Jamie's Italian Covent Garden

"When in London, you can find an Indian restaurant to visit and try. There are many, especially with the history of the two countries. And for dinner there are some places in each area to try. But this time on the visit we wanted to try a place that we knew of when we first tried to have dinner there over two years ago but could not get in. It was packed. The line was long and you had to wait. We could not wait that long since we had an event that night. Yet, this time we were prepared and we went. Welcome to DISHOOM. It is the style of Mumbai, but the history of Bombay. And it is based here in Covent Garden area in London. Which, in any way you think about this, it is exceptional. Within a few minutes they brought us to our table by the window so we could see what was happening outside besides the line of people waiting to get in. The hostess was helpful when she gave us our menus and asked if there were any requests. It was a good discussion since she was also from New York (upstate) and living in London for the time. It is a small world to meet from the same area but in another country. Naturally, we were able to make a few requests while looking at the menu. The first thing to have was a LASSI. A typical yoghurt-drink from India, that was mixed with mango. It is smooth and has a flavor that is special. You can find it in several Indian restaurants and establishments. But here, in Dishoom it was different. This was the type of Lassi I would normally get when working in Delhi. It was smooth and creamy. It also had a touch of fennel on top. With the Lassi, the first item we always order, VEGETABLE SAMOSAS. It is a great way to start a meal. And here it was pure vegetables. It was a short-crust pastry mixed with potatoes, vegetables of the day including peas, spiced cinnamon and other spices. It came with a tamarind style chutney for dipping. It was smooth and crunchy. The flavor was fresh and ideal. Once the samosas were finished we sat and waited to see what would come next. Per the recommendation, we had MURGH MALAI. This is a combination of bite size pieces of tender chicken thighs cooked in a creamy marinade with yoghurt, cheese, ginger, garlic and chili. It has been steeped overnight for that special taste and aroma. There is a balance of flavor from the creamy yoghurt along with the heat of the ground chili paste and warmth from the garam masala powder. It is a special taste of flavor and spices and is creamy and warm. There were also special spices and dips on the side you could always add to enhance the taste even more. Next came the CHICKEN RUBY. This is a house specialty, and it is. It is tender chicken in a rich and silky makhani sauce. It is in a proper currey with a mix of spices including garlic, chili, cumin, garam masala, yoghurt, and a makhani sauce. The chicken is flavored with a marinade that makes it special and tasty. The sauce is the combination of spice and technique that makes it different from what you could find anywhere else. This is a special dish I have not seen in New York, but only in Delhi. It was spicy, sweet, savory, and something you could not give up. With this combination came something we never even considered, but again was recommended. This is CHILI BROCCOLI SALAD. It is not as simple as you imagine. Instead it is a bowl with fresh broccoli, fresh red chilies, and pumpkin. It was topped with sunflower seeds, line, honey, shredded mint leaves and even toasted pistachios. his too could have been a meal to itself. It was a good compliment to the other dishes which were creamy and had some spice to the flavor. This was a taste to compliment everything you had. The dishes were served with NAAN and rice. Both what you expect to have when eating a meal like this anyplace you are. Typical of India is to finish the meals with a cup of CHAI. It is everywhere you go in India, but reminds you of what it might have been like in Bombay. It is rich and warm and has a flavor and taste you might know but did not expect. The team and the service is unbelievable. They are there to help and give suggestions if you are looking for something different. It is different as it is based on what you would normally find in certain regions of India itself. The more options the better. Order a variety to consider and share. There is a mix of meats and vegetables and tastes and styles. The food is excellent. The proportions are just right. This is the way to eat and share the entrees and dishes so you can experience the variety it does have. This is an ideal way to eat and have a conversation at the same time. The variety is a good selection. There is something for everyone. And ask for the recommendations. Step into Dishoom. Step back into India. See what you might have been missing in many ways. Dishoom is a port to experience."