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Exciting Menu, Exotic Dishes, Excellent Service.

Welcome To Nilgiri Spice

We are steadfast in our objective to deliver the best service possible that our customers expect

Exciting Menu, Exotic Dishes, Excellent Service.

Spice Your Taste in Edinburgh

We are steadfast in our objective to deliver the best service possible that our customers expect

Exciting Menu, Exotic Dishes, Excellent Service.

Nilgiri on Your Door Step


WELCOME

Dining at Nilgiri

For a truly memorable dining experience, cuisine and atmosphere are paired as thoughtfully as food and wine. Located in the heart of Edinburgh, Nilgiri Spice delivers a contemporary taste of South Indian cuisine, and an extensive wine list that focuses on emerging regions from all over the world.

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Come and See

We create delicious experiences

Discover

Menu a la Carte

Explore texture, color and of course the ultimate tastes with our menu of the season. All the ingredients are fresh and carefully selected by our chefs. Enjoy an extraordinary dinning experience.

  • Chicken Vada£5.95

    Minced chicken breast mixed with South Indian spices & herbs then shaped into a small doughnut and deep fried.

  • Chilly Paneer£7

    Marinated cottage cheese deep fried and tossed with mixed peppers in chilly sauce.

  • Coconut Crusted King Prawns£8

    King prawns dipped in coconut and egg spices batter and deep fried.

  • Dry Cayenne Pork£7.5

    Boneless cubes of pork / beef prepared with fresh onion, ginger, garlic, green chilli,spices and curry leaves.

  • Lamb Tikka£6.5

    Boneless pieces of lamb cubes marinated with pepper, fresh coriander spices and yogurt sauce, cooked in tandoor.

  • Medu Vada sambar£4.5

    Ground urud lentil and Spices, shaped into a doughnut and deep fried. Served with sambar and coconut chutney.

  • Mini Idli Sambar£4.5

    Starter version of our steam cooked puffy rice cake consisting of 2 plain idlies served with sambar and coconut chutney.

  • Mixed Pakora & Bonda£4.5

    Pakora: A selection of vegetable mixed with gram flour and spices, finely deep fried. Bonda: Flavoured mashed potato ball dipped in gram flour batter and deep fried. Served with sauce of the day.

  • Mixed Starter Platter£7.5

    A medley Chicken vada, tender chicken Tikka, prawn and fish cutlet, potato bonda and vegetable pakora.

  • Nilgiri Beef Dry Fry£8.5

    Boneless cubes of beef marinated overnight with ginger, garlic, green chilly and other condiments and deep fried with curry leaves.

  • Prawn or Fish Pollichathu (Chef’s Special)£9.5

    King prawn or fresh seabass fillet marinated with south indian spices, wrapped with banana leaf and grilled in hot plate).

  • Prawns & Fish Cutlet (Chef s special)£6

    South Indian fish cake. Fish & prawn, mixed with potato & spices, finely deep fried.

  • Salmon Tikka (Chefs special)£7

    Scottish Salmon marinated in south Indian spices and cooked in tandoor.

  • Chicken Masala Dosa£9.95

    Masala Dosa with succulent chicken cubes as extra toppings.

  • Gheee Roast Dosa (Dosa with butter)£8

    Dosa with ghee or butter. Crispier and tastier.

  • Idli Sambar£6

    Idli cakes are made by steaming a batter consisting of fermented black lentils (de-husked) and rice. Served 4 cakes with Sambar, Chutney and Beetroot sauce.

  • Lamb Masala Dosa£11.5

    Masala Dosa with well marinated lamp cubes as extra toppings.

  • Masala Dosa£8.5

    Crispy Dosa with delicious masala fillings served with coconut chutney, sambar and beetroot sauce.

  • Mysore Masala Dosa£9.5

    Masala Dosa with extra toppings that enhance the taste.

  • Onion Dosa£7

    Dosa with chopped onion inside it.

  • Onion Masala Dosa£9

    Onion Dosa with masala filling. Added taste!

  • Plain Dosa£6

    Crispy Dosa is a type of pancake from the Indian subcontinent, made from a fermented batter of ground rice and black gram.
Vegetarian

Our vegetarian dishes are even healthier and tastier with the authentic spices we use!

  • Aloo Mutter/Gobi£8.75

    Potato and peas or cauliflower (please specify) curry with onions, tomato gravy and South Indian spices.

  • Baigarey Baingan£8.75

    A traditional Hyderabadi dish made from aubergines in a rich tangy onion and coconut gravy.

  • Bhindi Bhaji Masala£9

    Okra cooked with fresh grated coconut, curry leaves and mild spices.

  • Chana Masala£8.25

    An aromatic dish of chick peas gently cooked with onions, garlic and yoghurt.

