Lovely spot! Stopped here for lunch to enjoy Indian street food bites. We shared the Thali Platter Butter Chicken and Chili Cheese Dosa with an order of Garlic Naan. All food was flavored so well with spices and authentic flavors, I didn't have to use salt & pepper like usual. Enjoyed all foods, as is, no substitutions. Our server was friendly and pleasant. Bright color interior smaller cozy type establishment.

An Underwhelming Culinary Experience at Cafe Diwali. Having spent a substantial 26 years in India, I consider myself well-versed in the nuances of Indian cuisine. Recently, I had the opportunity to dine at Cafe Diwali, and while my expectations were high, the overall experience left me unimpressed. Allow me to delve into the specifics and critique the various elements of the meal. For starters, we opted for samosas—a classic Indian appetizer. The samosas were indeed good, adequately sized for a starter. However, the choice of pairing them with Thai Chilli sauce struck me as rather odd. The combination failed to harmonize, resulting in a jarring clash of flavors. Additionally, the tamarind chutney, though presentable, possessed an overpowering intensity. A touch of sweetness would have certainly enhanced its appeal. One of the great joys of visiting Indian restaurants is perusing their extensive menus, offering a vast array of options. Regrettably, Cafe Diwali chose to deviate from this approach, opting instead for a disappointingly limited selection, countable on one's fingers. Moving on to the main courses, we ordered the beef dish accompanied by Naan bread and a side of dal. While the beef itself was satisfactory, the inclusion of dal seemed superfluous and failed to contribute meaningfully to the overall culinary experience. Similar sentiments apply to the Desi chicken, which also came with Naan. Once again, the addition of a minuscule portion of dal appeared perplexing, as the lentil preparation paled in comparison to the flavorsome chicken dish. Although the chicken pieces were tender, they lacked the depth of flavors one would expect. In summary, I cannot in good conscience recommend revisiting Cafe Diwali. It fails to capture the essence of authentic Indian cuisine and falls short of embodying the distinct British-Indian fusion that one might hope for. If you are considering a visit, I would suggest exploring other Indian establishments such as "Averest Brasserie" instead. With its extensive menu, superior ambiance, and tenfold more options, it promises a more satisfying dining experience. However, if you are simply curious to sample Cafe Diwali, be advised that the outdoor seating area is often crowded, so booking a table in advance is highly advisable.

Very accommodating owner, was keen to please. Energy +. Food was excellent, not just a typical restaurant of it's type.

Very nice little restaurant, a little off the city centre but once you know, you will be going back! Parking less than 5 minutes away. Good food, varied menu, reasonable prices and friendly staff.

Very very tasty and well made Indian meals, authentic and complete meals. We loved it and wish that we could eat at Cafe Diwali in Salisbury regularly and we highly recommend the place. Kind, helpfull service with lots of smiles and good atmosphere.

Really tasty Indian street food. Lots of vegan options too. I had a Thali which is marked as vegetarian but they were able to adapt it. The staff were all very friendly and there was a relaxed atmosphere. Lovely lunch!

Just had the most amazing dinner here with my fiancee for our valentine's weekend. The food was extraordinary. Highly recommend this place. We will be back soon... even tho we are 1hr 45mins away. The garlic prawns, the coconut chicken thighs & the platter was to die for!

Pros: - coped quite well with a booking of about 40 guys - friendly service - starters tasted great - nice atmosphere and space Cons: - small portion sizes (not all tables were offered more when they quickly ran out) - mains lacked flavour (tasted either mushy or watery) - lacking nice touches like linen napkins, warm face towels or after dinner mints/chocolates - relatively expensive I would probably try this place again, with a smaller group and probably for their lunch menu, which is meant to be good apparently

First time I've left a review and felt compelled to do so, great service and by far the best Indian food I have had by a long way. You could taste all the spices and it was simply amazing. I would recommend this restaurant,

What a little gem! First time in Salisbury but our family are regular visitors here. Opted for the paneer and chicken naan wraps. Oh my, perfectly cooked ingredients and packed full of flavour. Not to mention the side of butter curry sauce and mango chutney. Perfect size for a lunch, no empty plates at our table.

Really amazing place..wow food and nice service…would recommend it 100%

Lovely indoor seating, great music (I don't tend to hear a lot of tamil songs when going to an Indian restaurant but this played a good mix). Food was good but could do with more chillies in the chilli cheese dosa and the addition of peppers was not to my liking personally but that might just be me. Mango lassies were 👌👌✨

We visited this place on 14th Feb to celebrate our Valentine’s Day. It was lovely experience overall. The atmosphere was good and food was nice! The service was pretty quick. Parking was not outside you have to find out the place on nearby street, that was bit hectic. Place was quite small but nicely arranged. The owner was welcoming but refused to give us table outside(can’t understand the reason), menu is limited so do not expect too many Indian options in the menu card. Recommended!!

Great atmosphere. We were here for a family party. The food was delicious and very well presented. My husband was very pleasant surprised with his meal.

