A review of Dishoom (breakfast)

I feel I should provide a disclaimer here that that the marketing manager at Dishoom is a very good friend of mine. I have eaten at both their Covent Garden and Shoreditch restaurants in her company but on the occasion I am going to reference here, was in neutral company. 

Disclaimer aside, I am probably still going to sound like she is whispering in my ear while I write this as I have no complaints to make at all about the service or food. I hope you will believe that what I write is an honest account:

7 Boundary Street, London, E2 7JE

London's very own Bombay Cafe, Dishoom opened the doors to its new Shoreditch premises in October. We went along for one of their dry runs for dinner and were suitably impressed with the decadent cocktails and fresh, fragrant dishes on offer. From grilled paneer tikka to their slow-cooked pulled lamb this is not your typical East End indian restaurant. 

So, on a cheeky Friday off work we thought we'd try something different and give Dishoom's breakfast a try. They serve the breakfast menu until 11.30 on weekdays and until 1pm for a more casual start at the weekend. 

We rocked up 20 minutes before the end of service and were greeted with a smile and a sun-filled booth at the front of the restaurant. Given how busy the cafes on nearby Redchurch Street get during the morning's breakfast meeting rush, it was surprisingly quiet. Perhaps the city boys haven't cottoned on to the delights of a bombay breakfast. It won't be long. 

I ordered English breakfast Assam tea which came loose leaf in a large pot with my choice of milk and sugar on the side. My fella ordered the chai which was absolutely delicious. It wouldn't usually be my first choice for breakfast but on a cold November morning, its delicate fusion of spices couldn't be more comforting. 

To eat, I had the Bombay Omelette which was subtly flavoured and beautifully light for that time in the morning. Balanced with grilled tomatoes and Dishoom's own variety of 'fire toast' (first buttered, then thrown onto the grill) it was perfectly proportioned and very reasonable at under 6 quid. 

Fella had the bacon naan roll which was quite small, but at £3.70 you could always have 2 if you're that hungry! The chilli tomato jam, smoky bacon and fresh cream cheese were brilliantly balanced to create a tongue tingling combination, and along with the chai was the star of the show. 

Reasonably priced, more tasty than your run of the mill eggs on toast and all in the stunning surroundings of Dishoom's new Shoreditch location, I felt extremely spoilt on a Friday morning. Happy happy girl. CHECK THEM OUT SOON!

You can take a look at Dishoom's website, follow them on Twitter and find them on Facebook. 

Ideas for the weekend...

Still stuck for something to do on Saturday? Why not wrap up warm and wander over to Borough Market? Yes, it's full of tourists and much more expensive than most neighbourhood markets, but it makes for a great afternoon out if you combine it with a visit to nearby Maltby Street and polish off your day with a locally brewed pale ale at Bermondsey's Kernel Brewery.

Speaking of tourists, this is exactly what I did with some Dutch friends visiting London recently and they loved the cross section of London on show. The photos below will take you on our journey around South London:

Borough Market. At the top - a tower of brownies. Not much risk of running out at least. 

Above - More cheesecake than you can shake a stick at and those are cinnamon doughnuts at the top there. YUM. http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk/

The ever-busy Monmouth coffee. Still haven't had a drink from there - I can never face the queues. 

Bermondsey Street - a quaint little street with boutique shops and trendy restaurants. Families with small children eating tapas and drinking wine at midday. You know the sort. 

Maltby Street market - although this is actually along an alley called Ropewalk. Looks like a cute little cafe? Nope. That is a gin shop. Had a very tasty pulled pork bun (not from the gin shop).

More on Maltby Street (from Nigel Slater no less) 

http://www.maltbystreet.com/

The Kernel Brewery - yes it's hidden away in a housing estate but it does sell tasty ales brewed on the premises and you can sit on a lovely long communal table sipping your beer (exhibit A below). There's also a butcher and green grocer next door. Who knew?

Unit 11, Dockley Road Industrial Estate, London SE16 3SF

http://www.thekernelbrewery.com/index.html