Késarum

A unique take on
Indian dining

100% plant-based regional Indian cooking on Southampton’s High Street. Order a few small plates to share, or a starter and a main.

Gobi Manchurian, cauliflower in a tangy tomato-soy glaze, served at Késarum, Southampton

From across India

Our menu draws on dishes from across India: street-food snacks, regional curries and desserts. You’ll find samosas served as baked tartlets, and king oyster mushrooms cooked as ‘scallops’.

Késarum takes its name from the Sanskrit word for saffron. Every dish on the menu is created by our head chef, Raj.

How to order

Small plates or a main

Order a few dishes to share, or have a starter and a main each. Add bread, rice or sides as you like.

Three small plates, £30

Choose three small plates for £30. Some dishes carry a supplement, and you can also order everything individually.

Wine by the glass

The menu suggests a wine for each dish. Choose a glass with your food, or a bottle for the table.

On the menu

Samosa tartlets, beetroot tikkis and mushroom ‘scallops’ are a few of the dishes you’ll find on our current menu.

Wine with your food

Order wine by the glass or bottle. If you’d like a suggestion, each dish on the menu has a pairing, or you can ask us when you order.

The list includes Riesling from Alsace, Loureiro from Portugal and Malbec from Mendoza, alongside cocktails, Indian spirits and drinks without alcohol.

Riesling Malbec Loureiro Sauvignon Blanc Primitivo Pinot Noir
View the wine list
A glass of rosé alongside a dish
Raj, Head Chef at Késarum

We cook the way we'd feed people we love. Carefully, generously, always with a story behind the spice.

Raj, Head Chef

Raj leads the kitchen and creates the menu, adapting regional Indian recipes with plant-based ingredients. Mahésh looks after our guests, so you’ll usually meet him at your table.

Read our story

Recognised for our food
Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice and the British Indian Food Guide’s Top 100

Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice 2024 Travellers’ Choice
2024
Top 100 Best Restaurants, British Indian Food Guide 2024, Késarum, Southampton British Indian Food Guide
Top 100, 2024

About Késarum

A plant-based Indian restaurant on Southampton’s High Street, founded by Mahésh, with Raj leading the kitchen.

A shared table at Késarum, Southampton, laid for sharing

Why plant-based?

Our cooking is influenced by ahimsa, the Indian principle of reducing harm to living beings.

India’s regional vegetarian cooking gives us a great deal to work with. We also adapt recipes that traditionally use meat, fish or dairy.

The ingredients are plant-based throughout the menu, including the ‘yoghurt’, cream and paneer used in our dishes.

What we cook

Our menu takes in dishes from across India, from poori and samosa tartlets to curries and desserts.

You can order small plates to share or choose a starter and main. See the menu

A cauliflower dish from the Késarum menu
Head Chef Raj plating a course in the Késarum kitchen, Southampton

How we develop a dish

Raj starts with the original recipe: its ingredients, seasoning and the part it plays in a meal.

He works on a plant-based version from there, using classical cooking techniques where they help the dish.

For our ‘scallops’, king oyster mushrooms are seared in dill oil and served with tomato and garlic sauce, nutmeg mash and carrot ‘roe’.

Mahésh and Raj

Mahésh founded Késarum and looks after our guests. Raj is our head chef and creates every menu. They met through a mutual acquaintance.

The restaurant has received Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice recognition and was named in the British Indian Food Guide’s Top 100 in 2024.

You’ll find us at 25 High Street in Southampton’s Old Town, in a Grade II listed former bank.

Mahésh serving guests at Késarum

Planning a visit

We open Thursday to Saturday for dinner, with lunch on Saturdays.

Book online for up to four guests. For five or more, please email us.

Opening hours and booking

Wine and drinks

Wine by the glass and bottle, cocktails, Indian spirits and drinks without alcohol.

Wine alongside a spread of plant-based Indian dishes at Késarum, Southampton

Choosing a drink

All our wines are available by the glass and bottle. The list shows the sizes and prices for each one.

