Darbar (Desi Cafe)
Quick info
About Darbar (Desi Cafe)
Home-style desi cooking drives the kitchen at Darbar (Desi Cafe), a Pakistani restaurant on Allison St in Glasgow, where curries are built dish by dish rather than from one pre-made onion sauce. Daily specials rotate through plates like chicken palak and chicken manchurian, alongside keema paratha and breads such as naan and roti ordered to go with the curries. The menu runs to around 13 dishes and covers both meat and vegetarian options, with kebabs, samosas and a desi omelette among them, plus mango lassi to drink. The kitchen is halal. Food is also supplied in bulk for events and community gatherings, and the team caters for groups collecting larger orders. Sit-in dining is available for lunch or dinner, and the restaurant opens daily. Work has been underway on the decor, with a new menu said to be coming.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree of charge street parking · Difficult to find a space
- AccessibilityHas wheelchair-accessible toilet · Does not have assistive hearing loop
- Good for kidsGood for kids · Family friendly
- DietaryServes organic dishes · Serves vegetarian dishes
Menu & Prices
13 dishes · mains £1–12- Roti£1.00
- Naan£1.20
- Chappati£1.20
- Lamb£8.00
- Chicken£6.00
- Channa£5.00
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention home style curries, reasonable prices, kebabs and chicken manchurian and mango lassi.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention home style curries, reasonable prices, kebabs and chicken manchurian and mango lassi.
Customer Review Summary
Home style cooking is what reviewers return to again and again, with several describing curries made fresh rather than from a single pre made onion sauce the way they say takeaways do. A large group travelling back from Glencoe worked through kebabs, chicken manchurian, chicken palak with roti, keema paratha, mango lassi and a desi omelette and reported everyone left full, while another lunch order of lamb curry, naan and samosa is called reasonably priced. Close behind the food is the welcome, with staff repeatedly described as friendly and helpful, and one long term takeaway customer says the quality has held steady over several years. Catering also draws praise, from a collected order for a private event to food supplied for a community breakfast at a local musalla. A refit was underway at the time of one visit, with a new menu promised. One reviewer notes parking is a bit of an issue, and another calls the room nice and quiet for a sit down meal.
Customer Review Summary
Home style cooking is what reviewers return to again and again, with several describing curries made fresh rather than from a single pre made onion sauce the way they say takeaways do. A large group travelling back from Glencoe worked through kebabs, chicken manchurian, chicken palak with roti, keema paratha, mango lassi and a desi omelette and reported everyone left full, while another lunch order of lamb curry, naan and samosa is called reasonably priced. Close behind the food is the welcome, with staff repeatedly described as friendly and helpful, and one long term takeaway customer says the quality has held steady over several years. Catering also draws praise, from a collected order for a private event to food supplied for a community breakfast at a local musalla. A refit was underway at the time of one visit, with a new menu promised. One reviewer notes parking is a bit of an issue, and another calls the room nice and quiet for a sit down meal.
Featured reviews
- Laetitia Butler
“Had a fantastic experience at Darbar while out for a late dinner. The staff was very welcoming, and the food was tasty and plentiful. Mix of meat and veggie options, plus daily specials. Would highly recommend! Looking forward to coming again.”
- B T
“We experienced fully home made style food - delicious 🙂 Staff are lovely friendly and helpful. Definitely worth going you will not be disappointed !”
- naiem akhtar
“I went to collect food for an event I was hosting. The food was top notch, all my guests enjoyed it. I will use Darbar again and recommend them. Parking is a bit of sn issue.”
- Abdul Rauf
“Had a fab time at the community breakfast at Almasjid Darnley Musalla! Food was provided by Darbar Desi Cafe Restaurant tasty and nice, would defo recommend. Great service, would use again in the future 👍 …”
- Shahnawaz Shariff
“This is perhaps the best home style cooking Pakistani food in Glasgow at such reasonable prices. Have been getting takeaway from this restaurant over the past few years and their food has been consistently good throughout the years.”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
- Has great tea selection
- Popular for popular for breakfast
- Popular for popular for lunch
- Popular for popular for dinner
- Popular for good for solo dining
Amenities
- Has Wi-Fi
- Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Free of charge street parking
- Accepts reservations
- Offers delivery
- Offers takeaway
Show more amenities
- Serves dine-in
- Family friendly
- Serves vegetarian dishes
- Casual
- Serves late-night food
- Serves breakfast
- Dining options· 8
- Serves brunch
- Serves lunch
- Serves dinner
- Has catering
- Has counter service
- Serves dessert
- Has seating
- Has table service
- Highlights· 1
- Has great tea selection
- Popular for· 4
- Popular for breakfast
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for dinner
- Good for solo dining
- Facilities· 1
- Has toilet
- Accessibility· 1
- Does not have assistive hearing loop
- Family-friendly· 1
- Good for kids
- Offerings· 3
- Serves organic dishes
- Quick bite
- Serves small plates
- Crowd· 3
- Good for groups
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Transgender safe space
- Parking· 1
- Difficult to find a space
Location
Restaurants near Darbar (Desi Cafe)
- 0.1 mi
chapli kabab, peri peri chicken, kabuli pulao
- Deliciouscornerbakery4.51830.1 mi£1–15
fresh cream birthday cakes, samosas, lahore biryani
- Kebabish Grill4.32,0970.1 mi£10–20Vegan optionsVegetarian optionsWheelchair accessible
mixed grill, fresh naan, chicken tikka biryani
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darbar (Desi Cafe)Good for kids · Reservations | 4.5185 | — | £10–20 | home style curries, reasonable prices, kebabs and chicken manchurian |
| Shinwari Restaurant Glasgow | 4.3319 | 0.1 mi | — | chapli kabab, peri peri chicken, kabuli pulao |
| Deliciouscornerbakery | 4.5183 | 0.1 mi | £1–15 | fresh cream birthday cakes, samosas, lahore biryani |
| Kebabish GrillVegan options · Vegetarian options · Wheelchair accessible | 4.32,097 | 0.1 mi | £10–20 | mixed grill, fresh naan, chicken tikka biryani |
The 3 nearest restaurants by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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