Dishoom at the London Restaurant Festival 2011
WARNING! The chilli chutney is hot!
Dishoom is taking part in the London Restaurant Festival for a second year running with four brilliant menus, we think they’re great value too. Being huge Dishoom fans we were eager to come along. Fay Maschler and Simon Davis set up the London Restaurant Festival three years ago, as they felt that the London restaurant scene was something to be celebrated, and to give people the chance to sample some of London’s delights without breaking the bank.
Being back at Dishoom felt like visiting an old friend, still the same fantastic restaurant, but with some new exciting dishes on the menu. No matter how many times we come we never tire of the decor, the way the light cables spider web down from the ceiling and the fans that spin around effortlessly – a Bombay Cafe in central London. (To read about Dishoom in more detail from our first visit, click here.)
We had the £25 a head menu (above) which was quite a feast, there is also a £10 breakfast or lunch menu, and a £20 dinner menu.
Bollybellini - adds extra sparkle to the evening!
A couple of old friends... not literally I hasten to add!
We started off with a Bollybellini – A rose, lychee and raspberry Bellini and my all-time favourite – Dishoom Calamari
With zesty lime and chilli and one of Ade’s favourites, the Keema Pau a rich spicy lamb mince served with a warm lightly toasted bread roll.
We thought we’d get the dishes in two servings but it pretty much all turned up at once. We managed to get through it all in just over an hour! Well they say practise makes perfect!
You looking at me? Langoustines with Pomelo Bhel
The Langoustines with Pomelo Bhel were delicious, it was the first time that either of us had tried langoustines. Cooked in chilli and fennel with a subtle smokey flavour, we pulled as much flesh out of the little things as we could. The Bhel is fab, we’ve loved it ever since we were introduced to it at Chowpatty Beach (RIP), crunchy, sweet and spicy, made from puffed rice, pomegranate and a tamarind chutney, a classic Bombay snack.
Berry Biryani, berry nice!
The Chicken Berry Biryani their take on the classic berry pulao from Britannia Café in Bombay was next, it’s one of my regular dishes and it didn’t disappoint, the berries add a welcome sweetness to the spice, could do with a sprinkling more though.
The House Black Dhal was creamy and so perfect as a dip for the wonderfully stretchy roti bread. The raita saved Ade from a chilli-induced coughing fit.
Kulfi... Ice cream and then some!
To finish, I had a Chocolate Kulfi as I don’t recall seeing it on the menu before, it had a very delicate chocolate taste, an ideal ending, although it was a close call between that and a Gola Ice. There was no doubting what Ade would go for, the Pistachio Kulfi is always his favourite.
House Chai, hush hush eye to eye...
The best was saved til last – the House Chai. We truly love this stuff and wish they had a super-sized glass. Ade very strangely said that he wishes our bathroom smelt of it! I’d settle for a chai-scented candle.
The London Restaurant Festival at Dishoom
3rd – 17th October 2011
www.dishoom.com/lrf-2011/
12 Upper St. Martin’s Lane, London WC2H 9FB
Tel: 020 7420 9320
Mon – Thurs : 8am – 11pm
Friday: 8am – 12am
Saturday: 10am – 12am
Sunday: 10am – 10pm
To make a reservation, click here