We were Very nicely greeted and taken to our table, and our waiter Vicky explained the menu and gave us a few recommendations. The food was superb. The recommendations were brilliant, all over great value for money and a lovely place to go. I will be back

I very much enjoyed my visit to Cafe Diwali. In terms of quality, the food is on a par with other decent Indian restaurants, however, the way they present it feels more authentic. I particular, I like the way many of their mains are served with a naan bread, rather than rice as standard. The menu is quite limited, but well put together, but lacks some of the classics that some people would like. They have a good selection of drinks as well. The atmosphere is great. It was quiet when I went, but it must be even better when the place is buzzing. The staff were friendly and attentive and we didn't have to wait long for our food. The only reason it dropped a star is the price. In my opinion it is expensive. £5 - 7 for a starter (not bad), but £17 - 19 for a main course (curry + naan), with another £4 - 5 if you want a rice. In my experience this makes it the expensive option for a curry in Salisbury. If you can swallow the cost then I would definitely recommend it.

Visited a couple of weeks ago and had a fabulous lunchtime meal. The food was fantastic and staff were very welcoming and attentive. We’re going back hopefully next week👍

We had a late booking but at no stage were we rushed or made to feel unwelcome. The food was divine - so tasty and so different to the usual "curry house" offering. Highly recommended!

One of the best Indian foods I had 😋😋😋😋😋

Excellent Indian cuisine. One of my guests said it was the best she'd ever tasted. Will be back soon.

We are vegetarian indian from london with two kids and stayed in Salisbury for weekend. We had dinner at cafe Diwali and it was one of the best experience.. food, staff cooperation and ambience everything was perfect. We had cooler mint drink, Chana Mashroom, dal tadka, palak paneer, rice and naan.. lastly tried Peshawar Naan (first time) which was the best. I would recommend everyone (specially Indians) to try this restaurant if you are staying in Salisbury or nearby. Value for money as well. Will definitely come again.. thanks Cafe Diwali and good wishes.

Worth a special trip to. We have been fans of Cafe Diwali for years but haven’t been for a while as we don’t live nearby. We spent last night celebrating my husband’s new qualification here and it was even better if possible. The food is just delish! Different, original, authentic and so worth the journey. The service was impeccable too. We won’t leave it so long next time. Peshwari naan is epic!!!

The guy who works there is so caring for the clients. We arrived when the restaurant was about to close but he made every effort to make us have dinner. The food is excellent, I would definitely recommend dhaba murg curry. The prices are higher than London but still affordable.

Peace, harmony & awesome Vegan food.

It is one of the premier restaurants in Salisbury. However, the volume of food is very small for the price we paid. However, the flavor is delicious, almost identical to the original. The fish, black pepper chicken, and garlic naan we tried were all really tasty.

Wonderful meal at Cafe Diwali! Best Indian restaurant in Salisbury, hands down. The platters you can order when eating in are fantastic value. I have never been more full for less than £20 before. Service was a little bit abrupt, but not worth losing a star for as the food was so dreamy.

What a great find. We went early on a Wednesday evening without booking and were very lucky to get a table. This was some of the best curry I have ever had. The menu is small, but there is something for everyone and everything is expertly cooked. Presentation was lovely and the service was good. All the staff were very friendly. I would definitely go back

Wow - what incredible curries they serve here! We often pop in for lunch with our baby and the staff are very welcoming, friendly and helpful. One of our favourite spots for lunch!

Great Indian cuisine, very different from your normal Indian restaurant. More off the beaten track than the regular menu, still plenty to choose from and a good selection of beers and none alcoholic drinks. There is a good atmospheric in this cozy restaurant. Not the cheapest prices but good value for money with decent portion sizes.

Amazing restaurant. Came in for lunch without a booking and was seated immediately. Our food came out very quickly, looked incredible and tasted even better. Fair prices too.

We stopped at this Coffee while coming from Bath. One of the finest authentic indian food we had after longtime. Thanks to Tom for giving table close to Garden View and your courtesy, much appreciated.

I had the pleasure of dining at Cafe Diwali Indian restaurant yesterday, and it was an absolute delight for my taste buds. The flavors and authenticity of the dishes I tried left a lasting impression. The Fish Curry was a standout dish. The fish was tender and perfectly cooked, and the curry sauce was a symphony of aromatic Indian spices. It struck a harmonious balance between rich and tangy, making it a memorable culinary experience. The Gobi Manchurian was equally impressive. The cauliflower florets were crisp and coated in a flavorful sauce that struck a wonderful contrast between sweet and spicy. Each bite was a burst of delightful flavors and textures. The restaurant's commitment to delivering authentic Indian cuisine was evident in every aspect of the meal. The ambiance was cozy and welcoming, and the service was attentive, adding to the overall dining experience. Cafe Diwali has undoubtedly earned a spot on my list of favorite Indian restaurants, and I look forward to returning to explore more of their delicious offerings. Thank you for sharing your recommendation, and I hope others have the opportunity to savor the flavors of Cafe Diwali as well!

I had a wonderful meal at Cafe Diwali yesterday. I ordered the chicken platter and hariyali chicken kebab, and both dishes were delicious. The chicken was cooked perfectly, and the flavors were amazing. The service was also excellent. My server, Ollie, was very attentive and friendly. He made sure that I had everything I needed and that I was enjoying my meal. I would highly recommend Cafe Diwali to anyone looking for a delicious and authentic Indian meal.