If you’d like a recommendation, tell us what you’re ordering. There are also suggested pairings on the food menu.

Our spirits include Amrut single malt from Bangalore, Jaisalmer and Hapusha gin. The cocktails include a masala chai made with chai brewed here.

For drinks without alcohol, see the separate section of the list, with prices for each.

Glasses of wine on the table at Késarum

Private dining

Group meals and exclusive hire at Késarum. Get in touch with your date and the number of guests.

A private dining table laid at Késarum

Bring your guests

We arrange menus for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and dinners with clients or colleagues.

The restaurant seats up to 38. Exclusive use starts at 20 adults; for smaller groups, contact us to discuss a table and menu.

Eight to twenty

For groups of eight to twenty. A menu put together for your party, served at an easy pace.

Birthdays and anniversaries

Birthdays, anniversaries and the milestones in between. We will put together a menu that marks the occasion, including your favourite dishes from the seasonal carte.

Client and company dinners

Dinner for clients or colleagues that does not feel like a function. We can accommodate presentations and special requests, with the room available for exclusive use.

Weddings

From engagement dinners to full receptions, we will plan the meal with you, course by course.

Tell us about the evening

Email us with your preferred date, number of guests and any dietary requirements. We’ll discuss the menu, availability and price with you.

Book a table

Join us on the High Street, Thursday to Saturday. Book online for up to four guests, or email us for a larger table.

A plated dish at Késarum

For up to four guests, choose your date and time through our booking page.

Five or more?

Please email info@kesarum.co.uk rather than booking online, so we can set the table properly. Email is best, but you can call 020 3981 9301 if you would rather talk it through.

Before you book

We're a plant-based restaurant with seasonally changing menus. To ensure you have the best experience, we recommend allowing 2 hours for groups up to 4, 2.5 hours for groups of 6, and 3 hours for groups of 8 or more. On quieter days, we may close earlier than our listed hours at management's discretion.

Group bookings & private hire

Parties of five or more cannot be booked through the online widget. Please email info@kesarum.co.uk with your details, or call 020 3981 9301 if you would rather, so we can make the right arrangements. Email is the better of the two, as it gives us your details in writing. Allow at least 2 days' notice for group bookings and 2 weeks' notice for private hire. A service charge applies to groups of 6+, and private hire includes a venue fee.

Dietary requirements

If you have allergies or specific dietary needs, please email us at least 48 hours in advance. We are unable to cater to Sattvika/Jain diets, or to allium (onion/garlic) allergies at this time. Coriander intolerances (the soapy-taste variety) we can usually accommodate; coriander allergies we cannot.

Children & babies

Please note we do not currently have high chairs, baby-changing facilities, or children's menus. Children are welcome and our team can suggest dishes from the starters and sides that may suit younger palates.

Cancellation policy

We don't take a deposit upfront. Our booking system simply holds your card details to confirm. We're a small, intimate restaurant with a tiny team, so when you confirm a reservation we dedicate that space to you and often turn others away. We kindly ask that any cancellations be made by email at least 5 hours before your arrival. Within the 5-hour window, or for no-shows, a £15 per person penalty applies. Real life happens, so get in touch and we'll review case-by-case.

Running late

If you're running late, just let us know and we'll do our best to hold your table. Since we're a small team we may not always have time to follow up, so we really appreciate your communication.

About our team

We are a small team of three, so service occasionally takes a little longer. We would rather that than rush your table.

Before you visit

Opening hours, bookings, dietary requirements and other practical details.

A cauliflower dish at Késarum

Can you accommodate large groups or private events?

We take regular bookings for parties up to 10 guests. Anything from five guests upwards is arranged with us directly rather than through the online booking widget: email info@kesarum.co.uk (best) or call 020 3981 9301. For groups of 9 to 10, we offer fixed-price catering packages that require advance deposits and pre-orders for starters, mains, and snacks. Private hire of the whole restaurant starts at 20 adults. If your party falls somewhere between the two, email us and we will work out the best way to seat you.

