Latest opening: Dishoom Birmingham
What: A homage to the old Irani cafés of Bombay, this large and stylish Indian restaurant is located on One Chamberlain Square, which is part of the Paradise Birmingham development, as well as a large open space dining room the restaurant has a Permit Room bar and a large adjoining terrace overlooking Grade I listed Birmingham Town Hall, the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, and the Chamberlain Monument fountain. Originally due to open in 1 April - no joke - the Coronavirus pandemic put paid to these plans, but it has happily finally opened in The Midlands city.
Who: It’s the latest venue from the hugely popular Indian restaurant group run by Shamil and Kavi Thakrar and only its third outside of London - Manchester and Edinburgh being the other two.
On the menu: All the Dishoom classics feature thanks to executive chef Naved Nasir, with dishes cooked in Hindu, Muslim, Irani and Parsi traditions. Its legendary breakfasts, featuring the likes of bacon, sausage and egg naan rolls as well as fried eggs on chilli cheese toast and bottomless chai, kick off the day, followed by small plates, biryanis, dishes from the grill and various breads and rice. As is Dishoom’s approach in its other locations there’s a restaurant chef’s special, which in this case is a mutton chaap korma, described as a classical Indian korma in the style of Bhendi Bazaar’s Noor Mohammadi.
The vibe: Those familiar with the Dishoom aesthetic - green banquette seating, wooden flooring, ceiling fans, cutlery in metal pots and quirky signs - will feel right at home in the Birmingham location. There are elements that are uniquely Brum, however, with its interiors inspired by Birmingham’s history as the ‘city of a thousand trades’ that pays homage to its commercial past. In response to the current climate, there are fewer tables which are spaced further apart than normal and additional screens and furniture to have been introduced throughout the dining room to enhance safety and support physical distancing, which means the dining room might not yet have the bustle of old (but it will no doubt in due course). However, guests can expect the same warm hospitality from the same big-hearted team, it says.
And another thing: For the very first time guest are able to make a reservation for groups of up to six at any time of day, meaning that Dishoom’s iconic queues will be another thing lacking from its latest launch. But some things never change - owing to the unpredictibility of British weather, bookings aren’t being taken for its outdoor terrace, so the first come, first served rule still applies.
One Chamberlain Square, Birmingham
www.dishoom.com/birmingham
