Dishoom. Enough Said.
The “parlor room” at the old Dishoom Covent Garden. Strategically designed to house the bar and all of the customers waiting to be seated.
Something like an “ultimate” guide to Dishoom:
I have lived in London for nearly 2 years but if you were to ask me about the restaurant scene my knowledge would be more limited than you expect. This is because of Dishoom. Dishoom came into my life in 2018 thanks to my dear friend Amalia, the light workload at NYU London, and my good fortune to always be conveniently located for making these kinds of choice discoveries.
I lost my Dishoom virginity in Covent Garden at 16:00 on a Tuesday afternoon. Very unassuming I know, and not to mention this same Dishoom doesn’t even exist anymore.
Amalia and I were wandering around our neighbourhood after lectures one day when she pointed out Dishoom. It’s usually quite hard to get a reservation especially on late notice, but our timing was right and party size was small so we were able to walk right in.
At this point I had no expectations, and really no appetite. Dishoom was still able to impress.
If you have ever been you know the cliché about the “smells hitting you” as soon as you enter a Dishoom to be true. They have the aesthetics down to a science: the lighting, music, decor, staff, menus, cutlery and dishes… everything screams swank, slightly bougie but won’t break the bank, Indian food with a westernised twist. Perfect for just about every type of person who might enjoy dining out in London.
Before I go into each restaurant specifically (yes I have been to them all, and many a time) I will lay out a few general guidelines.
a) Company is everything.
I have been to Dishoom under just about every pretext imaginable: taking my parents out, taking my step-dad out to meet my London friends, having a reunion with Singapore high school friends, using Dishoom to facilitate romantic interests of myself and others, big party sizes, intimate party sizes, birthdays, fake birthdays, farewells, welcomes, it doesn’t matter what you’re at Dishoom for, but rather who is in your group. Besides a few anomalies here and there, Dishoom service, quality, experience, etc is constant. You must bring people with that are enthusiastic and enjoy a bit of what white people consider “spice”. Without these two things, you might as well book another place.
b) Bottomless Chai.
A house chai at Dishoom is something like £3, which is ridiculous for the amount and with what ease they make in the back compared to the tiny glass they give you. Technically, before 16:00, the chai is bottomless which completely changes the game, however; a great judge of how chill the server is and how fun your dine-in experience will be is whether or not they wave the time constraint away and give you bottomless anyways. Every single time without fail that I visited a Dishoom, I would politely and slyly ask “is the chai still bottomless?”, and the waiter would smile and respond “for you, yes.” The first time I went to a Dishoom and was rejected the free-flow beverage, I had a terrible time. Yes I suppose I brought this upon myself and everyone’s charity luck must run out at some point, but still.
c) Chole Puri & House Black Daal
You must order these. No exceptions.
d) Prawn kaliwada & Sheik Kebab
If you eat meat, also a must.
Now below I will briefly outline a few opinions on all of the Dishoom locations. Do note that the food and drinks served everywhere are the same (perhaps a special will surface now and then), so my recommendations are based purely off location and atmospheric experience.
Dishoom Covent Garden (The new one)
Massive
Conveniently located
Cool new features, such as downstairs booths with adjustable fans and music
Give off the feeling that is is trying a bit hard, which is forgivable at such an early stage of operation
One of the better cocktails on the menu: Aflatoon’s Colada. The Hoppy Botter Paanch, Chandra Bose Sour, and Bollybellini are also safe orders.
Dishoom Carnaby
Arguably even better location
A classic, can never go wrong here
View of the kitchen on the way to the WC is cool
Coming here to sit at the bar before closing (pre-COVID times) always meant great conversation and free drinks
Outdoor seating offers good people watching
Dishoom Kensington
More classy than the other locations
Tucked away so feels quiet, but then you enter
Thursday & Friday nights offer live jazz which takes the ambiance to another level
Have had the friendliest staff here
Booths along the wall are mirrored which makes for cool photos
Aforementioned mirrors put to use for a wholesome photo of Jo. The balcony in the upper lefthand corner is where the jazz is played on Thursdays and Fridays.
Dishoom Shoreditch
The only reason to make the trek here is for the outdoor terrace
Very boho vibes
Feels most authentic in terms of Irani café decor (terrace is replete with camel bags)
Convenient for a late reservation if you want to go out and about in Shoreditch the same night
Dishoom King’s Cross
Location feels more professional and less lived in but space on the inside compensates
Tall and narrow architecture, so less communal feeling
Always gave lots of free things
Dishoom Edinburgh
Upstairs gives very nice views of the Old City
Decoration was terrific
Service was great
Black Dhal hit different here
I know most people probably aren’t so concerned with the ins and outs of Dishoom, but lately I have felt my obsession is weening, so I wanted to write something in honour of a London restaurant that will always have a piece of my heart, and be home to an abundance of wonderful memories. Dishoom will always be near the top of my recommendations for places to eat out, and I will keep going back until I die… perhaps just with less frequency and hype than in the past. If you haven’t been you absolutely must, and if you need a friend to go along with you don’t hesitate to contact me. It’s a bit embarrassing, but I know the menu by heart. It will be a good time.
