I’ve eaten at Dishoom Birmingham before, and while the portions are small, the food was usually o.k.. This visit, however, was very disappointing.The vegetable samosas were overcooked — mostly burnt thick pastry with very little filling. The replacement was just as bad. When I raised it with the manageress, she said their new chef “hadn’t been there long,” which didn’t excuse the poor quality. The waiter, Patrick, demonstrated little knowledge of the menu and provided inadequate service.For the main, I ordered the Tandoori Chaat, expecting a mild vegetarian dish. Instead, it was overloaded with raw chopped chilli — completely inedible. The pineapple pieces were inedible due to the extremely strong spices. When I complained, the manager insisted that “Indian food is generally spicy.” I kept explaining that I understand Indian food is usually marinated in spices, but this dish also included raw chillies which is entirely different and far too strong. He also claimed it was advertised on the menu, but the Tandoori Chaat description doesn’t mention raw chillies. I explained that I had poured half a plate of salad onto my plate and couldn’t see the chilli underneath, yet he kept insisting I shouldn’t have picked it up with my fork. At that point, I said, “I don’t want to argue with you.”On top of that, the fire exit near our table was locked and reportedly broken. The only other exit is by the reception, and in a packed, large restaurant, people would struggle to evacuate safely in an emergency. I couldn’t even step outside for air while my mouth was burning — a serious safety concern.We paid £112 for two (service charge included), and even if the main wasn’t charged, the overall experience was unacceptable. Poor food, dismissive staff, and unsafe conditions.
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