers during our dining experience. They had a very large menu with many options. I started with a mocktail that involved guava and jalapeno, I was not impressed, it lacked any flavor whatsoever and just tasted like a flat sprite, I did not finish the drink, I should’ve gone with the mango lassi that I was debating about. The food portions were very big, enough to have a second meal for leftovers. I had the chicken rice biryani with medium spice level that I also was not impressed with. The dish lacked taste and there was no spice at all, the chicken was very dry and difficult to eat. I have ha

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Clean, welcoming atmosphere right in the heart of Portsmouth. We really enjoyed the dine-in experience—everything felt authentic, from the food to the hospitality. The staff was friendly and efficient, absolutely crushing it with a steady stream of to-go orders while still taking great care of those dining in. There’s ample seating, a small bar, and plenty of nearby street parking, which made the whole visit super easy. We’ll definitely be back!