  • Navratan Kurma£9.5

    Fresh seasonal vegetables and dried fruits and cashew nuts prepared with cashew nut and almond gravy with fresh cream and butter.

  • Palak Paneer£9.5

    A combination of spinach puree and cottage cheese with tomatoes, garlic and spices.

  • Paneer Makhani£9

    A vegetarian delight consisting of Indian cheese simmered in a buttery smooth tomato sauce with a hint of kasoori methi (dry fenugreek leaves)

  • Tadka Daal£7

    Lentil cooked with tomatoes, onions and mild spices then tempered with mustard seeds, curry leaves, coriander leaves, garlic cloves and dry red chilly.
Beef

Try these dishes made with most succulent and juicy beef perfectly blended with fresh spices to treat your taste buds.

  • Beef Chettinadu£13.95

    Chef’s special. Spicy, aromatic and mouth watering dish prepared with careful mixes of various spices to enhance the taste of well marinated beef. A must try for beef lovers.

  • Beef Madras£10.95

    Spicy speciality dish of south India. Beef prepared with special spices.

  • Beef Varattiythu£12.95

    Chef’s special medium spicy dish. Beef prepared with mushroom, mixed peppers, chilli, coconut and spices flavoured with fresh coriander and curry leaves.
Mixed Sea Food

Again, we are introducing our food unique food culture to Edinburgh. Seafood marinated with exotic spices make it more delicious than those dishes you have ever tried before!

  • Chettinad Mix Seafood (Chef’s Special)£15.95

    (Spicy seafood curry prepared by our master chef in red chilli, black pepper, green chilli, ginger, garlic with cashew nut sauce)

  • Mixed seafood delight£12.5

    (Mussels, small prawns, squid & fish prepared with onion, tomato, ginger, garlic, kudampuli / goraka(garcinia gummi-gutta) & in chefs special masala)

  • Mixed Seafood Korma£11.95

    (Mild seafood curry. Mussels, small prawns, squid and fish prepared in coconut milk with ginger, garlic, mild spices, white onion and cashew nut sauce)
Prawn

Explore the prawn dishes we introduce to our customers in Edinburgh. We proudly present the most loved dishes from the southernmost part of India to tickle your taste buds in Nilgiri Spice.

  • Chettinad special Prawn (Chef’s Special)£14.95

    Spicy, aromatic and mouth-watering dish prepared by our master chef with careful mixes of fresh spices and herbs. One of the best exotic dishes from south of India.

  • King prawn Mangalore£12.5

    Medium spicy prawn curry from the coast of Mangalore prawn prepared in coconut milk, red chili, tamarind & flavered with asafoetida.

  • Kumarakom Konju Kadai£12.95

    King prawn prepared with mixed pepper, onion, tomato, green chilli, ginger, garlic, coconut and special Kerala spices

  • Prawn Aleppey£12.95

    King prawn cooked with raw mango pieces, onion, tomato, green chillies, ginger, garlic in coconut milk & chefs special masala.
Chicken

You won't see common curry sauce in our dishes and that is a promise. Try our chicken dishes to feel the difference.

  • Chicken Chettinad£12.95

    (Boneless pieces of chicken cooked with aromatic curry leaves, mustard seeds, tomatoes, ground spices and coconut)

  • Chicken Korma£8.95

    (Delicately spiced boneless chicken breast in a cream and coconut sauce)

  • Chicken Nilgiri (Chef’s Special)£13.95

    (This exotic food is named after the hills from we bring the spices. We prepare it with 21 different spices to make it one of the tastiest chicken curries available in Edinbrugh)

  • Goan Curry£9.95

    (Boneless chicken cooked in an exotic blend of whole spices, tomatoes, fresh green chillies and coconut milk)

  • Haryali Shaam£9.25

    (Tender chicken cooked with delightful green masala sauce of spinach, fresh cream, coriander and spices)

  • Jalfrezi£9

    (Spicy dish, boneless chicken cooked with mixed peppers, tomato, green chili, red chili, onion, cumin seeds and coriander leaves)

  • Naden Chicken Curry£10.95

    (Boneless pieces of chicken dish from Kerala villages. Chicken cooked with potato, coconut, Kerala spices. Flavoured with crushed black pepper)

  • Tikka Masala£9

    (The perennial favourite, marinated and tandoor grilled tikka of boneless chicken, simmered in a satin smooth cream, tomato and kasoori methi gravy)
Fish

Unlike other Indian zone, south Indians dishes includes a variety of Prawn and Fish curries and fries. We are introducing some of the best for our Edinburgh customers at Nilgiri Spice.

