Dishoom Permit Room Portobello — Restaurant in London

Nestled within the vibrant bustle of Portobello Market, the Dishoom Permit Room offers a unique and welcome departure, adding a different flavor profile to both the market and the surrounding Notting Hill neighborhood. While Dishoom's main restaurants are known for their lively, all-day dining experience, the Permit Room feels like a more intimate, clandestine escape—a perfect spot for a pre-dinner drink or a late-night bite. What truly sets this place apart is its masterful blend of classic cocktails and nostalgic Indian snacks, all served with a dash of old-world charm. The decor is simply beautiful, with a warm, dimly lit ambiance and an attention to detail that transports you straight to a vintage Bombay bar. The great vibes here make it a perfect spot to unwind and soak in the atmosphere. For those looking for something truly special, the drinks menu is a must-explore. The Thums Up Saerac Short & Boozy is an absolute revelation—a bold, boozy concoction that's perfectly balanced and a delightful nod to a classic Indian soft drink. It’s an amazing drink that encapsulates the spirit of the place in a single sip. While Dishoom is famous for its excellent vegetarian options, here, the non-vegetarian choices truly shine. They manage to evoke a sense of home and nostalgia that's hard to replicate. The star of the show, for me, was the Chicken Puff. With its flaky, buttery pastry and savory filling, it literally tasted the same as the ones I remember from old Bombay bakeries. The fact that it's served with that specific, nostalgic tomato ketchup is a beautiful touch that takes you right back in time. The Permit Room is more than just a bar; it's a sensory experience that adds a layer of sophistication and cultural richness to the Portobello Market landscape. It’s a perfect spot for anyone looking to step out of the ordinary and into a space filled with beautiful decor, great vibes, and...

I’ve been to Dishoom in Notting Hill a couple of times and have always enjoyed the food, service, and ambience. Unfortunately, my most recent visit was a very different experience. I was dining upstairs with a friend, and after an hour we informed the staff that a third person would be joining us. The team kindly accommodated us at another table, and I made it clear that our friend would also be ordering food and drinks. When our third guest arrived, it took about 20 minutes before we were given a menu. Once we finally ordered, the manager came over and informed us that we would need to vacate the table in 10 minutes. I was shocked, our friend’s food hadn’t even arrived yet, and when it did, he had to rush through his meal because we were being asked to leave. What frustrated me most was the lack of communication. I had been sitting there for two hours already, since 6pm and if the table was needed for 8pm, it should have been made clear to us much earlier. That way, we could have decided whether to stay and dine more quickly, or move to another restaurant instead with our third friend. We were genuinely enjoying ourselves up until that point, but the way the situation was handled especially how abruptly we were asked to leave left a very sour impression. As a local in Notting Hill, I’ve recommended Dishoom before, but this experience has really made me think twice. Sorry to say but I feel if the manager had spoken and communicated to us way earlier about the table times , and the way the let us know that we had to leave in ten minutes, was deeply mishandled...

service was horrible!!!

saw so many workers running around and many other tables seemed to actually have waiters but we were barely checked on, water was never checked or refilled, and they completely forgot one of our dishes and we had to ask them for it after they had cleared our table (they did comp it which was nice, but that's the bare minimum after we waited 30 minutes for it).

i understand it's busy on a Saturday night but we saw many other tables received better service than ours and actually had a server taking care of them.

also the 12.5% service charge is optional and can be removed if you want if you feel like the service was lacking in any way (which in our case it really was)! but you have to ask a staff member to remove it and then pay using the QR code they give you

food itself was ok. nothing to write home about. definitely overpriced for what you get, portion sizes are very small.

just genuinely had the worst experience i've had in a seemingly nice sit down restaurant with supposedly good service so i needed to write this review - who knows though, you might get treated better...