Outstanding, genuine service in a lovely atmosphere, serving true authentic Keralan cuisine. We booked a table for 2 on a Friday night, and left feeling we had just got off the plane from an action packed tour of South India.
A must-book table for anyone who loves the flavours of coconut and other fresh and fragrant tastes. The managers clearly let their passion loose on a menu that must be tried.
Peter Roberts★★★★★
The cobra looks deliciously refreshingly tasty!
It was.
So much so I did 2 quicker than Usain Bolt does 60m.
The chicken makhani with keema rice looked like a sore tummy toilet HOWEVER!
It was perfectly spiced and hot like a ping meal but WAY better and was most certainly freshly made for moi.
Never judge a book.
Staff were friendlier than the Fritzels and the food reasonably priced.
Why aren't all Mondays made like this...
Stephanie Ellis★★★★★
Here’s a polished Google-style review you can copy and paste:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I had a fantastic experience at Elai in Basingstoke! The staff are so friendly and welcoming from the moment you walk in, and the whole setting has a relaxed vibe with nice, chilled music in the background. They were really helpful when I was choosing from their wide variety of dishes and even tailored a curry to be the perfect medium spice for me. The naan bread was absolutely amazing, and with such a great selection on the menu there’s definitely something for everyone. Highly recommend! Will definitely visit again when I am next in the area.
Suzan Makil★★★★★
We happened to be in the area for my husband’s work and was craving homely food and stumbled upon Elai. Being from Kerala ourselves we have to say this has to be the BEST Kerala restaurant we’ve been to in UK ( and we’ve been to many). From the service to the atmosphere to the food authenticity- it was all PERFECT! Would definitely be returning if we’re in the area. 10/10 recommend.
Samian★★★★★
The decor, food and customer service was top class. This restaurant is a gem in Basingstoke. If you love southern Indian cuisine you will not be disappointed with the exotic flavours of every dish. Highly recommend for birthday parties.
Thetchinamoorthy Esakkymuthu★★★★★
Excellent and delicious South Indian food. Good customer service is much appreciated. Nice atmosphere for family and friends for a get togetherness.
Steven L★☆☆☆☆
I hate to rate somewhere so lowly, but when I spend £54 on a takeaway for two people, I expect something sensational. I would rate this zero stars if I had the option.
The chilli paneer was distinctly average. The paneer would be nice if it were tandoori roasted but it was sloppily cooked in sweaty onions and tomatoes with no particular flavours or spice.
The Chicken 65 was frankly laughable. It was a reasonable portion size but was essentially sweaty chicken pakora. No spices, no garnish, nothing. Just a tray of battered chicken, and it had more batter than chicken. That's simply not what Chicken 65 is. Check out spices and spirits for an authentic Chennai style Chicken 65.
Kerala Beef Curry was supposedly to be slow cooked soft beef in a flavourful sauce, but it was chewy and bland with many pieces completely inedible. The quantity of beef was also very poor.
Kozhi Varutharacha Curry should have been rich and spicy but it was a watery soup with a small amount of pre-cooked (and tough) chicken tossed into the desolate liquid at the last moment.
The garlic naan was passable, but that's being generous. It was doughy with no crispness and covered in raw garlic pieces.
We had a dine-in at Elai when it opened and were impressed, so it pains me to leave such a review but I find it hard to believe that so many errors are an accident.
The price charged for our meal versus the quality was unacceptable and I cannot recommend.
Ankur Basoya★★☆☆☆
Didn’t like the food. We order of the Vegetarian dishes and they had too much Oil and something missing in the dishes. Wanted to try some of the All day menu items but were not available. So not a very good first visit.
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FAQs
What is the address of Elai?
Elai is located at 28 London Street, Basingstoke RG21 7NY, United Kingdom
What is the phone number of Elai?
You can contact Elai at +44 1256 322774
How can I get to Elai?
You can find directions to Elai by following this map link