  • Goan Fish Curry£10.95

    (Speciality of Goa, sea bass prepared in coconut milk, tamarind juice, tomato, ginger, garlic, chilli and curry leaves)

  • Malabar fish curry£11.95

    (Popular south Indian medium spicy fish curry from Malabar, Sea bass prepared in coconut,red chilly & Malabar Spices)

  • Meen moilee£11.95

    (A saucy south Indian delicacy! Fresh sea bass fillets prepared in coconut milk with pepper,green chillies,fresh tomato,lemon and curry leaf)

  • Nilgiri Mulakil-ittathu (Chef’s Special)£14.95

    (Very spicy dish of fresh fish prepared in the most traditional cooking style especially in Kerala. Fresh fish seasoned with spices and herbs with lemon juice then cooked slowly to release the flavour and aroma into the sauce)

  • Salmon Mappas£12.95

    (A fish delight, salmon prepared in a special masala of pepper, fennel seeds, cinnamon, ginger, kudampuli/goraka, chilli and garlic garnished with curry leaves)
Pork

Unusual in Indian restaurants in the UK but where we coming from, PORK dishes are very popular and our chef has extensive experience in this cuisine, hence we have decided to introduce the same exotic PORK dishes in Edinburgh for our customers.

  • Goan Pork Curry£9.95

    Pork prepared in an exotic cashew nut sauce and coconut cream with fresh onion, tomato, ginger and spices

  • Pork Olarthiyathu£11.95

    An unavoidable dish in Kerala christian families. Chef’s special medium spicy pork dish prepared with ginger, garlic, coriander, coconut and various spices

  • Pork Vindaloo£9.5

    Pork prepared in very spicy curry sauce of red chilli, onion, tomato and spices
Lamb

Tender lamb cooked with most aromatic spices from Nilgiri hills. Made fresh to treat your palate as you wish, mild, hot or hotter!

  • Lamb Cafriel£11.25

    (Cubes of lamb cooked with delightful green masala sauce of spinach, mint, green chillies and spices)

  • Lamb Nilgiri (Chef’s Special)£14.95

    (Lamb marinated and prepared with 21 different spices from Nilgiri hills to give you the finest taste. Well-Seasoned lamb means it absorbs all the spices and release the aroma and taste when it’s slowly cooked)

  • Lamb Varathathu£11.95

    (Marinated lamb chunks roasted in a pan and tossed in fresh herbs, spices & grated Coconut)

  • Lamb Vindaloo£10.5

    (Lamb chunks in a very spicy curry sauce of red chilli, onion and spices)

  • Lamb/Gosht Pepper Masala£10.95

    (Lamb pan fried with onion, chilli, ginger and flavoured with black pepper, dedicated to all lovers of pepper spicy food)

  • Nadan Aadu Curry (Chef’s Special)£12.5

    (Lamb prepared with mixed peppers, onions, roasted cumin seeds and south Indian herbs)
Nilgiri Tandoor

Tandoor with our speciality spices.

  • Nilgiri Mixed Platter£15.5

    Platter of King prawn, lamb, chicken marinated with mix peppers and fresh onion. Cooked in tandoor and served with curry sauce.

  • Tandoori Chicken Tikka£10.95

    Boneless chicken marinated in south Indian spices, herbs and yogurt. Prepared in Tandoor and served with curry sauce.

  • Tandoori King Prawns£15.95

    King prawns marinated in a spicy saffron sauce and yogurt. Cooked in tandoor. Served with curry sauce
South Indian Bread

Selection of traditional and most popular south Indian breads to go with the delicious main dishes.

  • Aloo Paratha£3.25

    Potato stuffed flat bread

  • Chilli Paratha£3.25

    Green chilli stuffed flat bread.

  • Kothu Paratha£6.5

    Chopped Paratha tossed with Vegetables and Egg with South Indian spices - Chicken or Lamb adds £2.50.

  • Paratha£3

    Layered flat bread prepared in hot plate. Kerala style.

  • Roti£2.25

    Thick flat bread prepared in tandoor.
Naan

A selection of Indian bread, popularly known as Naan from plain naan to peshwari naan to choose from...

  • Chapati£2

    Thin flat bread prepared in hot plate.

  • Garlic Naan£3

  • Green Chilli & Coriander Naan£3

  • Peshawari Naan£3.25

  • Plain Naan£2.5

Rice

Tailor made rice dishes varied from steam rice to south Indian favourites like curd rice and all for our guests.

  • Coconut Rice£3.5

  • Curd Rice£4

  • Jeera Pulao£3.5

  • Lemon Rice£3.25

  • Mushroom Pulao£3.5

  • Pulao£3

    Basmati rice cooked with butter ghee & spices.

  • Saffron Rice£3.75

  • Steamed Rice£2.25

Papadam

Pappadam served with pickle tray. Pickle, Onion sauce and Mango chutney. Each 50p.