Should we book for special occasions or holidays?

We strongly recommend advance reservations for all special occasions and holidays. As a top-rated establishment in Southampton and Hampshire with limited seating capacity, tables are often reserved weeks in advance. Early booking ensures you secure your preferred dining time.

Do you require deposits for bookings?

No upfront deposit is required. Our reservation system (Sugarvine Tables) securely holds card details only, to confirm your booking. All information is automatically deleted after your reservation is fulfilled, in compliance with GDPR and Financial Conduct Authority regulations. For parties of five or more, please contact us directly, by email preferably, so we can make the right arrangements.

Why do you charge cancellation fees?

As a small venue with limited seating, unfulfilled reservations significantly impact our business and prevent other guests from dining with us. Cancellations made less than 5 hours before your reservation, or no-shows, incur a £15 per person penalty. For emergencies, please contact us promptly and we will review each situation individually. Our complete cancellation policy is available on our Book a Table page.

What if I don't receive a booking confirmation?

Please contact us immediately if you do not receive a confirmation. Occasional technical issues may prevent confirmations from being sent. We will verify your reservation and resend the confirmation.

What is your dining style?

Relaxed and unhurried. Service is informal but correct, warm rather than starchy.

What is your seating capacity?

Késarum offers an intimate dining environment with 38 seats.

Do you have a bar?

Yes. The bar keeps spirits, cocktails developed in-house, and organic, vegan-friendly wines.

Is there a dress code?

We welcome guests in attire they find comfortable, from casual wear to formal dress.

Do you accommodate dietary requirements?

As a 100% plant-based establishment, all our offerings are meat-free, dairy-free, and egg-free. Our menu always includes options that are naturally gluten-free.

Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate Jain/sattvik dietary requirements or intolerances to onion and garlic.

How frequently do your menus change?

Our menus are refreshed approximately every six months. Typically, our Summer/Autumn menu debuts in May, while our Winter/Spring menu launches in November.

Do you have a children's menu?

While we do not offer a dedicated children's menu, our staff can recommend dishes from our starters, sides, or extras that may appeal to younger palates.

Can we bring our own celebration cake?

Yes, you are welcome to bring celebration cakes, provided they are vegan.

Is Késarum wheelchair accessible?

Yes, our restaurant is wheelchair accessible, including accessible toilet facilities. Please note that entering and exiting may require navigating a sharp corner turn.

Do you have high chairs or baby changing facilities?

We do not currently provide high chairs or baby changing facilities.

Are dogs permitted?

Yes, we welcome well-behaved dogs and service animals.

Where is Késarum located?

Késarum Indian Restaurant is situated at 25 High St, Southampton, SO14 2DF, between The Star Hotel and Anatolian Turkish Kitchen. When walking south from the Bargate toward the pier, we are located on the left side, a short distance from Lidl.

What are your operating hours?

Thursday and Friday: 6.00pm to 10.00pm
Saturday: 12.00pm to 2.30pm and 5.30pm to late
Closed Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Opening times may vary at the discretion of management on occasion.

Is parking available nearby?

As we are located on Southampton's busy central High Street, parking can be challenging. Limited street parking is available directly in front of our restaurant and on nearby East Street (free after 8:00PM). Alternatively, the Eastgate Street multi-storey car park is located immediately behind our building, and St. Michaels Street parking is available a few blocks away.

Do you offer any promotions or special deals?

Yes, from time to time. Keep an eye on our website or social media for the latest.

Do you accept American Express?

Yes, we gladly accept American Express cards.

Do you offer takeaway or delivery services?

At present, we operate as a dine-in establishment only and do not offer takeaway or delivery options.

Do you sell gift vouchers?

Yes, we offer gift experiences at Késarum. To purchase a gift voucher, please email info@kesarum.co.uk with your name and contact number. A member of our team will then contact you to arrange the details.

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