London · Indian · Covent Garden and Shoreditch · With the Family, Coworkers and on My Own
When we told Josh where we were going for dinner, he did not want to go. It was our family trip to London, all four of us, and Dishoom was on the list the way it always is when I am in town. Josh had never been a fan of this kind of food. At the table he agreed to try a bit, he loved it, and he told us he had no idea Indian food was this good.
Dishoom has been part of our London trips since the very first one. The first time I went was with the family, on our first trip to London, and since then I have been back with coworkers and on my own, mostly to Covent Garden and to the Shoreditch location too. Here is how to deal with the line, what I order, how our two skeptics did, and the one kind of dinner I would not bring here. The bill is at the bottom.
This article is not sponsored. Nothing was comped, and we didn’t tell the restaurant anyone was going to write about it.
How We Found It, and Why Everyone Else Did Too
We found Dishoom the way we find most places before a first trip, through online research. It is not a secret. It is one of the best known restaurants in London, and after this many visits, I understand why. You go for the food, and the room is a big part of why it sticks with you.
The Line Is Real, So Book Early
There is always a long line. I have walked out of Dishoom during the dinner rush and seen the line stretched to 60 people or more. Even with a reservation, we have often still waited in a line, it just moves a lot quicker. Coming with a group and no reservation is not a good idea, at least not at dinner.
Dishoom’s own rules explain why. They take bookings for any size party before 6pm. After 6pm, only groups of six or more can book, and most of the tables are kept for walk ins. Their site says evening and weekend waits run from 30 minutes to an hour, and they bring out chai while you wait.
So my advice is simple. Book as early as you can, for the time you actually want. In my experience, two weeks out the best times are often already gone. For the family trip we booked a table for four at 4pm.
What I Order Every Time
I almost always get the garlic naan, and I love getting a lamb curry. The last time I ate at Dishoom was at the Shoreditch location with a coworker: two curries, basmati rice, garlic naan, a chopped broccoli salad and the three little pots of chutney. That is pretty much what a Dishoom table looks like when it is going well.
On one afternoon for two at Covent Garden, we ordered the vegetable samosas, the Tila Foi, garlic naan, a Rye Sour and the chocolate pudding with chili.
I did not keep notes on every dish that afternoon, so I will let the pictures do the talking on this one.
The Tila Foi was sea bream griddled in a banana leaf, served with raita and a pile of pickled onions.
Dishoom rotates some dishes on and off the menu, and the Tila Foi was not on it when I checked, so ask if it is back. The Rye Sour is a holiday drink that comes and goes too.
Josh Came Around, Emily Stuck to the Bread
Back to Josh. When we said this is where we were going, he did not want to try the food. At the table he agreed to try a bit, and he loved it. That is how the Chicken Tikka ended up on our order, because he decided he wanted in, and Vika, Josh and I shared it. Josh loved it.
Emily went the other way. She liked the smells, but she was worried the flavors would be too strong for her. She did try the naan and said it was really good. Vika and I both thought the Chicken Tikka was fantastic.
If you have a kid who is nervous about spice, I think the bread is the easy first step, and because everything comes to the middle of the table, nobody has to commit to a whole plate of something new. One more thing to know before you order: the portions are not small. If some of your table is not sure how hungry they are, start smaller and order more. The dishes come out pretty quickly, so a second round does not take long, and you are not left with a pile of leftovers or stuffing yourself to finish everything.
It Is Loud, and That Is Part of the Fun
The room is loud, and not because of the music. It is loud because there are so many people in there enjoying the food and talking. Think of a holiday dinner party at your house, with family who have not seen each other in years. Now multiply that by the size of the restaurant.
You do have to speak up if you want the rest of your table to hear you, and that has been our experience every single time. Even when I have been here on my own, I catch myself trying to think louder. But it is a festive kind of loud. Everyone is having a great time, everyone is talking, and everyone is sharing food.
That sharing is the other thing to know. Even with coworkers, it ends up being a family table. The dishes come to the middle, you grab what you want onto your plate, and you dip into everything with your bread.
Who It Works For, and Who It Doesn’t
Honestly, this place is great for a date night, great with the family and great for a business meeting. The one thing I would not bring here is a dinner where you want a quiet, intimate conversation without raising your voice. For that, I would pick somewhere else. For everything else, Dishoom is the London dinner I keep coming back to.
What It Cost
Here is the bill from our family visit, the one where Josh came around. We had the vegetable samosas at £7.40, the Chicken Tikka at £14.80, the Blackened Butterfly Prawn at £18.20, two plain naan at £10.20 and steamed basmati rice at £5.10.
To drink there was an India Gimlet at £12.30, a Sunny’s Startini at £12.50, a New PR Old Fashioned at £14.70 and a Thums Up at £5.90. That came to £101.10.
A 12.5 percent optional service charge of £12.64 was added, for a total of right around £114 (£113.74 on the receipt). Dishoom says every penny of the service charge goes to the team.
How long is the line at Dishoom Covent Garden?
At dinner, long. Dishoom says evening and weekend waits run from 30 minutes to an hour, and I have seen the line at 60 people or more during the dinner rush. Breakfast and lunch are much easier.
Can you make a reservation at Dishoom?
Yes, for any size party before 6pm. After 6pm, bookings are only for groups of six or more, and the rest of the tables go to walk ins. Book as early as you can. In my experience, the best times are often gone two weeks out, and even with a booking you may still wait a little.
Is Dishoom good for kids?
Yes. Dishoom lists a children’s menu, and sharing plates in the middle of the table make it easy for a nervous eater to try a little. Our son was skeptical and loved it. Our daughter was worried about strong flavors, tried the naan and said it was really good. The noise is the one thing to be ready for.
What should you order at Dishoom?
I always get the garlic naan, and I love a lamb curry. On our family visit, Vika, Josh and I shared the Chicken Tikka, and all three of us loved it. Order a few things for the middle of the table and share, and start smaller than you think. The portions are generous, and more food comes out quickly.
Is Dishoom loud?
Very. Not from music, from people talking and having a good time. It is great for a fun night out, and not the place for a quiet, intimate conversation.
Where is Dishoom Covent Garden?
12 Upper St. Martin’s Lane, London WC2H 9FB. The closest Tube stations are Covent Garden and Leicester Square.
Is Dishoom worth it?
For us, yes, and we keep proving it by going back. Book early, expect a line anyway, expect it to be loud, and plan to share.
More from London: we have written up The Ivy Asia St Paul’s, SUSHISAMBA London, citizenM London, the Montcalm East and the United Club at Heathrow Terminal 2.
Prices come from our own itemized receipt on the night, not from a menu site or an aggregator.
