Dishoom Permit Room Oxford — Restaurant in Oxford

I had the chance to visit Dishoom in Oxford yesterday, and while the restaurant has some strong points, my overall experience was disappointing.

To start on a positive note, the interior is beautifully designed, creating a welcoming and vibrant atmosphere—perfect for a nice evening out. The service is quick, and the staff are polite, friendly, and helpful. Food is served promptly, which is always appreciated.

However, the food itself was quite underwhelming. The flavors were bland, lacking the bold spices you’d expect from Indian cuisine. My starter, a chicken dish, was overcooked, burnt, and had an unpleasant taste, as if fried in old oil. Its appearance also suggested poor quality. The main courses were similarly bland, with little seasoning or authentic Indian taste. Adding to this, there were no salt, pepper, or spices available on the table to adjust the flavors to preference.

The drinks I ordered were also disappointing—poor in both taste and quality. They didn’t meet the standard I expected, especially given the high reputation of the restaurant (Premier Padmini Negroni and Mango Lassi Punch)

Another downside is the lack of payment options—cash payments are not accepted, only card. I find it frustrating when restaurants dictate how I can pay, as it takes away my choice as a customer.

Lastly, a 12.5% service charge is automatically added to the bill. While the staff were excellent, I don’t believe the quality of food and drinks justifies such a high service charge. If the food and drinks had been up to standard, I’d have happily left a tip of my own accord, but this policy feels forced and inappropriate given my experience.

Overall, while the atmosphere and service were impressive, the poor food and drink quality and lack of flexibility left me disappointed. I hope the restaurant takes this feedback into account to improve the...

I had a wonderful lunch at Permit Room Disum in Oxford, and I was simply delighted by the exceptional care, consideration, warmth, and attention provided by Ricky throughout my dining experience. From the moment I was seated, Ricky demonstrated remarkable attentiveness, going above and beyond to ensure my meal was perfect. He took the time to let me sample several dishes, helping me navigate the menu with genuine enthusiasm and expert knowledge of the cuisine. His warm demeanor and professional service created an atmosphere that made me feel truly welcomed and valued as a guest.

What impressed me most about Ricky was his intuitive ability to anticipate my needs and address any concerns before I even had to ask. He checked on me regularly without being intrusive, striking that perfect balance that defines exceptional hospitality. I feel compelled to write this review because encountering someone as smart, dedicated, and genuinely caring as Ricky is rare in the restaurant industry. It's staff members like him who transform a good meal into a memorable experience and add real value to Permit Room Disum. His outstanding service has certainly given me another compelling reason to return, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this restaurant to others, knowing they'll receive the same level of...

Today I visited Dishoom Oxford with one of my Japanese friend everything was good. The two staff on the bar were really nice to all the guest but there was one really inappropriate server was roaming around I don’t know this name but he was bit healthy as that server was speaking to other staff member in Hindi which I do understand that language and when one of the bar staff went to tell him then he said sunne de benchod which is a slang in Hindi language to disrespect someone I did thought that I will say something to the bar staff that I did understand what he said, but then I don’t want to make an issue in front of my Japanese friend because I introduced him to dishoom first time and he loved it but because of this one incident it makes really bad impression. I don’t wanted to write this review but I felt it really bad. The way he said it I was listening to them when they was speaking in Hindi, but I took it in a normal way but the way he said sunne de benchod was not the way to reply or express whatever he was trying to express I would have not mentioned this in Review, but I was there and was paying for the delicious food not to listen someone’s abusing language towards me although the food was really amazing the ambience was really amazing. The bus staff was really good and...