Dishoom pays loving homage to the Irani cafés that were once part of the fabric of life in Bombay. Opened early last century by Zoroastrian immigrants from Iran, there were almost 400 of these cafés at their peak in the 1960s. Today, fewer than 30 remain.
These cafés broke down barriers by bringing people together over food and drink. They were the first places in Bombay where people of any culture, class or religion could take cool refuge from the street with a cup of chai, a simple snack or a hearty meal.
The newest Dishoom will – as ever – be a loving homage to these old Irani cafés and will accommodate 231 covers between the two dining rooms and the Permit Room cocktail bar.
The dining rooms will be open every day from early until late serving Executive Chef Naved Nasir’s first-class menus of Bombay comfort food.
The breakfast menu will include Dishoom’s famous Bacon Naan Roll and Sausage Naan Roll. Then there’s Keema Per Eedu: a Parsi power breakfast of eggs and spicy chicken keema studded with delicate morsels of chicken liver; Irani café staple Akuri: spicy scrambled eggs, with soft home-baked bread buns; and plentiful (bottomless!) House Chai.
This will be followed by the all-day menu of small plates, grills, biryanis, salad plates, hand-made breads and sides. Of course, Dishoom will be serving its signature House Black Daal, cooked over 24 hours for extra harmony. And the Chef’s Special will be a decadent Nalli Nihari Biryani.
This indulgent Nihari special sees tender shank of lamb layered with rice and caramelised onions then sealed beneath a pastry blanket. It is then enriched further with kaleji (chicken liver), raita and nihari gravy on the side.
As with all Dishoom restaurants, for every meal served at Dishoom Manchester, the team will donate a school meal to a child who would otherwise go hungry. A meal for a meal. Dishoom work with two fantastic charities – the Akshaya Patra Foundation in India and Magic Breakfast in the UK – who provide nourishing meals to children in schools. So far, Dishoom has donated over 5 million meals (… and counting!)
Fans of Dishoom are invited to help them prepare for the opening by attending their soft launch. Guests will receive 50% off food at breakfast, lunch and dinner during soft launch, which will run from 9am on Sunday 25th November – 4pm on Wednesday 5th December. Walk-ins only.
Reservations are now being taken for 7th December onwards.
Dishoom Manchester, 32 Bridge Street, Manchester M3 3BT
www.dishoom.com
