Dishoom

I might as well be the worst food blogger ever. Had dinner at the Shoreditch Dishoom yesterday and was so hungry I forgot to take a single picture of anything I ate. Dishoom is in Boundary Street, right opposite The Albion. It is inspired by traditional Bombay cafés, mostly opened  in the late 19th and early 20th century by immigrants from Persia. It offers a modern, non-greasy take on Indian food in a cool but not pretentious decor and has an impressive list of mainly gin based cocktails. The lights are dimmed and warm and the bar stands out as soon as you walk in. Downstairs you can see the chefs in action, making naan breads from scratch. We drank Bombay pimms, think pimms with a spicy twist, and a Virgin chaijito, a non alcoholic version of a Mojito with hints of cardamom and corandier.We shared a few appetizers including the calamari which were tender but didn't excite me and the paneer, a fresh cheese common in South Asian cuisine, which was very tasty without the rubbery consistency of halloumi. As a main course I ordered the chiken tikka, it was marinated in vinegar instead of yoghurt, which gave it a tangy twist without being heavy and was just the right level of spiciness. The dessert was very interesting, a pineapple and black pepper crumble topped with oats and seeds and a delicious cinnamon ice cream. I'm usually not a big fan of Indian food but was very happy with the meal and impressed with the service which was quick and professional.
Absolutely recommended but if you expect your usual Friday curry you will be disappointed.