Cozy North Indian restaurant offering classic & unusual Punjabi dishes, plus beer & wine.
Raj
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.
… moreLeigh Garofano
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
… moreMick Dunn
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. It comes with a side of Raita, which by itself is relatively bland, but paired with and mixed into the biryani, it balances the spiciness quite nicely with this most excellently flavorful dish. Highly recommended.
… moreNicole Francischelli
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 had better Indian food elsewhere. Towards the end of our dining, we felt very rushed by another server who was quick to offer us to go boxes and get us on our way, we weren’t even there for an hour yet. Prices were on the higher side as expected for the Portsmouth area. Paid street parking if you’re lucky, otherwise there’s a parking garage right next store.
… moreAshton White
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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!
… moreScott C.
I ordered via DoorDash
The taste of the food was fantastic. I really enjoyed it. I got Chicken Tikka Masala
My only issue was how little chicken I got. My container was mostly sauce and maybe 6 pieces of chicken. I understand the container won’t be filled with chicken with very little sauce. But my reaction was they were a little skimpy in the chicken.
… moreSara Dignard
Our meal was absolutely delicious! This visit we ordered Saag Paneer, Lamb Vindaloo, Seafood Marsala and the Butter Chicken Chef Style. Highly recommend the butter chicken chef style! Each bite is a flavor journey and it’s spicy but not melt-your-face-off. Staff is great at helping you decide your spice comfort and with recommendations. Every bread we’ve tried has been great but our favorites include garlic naan and peshawari naan (stuffed with potatoes). Our favorite spot to celebrate.
… moreDaniela Wallace
We can’t say enough about our dinner at Shalimar. We were in town for only a couple days and we love Indian food so we decided to try it out. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and very clean. The service was wonderful and we even got to chat with Colbert who treated us like close friends. The food was delicious!! I would definitely recommend !
… moreMajid Attar
If you’re craving authentic Indian food in Portsmouth, this is the place to be! I had the extra spicy chicken biryani, and it was hands down one of the best biryanis I’ve ever had perfectly spiced, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. The vegetarian samosas were absolutely delicious, crispy on the outside with a well-seasoned filling. The lamb curry paired with garlic naan was another highlight, rich and aromatic.
The service was exceptional friendly, attentive, and welcoming. Prices are very reasonable for the quality of food and experience. Highly recommended for anyone looking for amazing Indian cuisine!
… moreKevin Downer
Best Indian restaurant we have been to in over a decade!
We were delighted to find Shalimar India in the heart of Portsmouth, close to hotels and a block away from the central parking garage.
From the moment we walked in we were impressed, multi colored lights hang from a darkened ceiling, creating the sensation of eating beneath a starry sky.
The servers were prompt, courteous, and helpful in navigating the many items on the menu.
There are plenty of beverage options including a variety of wines by glass or bottle, four draft beers, over a dozen beers in cans and bottles, as well as many interesting cocktails.
The menu is extensive.
We tried the an order of poppadom and lamb and peas samosas for an appetizer; chicken korma and lamb vindaloo for entrees, and garlic naan. We ended with rice budding and a nut flavored ice cream.
The entrees can all be adjusted based on how spicy you would like it to be. We tried the Korma as medium and the vindaloo as spicy. Both were great and the spicy was hot, but not crazy hot.
Everything was fresh, flavorful, and served quickly.
We’re glad we visited.
… more