Dishoom - overrated?

[Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain]

I had to go away from the London office to the Birmingham office for an away day recently. Yeah one of those forced enjoyment things...

So we had a poll to decide what to eat that night and we decided on Dishoom. I've been to Dishoom a couple of times in London and found it edible.

When I went and ate there this time, honestly, I ate it because I was hungry and we'd booked the table but I thought it was awful, especially because there are so many nice Indian restaurants in Birmingham. What also stuck in my craw was about £10 for a gin and tonic!

So is this a one off bad experience? Have they gone downhill? All my colleagues were raving about Dishoom.

This was my preference. In fact I found a tapas restaurant and Italian (both independent) plus 2 curry houses in Birmingham and was slightly disappointed the majority settled on Dishoom.

The group was so lazy too, a walking tour was planned but this was through the Jewellery Quarter and sort of by the canal (and uni) - I've been to Birmingham before near the canal area and it's very pretty. The group just wanted to get to the nearest pub quickly.

Yeah it’s not my favourite. I don’t hate it but I always seem to end up there with people who want to buy a load of dishes to put in the middle and share, which I hate!

Which restaurant in Wimbledon is this??

@Buffypaws - Bombay Delight - the food is so fresh tasting.

Very underwhelmed by both Mowgli and Ivy. Style over substance so not in a hurry to 'experience' Dishoom tbh. Mowgli in my city was very echoey and I was unable to converse with my table mates. I hate the trend of serving food on difficult to navigate serving dishes too..they often look tricky to keep clean to me, so that puts me off! Give me a china plate and a wide necked serving dish!

I love Dishoom. As a Mancunian, This’n’that does a great rice and three for a fiver, but it’s not exactly a night out, and I wouldn’t risk eating meat there. And the curry mile these days is filthy, scary and distinctly below average. Its main appeal was always that 20 people could rock up pissed at 11:30 and get a table, not that the food was amazing.
Indian Tiffin Room is also really nice.

Not curry, but in Manchester I'd highly recommend Maray for food that's a bit different and really tasty. Their lunch deal is brilliant value. Disco cauliflower!

I agree! Love the lunch there.

Yes, I personally think Dishoom is very overrated.
I think the try hard decor is lame asf.

I'm shocked about this. I have been with my mom a few times who has a dairy allergy and.they bent over backwards at Birmingham to help her.

I've been loads of time's and always had great experiences. Some times with my partner and a couple of times with the kids and had nothing but a great experience. Staff always friendly and helpful and food incredible.

Isn’t the whole point of Dishoom that it’s Irani-style rather than traditional Mumbai? It remind me of Persian foods in some ways. I prefer Mowgli anyway but the cookbook is good as pp said.

I've been to Dishoom in Birmingham and liked it, possibly what I liked most was walking in without a reservation and getting a table, plus that it was about 2 seconds from the conference I was at.

The food was OK but no way would I queue at the London one.

Mowgli on the other hand was a massive disappointment. And surely the point of the Ivy was that it wasn't supposed to be good? It just did shepherd's pie in a nice building?

Have been to the Ivy (yes the original) and again liked it, possibly because it was chucking down with rain and the waiter took pity on us. But didn't like it enough to go back. It's style over substance.

I’ve been to different dishooms, and the Birmingham one many times as it’s my closest.
my partner & I will always take people there as we feel the food, as well as the customer service is impeccable. We have never had a bad experience when visiting.

the staff will always go above and beyond for you, especially with any allergies & explaining the dishes (for any newbies)
for anyone that says its style of substance - baffles me. The food is anything but bland - every dish we’ve tried are full of flavour & richness!
I don’t go to places for the ‘style’ I go for the food - and for that reason I love going there.

I recently went when I was 8 months pregnant and they did everything they could to make sure I was comfortable whilst I was there, including seating & space.

We could not fault the staff, they were friendly and helpful but we did not rate the food at all.

I wonder if all the poster that like them eat meat? Me and DH are vegetarian and we were just not impressed with our meals. We can honestly cook better at home

I’m in Dishoom right now and the food is fantastic.

I can’t believe I resist this place in favour of lesser known restaurants that I feel like I have ‘discovered’. It delivers every time!

Agree it seems overhyped.

I've not found it bad, but no better than other other restaurants for the level of hope it gets. I don't get it. There are lots of decent restaurants, Dishoom is one of many.