March 1953
BOMBAY

Crisp and organised, Roda Irani leads her daughter through the narrow gullies of Swadeshi Market. “Come, let us get to the café.” They begin to walk the length of the market, shoulder to hip. Each gully is lined with stalls separated by thin partitions or simple thick cloth. Roda and Farah navigate past shoppers haggling over the price of scissors, padlocks, bolts of cloth – an array of products with one thing in common: all made by Indian hands on Indian soil.

Welcome to Dishoom Birmingham

Freedom through trade. Bombay, like Birmingham, is a city of a thousand trades. Through its markets and manufacturers, craftsmen and commerce, India forged a proud new identity built on the principle of Swadeshi (self-reliance), and gained its independence.

At Dishoom Birmingham, we pay homage to all who laboured for India’s freedom. Open all day, every day, serving Bombay comfort food for breakfast, lunch, dinner and evening tipples. All are welcome.

Food & Drink at Dishoom Birmingham

Begin your day at Dishoom with breakfast, which might be a Bacon Naan Roll, a Kejriwal or The Big Bombay. Then, lunch deliciously on a Paneer Roomali Roll and fancy Salads, or linger with a feast. Refresh your afternoon with a drop of Chai and a small plate or two. Dine early or dine late. Or just join us for a tipple – perhaps an India Gimlet, and a Pitaya-Papaya Colada, if free-spirits prevail.

Birmingham Specials

Rara Gosht and Roomali Roti

Lamb shank and lamb mince are cooked and commingled with much stirring and much vigour. Rich spices bestow warmth to this robust and hearty dish. No doubting its magnificence. Did you say “rather gosh”?

Bombay Mule

A new myth to celebrate. Much-favoured spirit of India, Jack Daniels Triple Mash, is lengthened with Dishoom Chai spices, fiery ginger beer and dashes of grapefruit bitters. Dependable, refreshing and feisty, for independent spirits.

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Reservations
at Birmingham

Dishoom is mostly a walk-in café. All are welcome, any time, no reservations needed. However, if you'd like to make a reservation, groups of any size may book. Kindly note, on Saturdays after 6pm we only accept bookings for groups of six or more.

Bombay, March 1953. Mother and daughter make their way through the narrow gullies of Swadeshi Market, following the delicious aroma wafting sweetly from their café. Roda laments her Father, who passed away just before India became free. She looks down at her daughter: “I have a story to tell you. It’s a story of our independence and how we gained our freedom through a thousand trades.” A story that’s told on our walls.

Aruna Asaf Ali was an Indian educator, political activist, publisher and an active participant in the Indian independence movement

These are Chef Rishi’s parents

Durgabai was an Indian freedom fighter, lawyer, social worker, politician and a keen follower of Gandhi’s and took part in his Salt March during the Civil Disobedience Movement

Mangaldas Nathubhoy belonged to the Bania community and was a cotton mill magnate who endowed the Mangaldas Market (a neighbouring market to Swadeshi)

In 1907, Madame Cama (also known as the 'Mother of Indian Revolution') addressed the delegates of the International Socialist Congress at Stuttgart and unfolded the Indian Tricolour Flag - the first time an Indian flag was ever displayed in a foreign country

Bombay via BirminghamPlanning your visit

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Dishoom Birmingham

One Chamberlain Square

Birmingham

B3 3AX

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Once again, the loss of her father presses on her heart, almost physically. She thinks of how he never witnessed the birth of free India; never felt the elation at the stroke of that midnight hour; never saw the sun rise on India’s freedom.

Fellow guest-walla

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