Sometimes you can’t beat a good date night with your bestie, especially one who has known you (including the good AND bad parts) for over a decade… But where to go so we could have an unadulterated catch-up?
After hearing great things about it – and as two major foodies – we decided to try Dishoom. And we weren’t disappointed.
Dishoom has a few branches around London, but as we both work in the West End we visited the one in St Martin's Courtyard, Covent Garden. The restaurant has a brasserie feel, with old celling fans and a light, open-plan layout for a relaxed, airy ambience during the day, while low lighting in the evening and booths to tuck yourself away in ensure it’s the perfect spot to take you from breakfast, through lunch, all the way to dinner (yes, they’ve got it all covered!). And the perfect place for us…
We settled into a booth and got down to the serious business of swapping gossip. The busy atmosphere meant we could catch up on each other’s news and laugh at old boyfriends without the chance of anyone overhearing us. And the casualness meant we weren’t rushed out – plenty of time to enjoy the food, wine and gossip.
We started with Okra Fries and Vada Pau (Bombay’s version of a London chip butty: think spiced Bombay potatoes in a soft bun) and a couple of Kingfisher beers to get us going.
To follow came an onslaught of some of the most delicious Indian food either of us had tasted. As it’s café-style, food comes when it’s ready – which is quickly!
Of course, we had to try the standard Chicken Tikka, only there was nothing standard about it – huge, succulent pieces of chicken grilled in fresh Tikka spices. Yum! Meanwhile, Lamb Boti Kabab was so delicious that we nearly fell out over who could have the last piece.
For sides, we opted for garlic naan, roti and a bowl of rice, all perfectly cooked, and great accompaniments to all the meat. Everything was exquisite, but the standout of the night was Dishoom’s signature dish – House Black Daal was creamy, rich and absolutely divine. So much so that I now crave it every day!
Not only is the food at Dishoom fantastic, it’s also reasonably priced, and for Central London that’s a gift in itself.
Queues are common, so make sure you get there early, but if you do have to wait, check out the cocktails in the basement bar – it would be rude not to.