Dishoom

Price for two: €€
Portion: Moderate
Overall experience: 4.5/5
Website: https://www.dishoom.com/birmingham/

As a Mumbaikar (the term for someone from Mumbai), I never imagined that I would be relishing in an Irani Cafe in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Having grown up in Mumbai, it was common to find Irani cafes spread all over Mumbai. The Irani cafes in Mumbai have always been a common place for students, auto (three wheeler vehicle) and taxi drivers, shopkeepers, travelers and basically the aam aadmi (ordinary man) to get together and enjoy bun maskas (an Irani snack) with chai (tea). Lately, many of the Irani Cafes in Mumbai have been closing down, which is why visiting Dishoom in the UK was an overwhelming experience.

Dishoom has nine restaurants in total in the UK, and I suggest you make a reservation when planning your visit. I was pleasantly surprised to find the restaurant's interiors as close to a modern Irani Cafe as I could imagine. Seeing a rotating fan in the ceiling of this restaurant in the UK with the many antique-looking portraits hung on the walls did its charm.

While I sat in a corner with my family in the Birmingham restaurant, we were presented with a sizeable newspaper-look-alike menu. It did not take me long to browse through the menu and search for my favourite Mumbai dish. Yes, I am talking about the famous Vada Pav. As a Mumbaikar, I could vouch that Vada Pav is a staple diet for someone living in Mumbai. And as I relish this Vada Pav at Dishoom in the UK, I am reminded of the many Vada Pavs I enjoyed growing up in Mumbai.

Having browsed through the menu, we ordered two cups of bottomless tea. In this order, they provide you with two glasses filled with tea that you can request to refill unlimited times during your meal (bottomless tea). I also ordered a cup of filter coffee that I thoroughly enjoyed.

While watching the rain pour outside and enjoying the subtle hustle-bustle of this restaurant, I savoured the much-awaited Vada Pav. For those who are not familiar with this dish, this dish is made of boiled potatoes fried in a batter (vada) and then placed in between a pav (bun) with some amount of green chutney and a sweet chutney in between the Vada and the Pav, some dry red chutney and some fried green chillies at the side. The dish is not as spicy as it appears. Instead, it has a bit of a sweet and spicy combination which can be eaten by anyone who can tolerate mild spice levels.

We then moved on to the main course; the vegetarian dish ordered this evening was a Chef's Special called House Black Daal. It is one of the signature dishes here at the Birmingham restaurant and is made of a dark rich, profoundly flavoured lentil. It is not spicy nor sweet; instead, it has the right flavours to relish. The speciality of the menu of Dishoom is that they mention the number of calories each dish contains. This dish has a calorie count of 455 kcal, which should work for you on your next cheat day.

This dish can be combined with any of the Bread and Rice options they serve at the restaurant. We ordered Roomali Roti, the softest bread in any Indian restaurant. It is a soft handkerchief- thin bread stretched and made on an upturned tawa (pan). One roomali roti contains 236kcal of calories.

Next, we ordered the Chicken Ruby. This gravy is made of tender chicken in a decadent silky makhani (buttery) sauce. The gravy is not spicy, as it has a buttery and creamy taste. The plate has an amount of 728 kcal of calories. One can choose among the many breads that are handmade and made to order as a combination for this gravy or choose a rice item. As a lover of Roomali roti, I tore the soft bread into small pieces, dipped it into this delicious dish, and savoured it.

We could not have missed out on their Mutton Pepper Fry dish this evening. With the finest and most tender mutton marinated in red chilli, ginger and garlic, cooked with black peppercorns and whole spices. This dish contains 834 kcal of calories. The dish was slightly spicy but could be perfectly balanced with the combination of Steamed Basmati Rice or Roomali Roti (generally somewhat sweet).

Last but not least, one of my favourite childhood memories was rekindled as I ordered one of their famous Kala Khatta Gola Ice. This dish is made of fluffy ice flakes steeped in kokum fruit syrup, blueberries, chilli, and black salt. The dish has a balance of sweetness and sourness, which is the USP of this dessert item.

This was the most captivating experience I could have at a modern Irani cafe leaving me spellbound. Visit this restaurant and enjoy a heartful meal with your family and friends when in UK.