Dishoom has been long on my London breakfast list. I'd been particularly slack with this as most times I have mornings off, I much prefer lying in bed and blessing that I'm not required to get up. However on this occasion shopping around Covent Garden loomed and thus nearby Dishoom seemed like its time had come. The cafe has an elegant seating area upstairs with dedications to (assumably Indian) actors. The open kitchen behind includes a fire grill and tandoor from which meat scents entice you.
Unfortunately (or not?) I arrived too late to sample the much anticipated breakfast naan, but at least the House Chai was still flowing. Delicious, thin, milky with nice ginger richness. This is the first chai I've had in an Indian cafe and sets the standard very high. It is also only the second acceptable chai I've had in London (after Bea's of Bloomsbury near St. Paul's Cathedral)
After careful perusal of the menu I selected the Chicken & Pomegranate Salad (juicy jumble of pulled Murgh Malai spiced chicken thighs, Dishoom Slaw, pomegranate, mint & coriander) and a waitress-recommended Dishoom Chicken Tikka Roll (rosy warm chicken, lavish salad & tomato chilli jam).
Firstly to the Salad - absolutely spectacular. One of the best dishes I've eaten this year, with a playful collection of sweet, sour, mint flavours and soft, crunchy textures. The only equivalent salad I've ever eaten would be Hellenic Republic's Cypriot Grain Salad (in Melbourne) or an exceptional Vietnamese goi.
The Tikka Roll was a contrasting warm roti roll encasing tandoor-cooked chicken and crisp salad. Tomato chilli jam added additional kick and flavour, and I felt the roll worked even better with the Mint & Coriander sauce provided separately at the start.
I left a happy boy.
Next time I would order the Chicken & Pomegranate Salad at any time of day or night. There are many combinations of meats, roti and naan that I'm sure will taste fantastic. I will be back for breakfast and also for dinner.
2013
In late 2012, Dishoom opened a second branch in the hip happening region of Shoreditch. Unlike the Covent Garden branch, this seemed a much cooler venue with an open drinking area at the front behind some metal gates, an excellent bar which served as the table waiting area, and two main areas for dining including long tables, couple tables and retro booths.
I had the pleasure of finally making it for breakfast on a couple of occasions, most notably after Hawthorn won the 2013 Grand Final.
- House Granola (oats, seeds, cashews, almonds, pistachios, and much cinnamon, toasted in butter and honey. Served with fresh fruits and creamy yoghurt infused with Keralan vanilla pods) - healthy and delicious;
- Infamous Bacon Naan Roll (baked naan wrapped around char-striped back bacon direct from the grill, with a most palatable combination of chilli tomato jam, cream cheese and herbs) - a simple tasty combination of flavours, although I felt the dish was a bit flat (physically) and although nice wasn't worth hyping over;
- Bollybellini (raspberries, lychees, rose and cardamom sparkling with first-class Prosecco).
I was also lucky enough to have a 3 nights of dinner and drinks during the year and try a large collection of dishes.
- Spicy Lamb Chops (marinade of lime juice & jaggery, warm dark spices, ginger & garlic. Charred outside, pink inside) - these are impeccably cooked and wonderfully tasty. A lighter flavour than the Tayyabs/Needoo chops, but much better quality meat and cooking;
- Murgh Malai (chicken thigh meat is steeped overnight in garlic, ginger, coriander stems and a little cream. Still slightly pink when cooked);
- Kacchi Lamb Biryani (marinated lamb and rice cooked together in the traditional Hyderabadi style);
- Chaijito (smoky rum and Dishoom sweet-spice chai syrup muddled with fresh mint, coriander, ginger & lime).
All the food and drinks are great. The atmosphere is great. The location is great. Just go there.