  • Pickle Tray£1.5

    Served with Mango chutney, Onion sauce and Pickle. Each 50p.

  • Beer on tap

    Fully licensed with large selection of spirits, beer on tap, exclusive wines and champagnes plus BYOB. Full list and prices available for in-house dining.

  • Home made drinks and soft drinks

    Home made drinks like various lassi, Masala Tea, other hot drinks and soft drinks are available for both in-house and takeaway customers.

  • Wine and Spirits

    Selection of exclusive Wines and spirits to choose from our bar. BYOB also entertained if that is what you prefer.
Vegetarian

Our vegetarian dishes are even healthier and tastier with the authentic spices we use!

  • All Juices

    (Mango, Pineapple or Orange)

  • Indian Chai (Tea)

    Indian Chai (Tea)

  • Indian Coffee

    Indian Coffee

  • Masala Tea

    Masala Tea
Vegetarian

Our vegetarian dishes are even healthier and tastier with the authentic spices we use!

  • Business Lunch

    (Veg starter + Lamb or Chicken or Veg curry with Rice or Naan) Options for Main (Any one dish to choose from): Veg - Aloo Mutter/Gobi, Chana Masala or Baigari Baingan Chichen – Chiken Korma, Jalfrezi or Tikka Masala Lamb – Lamb Pepper Masala, Lamb Vindaloo. (Other dishes may also be available except for Chef’s specials, price may vary)
Vegetarian

Our vegetarian dishes are even healthier and tastier with the authentic spices we use!

  • Ghee Dosa

    Ghee Dosa

  • Ghee Roast Masala Dosa

    Ghee Roast Masala Dosa

  • Idli

    Idli

  • Masala Dosa

    Masala Dosa

  • Medu Vada

    Medu Vada (set of two)

  • Onion Dosa

    Onion Dosa

  • Plain Dosa

    Plain Dosa
Vegetarian

Our vegetarian dishes are even healthier and tastier with the authentic spices we use!

  • Nilgiri Non Vegetarian Thali £24.95

    Nilgiri Non Vegetarian Thali

  • Nilgiri Prawn and Fish Thali £29.95

    Nilgiri Prawn and Fish Thali

  • Nilgiri Vegetarian Thali £19.95

    Nilgiri Vegetarian Thali
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Private Diners & Groups

BEHIND THE SCENES

The Team

As a team our priority is to make sure our customers are as comfortable as possible from the very moment they step in to our restaurant until their departure with a very satisfied smile on their face. Attention to detail, timely service in the most pleasant way to make sure our customers keep coming back to us whenever they think about south Indian dining. We would love to walk those extra miles to keep you happy at our place!

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Reviews

What Clients Say

"An Immediate Favourite A recent find, although I had already heard a lot of good things about this warm, welcoming and well situated South Keralan restaurant in its previous guise as Mezbaan, in the Tolcross area of Edinburgh..."

ScotlandBlossom

"Delicious South Indian food. I’m from Chennai and loved this food."

Ashwin Muthiah

"Authentic South Indian experience Food was excellent with a wide range of options and a range of spice levels. There was something for all of us, including my 4 year old daughter who doesn’t handle spicy food, and me who love the heat. It was refreshing not to have standard base sauce in different dishes, but each of them freshly made. There is a selection of dishes which you don’t find usually in South Indian restaurants in Edinburgh. Staff are very friendly. If you want an authentic South Indian experience, this is the place."

Odyssey420890

"Trying something new This restaurant specialises in South Indian food. I never realised how different this would be from the curry I buy in the Midlands. There is lots of fish and vegetarian choices, in fact they account for half the menu. The staff are very attentive and very helpful, as they should be. I had a Chicken Nilgiri Chef’s Special. The sauce has such a great flavour, which the menu states that it is prepared using 21 spices. This is a new place and is well worth a visit. "

Thargon

"Fantastic Indian restaurant We are a group of six guys who meet up every month for an Indian. This is by far the best Indian Restaurant in Edinburgh we have eaten in for a long while.It has a fantastic menu and service s extremely friendly, courteous and very efficient .The food i superb and very varied. Would strongly recommend and will definitely be returning soon. Trying their carryout tonight!"

Billy2707

"Superb Indian restaurant! Such a gem of a place to eat. Visiting Edinburgh fringe with friends and we saw this restaurant purely accidentally when we were looking for something to eat. "

SKULLMASTER 225
Contact

Make a Reservation

Private Dining

The Main Dining Room can accommodate up to 18 guests and requires either a half night or full night buyout. Reservations are available online 6 weeks before the date of the reservation.

Private Events

Looking for an ideal venue? Look no further. Corporate dinners, special occasions, Chef’s Table, let us handle your needs. Reservations are available online 6 weeks before the date of the reservation.

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