London Eating: Dishoom, Shoreditch
March 2019
It was like being back in India, except we had no Delhi-belly concerns and there was toilet paper in the toilets.
Dishoom, is a micro-chain Indian restaurant. That is a short and quick version of Dishoom’s description, but that doesn’t quite do it justice. It is a tribute to old Bombay’s Irani cafes where everyone was welcome regardless of their genders, social classes or religion. Irani cafes had their heyday in the 50s and 60s, but are now disappearing rapidly.
We arrived at the Dishoom Shoreditch branch at around 2pm on Saturday. The place was packed and we were told that there would be 30-40minutes wait. They gave us a little machine that would ring when the table was ready. We could’ve gone to the bar, but we just sort of mooched around. We probably waited for about 20-30minutes, but weren’t bored at all as the restaurant’s interesting décor and displays of household bric-a-brac kept us entertained. There also was such a relaxing and positive vibe about the whole space. It was just nice and fun to be there.
C ordered lamb biriyani (£11.50). I ordered mattar paneer (£9.50) and steamed basmati rice (£3.20). We also ordered house black daal (£6.20) and roti (£2.90) to share. The food came with complimentary chutneys which were super delicious.
I never thought this day would come – the food reminded me of some dishes we had whilst we were in India last year. Complex and comforting, exciting yet familiar; fun, delicious ensembles of spices.
C said there was plenty meat in his biriyani and it was seasoned well and flavoursome. My paneer cheese was fresh and the gravy was just spot on – subtle and intricate blend of spices, so tasty! Black daal and roti were also delicious and just perfect.
For us, Dishoom really was an exciting find. It was one of those restaurants where you already look forward to your next visit whilst you’re still eating there. It was like being back in India, except we had no Delhi-belly concerns and there was toilet paper in the toilets.
12.5% service charge will be added to your bill which we happily accepted for excellent food, friendly service, delicious complementary chutneys, and overall feel-good atmosphere of the restaurant. And one other thing, for each meal that’s served, Dishoom donates a school meal to disadvantaged children in India and the UK.
Dishoom carries through their philosophy of ‘good food, place for everyone’ really well. Whilst not being exactly a ‘cheap eat’, they captivated me with fantastic food, film set-like décor and commitment to giving back to their societies.
We are definitely going back to try out more dishes at Dishoom hopefully in the very near future.
Dishoom, Shoreditch
Food: 5/5
Service: 4/5
Value: 4/5
Would I visit again?: 5/5
You may also like…
