Bombay cafes were a staple of the 1960s, when hundreds lined the streets and offered refuge for rickshaw drivers and business men alike. Only a couple remain in Bombay, so to make up for the loss, London’s first example of the venue has sprung up in Covent Garden…

Beyond the compulsory endless flow of chai - brewed with fresh ginger, black pepper and spices – the drinks on offer include simple salted lassis, fruit lassis (rose and cardamom) and cocktails. The Chaijito involves chai infused rum, fresh mint and lime; and the signature Bombalada, pineapple, coconut milk, rum, herbs and spices.

Serving food throughout the day, Dishoom head chef Naved Nasir has created the menu with dishes paying homage to the relatively overlooked nuances of Bombay. The Bombay Breakfast Club offers am Indian slant on the full English makeover of a British favourite: a sausage or bacon naan roll with chilli jam and coriander. Then there’s the fruit roomali – a freshly prepared ‘handkerchief’ bread with mascarpone and honey served with seasonal fruits. From 11am, the all-day menu of savoury plates, feisty grilled kababs, zesty salads and healthy roomali roti wraps invites diners to mix and match from tiered plate stands.

Spread over two floors the café is decked out with checkerboard tiles, solid oak panelling and antique mirrors, while an open-plan kitchen offers views of the grill and roomali dome in action.

For more information visit the Dishoom website

News item from Imbibe.com, 26-07-2010