Too noisy, too expensive, and too exclusionary. We chose to eat here for several reasons: I wanted Indian food, I had heard good things about Dishoom in general, and it was near the V&A museum, our last sight before dinnertime. At this restaurant, where reservations are not accepted past six, we waited twenty minutes for a table. The bar area was quite pleasant, a great place to survey the stunning Art Deco decor. Dishoom attended to all the details here, so it was a treat to soak in the 1940’s atmosphere.
However, we didn’t get to enjoy the ambience beyond the bar, as we were transferred to the “Family Area” for dinner (note: we are two adults without children), walled off from the main dining area. I soon noticed everyone around us had American accents. They seem to have stuffed the Americans in the back, away from everyone else. The disappointments didn’t stop there. The restaurant was shockingly loud, to the point that my watch was warning me of the noise levels. Carrying on a conversation was impossible, so we mostly just looked around.
At least the food was something to look forward to but, sadly, the disappointments kept coming. We ordered naan, which arrived as one piece of naan cut in half. For seven pounds, we expected more. Rice cost five pounds. The food itself was good but not outstanding, and certainly not worth the price. Overall, we spent a hundred dollars for a decent meal and unpleasant atmosphere. Next time, we’ll go to Brick Lane. I’m sure the food will be just as good for half the price, and we’ll probably be able to talk to each other. While Dishoom’s decor was impeccable, that doesn’t compensate for everything else. I would go out of my way to avoid this place. This was the only restaurant choice that I regretted during my London trip.