Chowpatty Beach on the Thames

While still digesting the amazing wonders of Dishoom 1 (above), our next stop was Big Ben, well maybe. Secretly, we really just wanted to check out Dishoom 2. So we went to Big Ben, took the requisite pictures and hastily walked across Westminister Bridge. Strolling along the waterside, our eyes were on the lookout for Dishoom…

In the distance, in pink letters we saw “Chowpatty Beach”, the Dishoom pop-up restaurant on the waterfront of the River Thames. Since Sara visited Chowpatty Beach in Mumbai, both of us grew very excited.

At the front entrance there was a cutout board so we took a moment to pose as vintage 1960's Bollywood models... Further along there was a wooden ramp, painted to look weathered with pastel paints, and blue plastic streamers. Very Bollywood beach party. The party and creativity continued inside... There was a wall of rolled up vintage Indian newspapers, brightly colored bottles across the bar, hand woven canvas wallpaper, spray-painted chairs and old relics of “found items” lining the walls. The bathrooms were wall papered with plastic Indian mats and authentic vintage signs.

For food, we wanted to order the spiked coconuts (coconuts full of water and spiked with rum), but they were all out. So we opted for Limca and Thumbs Up, the classic Indian sodas. Since we had just eaten breakfast, we ordered a small appetizer – bread crumb calamari, which was perfectly seasoned and delivered to our table in a kraft paper cup with wooden forks. The space truly evokes the colors, and the feeling of Chowpatty Beach, but with a modern and fun twist. Truly a restaurant experience not to be missed in London.